Adrian quickly discovered that finding talented people was easier than managing them.
Elias wanted more soldiers and better equipment.
Clara wanted access to every customs record in the kingdom.
Liora wanted a laboratory.
And all three wanted funding.
Adrian stared at the requests spread across his desk.
“You’ve been here for less than two weeks.”
The three of them stood in front of him.
Elias crossed his arms.
“You asked us to find problems.”
“I did.”
“We found them.”
Adrian sighed.
“Of course you did.”
Clara tried not to smile.
Liora was already looking at the papers.
“Your Majesty?”
“Yes?”
“When can I get the laboratory?”
Adrian looked at her.
“How much?”
She gave him a number.
He nearly fell out of his chair.
“That’s more than some villages earn in a year.”
“I need equipment.”
“Why?”
“Because magic is difficult to study without equipment.”
Adrian rubbed his forehead.
“Fair.”
He looked toward Marcus.
“How much can we afford?”
Marcus gave him a number.
Adrian’s expression became serious.
Not enough.
That was the problem.
He could have ordered the treasury to fund everything.
But that would be irresponsible.
The kingdom already had financial problems.
He needed to prioritize.
“Elias gets the equipment needed for the frontier study.”
Elias nodded.
“Clara gets access to the customs records and two assistants.”
Clara bowed.
“And Liora…”
Adrian looked at her.
“You get a small laboratory.”
Her face lit up.
“But.”
Her expression fell slightly.
“You will have to make do with what we can afford.”
“I understand.”
“And I want detailed records of everything you research.”
“Of course.”
Adrian leaned back.
“You’re not getting unlimited funding.”
“I wouldn’t expect that.”
“Good.”
He looked at all three.
“None of you should.”
They nodded.
Adrian had learned an important lesson over the past month.
Money was limited.
Ideas weren’t.
The trick was deciding which ideas deserved money first.
Later that afternoon, Adrian visited the royal workshops again.
Daniel was there.
The young craftsman was standing beside his waterwheel.
Except it wasn’t the same waterwheel anymore.
Adrian stopped.
“You changed it.”
Daniel turned.
“Your Majesty.”
He wiped his hands on his clothes.
“I made the paddles wider.”
Adrian walked around the machine.
“Why?”
“The first version didn’t catch enough water.”
“And?”
“I changed the angle.”
Adrian crouched.
The new design was still rough.
But it was better.
Much better.
“Does it work?”
Daniel nodded.
“Try it.”
Adrian stepped back.
Daniel opened a small gate.
Water rushed through the channel.
The wheel began turning.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
The attached wooden shaft started rotating.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“What does the shaft do?”
“Nothing yet.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t built anything for it.”
Adrian smiled.
“Then let’s build something.”
Daniel blinked.
“Something?”
“A pump.”
“A pump?”
“Something that can move water.”
Daniel thought about it.
“That could work.”
“It would be useful for irrigation.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
Adrian pointed toward the wheel.
He pointed toward the shaft.
“The wheel turns the shaft.”
Then he looked at Daniel.
“The shaft can move another mechanism.”
Daniel stared at the machine.
“I think I understand.”
“Good.”
Adrian smiled.
“Then figure it out.”
Daniel laughed nervously.
“You’re not going to tell me how?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you built this.”
Daniel looked at him.
Adrian continued.
“If I solve every problem for you, I’m not helping you become better.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Then I’ll try.”
“Do more than try.”
Adrian walked away.
He wasn’t sure if the pump would work.
Maybe Daniel would fail.
Maybe they’d need ten attempts.
That was fine.
Failure was part of engineering.
That evening, Adrian sat in his study studying a map of Arvendale.
He had begun marking important locations.
Mines.
Rivers.
Farms.
Ports.
Military forts.
Cities.
Roads.
He was slowly beginning to understand the kingdom.
Not enough.
But more than before.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
Elena entered carrying a book.
“You’ve been avoiding dinner again.”
Adrian looked up.
“I forgot.”
“You forgot to eat?”
“I was working.”
“That’s worse.”
She put the book on his desk.
“Come.”
“I’m busy.”
“So am I.”
“Doing what?”
“Making sure my brother doesn’t starve.”
Adrian smiled.
“I’ll eat later.”
“No.”
She grabbed his arm.
“Now.”
“Elena.”
“King or not, you’re still my brother.”
Adrian sighed.
“Fine.”
They walked toward the dining hall.
As they went, Elena glanced at him.
“You’re different.”
Adrian had heard those words several times now.
“I know.”
“No, I mean really different.”
He looked at her.
She continued.
“You used to hate studying.”
“I still do.”
She laughed.
“You spend all day reading reports.”
“Those are different.”
“You’ve started talking to servants.”
“They’re people.”
“You hired a commoner.”
“Several.”
“You’re also spending time in the workshops.”
“They’re interesting.”
Elena stopped walking.
Adrian looked back.
She stared at him.
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
She smiled.
“I’m just glad.”
Adrian’s expression softened.
“Why?”
“Because I think Father would have been happy.”
He looked away.
“Yeah.”
They continued walking.
Neither said anything for a while.
The next morning, Adrian attended his first formal meeting with the nobles.
He had deliberately avoided holding a large political meeting during his first weeks.
He wanted time to observe.
Now he had enough information to begin.
The meeting was held in a smaller chamber rather than the main council hall.
Only twelve nobles were present.
Adrian knew why.
These were the people whose families held the most influence over the western provinces.
Among them was Duke Alaric Voss.
He was an older man with gray hair and a reputation for being fiercely traditional.
Beside him sat Count Roland Merrow.
Adrian took his seat.
“Good morning.”
The nobles bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
Adrian looked around.
“I’ve been reviewing the kingdom’s finances.”
Nobody reacted.
“I’ve also reviewed agricultural reports from the western provinces.”
Still nothing.
“I have some concerns.”
Duke Voss spoke.
“Your Majesty, the kingdom has always managed these matters through established traditions.”
Adrian looked at him.
“I know.”
“The previous king trusted his ministers.”
“I know that too.”
“Then perhaps the crown should continue to do so.”
Adrian remained calm.
“I’m not accusing anyone.”
Duke Voss nodded.
“Of course.”
“But I am asking questions.”
The duke’s expression tightened.
Adrian continued.
“I want to understand why grain production is falling while taxes are rising.”
No one answered.
Adrian looked at the nobles.
“I want to understand why farmers are leaving productive land unused.”
Silence.
“And I want to understand why the cost of transporting grain from the western provinces has increased.”
Count Merrow finally spoke.
“Your Majesty, farming has always been unpredictable.”
“Of course.”
“Weather, pests, roads…”
“I know.”
“Then these problems cannot simply be solved by royal orders.”
Adrian smiled.
“I agree.”
The count seemed surprised.
Adrian leaned forward.
“That’s why I’m not giving orders.”
He placed several documents on the table.
“I’m asking for information.”
He looked directly at them.
“Which roads are failing?”
“Which farms are producing less?”
“Which taxes are causing farmers to abandon land?”
“Which warehouses are losing grain?”
“Which officials are responsible?”
The nobles exchanged glances.
Adrian continued.
“I don’t expect answers today.”
He stood.
“But I will expect them eventually.”
Duke Voss watched him carefully.
“Your Majesty.”
Adrian stopped.
“Yes?”
“May I speak freely?”
“Please.”
“Change is dangerous.”
Adrian nodded.
“So is refusing to change.”
The room became silent.
Duke Voss studied him for several seconds.
Then he bowed.
“As you say.”
Adrian left the chamber.
He knew the conversation had accomplished very little.
But that wasn’t the point.
He had made something clear.
He was paying attention.
That evening, Marcus brought Adrian another report.
“Your Majesty.”
Adrian took it.
“What is this?”
“The preliminary audit.”
Adrian opened it.
His eyes moved down the page.
Then stopped.
The auditors had found discrepancies in the western grain records.
Not enough to prove widespread theft.
But enough to justify a deeper investigation.
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“How long?”
“Several months.”
“Can we investigate without causing panic?”
“Yes.”
“Then do it quietly.”
Marcus nodded.
Adrian closed the report.
He wasn’t going to make accusations without proof.
He had learned enough history to know what happened when rulers acted on suspicion alone.
Instead, he would gather evidence.
And if someone was stealing from the kingdom…
they would eventually have to answer for it.
Adrian looked out the window.
The sun was setting over Valoria.
A month ago, he had woken up in a world he didn’t understand.
Now he had a kingdom to manage.
He still didn’t know enough.
He still made mistakes.
He still had no idea how he was going to fix everything.
But perhaps that was alright.
A king didn’t need to know everything.
He needed to know what he didn’t know.
And, more importantly, he needed to find people who did.
Adrian smiled faintly.
Tomorrow, he would begin working on his first real reform.
Agriculture.