Lord Heidz’s Manor.
Four days since the council meeting.
Aric walked into the lord’s manor after traversing a long expanse of land, like a sea of well-cut green grass decorated with multiple statues and fountains made of white stone. The manor itself was large and complexly beautiful, its design speaking of unparalleled architecture and even more profound costs.
It didn’t take a second look to know this was the home of the extremely wealthy, and upon entering inside, it was an even greater sight to behold. The entire interior was covered in gold and marble furnishings, and there was no place to look that didn’t offer a gleam of wealth.
"Please, this way," one of the servants beckoned as Aric followed behind him.
He was led through a large hallway and eventually up the breathtaking curve of stairs before traveling through another hallway, only stopping when they reached the door at the far end of the hall.
Although made of wood, the door seemed very grand. It had a multitude of artistic carvings that adorned it, and it was very dense. The servant pushed the door open, before stepping aside and gesturing for Aric to enter.
"Please, this way," the servant said.
Aric glanced at the servant before turning back to the door’s entrance, proceeding with slight hesitation. As he looked around, attempting to ascertain where he was, he quickly noticed numerous bookshelves at the depths of the room—it felt like a library of sorts.
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In the far right of the room, near a window, was a large desk and an occupied chair. A man, perhaps in his fifties, sat down, carefully reading a book. His failure to acknowledge the prince’s presence made Aric assume he had yet to be noticed.
However, it didn’t seem so, as the man greeted, "Welcome, Your Highness... I had begun to worry my invitation would not be honored."
The lord spoke while his eyes still trailed from one side of the book to the other, reading with concentration.
"I am very grateful for your gift; coming was the least I could do."
"In a position like mine, information becomes the most valuable."
Aric walked closer to the window again as he gazed down at the servants.
"Speak freely, your lordship. Why do you let Aszer keep his life until now... you seem more than capable... ready even."
The lord hesitated at Aric’s question, allowing silence to settle between them before he finally spoke.
"I... don’t want to be king, nor do I want the chaos that would ensue from taking that throne, and even worse, the wrath of Valeria."
Aric smiled before he turned back to the lord.
"...but you don’t want Aszer to remain king either?"
"No," Heidz sharply answered. "That bastard will be the doom of Byzeth... it only saddens me that it seems you have colluded with him on his... well, rather foolish ambition."
"Oh?" Aric’s tone laced with intrigue. "Then perhaps you have called me here in an attempt to sway me away from my intentions."
"No, if you have truly decided on aiding the king, then I shall not convince you otherwise. However, I can’t seem to shake the thought that you have a deeper interest, and I only invited you to confirm or disabuse this notion."
Aric looked into the eyes of the lord sternly, as if searching for something within their depths. He then threw his head back and drank all of the remaining wine in his cup before letting out a strong exhale.
"The king will die for his treason," Aric declared as his eyes narrowed, and he slowly approached the lord. "But you may die before him."
The lord shot up from the chair, panic evident on his face as modestly sized golden spears began to materialize behind the prince, their sharp and deadly points aimed straight at the lord as Aric approached him.
"Don’t bother, no one will come. My Ki cannot be sensed... you can only live by answering my questions truthfully."