Chapter 311: Reuben’s Gambit
At the heart of Prince Reuben’s sprawling estate, far from the common streets of the capital, the halls were alive with the hum of ambition. The great chamber where he received his inner circle was cloaked in shadow, its high windows shuttered despite the sun already high in the east.
Prince Reuben sat at the head of a long table, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, his gaze fixed on the map unrolled before him. Around him stood his most trusted advisors: Espiyor’s father, Lord Malik, sharp-eyed and sharper-tongued; Duval, the Marquis of Edenia, his master of spies; and Solanio, the merchant duke who bankrolled much of Reuben’s ambition.
"Indeed, it is difficult to find a flaw in Alaric. The people loved him. He was their war hero." Lord Malik said as he tasted the bottle of wine taken from Dakota’s cellar a few days ago.
"And yet, they were swayed by you Malik. They believed he failed in the matters of Calma and that he rode to exile," Reuben said, his voice smooth as silk, but carrying the weight of iron beneath.
Duval chuckled softly. "They see only what we allow them to see. Alaric is out of the capital. That is all that matters, for now."
Reuben’s lips curved into a smile that did not reach his eyes. "For now. But we must tighten our hold before he can move against us. I don’t believe that he was so obedient to our father. I think that he is only pretending and planning to strike back." Reuben voiced his concerns.
"On another matter, The Iron Horse should be ours to own." The crown prince added as he regarded each of his confidants. "But Matthias and the Norse siblings are a headache. He clings to his workshop as a miser to his last coin while the Norses did not want to relinquish the right to that product. That must change."
Lord Malik stepped forward, his voice low. "I have placed spies on the Norse manor. Lara is cleverer than I first believed. She may prove troublesome."
Reuben leaned back in his chair, considering, "Then we shall see if my charm can buy her loyalty. If not... other means may be necessary. It’s a pity; she has spirit. "But it can be broken."