A streak of blood dribbled down from his forehead as he stared at Feyd, still on one knee.
But he paused for a moment.
His eyes slowly went down to his abdomen, and he saw that a needle Feyd had stabbed into his arm was still sticking out.
He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Feyd, but he didn't get up.
He yanked out the needle as a burning sensation spread through his arm, and Paul's breathing became controlled.
'I need to control the spread,' he thought as he began breathing in a slow and controlled manner.
Meanwhile, Feyd had a small smirk as he approached Paul slowly with his blade drawn.
"Is this all House Atreides is?" he said.
Step by step, he walked closer. His stance loosened. The blade lowered just enough to become careless.
Paul glanced at Feyd as he approached closer.
He was only a few inches away from Paul, looking down at Paul. He raised his sword in the air, preparing to deliver the final blow.
Paul tightly gripped his sword at this moment and lunged up, his sword stabbing into Feyd's throat.
Paul felt Duncan's sharp blade smoothly enter.
Blood immediately sprayed onto Paul's face.
Feyd's eyes widened for a moment as the crimson blood stained his pale skin.
His body lost strength as he fell to the ground with a muffled thump.
Letting out a deep breath, Paul slowly stood up.
Blood covering a part of his face, he raised his bloodied blade in victory.
"Duke Paul has slain Feyd Rautha!" Duncan announced with excitement as he rushed up towards the center.
Murmurs appeared, and soon, the entire hall was filled with murmurs.
Paul watched in silence.
His mind at this moment was completely focused on his arm, trying to contain the poison.
His focus was completely away from Landsraad.
His fingers trembled for a fraction of a second before he forced them still.
'I need to live long enough,' he thought as he focused on containing.
The poison felt like gas constantly spreading through his nerves, but through his control, he kept sweeping the gas back to one position, stopping its spread.
Underneath his black cloak, a purple spot began appearing on his arm, but no one could see that.
Mohiam was silent as she looked down at Paul, who had yet to fall, before her eyes shifted to Shaddam who was quietly already staring at her.
"Your backup has failed me," Shaddam muttered softly but Mohiam managed to hear it.
She was silent for a moment as her eyes alternated between Paul, the slain Feyd, and Shaddam.
She spoke.
"He should not live long," Mohiam said, but she knew this was not good enough.
Shaddam frowned slightly as he looked away from Mohiam.
'He is poisoned... It's clear' Shaddam thought as he observed the silent Paul, his eyes moving towards the needle not too far away, so he stood up.
"Duke Paul is injured," he began speaking.
"We must ensure Duke Paul is properly treated before we can continue this ses—"
"No!" Paul loudly exclaimed, interrupting Shaddam before he could finish what he was saying.
"This session will continue."
"This is not a request, Duke Paul—"
"It is not your session to control," Paul replied without letting Shaddam finish his sentence.
He paused for a moment, taking a quick breath as he felt his grasp over the gas slip for a moment.
Quietly, he steeled himself as he glanced around.
"Do the houses agree that this Landsraad must continue?" he questioned.
"House Ecaz agrees!" A loud voice spread through the hall.
All eyes shifted towards the person who had spoken, and it was the head of House Ecaz, Yins Ecaz, a bulky man with a heavy beard, who stood up, a wide smile plastered on his face.
"House Vernius agrees, this session must continue."
Sera glanced towards the speaker and it was the head of House Vernius, her eyes flashed towards Count Aldric, almost as if she was waiting for permission.
Aldric did not take long before he nodded.
"We dis—"
"House Richese agrees," Sera announced, interrupting Count Fenring mid-speech.
Murmurs amongst the Minor houses spread for a moment, and then almost simultaneously Minor Houses began rising in agreement.
Shaddam watched as a small frown appeared on his face.
His jaw was tightly clenched, and his fist was balled up as Paul confidently looked up at Shaddam.
Paul took control of his breathing, half his mind focused on his arm the entire time.
"The Imperium has already changed. The only question is whether it changes in order… or collapses resisting it." Paul said, as a moment of silence settled in the hall.
Shaddam's eyes widened.
Shaddam felt anger rushing to his head.
But he did not lash out, quietly he turned around and sat on his chair.
He sat in silence as he looked upon the entire Landsraad.
"House Atreides does not seek war." Paul paused for a moment.
"But we will not accept quiet assassination as governance."
His eyes rested briefly on the Emperor. Not accusing. Not emotional. Just… certain.
"So we will correct the balance. Here and Now." Paul said as he raised the arm that was not poisoned.
"House Atreides demands it be paid five hundred billion Solari" Paul said.
Silence.
Not the uncertain kind but the kind that settles when something too large has just been said.
Even the murmurs died before they could begin.
Some stared while some calculated, but most simply… stopped.
Fifty billion would have been excessive.
Five hundred?
That was not a demand, that was a dismantling.
Fifty billion solari is worth 50-60 years of Arrakis spice profits, yet Paul demanded ten times that.
Paul did not speak, he was quiet, his eyes focused on Shaddam.
He noticed Shaddam's hand holding the chair shaking.
Nobody spoke at all.
For a brief moment, Shaddam's hand steadied as he spoke.
"You mistake position for power, Duke Paul."
His voice was calm.
"The Imperium is not a treasury for you to empty at will."
"Nor is it governed by demands made in spectacle," Shaddam said, staring at Paul with a deep frown as his gaze hardened, "You ask for five hundred billion Solari… and call it balance, I call it destabilization."
"Then refuse."
Paul said, staring back at Shaddam unfazed.