"Don't speak that way about him! Father... he has done a lot for me," Augustus acknowledges. I can see a genuine love for the emperor in his eyes and it makes me sick with envy.
In my past life, I never had a father and in this one, the one I got only gives a damn about my brother, not me. I'm pretty sure that's the origin story for half of the Marvel villains.
I nod, pretending not to be bitter. "It is good you know. But even with everything Father has done for you, it would not be enough for you to sit comfortably on the throne. You would still have to fight for it and you would lose."
My message sets a somber tone and we both stew in silence for a bit.
"What makes you think I would benefit from your partnership?" He's got a tricky look in his gold eyes, like he can't wait for me to stumble and mess up. But little does he know that he's just stumbled into the crux of my plan.
