“Since I am your trusted adviser,” Nnati said carefully, “I want to talk to you about some recent rulings.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” He leaned in close to me so that the courtiers walking through the grand hallway couldn’t hear. “This deregulation case for Gaard’s main medicine manufacturer, I’m not sure we’re doing the right thing.”
“Why?”
“Well, we have already deregulated the sale of certain antigens twice, making it easier for the company to manipulate the market and potentially drive other manufacturers out of business.”
“Oh … yes, I remember.”
But I only half remembered. It was easy to forget things when the Crown of Crowns was making decisions for me, pulling the strings, sometimes without giving me good reasons. I felt like a tool. I was also starting to understand how the social system had managed to become so skewed over the past few hundred years. With the Crown of Crowns running the entire world from an alternate dimension while the kings and queens dwindled their time away in Shiol and spent their days exhausted and sucked of their energy, it was easy to see how our world had become so upended without the monarchy fully realizing it. It was as if all of Geniverd were on autopilot.
“And there’s another request for a different deregulation today,” Nnati continued. “This one will make it easier for the company to absorb and acquire other properties and manufacturers. Essentially, they will have a monopoly on the best antimicrobials.”
Now I remembered. The councillors had argued with me over the last two deregulations, but I had stuck to the Crown of Crowns’ recommendations and allowed them through.
“I think I will allow it,” I told Nnati. That was the recommendation, and I planned to abide by it. I was to let the Gaard company do whatever they wanted, even if it didn’t feel right in my gut.
“Seriously?” Nnati was floored. “But, Kaelyn, it’s going to have serious repercussions.”
“They have a delegation coming, do they not?”
Nnati nodded. “They do.”
“Then let’s listen to what they have to say,” I told him, trying to balance logic with the Crown of Crowns’ ruling. “So long as there are still manufacturers outside of Gaard, and so long as they don’t raise their prices, commit to not raising the prices, and ensure the medicine remains effective and safe, I see no reason to hold them back.”
Nnati shook his head. “Yes, my queen.” And he opened the door and gestured me into the council chamber.
My seat was at the head of the wide room, covered in red and gold upholstery. My councillors flanked me, Nnati to my left and Torio to my right. We were silent as the delegation from Gaard took the floor and bowed to me.
“Your Most Supreme Majesty,” they said in unison.
One of the delegation members stepped in front of her colleagues. She was tiny and young, shockingly beautiful, with radiant skin and golden hair. She had my attention immediately, and the attention of every man in the room.
“Your Most Supreme Majesty,” she said, curtsying, “we thank you for seeing us. Shall we get straight to business?”
I nodded. “Present your case.”
“Yes, Your Most Supreme Majesty. My name is Hagan of the Ava-Gaard, and I represent VBione Corp. Our proposal is for an acquisition of a Krug-based company called Medseet. This will be the biggest absorption of another manufacturer in twenty years.”
Hagan took a deep breath. The councillors were hushed and attentive. She said, “The reason this case is being brought to you, Most Courageous, is because Krug is concerned that our acquisition of Medseet will mean all of Geniverd’s antimicrobials will be made by one manufacturer in Gaard. The Krug council is upset, but Medseet is eager to be bought out. The money we have offered them is substantial.”
Aska Nikhel raised his hand and looked at me. “May I speak?”
“Of course.”
Nikhel cleared his throat. “The problem I see with this acquisition, Your Most Supreme Majesty, is that VBione Corp would be in possession of all the highest-value medicines. They would have the largest portfolio of medicine in Geniverd. If they chose, they could limit the distribution of said medicines.”
“I see your point,” I said, but it was moot. I had already made my decision. I had to obey the Crown of Crowns. I wasn’t about to cause problems a month into my reign just because of some company acquisition. These things happened all the time. Companies in Geniverd were in a perpetual state of consuming one another, leaving workers scrambling to find new jobs and a handful of CEOs with their pockets bursting. I needed to fix the system but not today. Not with this ruling.
“Hagan,” I said, “present your rebuttal.”
“You are correct, Aska Nikhel,” she said. “We do have a large portfolio. However, there are other valuable medicines not owned by us. Our takeover of Medseet means we will be able to create synergies to benefit everyone. We are not restricting innovative companies in other clans, or even here in Gaard. In fact, you will see that over time these other companies will produce transformational medicines that will benefit the world. Once our acquisition of Medseet is complete, production costs will be lowered, while the extra money will go into research.”
“That sounds appropriate,” I said, nodding in turn to my councillors. “Yet what do you say about job losses in Krug?”
“There will not be any,” Hagan said. She was very confident. “The plant in Krug will be under VBione Corp management, but the workers will stay to help us. We will continue to employ all qualified workers.”
“That is acceptable,” I told her. There were some hushed whispers from my councillors, but no one could openly argue with keeping jobs and advancing research. Hagan’s proposition was solid.
“Your time is up,” I told her. “Are there any final remarks you wish to make?”
“Yes. On behalf of VBione Corp, we would like to thank you for your time, Your Most Supreme Majesty. We urge you to think of the future,
