Arclay County, The Count's Office
When count arclay reached home he didn't went for showee or to bed ..he directly went to office..coz there he is The viscount and Everyone fears him ..
The heavy oak door of Count Sebastian Arclay's office slammed shut, sealing him in a space where he and his own simmering rage is present. The memory of the Baron's estate, the laughter, the music, the humiliation, played behind his eyes like a cruel theatre. He paced before a cold fireplace, his fine outfit which he wore for the party now feeling like a fool's costume.
Sebastian Arclay: Getting Fifteen percent mining rights was not enough ..i had to see that bloody baron gifting more than 20% rights to king nor even selling then he just outright gifted him just for few praises and favours..My 15% now looks like a token thrown to a begger
His fist came down on the office table , the impact echoing in the silent room. The images flashed again: Baron Deak Saint John, bowing with false humility; the King's hand on his shoulder; the announcement of the baron's "selfless" gift of over twenty percent of the Mythril yields.
Sebastian Arclay: Loyalty for the kingdom's sake? Hahahah what a joke it's clear to see he was just buying his favour and want to be in his good side And the King swallowed it whole.
But it was the next scene that burned most bitterly. The dance. His own three sons, smart strong and capable, stood at the party like they don't matter . And there, in the centre of the glittering floor, was the Baron's daughter, Aurelia, graceful ,attractive dancing with First Prince Cedric. The King's approving smile, his whispered praise for the "graceful pair"…
Sebastian Arclay: so for baron his daughter was A tool of flesh and beauty to secure favour. But I have sons. Blunt instruments in a game that requires delicate poison.
He stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing as they fell upon a detailed map of the region, Looking at the Mythrill mines which shares the both territory his lands and the Saint John barony marked clearly. A cold, calculated calm began to seep through the anger. A plan, dark and intricate, started to form in the shadows of his mind.
Sebastian Arclay: The Baron uses his greatest asset, his jewel, to charm the prince and secure his future. Very well. Then I shall simply… acquire the jewel. And force him to relinquish the mines to me for that jwel coz one thing is very clear he loves his daughter very much
A slow, and evil smile spread across his face. He walked to his desk and rang a silver bell. Moments later, his most trusted retainer, a stern man named Kaelen, entered and bowed.
Kaelen: You called, my Lord?
Sebastian Arclay: I did. The Baron have gone too far ..First he took Mines and today he humiliated me by Showing to everyone he gave his mining rights for the benifit of this land and I looked selfish..but all those baosting and grand gestures lead me to the only conclusion..i want mines back and the key to mines are his daughter
Kaelen: The young lady who danced with the Crown Prince?
Sebastian Arclay: The very same. She is the key. He would give anything for her safety. Even his precious mining rights.
Understanding dawned in Kaelen's eyes, followed by a flicker of unease.
Kaelen: To kidnap a baron's daughter… and one who has just garnered the Prince's attention… it is a dangerous gamble, my Lord.
Sebastian Arclay: It is not a gamble if the hand is unseen. We will not be bandits and attack them mindlessly ..We will be a force of nature. Summon Captain Vorik and Earth-Shaper Grond. Immediately.
Kaelen bowed and retreated. Soon, two men entered: Captain Vorik, clad in light leather armour, and Grond, an older man with hands which made obvious that his lifetime was spent most around stone and soil.
Sebastian Arclay: Sit. We have a task that requires discretion and elemental finesse. The target is the Baron's daughter, Aurelia Saint John. First we need information about her daily routine..Captain Vorik send your monst effectice man who can get the necessary information.. it is very important mission so take this seriously and let's meet once we all the information so that we can't make any mistakes ..Now go and do your part .
Vorik : Yes my lord and left immediately
(After that Viscount send his men to their respective place while he waits for the Vorik's intel )
After few days Sebastian Arclay have summoned everyone again
Sebastian Arclay: Vorik tell me what information you are able to get
Vorik : My lord She takes a weekly morning ride in the Sunwood Grove,here.
He pointed to a spot on the map, a forested area between their territories.
Sebastian Arclay: Her guard detail?
Vorik: Two household knights, four men-at-arms. Competent, but predictable.
Sebastian Arclay: We will not meet them with steel alone. Grond, we will have advantage of we use your earth magic.
Grond: Aye, my Lord. The soil there is soft. I can cause a sinkhole to split the path, separate the girl from the bulk of her guard. Or raise an earthen wall.
Sebastian Arclay: Good. Vorik, you will lead a squad of ten of our best, all with at least minor elemental affinities. Water mists to obscure vision. Wind to confuse sound. We create chaos that looks like a freak magical anomaly, not an attack.
Captain Vorik: And once she is isolated?
Sebastian Arclay: You take her. Use a sleeping potion on her and make her sleep. No marks, no violence beyond what is necessary to subdue the knights. Bring her to the old watchtower in the Grey Hills. It is forgotten and rests on a bedrock even Grond can silence.
Grond: I can mask the approach. Have the very earth swallow the tracks of our men and horses.
Sebastian Arclay: Perfect. The Baron will panic and have his greatest nightmare of his life after He will receive a message about disappearance of his precious daughter.
After kidnaping her we should wait forcfew days to break him emotionally and mentally and then we can do the transaction of buying his precious jewel's safety..The price: the signed deed for his remaining Mythril mining rights.
Captain Vorik: And what if he involves the Royal Guard?
Sebastian Arclay: He won't. Not if the message implies she will be harmed at the first sign of kingsmen .. His love for her is his chain. He will comply. Once the deed is in my hand, we will return the girl with the unique poison in her system which requires antidote weekly if she wants to live ..we can ask The baron he had to remain silent on what has happened and he have to say in public he have given up mines by his own choice or his daughter will die because of poison..
The three men sat in silence, the audacity of the plan hanging in the air. It was treason. It was war. But to Count Arclay, it was justice.
Sebastian Arclay: We act in seven days, at dawn. Use this time to prepare, to scout, to weave your magics. Every soldier must be a phantom. Every action, a natural disaster.
Kaelen: And after, my Lord? Once you have the mine?
Count Sebastian Arclay leaned back, his gaze drifting to the window, toward the distant lands of Baron Saint John. The humiliation of the party, the stolen favour, the dancing jewel—all of it would be answered.
Sebastian Arclay: After? Then Baron Deak Saint John will learn what true power looks like. And the King will see where true loyalty—and true strength—really lies. He played the courtier's game. I will play the game of thrones. Now, go. Make Sure You prepare everything
The men filed out, leaving the Count alone with his vengeance. The cold fireplace seemed to crackle with the heat of his newfound purpose. The jewel would be his, the mine would be his, and the humiliation would be washed clean in the silent...