Chapter 13 Preview, Part 5

This one is in line with the preview I posted during the last progress update, one of the cases your Crown will be handling and deciding on this chapter! Let's take a look 👀

“Why not redirect the sewers into the river?” an official suggests.

From across the aisle, Minister of Rites turns red in the face as he turns to face the other official. “You wish to defile our rivers with human waste? They are sacred!”

“So is the element of water,” the official argues. “Yet I do not see you protesting its use in the sewer system.”

“A natural river and a magically created flow of water are two different things!”

“Sacred or not, I must agree with the Minister of Rites,” the Wisdom of the Crown interjects. “Unloading an entire city’s worth of waste into the rivers will undoubtedly pollute them. Furthermore, redirecting the sewage may not solve the issue of congestion.”

“But it would at least solve the issue of overflowing from the sewage pits,” the official reasons. “Redirecting the sewers would be quicker and less expensive than rebuilding them entirely, and could be paid with using taxes besides. It need not be forever, just as a temporary solution until we can come up with a more permanent solution.”

“You would force the people suffering from the problem to pay for it?” another official challenges, frowning deeply. “It is the people residing atop the hills that have caused this issue, not the ones at the bottom who now have to live in filth.”

IF THE CROWN HAS MORE POINTS WITH THE ELITES

“They are all citizens of Arsur, are they not?” you consider, the court’s attention turning back to you as you speak. “Whether we use the taxes for the sewage system or not, they have already been paid in equal share. What is so unjust about that?”

“It would require raising the taxes, Your Imperial Majesty,” Steward Welat answers. “It would only be this once in order to fund the endeavor, but it would be a raise all the same. A steep raise if you charge only the citizens of Marabad, or a smaller raise if you charge all of Rojan. Although I imagine other cities would be displeased with having to pay for this.”

You narrow your eyes at him. “If only someone had addressed this issue before it became a pressing problem during the past ten years.”

Welat’s expression does not so much as twitch, bending his head. “What can a lowly steward do, without the authority of a Crown?”

It is a thinly-veiled retort, and one you do not appreciate.

IF THE CROWN HAS MORE POINTS WITH THE PUBLIC

“Can we not fine the ones who caused this problem to begin with?” you suggest, the court’s attention turning back to you as you speak. “It may not be enough to fully fund rebuilding it, but it would go a long way. Besides which, those responsible should be reprimanded for their careless dumping of waste—at the very least, they are putting the health of those lesser fortunate at risk.”

“How would you propose we find the individuals who are doing so, Your Imperial Majesty?” Steward Welat replies. “We cannot monitor every single household. Unless you are suggesting we fine everyone who lives at the top of the hills?”

“A tempting idea.” Your lips lift into a wry smile. “But no, that is not what I am suggesting. I have studied the sewage system, and we could have someone monitor each neighborhood instead. Those neighborhoods that are found to have excessive dumping of waste will be fined.”

“That is still collective punishment,” Steward Welat argues.

“To an extent.” Your smile does not waver from your face. “A lesson must be learned—and what better way than to be despised by your blameless neighbors? Besides, if they can afford to live at the top of the hills, then they can afford the fines.”

To be clear, the variation here is flavor text and shows what option your Crown is more inclined towards naturally, but all options will be available to you regardless of whether your Crown has more points with the public or the elites!

Which side is your Crown leaning towards in this case? 👀

Tomorrow I'll be posting part 2 of X's CH12 POV, btw!

Until then 💖