Segarus turned his gaze to the prince, his smirk widening into a condescending smile. "Ah, young Prince Milon," he drawled, "you're still just a child in the grand scheme of things.
You don't yet understand how the emperor works. He wouldn't dare interfere in the affairs of our clans. These matters are beneath him."
Milon's confidence faltered, and his expression shifted as Segarus added, his tone dripping with venom, "In fact, I suspect there are those in the palace who would prefer to see you dead."
The prince stiffened, his face paling. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded, his voice laced with a mix of anger and unease.
Segarus chuckled softly, relishing the prince's discomfort. "Let's just say," he began, "that your star has been rising too quickly, both politically and in terms of power. Such brilliance tends to cast long shadows, doesn't it? And shadows breed jealousy and ambition."
