Free City had left the Sunset Plains, but its shadow had never faded. It still hung over the nobles' heads.
In this age, a country's control had always flowed from the crown to the nobles, and from the nobles to the common people.
Vitalig envied how readily Free City answered to Annan's command. He thought it was a chance to bypass the nobles and place the local administration firmly in royal hands.
But he had little experience, and order was returning more slowly than he had hoped.
The nobles sought safety and sold off their property. Shops stood shuttered throughout the New Royal Capital. After Black Monday came Black Tuesday, Black Wednesday... all the way to Black Sunday.
Rebels and bandits sprang up everywhere, leaving the Kingdom's soldiers stretched thin. And that was with Annan having left him most of what he needed.
The troops guarding the North had begun ignoring orders from the New Royal Capital after the throne changed hands. There were faint signs of rebellion.
To outsiders, the Kingdom looked ready to fall apart, as though it had returned to the days when Free City was still there. Vitalig, however, sat secure in the Royal Palace. As long as the Three Legends remained on his side, the Kingdom would not break apart.
"Do you hate Free City?"
That day, Vitalig summoned a selection of officials.
Only a few said no. Most answered with silence.
Vitalig had expected this. He opened a map of the Allen Continent and asked, "Who knows where Free City is?"
The officials looked at one another. How would they know? Free City was a Floating City. It moved around.
"You don't know. So why should we hate a country when we don't even know where it is?" Vitalig spread his hands. "Free City