47- PROBLEMS IN AMBELON

Upon hearing this news, King Serneo is completely disappointed and upset. "It's unbelievable that our nobility can't be safe, it's unacceptable! Toslan has to resolve this as soon as possible."

The royal advisor comments, "He put his son in charge to see 'how he governed' and everything is getting out of hand."

"That imbecile... putting a spoiled child in charge, I don't know what's wrong with him."

"Do you plan to help House Cariz, Your Majesty?"

"Not at all! Let's see how the Terevillense prince reacts to such incompetence."

In the city of Sleevies, Capital of Ambelón, a lot of uncertainty begins to arise. In one of the city's most popular taverns, many residents are talking about this situation. "How is it possible! If the king doesn't even support his nobles," says one citizen indignantly, "what will be left for us?"

"His Majesty must have his reasons. The blame lies with those Torbelean dogs who have rebels all over the place doing as they please," responds the girl behind the bar. "We're going to become another Osland if they keep this up. May the yellow bring us tranquility!"

"The rebels will continue to grow if they're not stopped soon," adds an elderly man enjoying a beer. "And woe to us, I hope Serneo doesn't trust the Torbeleans and does something soon."

Many citizens were nervous about what had happened and there were minor uprisings throughout the city, demanding a response from the crown about what was happening. Thus, they were forced to gather everyone in the central square to have a spokesperson give them some information.

"Be calm, all inhabitants of Sleevis," says the crown's spokesperson with much eloquence as he opens a parchment. "Our King tells us to remain calm, as Prince Toslan has everything under control and we will soon receive reports about what happened with Lad Cariz's kidnapping. He also wishes to give old garments that the royalty intended to discard to those exemplary citizens who pacify any social disaster that harms our beautiful city. Thus, we ask everyone for calm and trust in our beloved leaders who will never allow our people to be humiliated or harmed."

With these words, the spokesperson leaves, managing to calm the enraged people without violence, while also encouraging the citizens to calm others by taking away trinkets that the royalty no longer needed, but that held value from having passed through their hands. Unlike Teresville, Sleevies had other ways of calming their people through dialogue and sometimes giving things away or organizing events to distract their population. Violence was the last resort.

Thus, the citizens began to make sure everyone calmed down. There were minor uprisings where they burned logs to create bonfires, preventing carriages from passing on heavily trafficked roads. These were quickly cleaned up by the citizens themselves. Others directly shouted in front of barracks and residences of important nobles. And before they could start damaging or harming the structures or the people inside them, more citizens arrived to pacify everyone, following the new guidelines given by the crown.

In less than three hours, the streets of Sleevies were calm again, but with a long line outside the palace, where garments, clothing, and countless trinkets such as cups, plates, and pottery, as well as other less important objects for the crown, were being given away.

The counties of Landeon and Culthi did not enjoy this privilege due to their distance from the capital city. The rumors of Lad Cariz's kidnapping had also reached them, and the uprisings had begun there as well. So, the king decided to send commissions of several soldiers to both towns to maintain social order.

All of this greatly angered House Cariz, which was quite popular and recognized throughout Ambelon. Unfortunately, they could not rebel against the crown, as they needed their help to find Lad Cariz, and the last thing they needed now was enemies. Sirr Cariz has a meeting with his brothers on a small farm they owned outside Culthi.

"All right, ladies and gentlemen, we haven't had a conflict as big as this one in decades. And considering King Serneo's decisions, we have to take matters into our own hands. I'm open to proposals," Sirr Cariz says firmly.

One of Sirr Cariz's knights, Kaseo, responds, "My lord, I suggest that the most important thing in these circumstances, apart from maintaining calm, is making decisions with severity. All of this was the work of the rebels that Toslan is not controlling. We could form a small group of fake rebels to attack the towns outside of Sleevies. It would generate more uncertainty and fear among the peasants, who will rise again, and King Serneo will be forced to do something more drastic."

One of the ladies, Lad Sarina, responds, "Do you want to start a war with Toslan? Besides, who would be these 'fake rebels'?"

"We have plenty of slaves at our disposal."

One of Sirr Cariz's brothers, Maneso, comments, "That plan is a little crazy, which I don't deny could work. However, it can cause very serious collateral damage. I think it would be best to speak directly with Prince Toslan and ask them to pay the ransom for our beloved Lad Cariz."

"We know very well that the Prince is stingy," Sirr Loe says firmly. "Besides, giving money to their main enemies sounds very difficult. It's best if we hunt down those rebels ourselves."

"Leave some men in Torbel to hunt them down, but it's said they have a quite extensive army spread across the continent. It won't be an easy task," says Sirr Cariz.

"I know of a family in Teresville that can help us pay the considerable sum they're asking for in the note," says another of Sirr Cariz's brothers, Poleis. "However, they will ask for something in return, the hand of our beloved sister. But this would give us allies on that continent, which doesn't seem like a bad idea to me."

"Which family is it, brother?" asks Sirr Cariz.

"The Eslen House."