ARCHDEUS

PRE-DISASTER(3)

The easing of the war between the Kingdom of Ibeltia and the Kingdom of Artchania with the result of victory for Artchania and the ceasefire until an undetermined time did not in fact end all conflicts.

This widening conflict revolved not only on the external enemies of the state but also internally.

The capital of the Kingdom of Artchania, Arcentioch.

At one of the first prince's luxury lodgings, William Frederic Charteris Augustus was holding a secret meeting.

This was a rare meeting because for the first time two official heirs to the throne of the royal crown - the first prince and the second prince - had officially met.

The Second Prince, Henry Francois Gregory Augustus, a man who recently achieved the feat of the prince who brought peace in the fief war that took place in Otilia.

But unfortunately that achievement does not seem to be enough to rival the achievements of Prince William as a hero who won the war.

In addition to them there are several other nobles: namely:

Chairman of the Sandwealth Coalition, Duke Benedictus Flavius Sandwealth;

Chairman of the Norchaster Coalition, Duke Louis Edouard Norchaster;

The head of the Fertiphile Family, Harol Kazastian Fertiphile;

Head of the House of Otilia, Philip Enrique Marchelon;

and the other great nobles who were in the two coalitions were the Count of Sinteny, the Count of Granadia, the Count of Yorksall, the Count of Bluemon, the Count of Artheven, the Count of Great Manest, and the Count of Great Manest, the Count of Hildalion.

"It's great to meet you gentlemen, especially my beloved sisters My Royal Highness Prince Henry and My Royal Highness Duke of Norchaster" Prince William said politely.

"I'm also honored to meet with the Duke of Sandwealh's Kakanda and My Royal Highness as well as all the lords. I also congratulate you on winning the war and invite us after a long journey back to the capital" Prince Henry replied with a similar polite smile.

"My achievement is no better than the achievement of Adinda who was able to reconcile two large regions. Congratulations to the brother who did that."

Prince William spoke of a peace between Canadia and Otilia mediated by Prince Henry directly.

Although the two camps are often in conflict with each other but when at the negotiating table they will greet politely regardless of the long debate in parliament later.

"I felt very amazed by the Sakanda who had managed to gather so many great nobles. It's a good move."

Although Henry said warmly but in his heart he was full of anger. It was because he could see with his own eyes how his brother's ability to be able to summon over half of the grand nobles gathered in one place.

This is not an easy achievement. Of the twelve great nobles invited by William, only one great noble did not come.

Only the Count of Morhust was absent and did not even appoint his deputy Regis. But it does not matter because his absence has long been known by everyone due to the bustle of the governor now that Regis who takes care of his area after a long time left due to just returning from the fief war.

That means that there are currently eleven great nobles who are now gathered. This number was already more than half of the grand nobles in the kingdom.

For a meeting with this number of grand nobles who hold the vote in the House of Parliament, then there is only one factor causing it all to be possible.

Drop cabinet!

By combining all members of the Norchaster and Sandwealth coalition, it will produce a ratio of 12:6. That is more than enough to impeach the prime minister and dissolve the executive.

But its execution is more difficult than theory.

From the beginning the two dukes had different political interests and views.

In the long run, these two dukes supported two different princes as the next king. What unites them now is short-term interest.

All nobles and princes were aware of the national instability since executive power was held by marquesses. The evenly distributed fief war experienced by almost all regions and the weakness of state diplomacy that led to the outbreak of war with neighboring kingdoms showed the incompetence of those people holding the domain of government.

"So it looks like we have the same view as what is happening to the country now.  So I hope that Adinda and My Royal Highness, the Duke of Norchaster, can withdraw support and cancel the memorandum of understanding with the government" Prince William said.

That was because at first these two coalitions realized that the power possessed by the Sandwealth coalition was too great and also in the proportion of lawmakers, Sandwealth was the coalition with the most members. In addition, Norchaster used to view Sandwealth as a much more dangerous enemy than marquesses.

To prevent a hung parliament[1] and a political crisis, Norchaster and the marquess agreed to consolidate the position of the government bloc by rejecting the proposal to overthrow the government every time proposed by Sandwealth.

But now, two members of Sandwealth, Otilia and Yorksall, have just suffered heavy losses due to the fief war. In addition, Sandwealth itself suffered losses that were not lost much after becoming the place where the Ibeltia-Artchania war occurred. So this is the moment where the Sandwealth Coalition is at its weakest.

Even if Prince William has much higher popularity now but cannot cover the weakening of the coalition that supports him.

Of course everyone is aware of that.

Even Sandwealth is no exception.  That means in the future he will rely more on the position of Prince William instead of the power he has himself.

Although this was a sacrifice that he himself gave but Duke Sandwealth did not take into account the deteriorating conditions of Yorksall and Otilia then the rejection of Fertiphile and Morhust in providing economic assistance.

So if a memorandum of understanding is formed between the Norchaster and Sandwealth coalition, it is likely that the executive position will be held by Norchaster. So if you separate who is the winner and who is the loser then Prince William and Norchaster will be the winner while Prince Henry and Sandwealth will be the loser.

***

Harol had just finished his meeting with the nobles and princes.

It was exhausting especially when he had just reached the county but had to leave for the capital due to the call of a prince.

He was currently enjoying leisure time with another noble in the lounge of the luxurious inn where they had previously held meetings.

This nobleman was the Count of Yorksall.

Despite being in the same coalition, Harol and the Count of Yorksall did not have much cooperation and interaction before.

But when the meeting was over, Yorksall took the initiative to chat with him.

But different from expectations Harol who thought that they would discuss business or politics, Yorksall actually told about Alex.

"Master Count, you are so incredibly capable of raising a child as great as Alex!"

Yorksall spoke with gusto as if Alex was his own son.

"My Master, can you tell me why you're so interested in my son?" ask Harol.

"Ah right ... Sir, you should know when Alex was in parliament, he managed to make the third session full of argument throws! Not only that, although I didn't see it in person, but I heard Alex and the Morhust boy had made a collaboration with Norchaster so that the demands made by me and Otilia were accepted," yorksall said with great joy.

"Cooperate with Norchaster? So is that perhaps why in this meeting the Norchaster side became noticeably calmer?" ask Harol.

It's unbelievable for Harol. It was common knowledge that the two dukes (Sandwealth and Norchaster) were fierce rivals so it was very difficult to reconcile them. So of course Harol was surprised by the success of Prince William as a mediator and created the MoU[2].

"Oh yes, Mr. Count ...."

Count Yorksall suddenly became nervous and a little embarrassed. He then continued his question.

"I heard Alex is not engaged yet, is it possible to betroth my daughter to him?"

While Yorksall was asking awkwardly but filled with enthusiasm, Harol who heard the matter of engagement became moody.

Harol recalls that her son is currently experiencing impotence. Unfortunately with so many events and behavior Alex himself who refused to cooperate for the cure of his disease made Harol think of when his son could soon recover.

Note:

[1] Hanging Parliament: a condition that describes the state of a parliament when no single political party or joint political party gains a majority in parliament.

[2] MoU (Memorandum of Understanding)/Motal of Understanding: a legal document containing the consent of two or more parties on a matter.