The Prince let out a confident smile, saying, "To gain your support of course...", which prompted the Archduke to halt his actions before looking up at the Prince with an amused smile.
"Is that right?", he said, his smile persisting. Of course, the question was rhetorical so he didn't receive an answer nor did he expect one. Leaning back on his office chair, he crossed his arms before saying,
"You know I can only support one candidate for the throne race, and you also know that I have already agreed to support the First Prince, so why? Why have you come to sway my decision? No, let me rephrase that, what could you possibly offer me that will have enough pull to change my mind?!"
A business man to his core.
it was rulers like him that attributed to the fact that Greenwood was the second most advanced cities in all of the Skunder Kingdom. The Prince wasn't too surprised by what he said, after all, he knew the Archduke was cared little for words. Holding out his palm in front of the Archduke, a red folder was summoned from his spatial ring. Placing it on the table, he patiently waited for the Archduke to skim through its contents.
The Archduke's eyes were drawn towards the folder before he reached to pick it up with some curiosity. It weighed almost nothing, he noted. Flipping it open, he saw three pages that had been held together with a digital paperclip. Dragging the paperclip to the side, he managed to free the pages before skimming through them.
His amused expression slowly fading, his eyes turned narrow and his smile disappeared, in its place appeared an expression displaying utter focus and seriousness. At times, he even went as far as looking up at the Prince before continuing his endeavours.
After going over the pages a few more times, the Archduke returned them back into the folder before giving the Prince a meaningful look. His gaze was stern yet was meaning to convey a message.
"Those are big propositions, don't you think?"
His voice lacking the humour it held a few seconds ago.
"I'm trying to steal you away from the First Prince after all, so of course, I should go all out...."
"Going as far as changing the Capital?! That quite bold..."
"The Capital is merely a symbol, it does not matter where it actually is... of course, that's a sentiment only I agree with. But don't doubt, the elders nor the nobles will be able to oppose my decision..."
"I wonder if that's confidence or arrogance..." The Archduke was quite impressed by the Prince's offer, his approach, as well as his confidence, but it didn't mean that he supported him. No it was far from it! For the Prince to receive his support, he had to prove that he could guarantee his end of the bargain.
"Your offer is enticing, but I must decline due to all the uncertain variables that exist..."
This was to be expected, and so the Prince continued, "I understand your concerns but you needn't worry, there isn't any way I won't be able to implement my rule... In fact, point out any of your insecurities and I shall show you how I'll deal with it..."
The Archduke decided to play along, pointing out, "Well then, concerning the act of changing the Capital, how do you plan to deal with the clans and nobles? Especially, the stubborn noblewoman named Catherine Stoneheart?"
The Prince paused for a minute, "Catherine Stoneheart huh... Yes, I do understand why you worry about her. She and her large personal military will be quite a nuisance, but don't pay it too much mind, Catherine may be a strong, stubborn, and just woman, but that only goes for her, not her family.
For example, did you know that her daughter, who has been set to wed with another, has fallen in love with a street urchin? Not just any street urchin, but one who just so happened to be the illegitimate child of the current king?"
The Archduke's eyes narrowed even sharper. This piece of information was much more dangerous than one may perceive it to be. "Those are bold words but do you have proof? You might be a Prince but keep in mind that lies like this have dangerous consequences, to you and to others."
Letting out a smile the Prince summoned another folder out of thin air, "I assure you, I tell no lies. All the proof you need is inside this folder..." He then placed the folder on the table waiting for the Archduke to look over its contents.
Flipping it open, it didn't take the Archduke long before he saw through all the contents of the folder. His expression turning graver with each page he saw through. Turns out the Prince wasn't lying at all. There were multiple photos of the noblewoman's daughter and the boy spending time together, chatting, dining, and even in bed.. doing the deed.
No, no, no, this was much more serious than it led on! It wasn't the act of infidelity that was so severe but the fact that the boy was actually an illegitimate child of the current king. If news of this was leaked, Catherine and her immensely powerful military, would be suspected for having intentions a coup to overthrow the current king!
That suspicion was worthy if a death sentence, both for the mother and daughter!
'Not only has he completely over come this insecurity, he practically has a death grip on it... The fact that it was Catherine, the most just out of all the nobles, makes this situation even worse for her. If he were to expose this information, I fear that house Stoneheart would be wiped from existence... How terrifying!'
The Prince was satisfied with the Archduke's reaction as the severity of this Information was completely detrimental towards house Stoneheart. But in the case he still hadn't decided, the Prince continued,
"I also have gathered similar dossiers on every other important figure, intrusting my victory no matter what. And so I ask, do you reconsider?"
The Archduke resisted his brows from twitching, thinking, 'He couldn't have one of those on me, right?
Right?'