For the past week Rhosyn was restless, expecting something to slip from the north, but only silence and the cold wind drifted down. She'd worn away the rug in her uncle's office, staring intently at either his safe or Caerwyn's annoyed demeanour—which wasn't much different from his usual self, except he stroked his sheathed blade as if contemplating using it.
In short, the week was a long, dragging one and yet again she was on her way to Hemsgate Palace, only with mildly more sleep.
The carriage door opened and Rhosyn breathed in relief to escape the box.
"Lady Valewyn." A messenger practically tripped over himself as he spotted her.
Caerwyn took a step forward, an unspoken warning and the messenger faltered a few steps away, a little unsure.
"My Lady, Crown Prince Edrien has asked for you to meet him in his apartments as soon as you arrive—" of course he had, "—he says 'it's urgent.'"
The word ran chills across her arms and her feet were already taking her to him. Anticipation tightening her lungs, Rhosyn couldn't shake the nervous thrill. It had been a week, but hope whispered in the promise of that one word—urgent.
If she hadn't worn such high heels, or maybe a lighter gown, she'd have been there already. But Caerwyn's clearing of his throat told her that she was rushing and it'd turn heads, and gossip already spread fast enough.
With a rap of knuckles on the prince's door, a heartbeat of a pause, and then a small voice calling her in. Edrien was already bridging the distance between them, worry worn on his brow and a large parchment clutched in one hand.
"Rhos," he began as always. "This came from—"
"Duke Karsyn," Rhosyn easily finished, already taking the unravelled paper from him and reading.
Edrien paced away, before deciding better of it and returning to her side. "He's implementing some clause, it looks..."
Brilliant.
"It reforms taxation duchy-wide, standardises import and export tolls with fortnightly updates, and caps bread from rising beyond inflation—any increase offset by the alms lords are required to give," Rhosyn murmured, a little exhilarated, a little in disbelief.
What was his game? This would cost him significantly, especially if it didn't work. If the king put up taxes again, the duke would have to front the costs to keep his 'Common Charter' even viable.
"He'll look like a hero to the commoners—they already whisper about the 'Keeper of the North,'" Edrien grumbled, fisting his hand.
It was an old title, an echo of the times when the north was its own small kingdom and the Karsyn's, descendants of the northern kings. It was a call for revolution and civil war.
If public opinion was how he rallied his support, then Rhosyn needed to control the narrative.
"What if I adopt this charter too," Rhosyn asked, an idea already forming.
"But—"
"Bear with me Ed," she hushed him, roaming the room as if it was too small to contain the thoughts rushing through her head. "What if we got all the southern dukes to adopt this charter?"
It would certainly benefit the kingdom if they regulated taxation, it could even stabilise markets and lead to prosperity. But only if the king folded to social pressure—though she suspected she'd have to convince him in another way, usually with the promise of gold.
"I mean, they are all in the hall as we speak." Edrien scratched his head as if it was an obvious progression.
"Perfect—and we'll sell it as your idea," Rhosyn added, buttoning Edrien's top button. "And claim that Duke Karsyn implemented it sooner than instructed—clearly keen to comply."
The smirk that slid onto her face felt earned, though she still had yet to win the battle.
Something glinted excited in Edrien's eyes, his previous nerves all but forgotten.
"Ready?" she asked, half turning and holding her hand out. "We've got dukes to charm."
He opened his arm in a wing, Rhosyn slipping her hand through, ready to be chaperoned. A shaky breath slipped from his lips and she could see the worry he was hiding behind a bravado.
"You can take Duke Fairfax," she said softly, patting his hand gently.
Fairfax was logical and fairly reliable, making him predictable and easy to sell an idea to, if you knew how to phrase it. That left Duke Talmir, Kingsdown and Tidewell—brilliant.
They stepped into the hall via a side door, avoiding the bother and bustle of the main entrance, raised and an announcement at every entry. This suited Rhosyn far better; swift, low-profile and quiet.
She'd already scoped the room locating the dukes in question, pulled on her armour and stepped ahead of Edrien.
Sometimes Rhosyn felt like the battle was more with the southern lords, where the war was with the north. Her and Edrien being the ones standing in the crossfire trying to stop the kingdom from tearing itself down.
First up, Duke Talmir—fun.
He stood as if he hadn't just been reprimanded of committing an injustice, and in a way, he hadn't been. He'd simply killed a commoner, one who he felt wronged him. Even the king didn't care, not truly, he only took action because it was an easy win—except for the dead man's family.
"Lady Valewyn. " He barely registered her curtsy.
"Your Grace," she bit on the words.
"What more can I do for the Crown Prince?" Talmir said, aloof and his haughty gaze sliding off her figure to watch the ballroom.
She knew he cared not for her, whether it was her politics or alliances—she was but a boring detail, an accessory of the Crown Prince.
"His Highness has an inspiring proposal that you might find interesting, Your Grace," Rhosyn explained, her tone pleasant despite her desire to cajole. "It is a charter that'll stabilise the kingdom and create prosperity—and thus wealth."
"And what does the king say about this?" Talmir asked, looking as disinterested with the idea as he was with her.
She figured he'll be hard to convince, toeing the line reluctantly and scorning the Crown Prince for using him as a sacrificial lamb. Talmir had no love but for his own skin and his loyalties were to whoever would benefit him.
"The king will see merit in this—"
"Only merit," he sniggered. "We both know the king won't blindly endorse charters just because his heir wishes him to."
Rhosyn breathed a steadying breath. She knew Talmir would be difficult, his disdain for her another challenge that forced her to bite on her tongue.
"Well, I'm sure if you look over the charter you'd agree—"
"Why are you so loyal to the prince, Lady Valewyn?" Talmir cut her off, a sneer curling at his lips. "I wonder, could you really be the river bitch he's pupped?"
The words were a slap and his gaze upon her wanted to capture the scorn on her face—but she didn't give him the pleasure. Rumours always circled and she wouldn't let herself be takings for the vultures.
"I see, no matter," her words dripped warning. "I guess you will be one of the few duchies that don't align yourself with the charter." She turned her back on him. "The prince will remember who stood by him and who sought to besmirch his name."
Rhosyn circled the hall, watching Edrien laugh with Duke Fairfax. That was good news at least. Duke Kingsdown would be just as hard to move as Talmir, which meant her best move was to secure Duke Tidewell.
Tidewell was more forthcoming than she expected, his eye keen for the trades benefits the charter would bring. He understood that the more duchies that signed the Common Charter, the more fruit would be born from it. Where the duchies who failed to would not only lose trade, but their own regions could crash.
He was most interested in the fact that they'd already gained support from Solmere—Duke Fairfax—and Harrowfen—the northern duke.
"But of course we have invited Greenwold—" Duke Talmir, "—and I would support the charter in Ravelocke," Rhosyn stated. "And Duke Caldren of Greyreach has been notified and I am shortly readying myself to make Duke Kingsdown aware, Your Grace."
"Duke Karsyn of Harrowfen you say," Tidewell hummed on a thought. "And you are sure he is in favour of this?"
"He has written to Crown Prince Edrien that he wishes to implement it immediately," Rhosyn couldn't stop the smile that slipped on her face and thanked that Tidewell read it as something sweet.
His brows rose, impressed. "Well, that alone convinces me. If Crown Prince Edrien can win the approval of the northern duke, then I am most definitely on board. But only if the optics prove this direction," Tidewell declared—a businessman at heart.
"Of course, Your Grace," Rhosyn curtsied and watched the man retreat into the hall.
That guaranteed Tidewell as when he hears the news that the northern duke has adopted the Common Charter, he'd assume the support and pledge his own. With Fairfax and herself, that was four duchies, albeit the king agreed to let her sign her region to it. That was another trick she had to wrangle, but she was sure she could, with the little help of her own personal wealth.
Being the sole heir to her father's and uncle's wealth and estate, Rhosyn had a substantial personal wealth protected by her dowry. But she was sure that the king would overlook her making a withdrawal, if the benefactor was himself of course.
More than half the duchies using the Common Charter would force a few other's hands and the kingdom would finally have protected trade rights. Which would only encourage trade and the flow of money within the kingdom's borders.
That, and another win under Edrien's belt and the wind out of the northern duke's sails.
Just one more duke to talk to tonight—Duke Kingsdown—the king's very own 'yes' man. He'd only bow if the king agrees, which meant this conversation would be pointless. But she had to give him foreknowledge of the charter to sell the idea later, so she strolled over to the man with all the composure and grace she could muster—this would be a difficult conversation.