Anno 1101, Kingdom of Astjumreva, Taevros, Terra Aurora

High King Tyrius Seral sat upon his Adamantium Gilded Throne in the capital city of Kermid Jum as he listened to the trade merchants arguing with his High Council. Kermid Jum was the seat of power of the Kingdom of Astjumreva, one of the most dominant powers on the continent of Taevron. A Kingdom now thriving in wealth, craftsmanship and commerce after decades of corruption by the previous royal house, the Kalemans. The merchants that now garbled in front of Tyrius, no doubt having peasantry origins as they showed manners barely acceptable at court, bothered him somewhat. Now that the Kingdom was doing well, they had come to him to further their own wealth and get royal approval. His Council wasn't too keen however and the two sides now argued in the throne room. Tyrius saw in the merchants only discontent and reminisced about his past affairs with such merchants. When the Kingdom was falling into ruin two decades ago, they collected all their wealth from where-ever they could and kept it to themselves. Tyrius was but the Duke of Crasnea then, the Red Lion of the Redlands. He had approached several of these merchants to garner financial support for his liege, High King Jaeharl the Mad, but they refused. Fearing their wealth would succumb to the depravities and feasts of the High King even after Tyrius personally gave his word that the money would be spent on squashing rebellions. The loot could have been theirs, but instead Tyrius collected it himself. One of the first steps he would take to realize his own efforts to stabilize the Kingdom. His plan unfolded when he crossed the Carmine Rill then the Relba and finally the mighty Kermdal. Seizing the Gilded Throne for himself. Instead of thanking him, the merchants now sought to exploit his approval. He rubbed his eyebrows before standing up from his throne. As he took the few steps down his stand, everyone grew quiet and the merchants were met with Tyrius' ice cold stare. Sending shivers down their spines like they had never felt before. The Red Lion had found his new prey. He slowly opened his mouth before eloquently questioning the merchants with clear speech.
- "Now gentlemen... You want my approval for your businesses? Such an approval comes with great reverence which I find is above the both of you."
The merchants didn't know what to say. They stuttered for a few seconds, but Tyrius cut them off.
- "You know why I don't particularly like to wear the crown?" He gave the two merchants an inquisitive look, but none dared to answer. "No? Well this just further proves my point. I had hoped such rising merchants would understand it. But alas... If you want my approval, I'd like a third of your earnings. The approval of the King is no cheap boast to sway the low-lives of the common folk. What say you?"
The merchants again looked at each other in complete disarray. Eventually the elder one responded.
-  "M'Lord... I'm afraid we must refuse. Our business would not survive such an agreement nor do we think is it respective to our activities."
Tyrius again stared at them, leaning his head slightly forward as his eyes locked with theirs and the merchants were caught in a web of terror. They actually thought they were equal to negotiate with the High King and their massage parlor deserved respect. Tyrius would have none of it and the High Council feared what was to come.
- "Respective, gah." Tyrius hissed while throwing his hand in the air and turned around. "You merchants have no idea what respect means. Just because you were able to collect money from the common folk doesn't make you clever nor particularly gifted. Restoring a Kingdom from falling into ruin is impressive, but your kind were to greedy to help me in my quest to do so. I did it all by myself and by the Gods I'd do it again." He turned back at them, giving them a sight of utter disappointment. "Your own achievements couldn't even hope to reach my heels. I have sat here and find that you have categorically wasted the time of myself and that of the Kingdom like maggots that try to eat heavenly apples from the Gardens of Videa. I've given you a proposal that far exceeds your qualities as men and you've thrown it away. I've seen how this personal greed has perverted this great nation under the Kalemans, but I refuse to let it history repeat itself under my reign. I will be insulted no longer."
Tyrius then marched between them, pushing the two merchants aside as he left the throne room ordering his King's Guard to escort him to the city. The merchants again panicked and followed Tyrius only to be kept at a distance by his guards. He believed he had no need to wear his crown as any true King wouldn't have to rely on pretty jewelry. His actions & words are what makes any King a true King. He would show these merchants that insulting him in this fashion was something you don't do in front of him. Tyrius took a detachment of his loyal Crasnean soldiers and galloped through the cities with the merchants trailing behind them. When they arrived at the market where the merchants had their business. They had explained it was a new massage parlor, but what Tyrius found was nothing but the moaning of women and the grunts of men. A new brothel near one of the markets. After letting the sight sink in for a few heartbeats, he ordered his men to plunder the building and to throw everyone out of the building. He gave a stare at one of his officer who then dismounted his horse and pinned a royal decree. The officer than proclaimed to the crowd the seizure of the building by royal decree. The merchants tried to interfere, but the Crasnean soldiers punched their faces with the hilts of their swords, knocking a few of their teeth out in the process. As the blood now cluttered from their mouths and soaked their silken robes, they could only see their fortune being plundered as both clients & whores were dragged naked to the streets. These women no doubt would be harassed for the rest of the day by the common folk, but Tyrius had no empathy for them. They were serving their merchant masters and so they could serve the masses as well. A fate the should have accepted when they accepted to work for these decrepit individuals. This debauchery was a constant stain on society Tyrius hated and tried to extinguish every time he had the chance. Especially when such institutions tried to gain his trust. After his soldiers brought sacks of gold, he ordered them to torch the building. Letting the whole city of Kermid Jum see his judgement and leave the rotten individuals helpless on the streets. The Gods would now attend to them as Tyrius returned back to his palace like a lion back from the hunt.