"Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting." Audrick muttered, eyes at the letter before him.
"He dares! That Emperor dares! To take my birth right! To hand it to some half-blood!"
"Pace yourself, nephew." A man plucked the letter from him, voice as slick as oil. Eyes half lidded, "You cannot take what is yours by screaming at paper."
Audrick grunted, "Apologies, uncle."
"It's quite alright, this is the perfect time to take stock. Evaluate our options."
"What do you mean?" Audrick stared at him, confused.
"Your little adventure has shook up quite the stir. Some houses wish to see Lucien casted down. Others fear him, a three to one victory is no small feat."
"And I must prove myself!? I am the Lord of House Cantarre! My name has been etched in these lands for centuries, my ancestors have fought and bled for this Empire! Why would I need to grovel for support!?" He slammed his fist, fire roaring in his mouth.
"Peace, nephew. There's no grovelling necessary." He tapped his cheek. "All you have to do is promise."
"Promise them gold, glory and victory. The moment of your ascension will come then."
"Do you think I'm a swine? Some commoner begging for scraps?"
"You are a commoner."
Audrick grabbed him by the collar, "Severan! You think you're above me!? You think your petty little Valgrane name makes you better?"
"Silence." His uncle slapped him, wind ripping between them.
Audrick recoiled in shock, "You bas-"
Severan slapped him again, "Silence."
Severan walked to him and gripped his throat, "It seems my sister has made a mistake in raising you. You seem to be incapable of understanding the situation you have found yourself in." His grip tightened, "You are beneath me, you are nothing to me. I could kill you right now and no one shall bother me for it, some might even reward me."
Audrick tightened his hand, fire white flames erupting between his fingers, "You…"
Severan's necklace lit up as wind slammed him against the wall. "If you continue the path you are on, you shall fail. You can either listen to my advice or remain as you were without my backing. Now, do we have an understanding?"
Audrick crumpled into the ground as he muttered, "Yes… uncle."
"Good." Severan offered his hand.
Audrick took and it stood, gasping for air. "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to meet someone," He grinned, holding a letter "And be on your best behavior."
"Who?"
"Someone who hates the Emperor more than you do."
Atop the city of Valbrecht, the ancient seat of House Cantaree.
Lucien leaned on his shoulder, standing atop his balcony.
Countless times, he wept for peace. Countless years he avoided power.
In all times, conflict found him regardless.
Lucien studied his city, imprinting it into his mind.
The children running across the streets, tinkling with laughter. Soldiers laughing within his city as vendor walked past, hands full in produce.
This was his city, this shall be his home.
Where he shall carve himself a peaceful life.
Away from the intrigue of court, away from the violence of kingdoms.
He chuckled at the thought, he knew it was wishful thinking.
One cannot impose peace.
He simply must carve himself a piece of it and hold it dear.
No matter what it takes, a small light lit from his ring as shades dashed beneath his shadow.
No matter what it takes.
Marianne enters with a flourish, "My Prince, I've had the data you asked for."
A bright light lit up atop the table as Marianne winced, and Lucien chuckled.
Lucien glanced at her, his eyes still unto his city. "Read it for me, will you."
Marianne reached out before her eyes widened, "This… this is the Imperial seal."
"A decree, personally written by my father. Read it."
Marianne swallowed thickly, "Are you sure? If this is what I think it is, then."
"I trust you enough, Marianne."
"If you say so." She broke the seal and flipped it open.
"Under the decree of the Emperor Albrecht III von Altenkron. Due to the merits and victory of against the rebellious Audrick Cantaree. He is therefore granted the Earldom of Valbrecht, the Earldom of Viron, Earldom of Antaree and the Duchy of Lysandre. This decree shall be implemented immediately and shall be instated in the Lord's day March 13 of the year 500."
Marianne smiled, "Congratulations, My Prince."
"Congratulations, is hardly a good word for this."
"Excuse me?"
"All I'm saying is, once the Imperial Diet convenes, a great push for my death will start."
"That sounds highly unlikely."
Lucien raised an eyebrow, "You are unaware of the current Imperial Politics?"
"Excuse me? I don't think I am."
"Really? Then out of the twelve electors, how many do you think hates my father?"
"Five? I'm sure the Archbishops have condemned him, on his fight against the Pontifex Solis."
Lucien chuckled, "Wrong. it's all of them."
He combs his hair as the wind blew across the afternoon light, "It is only his policies, his immense popularity with the lower nobility and the insane wealth he had created that pushed back against any major rebellion. The moment he dies, those same Electors will pick from amongst his children and guess how many of those are married into the family?"
"All of them?"
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
"I didn't think it was this dire." Her should slackened.
"Yup, the moment he dies. The Empire Implodes and Ashkaran starts stabbing."
Then Lucien turned back to her.
"Anyways, do you have the census?"
"Oh right." She handed over a document, "It is a bit outdated by five years. But it did its job."
Lucien nodded, "I see, I suppose we should have another. Do you have the ledgers?"
She handed him a folder.
He furrowed his brow, "I mean the real ledgers."
"Oh yes, I forgot I didn't have to dumb it down for you." She takes out another folder.
Lucien chuckled, his eyes combing the numbers.
"How much money is left in the treasury?"
"About a million gold coins."
"Hoo? That's a lot of money, why didn't he use it?"
"Something about emergencies, I suppose. That and an expected war with Gallantien."
"So, he didn't know what to use it in, how wasteful."
A knock then took them out of their conversation.
Siegfried stepped in, dressed in his uniform. White hair slicked back as his pale face came into view. "My Prince, these are the data you requested."
"Siegfried, ah you have just arrived! Tell Lady Marianne here how much it took."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow. "I am assuming you meant the budget? Then if so, about ten thousand gold for the army's salaries, food and equipment."
"Ten Thousand—What!?" Marianne turned back at him. "How did you even spend that!"
Lucien furrowed his brow, "I am sensing something here. Is that too much?"
"Too much!? Too much isn't enough to state how expensive that is!"
"Oh, c'mon now. That's like, the bare necessities."
Marianne held her head, vein beating in her skull. "That is THIRTY PERCENT! Thirty percent of Valbrecht's annual revenue."
Siegfried offered flatly. "They're good men, good soldiers. You can't expect loyalty from underpaid troops."
"Then they better be ready to fucking die when I tell them to." Marianne scoffed.
"Oh, they can do more than that." Lucien smirked.
"What?"
"Siegfried show her." He gestured as Siegfried pulled out a book.
She sifted through its contents and her eyes widened, every page she mumbled. Every page she shook as she continued reading, "I can understand magic, basic troop formations, even the engineering and reconstruction."
She flipped open to a chapter, "But administrative codes? Emergency responses? Civic duties? A Vow of Loyalty? With your face just beside it?"
"Hoo, good picture. I picked a good angle there" Lucien pointed at it and Siegfried nodded.
"This isn't an army, is it?" Marianne asked with trepidation.