The Whitecroft city lay bare under the skies, watching its inhabitants go about their daily affairs freely, without a sense of fear or anxiety. After all, who in their right mind would stage an attack on a duchy that had stayed alive and bubbling with vitality for almost a century or two? The capital city of this duchy was home to one of the most influential figures in the history and governance of Eldoria.
In a large and luxurious mansion, elegantly painted and visible from two distant villages, a man with sparse hair on his head stood behind a window, watching the city come alive. He held a glass of wine, which he occasionally sipped.
"Is he not here yet? How can he call a meeting and be late for it himself?" an elderly woman tsked. She was dressed in simple clothing but held an unmistakable aura of authority.
"Have patience, Vancross. Have patience," another man stated, his hands supporting his chin as he glanced lazily at her.
"I've told you to stop calling me by my surname!" Vancross snarled. The man across from her smirked, relishing her exasperation.
"Alright, Vancross," he said, raising his hands in surrender.
"You…"
"Why are you all riled up, Sarah? You shouldn't demean yourself by arguing with a kid who's not even half your age."
The man who stood at the window remarked this and turned around to look at Caspian with disdain. However, the latter didn't mind; this was their daily routine whenever they met in public or at a party. They did their best to scandalise him — why? Because he was the youngest Duke in the kingdom.
"Old man, just because you're near your grave doesn't mean I'm young. I've spent two decades and a few cents on this earth."
The man huffed and turned back to the window.
The gathering of such people could only be termed with one word if it ever leaked out — treacherous, mystifying, and highly suspicious. That was because the people in the room held the most influential and pivotal roles in the administration of the kingdom.
Even though Caspian displayed a calm appearance, he was deeply curious about why the three powers of the kingdom had all been called into a single place.
"I suppose the Duchess of the West decided not to come," Caspian commented after noticing that the numbers didn't round up, no matter how he calculated. The four cardinal ducal houses were all to be present if they were going to discuss something about the kingdom's future — and that raised the question of why the Earl of Narest was the one spearheading such a conversation.
Before an answer was received, a lanky figure passed through the door and entered the room, attracting attention. Whitecroft straightened his back and looked upon Reggie with a kind smile, while Vancross held a scowl on her face — one that came from not being able to chastise someone she wanted to. Caspian, on the other hand, looked at him with interest.
Reggie Valerius — a man who hailed from an ancient earldom house, making him significant in the affairs of the state. His cane clicked on the smooth marble floor as if announcing his presence.
"Well, I genuinely expected a feast. After all, it's not always that I get to be in the midst of the great cardinal dukes!" Reggie remarked with a smirk.
Vancross grunted, while Whitecroft took his seat adjacent to an empty one.
"You are welcome, Earl Reggie. We feel—"
Whitecroft was interrupted by Caspian, who tutted in mock anger.
"You made us wait, Earl. I came here as soon as the clock struck twelve, and look at the time you're coming. Is that how to treat your seniors?" Caspian asked, pointing toward his pocket watch.
Whitecroft gritted his teeth in annoyance while a smile played on Vancross's lips.
Actually, he's not unlikeable, she thought.
Minos stood rooted by the door as he processed what the young duke had said.
Seniors? Late? he wondered in disbelief. None of the nobles dared talk to him like that — well, except the ancient families, but even they were curled up in their cities, rarely making appearances.
"I have heard a lot about you, Caspian Blackwood — especially about how… blunt you are." Minos closed the door with a harsh click while his eyes remained on Caspian.
"I guess my reputation precedes me," Caspian smirked. He saw Whitecroft twitching and signalling him with his eyes to stop, which only made his smirk grow wider.
"What's wrong, old man? Is something wrong with your eye? It keeps twitching."
The room stilled into silence once more until Reggie broke into laughter.
"I like this guy," he said, taking the empty seat.
As soon as he sat, his expression turned serious.
"If we're all here, can we start?" Reggie asked. He swept through their faces, waiting for a question — and he got one.
"I beg to ask, why is the Duchess of the West absent from this meeting?" Caspian asked, clearly intrigued.
Whitecroft rolled his eyes in annoyance. "What's with you and Wilfred? Are you that interested in her?" he muttered.
Caspian paid him no heed and stared at Reggie, who looked confused.
"Haven't you told him?" he asked, turning to look at both Whitecroft and Vancross. Vancross shrugged indifferently, while Whitecroft's expression turned stiff.
"I didn't think it wise to do so before your arrival," he stated.
Caspian glanced between them, not understanding what they were saying. However, it satisfied him to know that his deductions were right — this was no public matter. He had been deceived into entering a conversation that might put him in danger.
Reggie sighed, his expression grave.
"This is an alliance to revive the Thalebrook royal family," he said in a single breath.
Caspian blinked. He looked at the other two to make sure it wasn't a joke — and surely, they weren't laughing.
"Wait, so if I understand correctly, we're plotting against the crown?" Caspian asked to confirm, and Reggie nodded.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. He had thought they were going to plot about how to launder money or even traffic some children — that was okay. But treason? That was too messy.
"What makes you think I'm not going to report all these acts to the King? I could earn some recognition and praise for it," Caspian said, his tone coy as he stared at the three. Whitecroft's expression was calm, as though he didn't care, and Vancross had a cold smile playing on her lips.
Reggie picked his cane from where it rested by the chair and chuckled softly.
"You wouldn't, Blackwood. We all know you wouldn't do that," Reggie stated calmly.
Caspian's eyes shimmered with curiosity. "And what makes you think so?"
"I know a corrupt soul when I see one. You work for your own benefit — thus, it might have already echoed to you how beneficial this would be if we actually succeed. You'd be a leader of a rebellion that triumphed," Reggie replied, hands resting on his cane.
Caspian slowly smiled — Reggie really understood him well. Too well, for his liking.
"So, what's the plan?" Caspian asked in a bubbly tone.
"I assume you also received the black envelopes?" Reggie inquired, watching everyone nod. His eyes turned cold as he said the next words. "The request is true. I received a personal visit from the High Steward."
He gritted his teeth as he said the last sentence. The room grew heavy as they all realised how grave the issue must have been if Minos personally visited Reggie. From his expression, it wasn't good news.
"Did he tell you what request the King wanted us to agree to?" Vancross inquired, speaking for the first time since Reggie appeared.
Reggie shook his head, and Whitecroft frowned. "He can't expect us to blindly follow every request, even if it's from the Crown," he muttered.
Caspian looked on silently, possibly deep in thought, but Reggie didn't ask him what.
"We have to agree to it. I have a feeling our answer will reach the Grand Assembly," Reggie stated. The others clearly didn't share the sentiment, but they stayed quiet.
"Oliver will break through in a week — the accident with the Prince also proved effective," he added, subtly changing the subject. The others nodded, while Caspian's expression turned surprised — he hadn't expected that the Earl was responsible for the incident at the ball. Though he had been there, he hadn't been concentrating on the Earl to notice it.
"What about the Princess's marriage?" Caspian asked. If he was truly going to join them, he had to ensure there were no loose ends.
The others glanced at Reggie, making Caspian realise that Reggie was probably the mind behind all of this — and the others merely obeyed his orders.
"We'll do something about that later. There's still time. However, for now, we need to take care of the wild card," Reggie stated, a scowl appearing on his face. His hand clamped around the handle of his cane when he thought of Minos.
Caspian frowned at the answer — he could barely call it an answer. The group was showing poor strategy and action, as though they were merely doers obeying every word of Reggie.
"This is not good," he murmured.
Reggie side-eyed Caspian but didn't say anything. His gaze turned cold and calculating as the next words dropped from his mouth.
"I've bought a few hundred beastkin — add them to the army."
Caspian's eyes widened at the news, and so did Whitecroft's and Vancross's. Beastkin — the strongest of the demi-humans — and a fully matured one could take out a beginner High Human.
Finally, some good news, Caspian thought as a smile played on his lips.
The room fell into silence, each of them staring at the other, their thoughts racing. After all, their actions could very well affect the future of Eldoria.
As evening fell, Minos sat in the mansion in the woods when a shadow entered the door to his study.
"How did it go?" he asked, reading a book.
The silhouette sat on a chair and faced him.
"It went well, but I suspect he doesn't believe me enough, since he didn't share any awe-inspiring information."
Minos nodded. "Keep playing the role, Blackwood. You will be greatly rewarded."
Caspian nodded as he leaned back in his chair.
The next morning, the newspaper stands were bustling with people as a rumour burned through the entire kingdom.