"Nephew." Aleksander walked over tapping Oskars’s shoulder. The two gave a knowing look and a subtle shake of the head from Oskar was all he needed to understand that he couldn’t find anything. "And you are?" Horace gave a deep bow.
"Jedrick Mikos, your Grace." He spoke full of politeness but dealing with Aleksandeer was sothing he didn’t particularly wish to do right now.
"The Mikos family. I didn’t think you would co to the capital. Forgive but your family is small." Horace gave a smile and said nothing. "Tell . How is your father? It’s a sha the count could not co after all."
"My father is fine." Horace began to recall all the information he knew of the Mikos family. "He believed it was best for to co here and learn things that he did not have the privilege to do." Aleksander nodded.
"A smart man. And a smarter son for following that order." Aleksander gave a long analyzing look of Horace. The man could feel the eyes trying to see through him but held firm not letting it bother him. "But it makes wonder. Your family is its main industry. I know your Oskar’s friends so I may be able to help you."
Horace knew he was being interrogated under the guise of a helpful uncle. The question was why. Did he suspect him of being a spy for the Empire, or was it like Oskar and he thought he worked for Konrad? Horace was willing to gamble on the latter. There was no reason to suspect him of working for Alfred. "Well, we mainly see rchants co through our lands. tax on them. With a small farmland, we earn and produce enough to pay our tax."
Aleksander nodded. "What good usually cos through." it stunned Horace for a second but he didn’t let it show. the worked his mind in a couple of seconds he could pause and think about what to say. "Mainly lumber." He didn’t know exactly, only being able to know if he actually lived there. He hoped it was the correct answer seeing as how the Aragon forests ran through near the lands.
Aleksander smiled upon hearing this. "Then I may be able to help you. Lumber is always sothing needed and having soone experienced in it would help a few n out here." Aleksander looked up at the crown Prince who was eyeing the sea of nobles. "Forgive , I need to speak with the Crown Prince. I could only co for a quick talk."
Horace said a polite goodbye but internally he was in a panic. Did he answer correctly? He couldn’t read the man in front of him seeing he was a master at controlling his emotions. He could only pray that it was correct. Seeing him leave, Horace knew he had to leave soon as well. His mind was a ss.
Going around with Oskar he made sure to say less and went through the motions until he could finally leave.
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"What do you think?" Alone with his uncle, Oskar asked. Aleksander pulled a cigar out and lit it. With a deep inhale of it, he smiled.
"He got it wrong." His words made Oskar smile. "He is definitely a fake."
"So what now?"
"I have mobilized a couple of n to pay him a visit tonight. How he deals with them will tell all I need to know." Oskar was shocked by his uncle’s words but said nothing. If he was willing to do sothing like this then it ant he made all the preparations.
"Will Konrad be angry?"
"Maybe but he wont care for long. He is used to his n being attacked." Oskar nodded leaving his Uncle alone to smoke. The man leaned over the railing and watched the night sky, his eyes icy cold thinking about how to deal to move forward.
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Horace sat in his room, a blade in his hand. He saw the lantern in the house opposite flashed twice and he knew that people were there. He could only assu it was Aleksander who sent them. A knock in a certain pattern hit his door and he nodded. Opening it man in black robes walked in. "There coming." Horace sighed and let him in; the man quickly took his place inside the closet.
Putting sheets under his blanket he made a bulge. Turning off all lights he hid behind his door and waited, the blade in his hand, covered in a fast-acting poison. Minutes passed and the door opened silently. Horace watched as two n walked in. One walked to the bed stabbing into the sheets.
The cupboard opened getting the two’s attention and Horace acted quickly, coming from behind the door and plunging his knife into one of their throats. He acted quickly and through the man down moving forward and stabbing the next in the throat. Blood stained his room and Horace squinted hard. It was too easy.
They were terrible assassins. He looked at the bodies saying nothing. ’A test?’ Horace didn’t have the ti to worry about it yet. "Clean this up and find anything you can." The man gave a bow and Horace left cleaning the blood on his clothes. Seeing it not co out he quickly made a fireplace and threw them in, putting on a new set. He had work to do and couldn’t put it off. He knew that he wouldn’t be getting any sleep for a while. Going to his mirror he began to work on his face, putting paste and makeup on to change his appearance slightly.
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Count Chil sat in his house, drinking. His leg bounced, unable to control the nerves and he could only hope and wait. He expected soldiers to kick down his door and for his na,e to disappear from history. He didn’t know where he got his confidence from before and now he wished he never had it.
"Sir a guest has arrived." A servant walked into the drunk CHil and he took many deep breaths.
"Bring them in." Chil didn’t bother trying to hide away. He knew he would get found eventually by the King and he felt it was better to not piss him off more than he already had. The servant bowed and left, walking in with a hodded Horace. "How will it happen." Chil had all but given up. He could only hope Snowid would spare the rest of his family.
Horace shook his head taking a seat opposite him. "I heard your speech earlier and forgive for not stepping forward and helping you before, but I was scared," Horaace spoke full of respect, surprising Chil who leaned forward confused. "But you are a great man. And I thank you for saying what we all wanted to say."
"Chil was slightly drunk but Horace’s words sobered him up slightly. "Who.. what... what do you want?"
"A return to the old ways. Snowid in his arrogance is destroying tradition and the rest of the nobility are to scared to say anything about it. We need a man. No a leader like you." Horace said with an unyielding conviction. Horace paused and pointed at his hood "I’m sorry for hiding my face, but I can’t know where you stand."
Chil shook his head a couple of tis. "It was stupid."
"It was brave and inspiring." Horace flattered him so more, seeing it appeal to Chil. ’So superficial.’ He thought to himself. "You have the qualities and many like myself who I have spoken to all agree. To stand up to the King was sothing none of us could do."
"Chil felt his blood flow hearing Horace’s words. He wasn’t alone. "There are more of you."
"Of course." Horace lied easily. "Tradition is what has allowed us and the Commonwealth to thrive. Snowid wishes to destroy that and make us into a shell of his enemies. The nobility if they do not stand against it now will never find the chance again."
"He is destroying our very foundations," Chil said to himself agreeing. "But I am a re count. People will not follow . I have lost my lands and have nothing now."
"We have you. That’s all that matters. You are scared Snowid will kill us all if we do sothing, am I correct." Chil didn’t want to admit it but nodded. He could see the bright smile underneath Horace’s head. "Then do not worry. He won’t."
"How can you be sure?" Chil said with slight hope in his voice.
"Because if we randomly disappear, especially you who confronted the King, the nobility will know it was Snowid. It’s one thing to threaten us, but to silence us is tyranny that SNowid can’t afford to have attached to his na right now. That is why, many of us are looking towards you, to help us."
Chil grabbed his forehead. His foot bounced. ’Do I truly have the qualities? Do the other really look up to ?’ He thought about it and it made more sense. He was the only one who ca forward. He spoke directly against the King. It would be weird if people didn’t respect him.
Greed quickly took hold. ’This could be chance. How much will I grow if I lead the noble faction?’ Horace saw this and smiled. He reached into his pocket causing CHil to jump, but seeing it be a slip of paper he held cald himself.
"I will leave you to think about this. When you have an answer, follow the instructions on that." CHil took it reading a date and location and nodded. Horace seeing this smiled and got up, letting himself out. Alone the count leaned back on the chair and drank his drink. His face smiled and fell over and over as he thought about all the pros and cons of Horace’s proposition.
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One more Horace found himself sitting in front of another noble. It was getting later but the man in front was soone he had to see today. he was lucky that he managed to get a eting with him. "Thank you for eting with Marquees." Horace put on a very respectable front in front of the man, giving a deep bow. He was a grey haired man, but still held a youthful vigor.
Marquees Piast looked at him with indifference, only humoring the conversation because his servant said it was sothing interesting. "Get on with it, I wish to sleep."
"Of course. As I know you are a man who ensures the safety of the nobility." The marquees nodded and Horace smiled. "If that were the case how would you feel if I could offer a way for the nobility to be able to have a return to tradition, with no harm coming towards yourself or your family if it fails."
His words got a smirk form the Marquees who looked at him like an idiot. Horace didn’t care. He knew the man in front was one of the main people who agreed with Chil’s speech, who didn’t walk forward. He didn’t know why but he assud it was for the safety of his family.
"And how would this be." The Marquees humored it, interested in getting a small laugh if anything.
"A sacrificial lamb." Horace spoke with a deep coldness and cunning, surprising the Marquees who moved forward more interested. "A certain fool has already co forward leading the charge. And many agreed with his words, but were not so stupid to voice them so publicly."
A click of the tongue cut off Horace before he could talk anymore. "You’re saying you want to support that greedy fool?" A booming laugh escaped his mouth and he shook his head. "I’m sorry but that sounds stupid."
"No no no. Not follow him. What a stupid thought. No, what I propose is you let him beco the voice of the movent. Bring all attention to himself, whilst n such as yourself control things from behind. The King has gotten too powerful now and it’s only a matter of ti before he follows in the Empire’s footsteps. You should be able to see this yourself."
The Marquees nodded in agreent. With both Dukledoms behind Snowid, there was no real way of stopping him for anything he wished to do. he was lucky that he only had the two kids, or both dukes would have a marriage alliance with him by now. He thought more deeply about why Horace was here, taking it seriously.
"Many nobles will not side with that fool if he is alone, but if they know my influence is behind it, they may be more likely. But even then it would be a coin flip. With how much power and support Snowid has, it will be hard."
"And if he didn’t have all this support?" Horace threw out the question much to the Marquee’s surprise. His eyes went hard.
"Careful what you say. I am still loyal to the crown."
"Of course. I wouldn’t harm it either. But you’re not loyal to the Dabrowski family. Are you?"
"Don’t finish that." The Marquees said sharply and Horace nodded. Despite this, Horace could see he was in thought. Smacking his lips together he looked into Horace’s eyes. "Accidents do happen occasionally. It would be a sha if they happened again."
Horace smiled. He could see that the Marquees feared how powerful Snowid was and only said that because of it. "I have seen that fool." Reaching into his pocket he handed a slip of paper identical to the one he gave Chil. "He will be here. I hope you can talk to so people and get them to agree."
The Marquees took it nodding. "Before you leave. Your na." Horace smiled pulling down his hood. He changed his appearance slightly so he wouldn’t be recognized.
"Count Jozef Lipski, your Grace." Horace gave a bow and seeing a nod from the man opposite he got up and left.
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