While my Mother was still doing so rounds with the nobles, making deals behind my Uncle's back, I was left there to 'entertain' him... which ant I was sitting there, listening to him endlessly about his ideas and how he could change warfare forever... but they just don't get his genius ideas. Like... dressing soone up in complete plate armor, leaving only his eyes visible... Making him impervious to all damages. I was not even attempting to try and reason that the poor bastard would be unable to move at all.
I was groaning heavily, feeling my head would burst at any given mont, escaping my Uncle's clutches at the last minute... Damn it... Yuri should hurry the fuck up because I am on the verge of lobotomizing my Uncle! Or myself! Would my Mother be angry about it? Probably not... but I would surely get into trouble. I told Oleg and the rest to keep a close eye on the district and not let anyone leave it without questioning them. I also briefed them that I allowed every thod they knew to use while interrogating and deciding on what to do. Either they would bow to , or I would send them in and eradicate this gang of crazy bitches. While I was hurrying back to my room, I turned a corner in the castle, just so to run into soone, knocking our heads together and falling onto the ground.
"Ugh... sorry..." I groaned and said the exact words that my unfortunate partner parroted at the sa ti. Looking at him, I saw he had a girly face, very similar to my Mother's; the only difference was that he had short, dark-brown hair with his green eyes. Simply by guessing, I would say he had to be between 16 and 17... and if not for the male clothes, he could have fooled .
"No, no, It was my fault!" He repeated, standing up as we looked at each other.
"Let's say we were both at fault!" I smiled, patting myself down, "My na is Leon... you are?"
"Elliot!" He bowed a little, "So you are my sister's son?"
"Ah... That is why you look like my Mom, huh?"
"Thank you." He smiled serenely, taking it as a complint... shit, he needs longer hair, and that smile would be like a charming young lady's!
"I am a man." He exclaid, speaking out of nowhere, making flinch and shudder. Was my gaze that oblivious?
"Yes?" I... I just couldn't find anything else to say.
"I am a man. I am used to the looks you just gave ... haaaah... And no, I am not into boys, and no, I am not young; I am already 26."
"That is still not old..." I mumbled, now feeling awkward. But... he was more approachable than my Uncle, that is for sure!
"Thank you again, Leon~! It is good to et you!" He stretched out his hand, and I grabbed it quickly; that was when we both heard my other Uncle waddling towards us from the corridor I had just co from. "Shit, the warthog is out of the pigsty? Co!" Without a question, he pulled along, and after a few hurried steps, I ended up in the castle's library. "Here we should be good... he rarely cos here anyway."
"Thanks! I think I heard enough of the abysmal battle scenarios that he plays out in his head! He only wins them because he thinks for the enemy, too!" I moaned, still tasting the greasy, sweaty aura that he was surrounded with... I think I hurled a little then and there.
"Ahaha! True, true!" Elliot laughed with , patting my back, and led to one of the tables, "I was about to go back to my room to nap a little, but oh well, that can wait! Wine?"
"Thanks!" I nodded, seeing that there were still snacks and wine lying around with multiple open books. "Studying?"
"You could say that," He nodded, giving a cup. "You see, even though my elder brother is the one who has the last say in things, he is only interested in those that fill up his personal coffers. I am left with dealing with the mundane part."
"How mundane?" I questioned, honestly curious about his part in the family.
"All the rest? The boring, economic part. I heard you visited the gang of those crazy ones?"
"Waaaait..." I stopped him, looked into my cup, and then glanced back at him. This guy was... dangerous. Was he not just like my Mom in appearance... but in mind too?
"It's fine." Elliott grinned, taking it from , sipping up a little bit of wine before giving it back as he licked his lips, making shiver. "Ahahaha! Sorry~!"
"Just so you know, I am also not into n! I already have a girl!"
"Good! Good! You should!" He nodded agreeingly, "I, too, have three maids I sleep with!"
"Pfft?!"
"What? Not to your liking?" He asked with a half-grin lingering on his face, and now I knew he was playing with ... damn you! You baby-faced bastard! Shit... I think I like this guy! It's much better Uncle material than the pig!
"Okay... okay... you got . Was our eting a coincidence at all?" I grunted, wiping my nose from wine.
"That it was! Although I was going to look for you sooner or later. It is about your plans."
"Plans?" I stiffened... did my Mother leak it? No... No way.
"It is my deduction so far, but I guess you will use them to be your hidden weapons against a rival noble, yes?"
"You could say that..." I murmured, looking at him without blinking, slowly sipping my wine.
"What if I... help you out?"
Mother did ntion she had a younger brother she would like more to sit where her older brother does right now... Was her hand in this? Or was this so kind of dirty play between nobles I read about so much? He didn't press on after his question, letting think. Whenever I looked into his eyes, he never looked away and just smiled amicably at .
Was this a trap? My instincts told it wasn't... and I trusted my gut. Then, this Uncle of mine was soone with ambition and soone who was ready to jump into the fray to grab power for himself... but how far would he be willing to go?
"Why?" I asked a simple yet complex question, and now it was my turn to wait. I watched him refill his cup and taste the wine before he leaned back in his chair and answered .
"Because I tolerated them here for the sa reason. I was using them to slowly gain more and more power over the city guards. You see, I am planning a... mmm... let's say, a hostile takeover against my Eldest Brother. He is unreliable, unfit, literally mind you, and worst of all, going completely senile. If he remains leading my ho, he will drive it into ruins."
I was totally floored by what I was hearing. For one, he was speaking so candidly and openly that I was at a loss for words. Then... there were the phrases he was using. What the... hell?
"Surprised?" He asked with a slight chuckle.
"Yeah. A bit. So... I spat into your soup?"
"Kinda. But I can adapt. I already did and ca up with a new idea! Care to listen?"
"Please. I'm all ears!" It was better to have an ally who is competent... than one who is a pig... so let's see what he has to offer!
"Here is the deal... whatever you are planning will sooner or later drag the Empire's eyes onto our little corner. Now... we don't want that to happen without providing any solution right after. Any sign of destability here would make them dispatch the military and replace us with new puppets. The thing is, they don't really care who sits here... as long as their back is protected and we pay our tithe every year!"
"They have ti for that? Or the manpower?" I asked, genuinely curious about their resources.
"Of course! Anyway... what I am saying is that we will work together. I already had much evidence planted within those animals to lead back to my good old brother!"
"What makes you think he would take the fall?"
"He would have no say in it!" Elliot continued, "The evidence I would provide to the Empire's agents would be enough. If you are backing with it... then it would be done even more quickly. They would take him away, make the new baron, and everyone would live happily ever after!"
"Are you a fox in a man's skin?" I asked, but he just laughed at it, not answering. "What if they decide you or we are too much of a hassle and decide to kill us all?"
"The Empire is pragmatic. Putting into power is much easier than raising a completely new family! Yes... That... could happen. But... the chances are slim."
"But not zero."
"Risk is with us in every facet of life. I could have run into you while you held a knife, and bam, you just stabbed to death!"
"What a specific example!" I shrugged, shaking my head while Elliot continued smiling, looking at .
"It was how the 17th Empress was murdered, and her cousin took over the Empire. Soooo... it is not as farfetched as you would think!"
"Huh... I see... You are ambitious, huh?"
"Not overly so!" With a yawn, he stretched, looking so relaxed that I couldn't help but yawn myself. "I know my boundaries. I just want this region, and it will benefit you too! We work well together, and I really love my sister. We could trade more openly and profitably, and I have so friends in other regions. I could open up more trade routes than my brother! Case in point, the pig is looked at warily and hated by many because he is too shrewd of a businessman. Always squeezing out as much profit as possible! I am much more llow... much more easier to work with."
"Well... you are selling yourself expertly! Hmm..."
"You can think about-"
"No." I shook my head, standing up and patting myself down, "I am already determined to go through with my plans, and if you are lending a helping hand, I will take it. I am doing sothing essential, and any aid is appreciated! You scratch my back, I scratch yours!"
"Ahaha! Good to hear it!" He jumped up, stretching his hand out, which I grabbed as we shook on it. "If you want, you can scratch my back in the bathhouse!"
"Errrr... thanks, but no thanks...."
"Joke. It was a joke." He added with a wide grin, but... I sohow was not sure of it. Or... shit... this guy is insanely good at confusing soone! "I will go and speak with Louise and tell her everything. Then, we can sit down and work out the details, hm?"
"Sounds good; I am still waiting on the bandits' answer anyway! It is better than listening to the pig one more ti; how we should tie four crossbows together to make a repeater!"
"Yeaaaaah... and you didn't even hear about his idea of giving wings to knights who would jump down from the walls, gliding above the battlefield and throwing javelins..."
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