Days passed, and the merchants of Lavan were doing business with the companies of the duchy to prepare for the future. These preparations were crucial to Ariadne, as she envisioned a unified duchy and Lavan in the future. Edmund worked alone in the classroom to make it more efficient using the crystals. He already did that with the nihillium alone, but the blue crystal was a ?different beast.

  Ariadne entered the classroom, followed by a maid. She looked at what Edmund was writing on the blackboard, not recognizing it; however, she had another reason for being there, which would soon become clear.

  ‘Peasant, I don’t know what you are doing, but I have more important things for you to do.’ Ariadne stood in front of the desk in the middle of the classroom.

  ‘This is important. We can make things lighter or store more energy on the blue crystals, but it is not like I have any choice… What can I do for you, your Highness?’ Edmund turned around and bowed to her.

  ‘You know my distaste for nobles, right?’ Ariadne extended her hand to the maid and continued to look at Edmund.

  ‘Here, Your Highness.’ The maid put the fan in Ariadne’s hand and stepped back to a respectful distance.

  ‘Thank you, Edna.’ Ariadne fanned herself.

  ‘Yes, please don’t say that you want to kill every single one of them.’ Edmund sighed.

  ‘I want to do just that, but I understand that not every single one of them is bad, but how can a kingdom without nobles be ruled?’ Ariadne hither palm with the closed fan.

  Edmund stood there for a moment. Then, he turned around and erased the things on the blackboard with a swipe. He then wrote on the board and explained at the same time.

  ‘The duchy is already a suitable model that needs improvement in self-governance. They didn’t need you, but that is a weakness as they needed a central figure in charge of decisions.’ Edmund continued to write on the blackboard.

  ‘Ok, what is your point?’ Ariadne looked at what Edmund was writing and drawing.

  ‘Well, it is better for you to sit in one of those chairs and let me explain.’ Edmund turned around.

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  He explained his system, which involved villages, towns, and cities on one level, the territories of the former nobles on another level, and the kingdom on the highest level. All of them would be as independent as possible, raising and lowering taxes as their reality allowed, but they would have different powers and duties. Edmund believed this system could lead to a more efficient governance structure.

  Edmund drew a house showing a village, town, or city, where they would elect a mayor and city councilors to assist him in the job of managing the city; only those that could use a device that would count the votes could vote, a person could only vote once, and it needed to be living on that village, city to count. The people being voted in also needed to use the same device, so only the ones who saw Ariadne as their leader or goddess could vote.

  Next, Edmund drew the shape of a territory called a province. In this territory, the people would elect five council members to act as mayors and representatives to make laws and raise or lower taxes, the number of whom would be proportional to the population.

  ‘There are more things to explain, but let's continue.’ Edmund turned around and started to explain again.

  Edmund started to draw Lavan, and although it was not perfect, Ariadne could see it was the kingdom. The whole kingdom would elect seven council members to administer the country. They would also vote on representatives from each province proportional to the population, so the provinces with more people would have more representatives.

  ‘Well, peasant that would give more power to the territory with more people, that sounds bad.’ Ariadne crossed her arms.

  ‘Don’t worry, we need to add another institution, like an elder council, to balance that out.’ Edmund started to write again.

  He pointed out that people would vote in another group representing the provinces, but only two per province, giving them equal power. Thus, the province could pass a law with more people, but the province representatives would strike it down, ensuring a balanced and fair decision-making process.

  ‘Als, if you could strike down a law, nothing would be above you, and the vote wouldn’t be mandatory, so those people would need to fight for each vote.’ Edmund smiled at Ariadne.

  ‘How taxes would work, peasant? We need to fund all of this, and the current system is just bad.’ Ariadne pointed at Edna and to a chair next to her.

  ‘Ho, sorry.’ Edmund sat next to Ariadne.

  Edmund touched on a symbol on the side of the blackboard, and it became blank again.

  ‘I have a draft of everything. I will give it to you. I had some time to think about it because of your distaste for nobles.’ Edmund continued to write on the backboard.

  He draws villages, towns, and cities as one thing, territories, the provinces as the other, and the kingdom as the last one, 30% to the kingdom, 40% to the provinces, and 30% to the municipalities; those provinces or towns that couldn’t provide with much tax would receive from those with more provided those adjusted their budget. This system, Edmund assured, would ensure a fair and efficient distribution of resources.

  ‘The provinces have more money than me? What about that? I have the same amount as villages, cities, and towns?’ Ariadne frowned.

  ‘If a province needs a new road, they will build it. There is no need to ask for money from the kingdom like what happens today.’ Edmund drew an example.

  ‘That is amazing.’ Edna spoke without thinking.

  ‘Yes, you are right, Edna.’ Edmund pointed at the maid.

  ‘Hum, I understand, but I need more details.’ Ariadne started to fan herself.

  ‘To be fair, I don’t think this could be implemented like this if it wasn’t for your special connection with these people; it would take centuries to change the culture and start with a simpler version.’ Edmund pointed to the blackboard.

  ‘Ah, so you are banking on the fact that I have this profound connection with my subjects to make this work, hum… I understand.’ Ariadne looked at the blackboard, deep in thought.

  ‘Yes, but before all of this.’ Edmund pointed at the blackboard. ‘ We need to think of something more important, your commandments, your law, not the law of the land, your divine law.’ Edmund looked at Ariadne with a serious expression.