Chapter Eighty One: The Prince's Appeal

"Is there a way to avert the labor strike?" the Prince of Kenwit asked the Cabinet Advisor. "We cannot avoid work stoppage at this point. You know the seriousness of the matter, Ben. There is a secret war nobody shall know, and we are at war with ourselves."

Ben Simmers understood the gravity of the situation, and everyone else in the Briefing Room knows it in truth and in fact. Unfair labor practices brought about by the previous Chief Minister's policies are now catching up with reality, and they are suddenly left with very little options going forward as the situation started to worsen. Someone has to swallow the bitter pill.

"We can cut taxes, Your Majesty," Ben simply said. "We can ask the Seneschal to give us the estimate of the foregone profits."

The Prince of Kenwit was studying the parchments with great care, determined not to miss important matters for the very crucial decision to be made later on. The numbers are not promising, and it seems that the Principality was being dragged as a hostage to this trade dispute that, in the opinion of many, has a deeper cause than a simple commercial feud.

"I wouldn't risk it, Ben. We cannot afford to cut services just because the Kenwit Flasks Ltd. couldn't agree with the current state of the negotiation on minimum wages."

"There is something immediate to be done, Your Majesty," Ben replied. "Either we cut internal taxes or make an appeal to increase the prices of our flasks. We cannot sustain losses for so long."

The Prince has a stern look in his face. "That Treaty was the legacy of my father. You know that."

"But, Your Majesty," Ben started to plead. "We can no longer proceed with the current state of our finances. The Treasury Exchequer will be depleted with this unsustainable trade imbalance. You have to deliver a speech to the Commission on Appointments to seek for economic relief."

"I do not desire to appear before the Judicial and Bar Council. We can skip initiating any judicial procedure."

The Cabinet Advisor knows what is at stake, and this matter needs to be urgently addressed in whatever route it may take.

"Then, please deliver a privilege speech, Sire, so we can politely ask for the temporary dissolution of this Treaty to allow us to provisionally increase the prices of our flasks. It will only take a majority vote of the Commission to act on a matter of great urgency."

The Prince of Kenwit nodded. He understood the essence of the situation. "I do not wish to plead for the mercy of the Queen of the South Kingdom. We mean no harm, yet we are the unwilling hostages to this trade dispute. It is grossly unfair. The Commission has an obligation to support the remedy we are seeking."

Ben Simmers realized what is important in the current situation. They have something to say in the Blue Ribbon Committee. "We cannot abandon the Gawkins Republic, sir."

"You are truly wise, Ben," the Prince of Kenwit said. "I am afraid of the demands the South Kingdom will ask of us in exchange of this plea."

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The Chapter is sponsored by Dior Watch.