Near Absolute Power

I swore on my honor and my family that I would not become like the previous ruler. The overthrow was bloody and damaging, and that couldn't be allowed to happen again. Everyone agreed.

At first.

Then the requests came. Subtle at first, more power to better serve the public, more money to do it right, favors to buy loyalty, more favors to keep it.

Pretty soon, those on the street, those who were where I once was, they began to rise again.

But as I said, I couldn't allow it to happen again. The army was better trained this time.