Chapter 229 Postal Services



Clap! Clap! Clap!

At a certain part of the capital city, Bideford was filled with the sound of applause reverberating as the inhabitant of the city gathered to witness a momentous occasion.

King Rizieri Ryntum, famously known for his progressive vision stood at the front of the newly completed building.

Dressed in regal attire, he looked out upon the crowd with pride and anticipation. The moment had finally arrived—the inauguration of the kingdom's very own postal offices.

With a wave of his hand, Riz signalled for silence. The area fell into a hushed stillness as all eyes turned toward the king.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "Today, we gather here to witness the birth of a new era—a time when communication shall flow freely and swiftly throughout our lands."

He continued, "For a long time, we suffered from the limitations of slow and unreliable communication between our relatives and friends. However, now, it is time to take our first step to connect our towns, cities, and villages, fostering unity and progress in every corner of our realm. With the postal system, we shall overcome the barriers of time and distance, enabling the exchange of knowledge, news, and ideas."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their enthusiasm reached its peak. 

"Today, I hereby declare the establishment of Ryntum Post throughout our kingdom," Riz announced.

The inauguration ceremony continued as the king unveiled a grand post office emblem—a symbol of reliability. It would be displayed proudly at every post office, signifying the commitment to deliver the letters and parcels efficiently and securely.

Following the unveiling, Riz turned his attention to a postbox situated in front of the post office. The ornate postbox was adorned with intricate carvings and the emblem of the postal system. 

The crowd hushed as the king stepped forward, holding the first letter in his hand.

The king then symbolically inserted the first letter into a postbox as an act that represented the official launch of the postal system.

Another round of applause and cheers erupted, commemorating the significance of his act.

With a satisfied smile, Riz addressed the crowd once again, his voice filled with pride and optimism. "Let this act mark the beginning of a new chapter in our kingdom's history."

Riz stepped back from the postbox, allowing the eager crowd to partake in this historic moment.

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as people of all ages and backgrounds rushed forward, letters in hand, eager to experience the newfound services of the kingdom's postal system.

One by one, they carefully slid their letters into the postbox, their faces reflecting excitement.

Riz watched their excitement not too far from the postbox. Most of the letters he manages to catch a glance at are just regular mail. "I guess nobody is willing to try a faster delivery yet."

Ryntum Post classified letters, documents, or other lightweight items as 'mails'. They are usually smaller in size and weight, and it is often sent in envelopes.

'Parcels' on the other hand are typically larger, bulkier, and heavier and are often packaged in boxes, bags, or wrapping material.

Mail can be sent by regular mail delivery or registered mail delivery with the former having a much cheaper rate than the latter.

But, the regular delivery is much slower compared to the registered one which also offered an additional level of security and tracking. 

When sending an item by registered mail, it would be recorded in a registry book and the sender would receive a receipt as proof of postage. The item would be assigned a unique identifier or a seal to signify its registration. 

All people have to do is simply buy a stamp as a postal fee, depending on their chosen class of services and slid it in the postbox whenever they want.

The people in the capital were fortunate, as they had the convenience of not having to make the long trek to the post office every time they wished to send a letter.

This amenity was currently limited to the residents of Bideford alone.

Those living outside the capital had to go to post offices if they wish to deliver letters. They had to patiently wait until postboxes were built in their own neighbourhoods.

Unfortunately for parcels, it's a bit complicated.

Although regular and registered delivery options are available, people had to come to the post office if they wish to deliver something.

The charged fee is different depending on weight, distance class of services and some optional additional service fees.

Despite the parcel's fees being more expensive, the impact of the postal system soon became evident.

Riz was sure that merchants would be frequent users of this service as they needed to keep in touch with customers and colleagues.

Moreover, businesses such as publishing companies would gladly use it in order to expand their market across regional borders, fostering trade and economic growth.

Scholars can exchange their research and wisdom, fueling intellectual progress.

And lovers, yearning for connection, found solace in the words carried by the postal service.

Since his business here was concluded, Riz decided to return to his office. He climbed into his iconic black carriage, the symbol of his authority and wealth, and settled in.

As the carriage began to move, he gazed out the window. Ominous clouds gather in the sky, signalling an impending rainstorm. The air grew heavy, and a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of rain.

The sky now transformed into a grey canvas and distant thunder rumbled in the distance.

Soon, the misty drizzle began to fall. The rain brought a serene stillness to the streets, offering a moment of tranquillity amidst the bustling city.

On the streets, he noticed something unusual as well. The city seems to be packed with people, more than he is aware of. 

The population that seemed to be abnormally increasing piqued his curiosity. As he gazed out the window, he pondered the reasons behind this surge in numbers. 

"Did the refugees have reached here?" he muttered in a low voice.