"Count Rodriguez seems one of them, should we take this opportunity to deal with him?", Freki asked Alaric, his tone indicating what he wants to do.
"Hmm... that sounds interesting, someone wants me to ruin them.", Alaric said with a grin.
"He is the king's dog, he always does everything he wants, breaking laws, keeping black money, and using the king's name to cover it up. This is the right time to completely uproot that bastard. Even the king will not be able to help him and will take a step back.", Freki said.
Count Rodriguez was one of the king's informants in Whelpstrother, he pass on all the information he could gather regarding Alaric and the things affecting him. The king has a few other Aristocrats working on his side.
These Aristocrats played an important role in spreading dreadful rumors in Whelpstrother involving Alaric.
Count Rodriguez once sent his people to Alaric's Castle too, to keep an eye on his moves and directly report to him. When Alaric found out about them he executed each one of them making up minor issues like theft or irresponsibility during working hours.
As there was no evidence found against him Alaric couldn't do anything about Count. Instead, executing his maids and servant for small reasons only boosts his bad image among the citizens.
The Count didn't stop at that and tried to spy on the prince.
To get rid of him, Alaric tried until now to find evidence of his wrongdoings and he fed the count with erroneous information made by him.
Now is the perfect time to strike at the count.
"Let's discuss all this in the office.", Alaric said as he stood up from the dining table completing his breakfast.
The two went to Alaric's office in the castle.
Outside the office a man was standing, by his smell, the two of them knew that he was Adolph. He is one of the knights.
As the two stood in front of him, Adolph bowed to them.
"Your Highness!"
"Any reason for being here?", Freki asked the knight.
"Your highness, I was just here to submit this monthly report regarding the knight's training.", Adolph said with his head down.
Only then Alaric noticed the papers in his hand.
"You came here so early to submit a report!", Freki said with a doubtful face.
"If that's the only reason, then Freki takes the reports from him. And you can leave if you are done.", Alaric said looking at him with piercing eyes.
"Your highness! there's one more thing I would like to say.", Adolph said handing over the reports to Freki.
"What is it?", Alaric asked.
"The knight's squad which will be taking the caged vampire to the mainland is appointed, we need you to look in that once...."
"I will see that when I come to the training ground. You may leave now.", Alaric said interrupting him in between.
"Yes, your highness.", after saying this Adolph took his leave from there.
"Let's go in, Freki.", Alaric said to Freki who was looking at the leaving figure of Alaric.
Listening to him Freki turned his face to Alaric, nodding his head he unlocked the office's door.
Entering the office Alaric sat on his seat and Freki stood near him, placing the report given by Adolph on the table with others.
"So, tell me in detail, where he is hiding that vampire exactly.", Alaric asked leaning back on the chair.
"Count Rodriguez is hiding them somewhere in his manor, during the daytime he uses them as maids or servants and as the sun sets, some of his guards take them to the iron mines owned by Rodriguez Family for labor work. Our people in the count's manor have confirmed that they have seen some Vampire working in the Count's manor, due to this he has reduced a lot of servants and restricted the rest to certain areas. I too have sent someone to go into the iron mine at night and have reported that there are approximately fifteen of them working. Before the sun rises they return to the manor.", Freki told him all the information.
"I think the Count is becoming quite brave in the king's protection. That imbecile isn't even thinking of the consequences of keeping them.", Alaric said gritting his teeth.
"That's right what if any of them escape and bring chaos among the citizens.", Freki said adding to Alaric's statement.
"Freki we will be raiding his manor today, I want to catch those vampires when the count is himself in the mansion. So that there is no escape for him."
"I think the time when all the vampires are ready to set out for the mine, the count must be in the manor after the sun sets.", Freki said.
"That's to be done until then ask someone in the manor to keep an eye on the count.", Alaric said pushing his chair towards the chair and picking up the papers from the table.
"Your highness! Shouldn't I inform our knights about the raid so they can be more prepared for it?", Freki asked Alaric who already started going through all the documents.
"There's no need for that, I will inform them during our departure. Do not need to tell a single soul about that.", Alaric said drowning himself in the paperwork.
Alaric does not trust many people around him, even his knights. For him, they can also be the informants sent by some other enemy. He was uncertain about the plan getting leaked, if count got to know about this he will surely transfer those vampires somewhere, and their chance to get rid of the count. Freki understands his distrust towards others so he didn't say anything and remained silent.
"Understood.", after saying this Freki also sat at another table in Alaric's office doing his work.