Chapter 151 - Playing the crowd

Words : 1267 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 151: Chapter 151 - Playing the crowd It’s the same plaza where the public trial of the Duke took place. The whole royal family is present, plus court wizard Lovelace and the three representatives of the beastkin tribes, Yaci, Kwarah, and Yawarete. The event has been announced for the last week, so when we arrive at the plaza, there’s already a crowd waiting for us. The king, the queen, Lovelace, and uncle Jyllian are in the first carriage, so we don’t see the moment they step down from it. But we can hear the crowd’s shouts and cheers. After a few moments, the crowd silences, and we can hear grandpa’s voice. As he addresses the public and thanks them for their presence, we get ready to step out, because we know what everyone in this plaza is waiting to see. On the cue, I get down from the carriage first and go to the stage, waving to the crowd. After me comes Levinna, and then Lillian. They don’t come immediately to the stage, though. Instead, they stay to help Yaci, Kwarah, and Yawarete out of the carriage. It’s all planned and choreographed, intended to symbolize the saint supporting the beastkin. Even the clothes Mom is wearing were carefully chosen. She’s wearing a top that leaves the scars on her torso visible. The crowd erupts in cheers again as they see Saint Lillian. When the beastkin come out, there’s a moment of hesitant silence before some new cheers. It was all expected, though. We are fully aware that things will not be exactly easy. Even with all the preparations and propaganda, this is the very first time a beastkin is seen in public without a slave collar in this city. The five of them come together to the stage, with the beastkin flanked on both sides by Lily and Levy. The security is very tight around the carriages and in the whole plaza. There are two knight regiments, but also several undercover agents from my army, ready to take action at any moment’s notice. Curiously, the Church didn’t send any officials to the event, though they were notified according to protocol. That’s actually good. One less thing to worry about. ::: After the crowd calms again, Mother takes the center of the stage and talks. Her voice is amplified by subtle arias that affect the wind around her. "I want to introduce everyone to some very important people. These three here are the representatives of the beastkin tribes, sent to the royal capital." Again, some hesitant cheers. But, at least, no shouts against, which is what we were most afraid of. "First, Yawarete. She’s the head elder of the catfolk tribe and a good friend." Yawarete shyly waves to the crowd, which reacts with applause. "Then, we have Kwarah, who is the leader of the wolf tribe and played a crucial role in helping with the preparations for Aurea to be able to rescue me from captivity." The shouts and cheers are more decisive now, as the narrative about the rescue eases the people’s hearts. "And last but not least, there’s Yaci. She is the one who rescued Aurea when she fled to the Barrens, lived with Aurea during those years, and was the person responsible for her well-being." The ovation now drowns Mom’s voice, as the famed beastkin who saved Aurea is revealed and given a face and a name. After the public calms a bit, Mom continues. "She is also the one who infiltrated the city of Amapytu alongside Aurea to rescue me, even at the risk of becoming a slave herself if she was captured." The crowd erupts once again. Anyone who put their life on the line to rescue the Saint should be a good person and deserving of full respect, right? That’s a very easy story to capitalize on. Lillian raises her hand, signaling for the people to be silent so she can continue speaking. "The beastkin have been wronged for centuries. Pursued and enslaved in the name of greed, only to become playthings to the rich and powerful." Yet another pause to let people calm down again. "And how did they respond? With hatred? No! They responded by saving and caring for an unknown girl in the wilderness. They retaliated for all the mistreatment they received by rescuing me in my biggest moment of need!!!" Mom is so good at this... she really does a fine job at rallying people. "And yet, the beastkin are still slaves in this country. Do you people think that’s fair?" "NO!!!" "Free the beastkin!" To be honest, some of our own people were in the middle of the crowd to incite them. But still, they responded exactly the way we played them. Soon the chant of ’free the beastkin’ took hold throughout the crowd. We let them sing for a couple of minutes before grandpa took the center of the stage again and made a signal for everyone to calm down. "And it’s in light of all of this that I’m proclaiming a new law in the kingdom of Wesgoth. From this day onwards, slavery is outlawed in this kingdom. All slaves, human and from other races, should be freed and be granted full citizenship." There’s a whole cacophony of sounds, a mixture of cheers and shouts of surprise and incredulity. I guess that even though we were playing them in that direction, the whole concept of not existing slaves was still too new and outlandish for everyone. After they calm down, Mother stands at the side of the king as he continues talking, while I take the other side. "Saint Lillian will personally supervise an institution dedicated to integrating former slaves into the society, as well as the beastkin from the Barrens who desire to join our country." To have the king himself call Lily a saint in public like this was another rehearsed idea. In just one move it solidifies her religious position and frames everyone who is against the end of slavery as being against the saint who defends the poor people. "Also, her daughter, Aurea Annes, is from now on the Duchess of Altenfeld, the domain that was once in the hands of the Addlington family. She will coordinate with her mother the settlement of beastkin in that territory." Yeah, it’s my time to shine. I smile and wave as the crowd cheers once again. Duchess Aurea Annes of Altenfeld has a nice ring to it. I wonder what fate has me tied to so many ’A’-starting names. But I’ll leave that to those numerologist people. As soon as I have some silence, I step forth and speak my first words as a Duchess. "As the Duchess of the province of Altenfeld, I want to make it clear that intolerance against beastkin, fae folk, and humans who were formerly slaves will not be tolerated under any circumstances. I want to help make Wesgoth a prosperous and free country for EVERYONE. There’s no meaning in wealth and prosperity if it is shared only by the minority. A rich country is a country where everyone is rich together. That is my vision for my domain and for all of Wesgoth!" Hehe. I am not as popular as my mother, but I still have my own little renown. I used to hate living in this country. But maybe that was just a bias of living secluded in the Academy. Right now, I want to make a truly happy and prosperous country. I think that I’m starting to indwell the title of Duchess, after all.

Chapter 151 - Playing the crowd

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