Chương 99: Book 3; Chapter 98; No attention to people's likes or dislikes

"Then how will I know what happened next?" Anniet asked.

"But I can tell you what happened next." Old John offered.

"Meeting escalated into the argument, to the point where Blake firmly requested a demotion, no matter to what position. Many were eager to do so, but this wish could not be granted - nobody had promoted him, nobody could demote him. Seeing that everything was going downhill rapidly, Rainee asked if she could make a request and whether this request would be taken into consideration. She spoke directly to the King, who, in those days, rarely participated in these debates and was snoozing in his chair.

At those times, he was so devoid of interest in the affairs taking place in those meetings that he never even sat at a table with everyone, or at least that was what people thought was the reason why he would not sit with everyone else. So his chair was further away, on the raised platform, while everyone else was seated at the long table below. Truth be told, that day he wasn't snoozing and was watching with interest, but still didn't involve himself in any of the debates and arguments.

When Rainee asked him directly, the answer she received was: ' Only the King can deny speech to you, only equally raised brothers and sisters might question you.' Everyone fell silent, as nobody understood what kind of reply that was. Seeing the confusion, the King said that yes, she can make requests and propositions at any time, and they will never go unnoticed because of the position she is occupying right now.

But he also suggested considering what impact her request could have on others for the very same reason — the position she is occupying right now. Would her request bring more conflict, or would it remedy the situation?" Then Rainee suggested postponing this meeting for a few days, or at least until tomorrow, to give everyone some extra time to calm down and reconsider the plan of action, as she thought it was not wise to approve a plan for a year in advance when everyone was so hotheaded.

This proposition was met with fierce resistance, with people claiming that this is how it has been for years, and there is no reason for it to be any different this time either. The King asked if anyone would support Rainee's suggestion. Only General Angus said he would. When asked why, he pointed out that that day's circumstances were different and could not be compared to past years. Events that had happened that day could not be predicted or planned for, so all plans that were ready had to be reconsidered anew.

As circumstances were different, the usual procedures would not make any sense, so he strongly agreed with Rainee's proposition. The King asked if anyone disagreed with Angus's statement, and this time no one could, not because they would not dare to oppose, but because what he said was plainly obvious and made sense, and to oppose it would be the same as opposing logic. So Rainee happily stood up, declared the meeting over, and invited everyone to leave now and come back tomorrow.

Surprisingly, this time no one either objected or hesitated, but stood up instantly and left in a very organised order. Only the King, Rainee, Angus, and Blake were left in the meeting hall. That was the first time that Rainee truly understood the power of her position that the King had mentioned before. Meanwhile, Blake didn't understand anything at that time. However, the words that Rainee told him later that night made a big impact on him, led to a major breakthrough, and put an end to that pandemonium."

"What did she say?" Anniet was eager to know.

"Truth. That's why it worked. She said that, no matter what he thinks then, for his quest, he could not be placed in a better position, even if he tried. If he were assigned a lower rank, he would not be able to stay with her at these kinds of meetings to provide support when no one else is willing to support her. Because he would not have enough power to do so.

He would be accountable to others, and those who are above him in rank would be able to tell him where to be and what to do, whereas now he is accountable only to the King. That even if his wish were to be granted and he were assigned to her division, under her command, as he had initially planned, he wouldn't be able to stay next to her all the time, as there are times and places where only the highest-ranked officers are permitted to enter and he wouldn't be one of them.

How then would he be able to look after her and protect her if he himself cannot be where he wants to be? A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. In daily life, there are difficult or even dangerous situations, and sometimes help is needed, but there will always be someone to help.

In a place where help is needed from the strongest, only the strongest would be able to help, and if he willingly demoted himself from such a position, then he would not be one of them. That right now he is burning with anger and thrashing in a rage only because he doesn't recognise the gift he was given and takes it either as a burden or as a restriction. If he were to think with a bit more clarity and open mind, he would understand that nothing happens without a reason.

If he looked back into his life, he would see that all events that happened and that seemed random, difficult to understand, or even unpleasant were like preparation for something good that followed, and only his lack of understanding prevented him from seeing the wider picture. Why should it be different now?

How many times in the past had Blake refused to take a path opened for him, and he had ended up taking a long detour that brought him to the very same place where he could already have been if he had taken the shortcut offered to him? Was he really seeing the path opened for him now clearly enough to refuse it and take a diversion again? Things in the world don't stop and wait while someone is taking a detour.

What he would find now in the place that is offered to him and what he would find later, after finding a way back to it again, would be completely different. Does he really want to exchange the unknown offered now for a different unknown that he will find in a place he wants to exchange this offer for?"

"So Blake reconsidered?"

"Yup, he did." Old John confirmed"He agreed to assume the position offered to him."

"Yes, and embraced it with all his heart."

"So, the following day, he came prepared and took his rightfully earned position?"

"And yes, and no. There is no mistake in your statement; however, what you imagine when saying it and what happened aren't the same. The following day, when everyone came to the meeting room, they found different rules. The door was closed, and no one could enter before the King came in. The room was rearranged. King's seat was now at one end of the long table, a clear indication that he intended to be more involved. But not only that. His chair used to be on a raised platform.

Now this raised area was wider and larger, and part of the long table was on this raised section, looming over the rest of the seats. Maybe not too high, just a few inches, but still it stood above the rest. Nobody knew how to behave, what the new rules were, or where to sit, as the old order was swept away just like that. The King encouraged them not to worry too much and to choose a seat where everyone felt most comfortable. Angus walked straight to the raised area, on the right side of the table.

Rainee followed Angus, and Blake followed Rainee. Angus offered the seat closest to the King to Rainee, knowing how much affection she had for him. But Rainee declined this offer. Partially because she always saw Angus as the future King, partially because she knew that Blake wanted to be next to her, and she herself wanted to be next to Angus. So she had no doubt where her place was. So Angus took the seat closest to the King, Rainee sat next to him, and Blake next to Rainee.

That is the order they maintain to this day, as you have seen in the ceremony at School."

"What about Ruffus?" Anniet was wondering why Ruffus wasn't mentioned by Old John.

"Ruffus had to sit much further. He wasn't a general at that time."

"So only generals could sit next to the King?"

"And yes, and no. The seat wasn't bound to the general's position. Also, not every general could take it. Not because they were forbidden. Simply, they could not find enough inner peace, strength, and support within themselves to take this seat. As later the King explained, to avoid meaningless debates about ranks, the order from then on was very simple — those who are closest to him have the highest ranks.

Those who are with him at the same level will work with him at the same level, and no matter what title they have, they will obey only the King and no one else. While everyone else, regardless of the title held, would be under their direct command. Not because the rules had been changed. From the previous day's obedience to Rainee's command, everyone already had a taste of it. The rules were already present the previous day, even though not many could understand them yet.

He chose this way of seating so everyone could understand their place and stop disputing it, as there was nothing that could be disputed. The King let everyone who was not happy with where they sat swap seats. Many people tried to take a seat at the same level as the King but couldn't do it. Many swapped seats with each other by mutual agreement. However, no matter what agreement was made, one could agree only to take a seat further from the King, but not closer.

In other words, they could willingly demote themselves in favour of another, but those whom they tried to put ahead of themselves could not get any closer to the King. The Prime Minister wasn't happy with the situation, as he didn't want to be so plainly far away from the King. Then he came up with an idea and took the place at the other end of the table. Many praised this move, as to most, it looked like the Prime Minister was nearly equal to the King.

Future Prime Ministers including the current Chancellor followed his example."

"Was it a good move?"

"How could it be? The King clearly said that those who sit closest to him will have higher ranks — in other words, the most power and support from the King. Not many understand that it is not they who support the King, but the King who supports them. So, by making this choice, the Prime Minister chose the furthest possible seat from the King. All the rest is just play and pretence based on twisted interpretations.

By trying to play smart the Prime Minister simply placed himself in opposition to the very same power that provided support. Blake was offered the option to step down too. By doing so, his general title would be suspended by the King, purposely placing limitations on him. But Blake declined this offer, which he had sought with all his might just a day earlier. By doing so, he brought even more disapproval upon himself for being two-faced, but it didn't touch him or infect him.

By now, he had chosen the path he wanted to walk and had understood that, to stay on this path, he would have to stop paying any attention to people's likes or dislikes. And I must say it only did him good."