The Bell Tolls for Me-101: Winner Takes All

The Bell Tolls for Me-101: Winner Takes All

“One thing is for certain,” a young man at the head of the table said. “Edgar cannot be our king. He frames our fathers, our uncles. He executes them without due process. He acts rashly, recklessly. He treats both the commons and the nobles as if they were his personal property. We thought Edgar II was bad, but has Edgar I been any better? If this goes on…”
Another man stood up boldly. “There is only one path that we can take. There’s only one other valid claimant, as I see it. Others may exist, but none have the popularity with the people and the legal legitimacy. We must recognize that Princess Isabella’s regency never truly ended, and Edgar unlawfully usurped the throne.”
“Her father?” Someone pointed out. “Her own father—a man king once before, for many decades—unlawfully usurped the throne? How can he take what was his?”
“The man was dead,” another argued. “And if he wasn’t, he abdicated all responsibility by faking his own death. He surrendered responsibility, and consequently his power along with it.”
“We are teetering at the edge of destruction, ladies and gentlemen.” One of the few older men in the room stood up. “If we do nothing, this continent could be thrown into a civil war that completely fractures the realm and leaves all of us without a legitimate claim on their title. All of us owe our positions to the grace of the monarchy. If it doesn’t remain coherent, then we are lost.”
“And the only viable option for coherence is Isabella,” another pointed out. “Half the commons believe so. She’s earned their love, their admiration. Most of us are new to our roles, and still uncertain even within our own domains. And, unlike her father… she remains peacefully in the north, causing no friction. If we act now, we may be rewarded immensely. If we don’t, we could endure a civil war the likes of which this realm has never seen. With the Veymontists… one shudders to imagine an uprising of the commons. We could be facing heretics for centuries.”
The table went silent for a few moments.
“I suppose all that remains is to vote amongst ourselves,” one said.
***
Isabella looked at a missive from the south. A fairly sizable group of nobles had sent forth a message, publicly and privately, urging Isabella to reconvene the regency council to decide the new king. Just as her declaration of the title had been some months ago, this was tantamount to open rebellion against King Edgar. Word of his death had not yet reached Dovhain. Perhaps it had, but some simply just didn’t believe it.
In time, though, they’d all know. Edgar the Terrible was dead. And Isabella would see to it he was remembered as such.
“I’ve been looking for quite some time now,” Arthur said. “There certainly was a grand fight in the ocean where Edgar died… but once more, that may have been his. I’ve found no bodies. The current is incredibly fierce there, so it’s not likely to be found even if there was one.”
Isabella looked at Arthur. “I was told the devils can’t be killed.”
“If they manifest in this realm and die, they won’t be able to interact with this world for many centuries,” Arthur explained with authority, but added to soften his conviction, “Or so goes the research that I’ve read. I haven’t exactly had the opportunity to test it. Devils are… a dying breed.”
“Tell me truly.” Isabella looked at Arthur. “Do you believe that they’re gone?”
Arthur took a deep breath and paced around the room. Valerio, sitting on the windowsill silently, watched him.
“In our last life, Bernadetta defeated Edgar,” Arthur said. “Frankly, I see no reason that she’s also not capable of dealing with all of them. Indeed, perhaps she did in our last life. But she deceived you, and now she’s outlived her usefulness. I suggest you kill her now, be done with it.”
Isabella and Valerio both looked at Arthur silently.
“Thank you for your ,” Isabella thanked him. “You must feel relieved, considering that your sacrifice didn’t exactly go as planned. Now, we’ll have ample time to ensure your survival.”
Arthur said nothing. He dipped his head, and then walked out of the room. He seemed to be grappling with some complex emotions.
Isabella stood up and walked over to where Valerio sat on the windowsill. “Is it over, you think? Is it truly, honestly over?” she asked.
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Valerio spoke matter-of-factly. “Some problems remain unsolved. You still have an absurd number of siblings, some of which are intent on claiming the throne. There’s a lot of clean up that needs to happen to be sure that things don’t simply fall apart once you step away. But Edgar is dead… and the devils angling for your soul seem to be, too. And there’s the Ithilian. They expect your help.”
Isabella walked over to the windowsill and sat on it just the same as he did. “After dealing with Edgar, all of that seems so negligible.” She laughed. “To think that I had to try so hard to gain the position of regent, and now it’s being offered to me by the nobles I once so feared. It’s… hmm.” She smiled.
“Archduke Felix’s territory is unspent, and decidedly loyal. He’s already expressed that he’s committed to restoring authority under your name, and then seeing Sylvain crowned as king.” Valerio pulled out a dagger, spinning it through his fingers. “Grim as it is to say, Edgar dealt with some of your most dangerous brothers. Bernadetta remains under our control. The nobility are wrecked, with untested youths presiding over prominent titles. They have to ensure their succession before challenging any you might put forth.”
Isabella watched the snowscape beyond. “Youths, you say. I’m youthful enough, yet I think I do fine. Something to consider, perhaps?”
“I think you’ve certainly been tested, though.” Valerio offered his hand. “Hopefully I’ll be around to ensure that doesn’t happen again.”
“You will be,” Isabella said, taking his hand. Her small nails traced his ring finger. “Because we’ll be married, soon. Won’t we?”
It was a confirmation of something Isabella knew they both felt, but Valerio still smiled as brightly as she had ever seen. “Absolutely.”
“Once we’re sure that this land is stable, we’ll go elsewhere,” Isabella said decisively. “Ambrose. We’ll visit Ambrose. I wish to spit on a statue, and show a certain foolish girl what she missed out on.” She eyed Valerio.
Indeed, she missed out on quite a lot of man.
Isabella looked away before she grew red. “Then we’ll return to the Ithilian. I’ll keep my promise. I’ll help them avoid the pitfalls of what we’ve endured here. Even I’m not surely full what that entails, but I’d love to think of it.”
“You’ll help them avoid a time-traveling insane tyrant?” Valerio asked. “You’re the only one who could do that left alive.”
Isabella laughed quietly. “Unless one of my siblings is a late bloomer. A frightening thought. But beyond the elves… frankly, I don’t know,” Isabella said, shaking her head. “I simply don’t know what comes next for me. For us,” she corrected. “Do you wish to uphold your commitments to them?”
“I’ve given the elves more than what they need to advance,” Valerio said. “I already told you I was looking for freedom from them. They’ll grow, expand… they’ll become capable of defending themselves. Indeed, they likely already are. And when they’re ready,
they’ll
find the rest of the world. Not the other way around.”
Isabella nodded. “I believe that you’ve done more than enough for them.”
Valerio moved closer to her. “We could head back to the oceans—calmer currents, this time. I could show you some of the places that I’ve talked about. I could show you waterfalls larger than your royal palace, rivers wider than a city. You could see mountains that poke above the clouds, canyons that could swallow a dragon like it’s a fly. The jungles, the deserts, the endless plains of grass, the grand civilizations of the rest of the world…” His hand traced up her arm, stopping at her cheek. “Or… we could settle to a modest life. A family. Peace. Quiet. Prosperity. I could manage my ships, my trade routes, as I have been… and you could deepen your study of magic.”
Isabella grabbed his hand as it hovered near her cheek. She peered into his silver eyes, which seemed to see only her. “Which would you want?”
“All I want is you,” he answered smoothly.
Isabella pouted. “Be serious.”
He raised a brow. “And you think I’m not?”
“Very well. Where would you prefer I be most?” Isabella indulged.
“Hmm…” Valerio leaned ever nearer. “What was it Randolph said I had? Concupiscent ambitions?”
Isabella felt some fire pass through her body, but she wasn’t yet comfortable indulging it yet. Besides, she was a little irritated he wouldn’t simply tell her what he really wanted.
“You’ll have to wait for the wedding, I’m afraid.” Isabella stood.
Valerio caught her arm gently, then rose to stand in front of her. “Hold on, hold on…” He pulled her close. “What I want… is both. I want it all.”
“All?” Isabella repeated.
“To show you all I’ve seen,” Valerio said. “And discover some more besides. And when we’re tired… a home. A family.” He looked a little hesitant, as if he thought he was being selfish. “Is that… is that asking too much of you?”
Isabella considered that. “Taking it all… I think I like that.” She smiled at him.
They shared a kiss. For the first time in perhaps her whole life, Isabella felt well and truly comfortable. The future was uncertain. It would remain so. But rather than inspiring terror, it inspired pure excitement.
Isabella pulled away. “But first… one final stretch.”

101: Winner Takes All