"With the Empire joining the war, we face the end." Lesezek knew he shouldn’t talk like that whilst acting a sregent, but he couldn’t bear to lie to himself, nor would the men believe it if he did. "Aleksander. When is your family moving. Forget petty disputes. If the Commonwealth falls, your family is on the chopping block aswell."

Aleksander knew that what Lesezek said was true and sighed deeply. "I’ll urge them to hurry up. My guess is that my brother thought he could get a few more scraps before he had to move. Things changed." It was enough for Lesezek, and he left the matter there. He couldn’t do anything more to force the Laska’s. He couldn’t risk them trying to fight the crown aswell.

"May I?" Konrad said happily, getting the attention of the two. "There could be other ways to end this war. Maybe not on the field." The two looked at the sinister light hiding behind Konrad’s angelic smile and could already see where he was going.

"How would you do it?" Lesezek leaned forward, giving his full attention. Konrad smiled and thought for a minute.

"The Emporer will be heading to the front. All that would remain is the Empress, crown prince and the two bastards. We have to get the Crown Prince. Whilst the Emperor may love all his children, the Empress, from my knowledge, despise the bastards. She would happily keep that information suppressed, and even if we brought it up, there is a chance he may let one die to win the war. I don’t doubt anything that man can do for his ambition."

Konrad spoke with a serious tone, but hidden in it was a small tinge of admiration for the image he had created in his mind. "What saying he won’t leave his cripple son to die for the war.?" Hearing Aleksanders question, Lesezek nodded in gareement.

Even if they captured the Crown Prince it may give the excuse Alfred ha been needed to get rid of the cripple child and put in place one of his healthy children. "The Empress. She won’t let it happen. First, we need someone on the inside. Get close to the child. Someone we can trust to be quick and efficient."

"It’s risky. Very risky, " Lesezek said, shaking his head. He tried to find a way to proceed. Even if we get the boy, how can we guarantee he will arrive here? The Empire puts out the order to find a cripple and it won’t be hard to find the Prince before he can be moved."

"With the emperor gone, the grip he has on his vassals and servants will be weaker. I still am in touch with a couple of nobles who do not like the Emperor’s rule. I’ll use them as a middleman. It’s the only way." Lesezek and Aleksander looked at one another, and giving knowing nods, they looked at Konrad.

"Get it done. No matter the cost." Lesezek gave the order, and Konrad stood upon and bowed. Turning to face Aleksander, Lesezek sighed and collapsed in his hand. "Alek. Please tell me the truth. What are our chances?"

Aleksander could see the evidence on Lesezek that they had all been suppressing since the start of the Civil War. With the EMpire getting involved, it finally all came out. Opening a small box on the table, Aleksander pulled out a cigar and lit it.

Blowing a cloud of smoke out, he felt the emotion he had been feeling come out. "Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe if my brother had moved at the start, we could have been ready for the war, but Henryk was given too much time to consolidate the West. We could even break through before and know the Empire is coming to support him." Shaking his head, he didn’t carry on.

"Survive. It’s all we have to do. No matter how. Pride, honour. None of that matters anymore." Lesezek’s voice was bitter as he looked forward at the giant double doors before him. On it was his family’s crest, ingrained into the wood. "The Empire is an evil thing, Alek. And The Blood Child is the center of that. If we can kill him, we survive. They will collapse without him."

Aleksander blew out a second cloud of smoke and looked at Lesezek. He saw the man’s eyes warping into cold gems without a single speck of light in them. As he rattled on, the man’s face slowly became devoid of emotion. "We have to be worst. Anything and everything that can should be used."

"Even if it kills our people?" Aleksander asked coldly. Turning to look at his advisor, Lesezek’s face didn’t change; only his eyes became colder. Nothing resembling sympathy for fear could be seen, and Aleksander knew Lesezek was serious.

"The Blood Child wouldn’t hesitate to let his people starve if it meant he won." The two stared at one another for a couple of seconds, with Lesezek breaking first to look at the door again. The family crest burnt into his eyes. He would survive. His family would live on. It kingdom. Even if he had to sacrifice everything.

Aleksander stood up and bowed toward him. "What are your orders?"

"Get me a map. We have to begin."

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Issac looked up at the throne. Alfred had just left, along with Isra. Climbing the steps up to it, his hand stroked the armrest. Never before did he think it would be possible to sit on the chair and would only be able to look upon at it. But now. Turning, he sat down and took a deep breath. Falling into the comfy cushioning, a thin smile formed.

Whilst it would only be temporary, Issac couldn’t help but feel happy. He was the one in charge. He was the main authority. "Don’t get to use to it." An old voice said from next to him, breaking Issac out of his daydream.

Esmond walked over dead eyes and looked up at Issac, who slowly rose from the throne. "Don’t worry, I know my place." Giving the old man a friendly smile, Esmond walked up the steps and rested a hand on the chair.

"Do you want it?" The question surprised Issac but made him nervous. Was it a test? Did Alfred prepare this for him? He didn’t doubt it. It felt like something Alfred would do.

"Of course." Issac didn’t lie, knowing it would be useless before Esmond. "What person hasn’t dreamt of sitting above all men." Esmond nodded and took a place behind the seat.

"Sit." The longer it went on, the more confused Issac got, but he didn’t question it and did as instructed. He trusted Esmond. Not because of any personal relationship between them, but because Esmond couldn’t kill him. Issac was too necessary for the Empire to run right now. Alfred had no other option he could trust whilst at war.

Sitting down, he looked out at the large throne room. Esmond hunched down and placed his head next to his ear. "Imagine, the vassals are before you. Half hate you. Give them the chance, and they will murder you. The other half are neutral. They are not loyal, but also won’t try and kill you. What do you do?"

A picture played out in front of Issac. He had been around long enough to see it perfectly. The disgruntled faces, the quiet muttering, the sly snickering. "Make them respect me. How I do it depends on each vassal." Issac said confidently, getting a short laugh from Esmond.

"You failed," Esmond said, casually walking before Issac. "You should have first asked who supports you that isn’t in the room. Then you should have asked how powerful those before you were. Finally, you don’t need their respect. They can love you, and it means nothing. But if they fear you. Humans are cowards. You make them think that their lives don’t matter and they will have to prove it does. Make it seem like you will take their valuables, and they will desperately try to keep them. Fear does this. Do you think his Majesty spills blood because it’s fun?"

Issac dropped his head but shook his head. "His Majesty still needs those loyal."

"Of course. But he only needs a few. The rest don’t matter. While you are regent, I will ensure this doesn’t change. I will always be watching Issac. So don’t think that throne is yours. Even if your father is friends with His Majesty, it won’t protect you." Issac looked at the old man with cold eyes but did nothing. He knew his place, and Esmond was there to make sure he never grew too ambitious. Although he didn’t have such ambitions, it was a good warning.

’Fear.’ Issac bitterly chuckled to himself. Even now, Alfred found a way to keep him in check. He was one of those who were loyal and still felt afraid.