Chapter 62: New Laws

Chapter 62: New Laws

(Arthur POV)

Lucy's eyes scan the studio before landing back on me. "We need to talk about this privately."

"Alright," I nod, curiosity piqued. "Let's go to my office."

As we walk down the corridor, Lucy takes in her surroundings. "Looks like you've really hit it rich with your first movie, 'The Demonfather,' huh."

I can't help but smile. "I'm just very lucky."

"That's true," Lucy agrees, surprising me.

Once in my office, I decide to be frank. "I've got to say, you're the last person I expected to visit me."

Lucy settles into a chair, eyebrow raised. "Oh? Who did you think would visit?"

"Apollonia," I answer honestly.

"She hasn't visited you?" Lucy seems genuinely surprised.

I shake my head, then decide to cut to the chase. "Anyway, Your Highness, what's the purpose of your visit?"

Lucy's expression hardens. "Stop fooling around."

"What's wrong? Aren't I not a royal anymore?" I can't keep the sarcasm out of my voice. "So? Is there any real purpose for this visit?"

Lucy's eyes narrow, and I can tell she's choosing her next words carefully. Whatever brought her here, it's clearly important. And knowing Lucy, it's probably complicated.

"Well, it's simple, honestly. I've seen the box office numbers for 'The Demonfather'. 280 million dollars is no small sum." She pauses, her tone shifting to something more official. "As the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, I believe it's only right that the kingdom should benefit from such a successful film."

I frown, not liking where this is going. "What do you mean?"

Lucy leans forward, her voice taking on a lecturing tone. "The kingdom has implemented a new tax structure for films, particularly those that perform exceptionally well, like yours. We're introducing a tiered system based on box office revenue."

As she explains the details, I can't help but draw parallels to the entertainment industry taxes from my previous life. It's clear Lucy's trying to establish something similar here.

"Did you hear? Arthur's cooking up a new film. They're saying it'll make 'The Demonfather' look small-time."

My ears prick up at that. Another film? What's this prince got up his sleeve now? Another mob story?

***

(Arthur POV)

January 7, 1272. We've finally wrapped up editing, and I've got to hand it to our new computer - it's made a world of difference. Sure, programming the thing was a headache and a half, but it significantly reduced our editing time.

The process wasn't without its challenges, but seeing the final product come together faster than ever before makes all those late nights worth it. It's not just about speed, though. The precision and consistency the computer brings to the table have elevated the quality of our work.

Today's the big day. I've invited the Lava Brothers for a private viewing of "Lord of the Rings." My stomach's in knots as Fart Lava, the CEO, and Ray Lava walk in.

Fart extends his hand, all smiles. "It's great to see you, Arthur."

I shake his hand, trying to keep my cool. "Likewise. Thanks for coming."

As I lead them to the studio theater, my mind's racing. This is it. Months of work, millions of dollars, and more than a few gray hairs have led to this moment.

"So," Ray pipes up as we settle into our seats, "heard you had some interesting casting choices for this one."

I can't help but chuckle. "You could say that. Let's just say we've got a few surprises in store."

Ray leans in, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice. "Word on the street is you've sunk millions into this project. That true?"

Fart nods, adding, "We've heard some pretty wild numbers being thrown around."

I take a deep breath, meeting their gaze. "It's a significant investment, yes. But when this film hits theaters, the world will see what a big production really means. It'll redefine what's possible in cinema."

They nod politely, but I can read the doubt in their eyes. It's clear as day what they're thinking: 'Yeah, right. More like money wasted.'

I bite back a sigh. Can't really blame them for their skepticism. In their shoes, I'd probably be thinking the same thing. But they haven't seen what I've seen. They don't know what we've created.

"Look," I say, leaning forward, "I know it sounds crazy. But trust me, this isn't just another film. It's something entirely new."