Book 12: Chapter 53


    Mommy Elizabeth ced down the n I handed her. Smiling, she said, Son, you mustve finished the preparations for your coronation, right? You sure are fast. I prepared for a very long time for my coronation. This is a very ordinary coronation ceremony. Its as ordinary and simple as a ball. Son, your coronation ceremony is a one-off event, you know? Dont think this simple coronation ceremony of yours is <em>too </em>simple?


    I think its just perfect. I dont ce much importance on a coronation ceremony. If you ask me, the people wont remember me for my coronation ceremony. In my opinion, its the things I do afterwards that will be remembered. What Im most confident in is not my coronation ceremony, but my set ofws. Freya, I and a group of people spent four to five months to design thisplete set ofws and apletew system. The North doesnt need civilians taking matters into their own hands or vengeance. From now on, everything in the North will be dealt with ording to thew. Judgement will be fair, just and without bias. I will start this movement.


    In a serious tone, Mom argued, Son, you used your time and blood to obtain this empire. You should grant yourself special right; thats what you deserve as the ruler. Im sure Freya wasnt the one who created this; or maybe I should say that Freya gave you a chance to, but you got rid of it, yourself. Son, have you forgotten what Mommy told you? You have to bear in mind that youre the ruler. You set the rules; therefore, you can choose not to stick to what you set in ce. Honestly speaking, Mommy seesw as a tool you use to limit what others can do using your special rights. Its a tool that a ruler uses to maintain their rule. Its basically the same as prison and the military.


    No. By the sounds of it, we viewws differently. I, too, thinkw is a tool for ruling. Its a tool for me to run this nation. If I want the tool to be effective, it must apply for everybody. Mom, you run your vast empire with supreme military force. In reality, though, I cant do that, as I dont have a powerful military as you do. The only thing I can use is the peoples self-discipline. Once everybody remembers thews, theyll still conduct themselves morally andwfully even without a military or mymand.


    Son, dont think of people in such a positive light. When theres no food and hope, theyll be wild beasts even if theyre usually polite.


    Wearing a smile, I exined, Thats why ensuring they have enough to eat and are full of hope is my main job. I dont have any enemies. My main job is to ensure the people have enough to eat and to give them hope. I think thats where Freya and I are on the same page, but also slightly differ. Perhaps I should say that I dont really like Freyas attitude towards the people.


    Mom sat down to the side. She crossed her legs: I, on the other hand, feel Freyas attitude is right. Son, what is the meaning of ruling a nation to you? Put another way, how do you view ruling a nation? To Mommy, ruling a nation is simr to a business deal; its a situation where you use your best hand. We must be in charge of all of the operations. Militaries, people and wealth are all bargaining chips we can use topete. Sometimes we need to abandon some cards. The people are the same as a herd of cattle we raise. We usually need milk. In winter, however, we need smoked meat. As for the people, its the same no matter who rules. Its just that under our rule, we use them if we can. We just treat them the same as cattle. We just need to provide them with the fundamentals. They arent loyal to us. They only feel as though we fed them.


    I replied, Perhaps thats true. Nevertheless, I dont consider people tools or consumables to us but the foundation of founding my nation. My military, taxes and food, alle from them. I think the people show no recognition for their ruler precisely because we only care about feeding them.


    It seems that trip to the snowy mountains was a mistake, Son, interjected Mommy Elizabeth, with a wave of her hand. She smiled: It appears that Karanas style was effective on you, huh? Son, dont be led astray by Karanas ideas. Karana did exactly that, but the people are no different to a bottomless pit. Its impossible to fill it. However, lets not discuss this now. How to rule a nation isnt something for us to discuss. How about we talk about Daisy?


    Mm, youre right.


    There was actually nothing wrong with what Karana said; she just oversimplified things. Karana still thought that satisfying material needs was enough. In reality, it wasnt.


    I had to give the people a sense of recognition. To achieve that, I needed to empower them with a sense of honour. I needed them to think I was the ruler, let them know where I was from and make them feel proud to be ruled by me. That was the only way they would feel that it didnt matter who ruled and stepped up when it was time to fight.


    Being recognised by humanity and material goods were strongly corrted to the whole equation, nheless. What Karana wants was somewhat different to Marx and Engels theories. The crux of the issue was that was all Karana was capable of thinking of at the moment. At present, nobody considered the psychological side of the equation.


    Perhaps I can invite Karanae to the North to have a look for herself in the future, I thought.


    The North that I wanted was a bit different to what Freya wanted. That being said, our reasons didnt need to match, since our end goal was the same.


    Mom pulled on me to stand up: Okay then, Son, provide me with a good seating location for your coronation ceremony. Do you want to go outside for a stroll in the flower garden together and enjoy the sunlight while its out?


    I shook my head with a smile: No. Mommy Elizabeth, I just came back from outside with Lucia.


    Mom nodded with a hint of disappointment: I actually wanted to go for a stroll with you in the afternoon. Im honestly really fond of flowers. I suppose its the only remaining habit Ive kept from the past.


    No, dancing is to me, as well.


    Is it?mented Mommy Elizabeth. She spun around with a smile: Honestly, I quite envy Lucia, since she got to dance in such a bright sea of flowers. I wanted to dance with your father as you did, too But I dont think Ill have a chance


    Lets go, Mom. I cut Mom off, thereby stopping her from recalling the past. I then invited her to dance with a hand gesture: Lets go, Mom. You want to dance in the sea of flowers? Were not in formal wear, theres no music, and Im not my father, but dancing with your son will do, right?


    Moms eyes were filled with surprise. A momentter, she revealed an eager and consoled smile. She grabbed hold of my hand and gently adjusted her long-ck hair. With a smile she replied, Id be happy to, Mr. Rosvenor.