Presenting to the Crown Part 1

The audience request reached the Royal Palace three days later.

It was an unassuming document: heavy cream-colored vellum, sealed with the dark-red wax impression of the House of Teucher crest, requesting a brief, private audience with His Majesty regarding what Ernest described as "a new industrial undertaking."

It was that exact phrase that made King Edward pause.

The King sat behind his broad oak desk in the private royal library, holding the letter between two fingers while the pale morning sun cut through the tall, arched windows overlooking the palace gardens.

Across the mahogany table, Prime Minister Ashford was halfway through reviewing a stack of provincial tax audits when he noticed the sudden silence.

"Something amiss, Your Majesty?"

Edward didn't answer immediately. He re-read the final sentence, then slowly lowered the paper onto his blotter.

"Teucher wants a private audience."