Count Zayne arrived at his base camp, he destroyed his table where the map and other essentials were placed with his sword. His men stood there watching this with their heads slightly tilted lower because they didn't want to be part of this or get attacked by the Count for it.
The Count screamed "HOW DARE HE!" His words were heard across the camp "A SON OF A LOWLY WENCH!" He continued to make a mess before a messenger arrived.
Zayne looked at the messenger who carried a sigil of House Humadre. "What are you doing here?" He asked after calming down, especially because he was aligned with the First Prince and House Leondra, so the messenger from another Ducal House was a suspicious thing to see.
The Messenger lowered his head to show respect. "My Lord, I have been brought here to inform you that Duke Orenias Humadre would like to help you." The Count responded with a question "Help? What does he want me to help me with?" The Messenger's response was quick "The problem of handling a rodent who luckily has blue blood."
The Count realised what the messenger meant but he asked "How does the Duke know that I find him as a problem." The Messenger responded saying "Well the Duke told me that everyone finds him a problem and that he must be dealt with as soon as possible."
Count Zayne did approve those words because he felt like that but he asked "How do the Duke think of helping me?" And the Messenger responded by saying "He has hired some talented people who are experienced in killing high profile targets." But the Count said "Hah, unfortunately no such assassins could reach him especially when he is surrounded by his mutts."
The Messenger then said "We know, that's why he needs your help." The Duke responded "What? My help? How can I help with that?" The Messenger replied "You can because we need you to cause a distraction as well as bring the Prince to a location where we can ambush him."
The Count took a minute to think before saying "I could help... No, I will help. I need him gone. I will help only if I am given the chance to deal the final blow so I can see him fall and so he can see my face before he dies." The Messenger nodded to it saying he'll tell the hired mercenaries about this so they'll wait for the Count to deal the final blow.
The Messenger before leaving told the Count to prepare since the attack will occur at sunset at a precise time and that there will be a certain signal at a certain point where he must be prepared.
The Count laughed at the idea of killing the Fourth Prince, they weren't inside the Kingdom's official territory since Theon was just conquered but is still consolidated by the troops because there could be rebellious activities happening across the land.
If they manage to kill Estafan, they can easily put the blame on the citizens of Theon saying they got their revenge for the war.
"But the issue is, how in the world will make him come alone." He thought to himself while walking back and forth.
Meanwhile at the Royal Palace, the King was seen taking his leisure walk at the Royal Garden while reading the newspaper.
He was suddenly surprised by Duke Gerin who seemed to have arrived to meet the King but the King said "You surprised me!" He held his chest while speaking those words.
The Duke laughed while saying "I apologise for scaring you cousin." King Philip responded "You always do this." Then they both began to walk together.
King Philip's mother was Duke Gerin's aunt, he was chosen by the previous king to be the 19th King of Ikarus after the death of his siblings in a battle for the throne. Gerin has always supported the King since they were cousins and his relation to House Leondra.
The Duke asked "When will you choose an heir?" But King Philip responded with an annoyed tone "Really? You came to ask me about that. Be honest, you want to make me choose your grandson right." Duke just said "Yes." In a straightforward manner.
Philip stopped walking for a moment and said "Wow." His reaction to the honesty of Duke Gerin who said "Well why should I hold back considering I do want to see my grandson sitting on the throne."
The King responded in a tired manner "All four of you constantly ask me about this to the point where I am actually tired to even hear the word heir." The Duke, albeit a bit annoyed, said "It's your duty Philip. You must pick an heir before a large war starts for the throne."
But the King, well disagreed "I want the heirs to compete of course, so the one who's worthy can get the throne." Duke Gerin pointed out a mistake in that plan "That will end in a blood bath which may ruin the Kingdom."
King Philip held the shoulders of his cousin with his hand "This is why I have told you four to not intervene. Let them fight because they must prove that they are worthy for the throne. Look at me Gerin, I got the throne because father chose me and it ended with a bloodbath as well but I emerged victorious even though I never even left the Palace."
The Duke questioned those words "So? How does that matter here?" Philip answered it by saying "Even if I were to choose, others will simply create a conflict because power makes people greedy." He continued "I am a weak King who started nonsense wars to distract people from that fact but of course, I was lucky enough to see multiple victories which will forever brand me as a King who won."
The Duke asked "So you choosing an heir won't fail because they will see similar or greater achievements than yours." Philip sighed while saying "I was just lucky but my successor may not get the same luck so let them prove it Gerin, prove that they are worthy for it."