André's arrival had ruined all of Baron Creus's plans.
So he had to plan everything again. Upon learning that André was only eleven years old, his plan was to manipulate him into marrying his son to Alicia and then, after a few years, plan his death in order to be free of suspicion.
But then, outside of Baron Creus's expectations, this child was more difficult to handle than his grandmother.
It seemed that fate was against his son: with the excellence of the new viscount there was no way for his son to replace him.
He himself could see the changes in the viscounty. Everyone's life seemed better; the economic and social development was evident. Baron Creus was not one of those snobbish nobles who believed that only their own well-being mattered and forgot about the common people.
Baron Creus had always been clear that, for a territory to prosper, the common people play a fundamental role, and that the nobles, in order to be prosperous, need the support of the populace.
That is why he saw no hope that his son would achieve his ambitions.
But it seemed not everything was said. No one can be perfect in everything: the boy focused on economic and social development, but he forgot something very important, which is the military side.
With his previous plans, Baron Creus had under his influence almost half of the militia and the knights of the viscounty.
According to his informants, the boy had taken out one hundred of his most loyal knights and who knows where he put them, but Baron Creus did not suspect that there was anything wrong.
He was a little alert when they began recruiting on a large scale, but then he realized it was for those large factories and that he did not need to worry.
So then, Baron Creus decided to wait for an opportunity and carry out André's assassination.
And the opportunity arrived faster than he expected.
With only three months in power, André had made great changes that, according to these visionless nobles, were harmful to them. But even so, many were undecided regarding rebellion and could not make up their minds.
Baron Creus also did not urge them strongly: it suited him that the changes continued, so that when his son took power he would only eliminate some regulations and keep them content.
The breaking point happened three days earlier, when the lord's new ordinances were informed to them:
First: any lord in the Solomon Viscounty is prohibited from collecting any tax in his territory. Those who violate this rule will be condemned to death.
Likewise, the lord of the viscounty will send a special team every quarter for the collection of taxes. Any embezzlement will have severe punishments, which could even be death.
Second: in the Solomon Viscounty any form of slavery is prohibited. Each lord must free his serfs immediately or pay them the minimum wage stipulated in the laws of the Kingdom of Antares.
Those infringing nobles will lose their fief, and common people could be condemned to death.
After reading the viscount lord's communiqué, Baron Creus knew that the opportunity was there.
The boy had turned the chessboard over: those two regulations had violated the final result of all the local lords.
It should be known that these fools profited a great deal from the collection of taxes. These measures did not affect Baron Creus because he had imposed them long ago in his territory, but no one had to know that.
Today there would be a secret meeting to decide how to deal with the viscount lord.
"Father, what do you think the lord is thinking to rush and impose such radical rules?" Julián Creus spoke with his father, pulling him out of his internal thoughts.
"The idea is good, but its implementation is very poorly executed," Baron Creus replied to his son.
"What do you mean, Father?"
He did not answer his son. Instead, he asked:
"How would you do it?"
"I believe I would impose a supervisor in each territory and, little by little, take power away from them until removing them completely," Julián answered.
"Not bad, that is a good option." Baron Creus looked at his son with appreciation.
"And how would you handle the slavery issue?"
"I am afraid I do not have an answer for you, Father."
"It's fine; in fact this subject is not easy for anyone."
Baron Creus hesitated a little and then spoke again:
"The truth is that the boy is not bad, only that the times are not correct."
"How is that, Father?"
A pinch of doubt shone on Julián's face.
"If the boy had first established his authority in the viscounty, many would protest, but they would not rebel. Even so he should handle them one by one, not everything at once. Now he gives us the great chance to achieve our objective."
"Luck for us."
Julián had a self-satisfied smile.
"Do not get overconfident; we must be attentive until the last moment."
Julián became serious again and answered:
"Yes, Father."
"Let's go; I do not want our friends to wait too long."
Leaving through a corridor, Baron Creus, followed by his son Julián, arrived at a small hall where there were about twenty people.
"Gentlemen, we apologize for the delay. Now we can begin."
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