The treasury was running low on things that could be used, as expected. Still, when they mentioned how it was spent, it was a lie- the money wasn't going into the kingdom. More likely, it was to the council's salaries. The general tried to bring up his suggestion of the slave trade as a solution again, but Corbin quickly shut that down, pointing out that once something was rejected it could not be brought up again until the next meeting. The largest amount of anger for Corbin, and Mir, was coming from him. Perhaps, in this room with six advisors, Corbin only had two who seemed to be on his side- his cousin, and the sad man from before. Either of them liked what had been suggested either, Corbin's cousin even feeling sick the proposal had been given when Mir was in the room. Did they have no remorse at all?
The palace was low staffed as well, but no one offered a solution. Corbin knew he had forbade them from it before, with the two other times it was brought up.
Finally, there where the two complaints. Both of them were obviously lies, the first says that the complaint was of all the halfling mutts moving further into the sitting, and the second being about how the city stenched of them. It was clear they had set this up to convince Corbin of opening the trade again, but he had finally taken a hard stance.
The king was holding Mir close, running his fingers through the man's hair and rubbing his back some to help him stay calm enough. Corbin hated how upset the council had made Mir with the suggestion, and would have done the same thing he will with the tailor if he could. These men didn't care about the kingdom, they cared about their pockets.
Mir quaked and shivered more and more the longer he forced himself to receive the onslaught of the council’s lies, anger, and their sickening suggestions. He trembled in Corbin’s arms, wishing his mental health was stronger so he could deal with this, but he was being reduced back to his terrified street rat mindset, now knowing he’d be too terrified to ever walk out of his rooms without Corbin. It was clear to him now that the palace wasn’t the safe place he had hoped it would be, and that he would probably be subjected to abuse if he encountered any of the council members when he was alone. Heck, he’d probably be subjected to abuse even with Corbin…. Just like at the tailor’s…
Soon enough, the meeting was over. There wasn't much to discuss, seeing as the major suggestion that could 'fix' everything had been shot down. With the formalities over, Corbin stood, holding Mir close to his chest. He wasn't going to set the man down, not around these people. Mir had been great help in seeing the lies, but Corbin wasn't going to ask him to come again. Not with seeing the state the half fae was in. Corbin left first, able to hear the mumbles of his Mir was just a glorified sex slave anyway, why would Corbin care?
((The way I want to murder like all the rude people on the council now lol))
(Exactlyyyyyy… of course, I do have a way for the war to end without their approval, but it'll definitely ask a lot of Corbin and Mir >:3)
(Ooh, yes. I love that you already have plot ideas!)
Dragomir wilted when he heard that the council were spitting that he was just a sex slave. His stomach churned and he was glad that Corbin was holding him and carrying him, because he didn’t know if he’d even be able to walk for all the trembling he was doing.
Corbin quickly left, walking with hurried steps back to the bedroom. He closed the door behind them, holding Dragomir tight to his chest.
"I'm so sorry," the king murmured, voice cracking some. "I… I don't think you should come to any more of the general meetings…"
Mir said nothing, his eyes just wide and staring as he clung to Corbin. He felt sick and he just wanted the world to disappear. He curled in on himself, not looking at the king.
Corbin ran his fingers through Mir's hair, taking slow steps until they were seated on the bed. He had no idea what he could do to help the halfling anymore, just keeping him close and closing his own eyes. This was all terrible…
Mir finally spoke in a broken voice, “Thank you for saying no…” He buried his face into Corbin’s chest, shuddering at the thought of being enslaved. To have either shackle cuffs or be branded as he had seen on older members of his kind who had lived through enslavement and were freed.
"It's… it's the least I can offer," Corbin said, eyes still closed. He tucked Mir away in his arms, resting his head on the halfling's. The people of the kingdom were already suffering so much, Corbin couldn't add that much more to them.
Mir took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. “I’m sorry, I should have had better control over myself….” he apologized, wrapping his arms around Corbin’s waist, cuddling close, trying to seek protection and safety.
"Mir, your people were facing enslavement, you were facing it. you have every right to have been so upset by it, to be upset." Corbin wrapped his arms around Mir, one hand resting on his head and the other pulling the man closer.
Mir took another breath. “But I can’t be useful to you if I can’t handle that. I need to work on getting better at detaching myself from the situation. Oh yes, and that man you were saddened by when he lied? He didn’t want to lie. He hated lying, which makes me think the rest of the court is blackmailing him or something. And your cousin is on the same side as you in the enslavement debate.”
Corbin let out a soft sigh.
"At least… these things are good, then…"Corbin looked down at Mir, running his fingers through the half fae's hair as he did his best not to break down.
"At least we aren't completely alone in the fight in the council, then…"
“Though, they lied that the supplies where going out for the relief fund. Actually everyone in the city never even knew there was a planned relief fund. When did that happen?” Mir looked up at Cory finally, staying cuddled tight against him.
"I-I…" this was news to Corbin. "Several months ago, at the new year. They… they were supposed to announce it during the celebrations…" Corbin closed his eyes again, opening them once more.
Mir wilted at that. “Oh…” Several months of relief? That would have meant preventing so many people from dying…. A few tears slipped down his face and he nuzzled into Corbin’s neck, feeling depressed. “How did those people become part of the court? Is there a way to replace them..?”
"It's a rule they're born into, like me… There, there is a way to replace them, but it's looking, brutal, and requires a major agreement from the rest of the court…" Corbin held back his own tears when he saw Mir's, knowing just got much could be different now. He wiped the tears from mid Mir's cheeks, wanting to comfort him.
Mir closed his eyes at the touch with a soft sigh, relaxing into Corbin as he tried to focus on something else. “C-can we talk about something else? I th-think that will help me regain my com… composure…”
Corbin nodded silently, leaving his hand on Mir's cheek.
"What do you think of the palace?" Corbin asked, leaning back some into the bed pillows behind him with Mir at just the slightest angle as he rested on Corbin's chest.
Mir cuddled into that, seeming to like it. “It’s so beautiful but it gets a little scary when you go farther in. I think it’s because of the lack of sunlight…” He nuzzled at Corbin’s chest with a soft sigh. He was incredibly comfortable like this.
"Aah. Yes, I must agree. Still, the narrow windows were more for archers than anything. Perhaps we could get someone to enchant your room like mine is?" Corbin was comfortable too, his fingers finding their way to Mir's hair to gently play with it.
Mir looked up in surprise. “We can do that?” He closed his eyes again at Corbin’s fingers carding though his thick white fluff of hair. He started to smile finally, feeling relaxed and safe in Corbin’s arms.
