The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the grand courtyard of the Byzeth castle. The table, adorned with goblets and parchment, stretched out before Aric as he sat calmly at one end, directly across from King Aszer.
The council members, eleven in total, flanked both sides of the table, their eyes sharp and their postures tense. Suspicion hung thick in the air, with some of the council members barely concealing their disdain.
They all discreetly released and flared ki and mana, all in an attempt to intimidate the prince and make him fumble, and although Aric did not show it—this gesture affected him.
The king himself watched Aric closely, intrigued but unreadable, waiting to see how the prince would play his next move.
A man sitting closest to the king—a thin, sharp-featured lord dressed in deep purple robes—spoke first, his voice laced with contempt.
"Your Grace, forgive my boldness, but how can we cohert with a Valerian prince to aid in a rebellion against his own empire? Surely this reeks of deception."
Murmurs of agreement swept through the council. A count with a thick beard and an elaborate coat nodded aggressively. "He claims to offer help, but it’s far more likely he’s a spy—someone sent to sabotage us from within."
Aric leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed. His eyes scanned the table, taking in the small ripples of tension that these accusations caused. Then, he smiled, a calm, measured smile that only made the tension thicker.
"If I were a spy, I assure you, you’d already be dead," Aric said smoothly, his words causing several of the council members to stiffen.
"Why waste time entertaining plans and meetings? Like I said before I could have delivered every piece of your strategy to the emperor the moment I confirmed your plans."
A silence fell over the courtyard, pressing with the weight of the prince’s words. The thin lord in purple seemed about to respond, but Aric spoke again, cutting him off before he could.
"But let’s be honest. I’m not here to prove my trustworthiness. I’m here because I offer something far more valuable than empty promises or words of loyalty." Aric’s eyes sharpened as he leaned forward slightly, drawing the attention of everyone present. "I offer victory. And that’s something no one at this table has been able to guarantee. Not even King Aszer."
The king raised an eyebrow, still intrigued but now keenly listening.
Aric continued, shifting his gaze to the bearded count who had spoken earlier.
"You doubt me because of my blood, but bloodlines don’t win wars. Strategy does. And as for trust..." Aric leaned back again, his voice taking on a tone of casual confidence. "You needn’t trust me. What you need is results. And I know how to get them."
"You dare?! " The count shot up from his seat, ki flaring.
The king raised his hand, stopping the count, gesturing he let the prince speak.
"Strong men win battles, smart men win wars. I will be the one guiding your strategy. I have knowledge of the empire and every kingdom within it that none of you can match—so much so I knew your entire plan. I know the empire weaknesses. I know how to exploit them. And more importantly, I have nothing to lose.
The Forgotten Prince is dead to Valeria. But here, in Byzeth? I am an instrument of a grander chaos."
The king exchanged glances with several members of his council, his intrigue now tempered with calculation. Finally, he nodded slowly, his gaze locking with Aric’s.
"You speak well, prince. But talk is cheap. Show me results, and then we will see where our partnership leads."
Aric grinned, knowing he had won the first round of his deadly game. "I’ll have your first target soon."
’Use Rejuvenation boost.’
[Rejuvenation boost has been used | Time left: 4:00]
[Ki flow has increased by 65%]
[Ki and mana are clashing]
Aric smiled, his hand gripping the seat handles as he prepared to stand up. "Also, the next time the lot of you try to intimidate me with such an embarrassing display of ki..."
As the prince spoke, the eyes of the council members widened, and the hair on their skin stood erect. They felt something. It wasn’t mana nor ki—it was, put simply... destruction.
"... I will damn the consequences," the prince completed, standing up from the chair, which then turned black and crumbled to ash.
"Have a good rest of your day," The prince said, turning and exiting the courtyard.