There are only two ways an empire or kingdom can fall. The first is through force, a siege—the bloody and brutal normalcy of war. The second is for it to crumble from within. When its cracks are exposed, and weak points are struck, it will collapse.
Aric had no means to utilize the first method. As for the second, the deeper you are within something, the easier it is to destroy it from the inside. If Aric managed to enter the king’s ranks, he would gain an undeniable advantage—gathering crucial information and manipulating it to his benefit. This would be the prince’s ultimate card.
However, Aszer was no fool.
The king chuckled dryly, his voice echoing through the throne room before turning into a hearty laugh, booming through the castle.
"You come here to tell me that you, a Valerian prince, are willing to aid me in taking power from the current sovereign, and you expect me to believe you?"
The king laughed once more while Aric watched in silence before speaking, his voice the calmest and most level among them.
"What other choice do you have?" Aric asked. "Without me, your plan is set to fail, and my offer is to ensure that it doesn’t."
The king leaned back on his throne, seemingly in thought for a moment. "Why should I trust you?"
"You don’t. You would be foolish to. Our partnership will not be built on trust but on a shared desire for a common goal: for the current imperial rule to fall. If I wanted to thwart your ambitions, I could have simply told the emperor everything I know, and the Valerian and Draken empires would turn this kingdom to rubble. Even the Northerners would hesitate to fight both.
So, you see, you don’t need trust to know I am not against you—only common sense."
[The King of Byzeth is intrigued | Susceptibility increased by 2%]
Aszer stared at the cloaked form of the fourth prince, uncertainty flashing across his features.
"Why do this? Why help me?"
Aric turned away from the king as he heard the question, perhaps deep in thought.
"Because... I have nothing to lose," he replied, turning back to meet the king’s gaze.
Aric pushed open the door to see Serina and the old man sitting near the fireplace, both cradling cups filled with a hot liquid, as indicated by the trails of steam rising from them.
"Ah, you came back alive," Hitoki said, genuinely shocked.
"I told you," Serina said with a smug smile.
"It seems the king is still under the impression that his plans have not reached the imperial city," Hitoki speculated.
"No, he’s aware. In fact, I confronted him about it."
Serina and Hitoki nearly spat out the tea they were sipping when they heard Aric’s words.
He spoke as if what he had just said was another mundane event in his day, while taking off the cloak around him and setting it aside.
"You did what?" Serina asked, shocked.
"It’s fine. I’m here, aren’t I?" Aric assured them. "Hitoki, I’ll need all the information you have on the king’s council by tomorrow morning... I’ll pay well for it."
The old man nodded.
"Where’s Lerai? I need to speak with the bandit leaders," Aric asked, glancing around in search of the young mage.
"He’s been in the basement with Alan for hours now," Serina responded.
"Yeah?" Aric turned toward the hallway that led to the basement. "I’ll go meet him," he said, walking away.
He took the hallway path and then went through the basement door and down the stairs. The light from the torches barely illuminated the staircase.
As Aric stepped into the basement, his pupils dilated as his eyes widened. In a swift burst, his hand shot up, catching an arrow mere inches from his face.
"What the—"