Chapter 76 - The Work Begins

I didn't spend long in the bath, only making sure that it was clean, and the smell was gone before I rinsed everything off and headed to the attached changing room. The maids got me ready quickly, and this time I didn't squirm or blush. I'd just slept with over a hundred women, simple things like women seeing me naked weren't gonna affect me anymore. They dressed me in a simple black, gold, and silver setup, with a clock that reached the top of my shoes, which were of a black and gold design. the entire thing made me look rather imperious, especially the way it matched with my eyes.

After I was dressed I had a quick meal then ordered one of the maids to bring me, Susana and Richard. Whilst I waited for them, I thought about Esdeath and Lelith, and if I should send them to storage. Were they done? or were they still... interrogating Biroth? I sent a maid to ask a guard to check on them and to bring them to me. Even if they weren't done, they'd probably done enough. Ten minutes with either was bad enough, and Biroth had spent an entire night with them.

I pushed away the thoughts of what they might have done to him.

Susana and Richard arrived just as I finished my food, and motioned one for the maids to take it away. Both my advisors bowed deeply to me, which I was glad for. Kneeling was all good and fine, but there was a time and place for it.

"I've called you here today because now that this war is over, it's time to finally start preparing for the changes I'm going to be bringing to this kingdom," I said. "None of the changes will really take effect until after the announcement but I would like to get things ready now. First and foremost I want to know where all of our gold is going, and where everything is and how much of it we have."

I was not by any means, a business professional, but a year of online courses that had led to nowhere had taught me enough, and I had plenty of relatives who had tried to get me into business. I'd also read quite a few books on business that had promised to make me rich. Yes, I had like many fallen for those, but while I hadn't gotten rich, the combined knowledge of those online courses, the books, and my own natural talent for organization and strategy made me better than most at understanding finances.

"Your majesty," Richard said slowly. "You want all accounts audited?"

"Yes," I replied. "Like I said I want to know what we have and how much of it we have. I also want performance reviews on everyone who's working inside the palace. I want to know how much we're paying everyone and the benefits the people who work for us receive. There is also one more thing."

I took a deep breath before I said it, hoping I was right about Richard and Susana. "As I'm sure your aware I'm not used to this position and because of that I will need a full briefing of what I can do as a king within the Tyrofell empire. I want to know the empire's laws and the major power players that I should be aware of. Whether you want to sit down with me and tell me or have something written up doesn't matter. I need to know as soon as possible. I'm good at strategy, but I need to know all the pieces in play and what moves are viable and what moves arent."

I waited for some form of shock but to my surprise, they both nodded in understanding.

"We understand, your majesty," Susana said. "If Richard is willing to get all information on the empire, its law, and the groups you should be aware of, I can handle the information on our coin and everything else."

Richard glanced at Susan for a second before nodding. "I can agree to that."

"Oh and I also want to get a handle of our production and consumption within the kingdom," I added. "I also want to know what this war had cost us. I have ideas to make coin, but before I set any of those into motion I need an understanding of where everything is. I'll also need to have a sitdown with the two of you later to go over some things and ideas I have in mind."

I leaned back in my chair, looking at the two of them. "Before the announcement, I want to have at least a basic understanding of everything. I have one task today and after that, this is what I will be focusing on. Tomorrow will be much the same, though it will depend on what I learn today. That's all, you have your tasks. I want the information sent to my study. I do have a study, don't I?"

Richard nodded. "It's just down the hall from your chambers,"

"Good," I said. 'Well then, you have your tasks."

They both bowed, and I didn't miss the impressed look Richard shot Susana. It seemed they hadn't expected me to have such an understanding of finances and what was needed in ruling a kingdom. All that useless knowledge was finally being put to good use.

As I waited for Esdeath and Lelith, I had one of the maids bring me a drink, something light. By that time she arrived and poured me a glass, Esdeath and Lelith had arrived, both with happy smiles on their faces.

Esdeath opened her mouth, but I held a hand up to forestall her. "I don't want to know the details at all, any information he had I'll be glad to hear, but besides that, I don't want to know. I trust in your capabilities, though I have to ask, is he dead?"

"No, he still lives," Lelith said. "And his face is undamaged, at least to casual eyes it will seem so."

Esdeath chuckled at that, and before they could tell me any more I stood and headed out the room, motioning them to follow me.

"Come on," I said. "I need to introduce you all to each other then give you your tasks and positions."

I ordered the first guard to take me to the largest training room we had, something which I had learnt about when I'd overheard a conversation as I'd walked to my chambers earlier. The guard nodded and led the way. It only took ten minutes to reach the large set of doors which led into a stone chamber with three large racks of weapons on one side, an odd stone desk that was covered in glowing runes, and a few stone statues set off to one side of the room.

I didn't bother heading for the weapons racks or the desk, which I assumed was some sort of control panel. I instead headed further into the room and stopped when I was a quarter way in. The room was wide enough and large enough for all my summons except Oars who I would speak with later or tomorrow. I had a special task in mind for him. Without waiting any longer I took a deep breath before I summoned everyone, but oars.