Victor had successfully turned the court into a nest of vipers, each noble and advisor scrambling for safety as the prince grew more unpredictable by the day. Lord Aiden and Lady Seraphine's arrest had shocked the entire kingdom, sending waves of uncertainty through the capital.
But this chaos was exactly what Victor needed. He thrived in it.
In the days following the arrests, the prince became even more withdrawn, pacing endlessly in his chambers, his mind twisted with doubt and paranoia. He confided in Victor more frequently, seeing him as the only person who hadn't yet betrayed him.
"They were plotting, weren't they? They had to be," the prince muttered, staring out of his window.
Victor, always composed, replied calmly, "It's difficult to say, my lord, but you acted wisely. It's better to be cautious than to allow a viper to strike."
The prince nodded, though doubt still flickered in his eyes. He was slipping, teetering on the edge of madness, and Victor was there to push him over when the time was right.
Victor knew it was crucial to keep the prince's trust while ensuring his own ascent. He began feeding the prince subtle hints, planting suspicions about other key figures in the court. But unlike before, Victor chose his targets carefully—those who were already teetering on the edge of betrayal or who had ambitions too great for their own good.
He approached the prince one evening with a calm demeanor, though his words carried hidden daggers. "There is something else, Your Highness. I've heard whispers about Sir Gregor."
"Gregor?" the prince snapped, his voice rising. "What of him?"
Victor paused, allowing the tension to build. "He's been visiting with the other nobles more frequently as of late. Some say he's been speaking ill of your rule."
The prince's face darkened. "Another traitor."
"I cannot confirm it, but... it may be worth watching him closely."
Victor knew full well that Sir Gregor had done nothing wrong, but it didn't matter. The prince would see shadows where there were none, and that was the point. His paranoia would continue to drive him into a corner, and when he fell, Victor would be the only one left standing.
As expected, the prince summoned Sir Gregor the following morning. Victor watched from the shadows as Gregor entered the throne room, his face a mask of confusion and concern.
"My lord," Gregor began, bowing deeply. "You summoned me?"
The prince, seated on his throne, looked down at the knight with cold eyes. "There are whispers, Gregor. I hear you've been meeting with the nobles. Plotting behind my back."
Gregor's eyes widened in shock. "Your Highness, I would never—"
"Silence!" the prince bellowed, standing from his throne. "I will not tolerate betrayal. Guards!"
Before Gregor could protest further, the palace guards seized him, dragging him away as he shouted his innocence. The prince's paranoia had claimed yet another victim.
Victor watched the scene unfold with a faint smile. Every move the prince made brought him closer to his own downfall.
With Sir Gregor gone, the prince's paranoia reached new heights. He began to see enemies everywhere, and those still loyal to him grew more fearful by the day. Victor, however, remained calm and collected, always at the prince's side, offering his "guidance."
Soon, the court was a shell of its former self. Most of the prince's advisors had either been imprisoned, exiled, or executed, leaving a vacuum that Victor was all too eager to fill.
The prince relied on Victor for everything now. Every decision, every move was made with Victor's counsel in mind. It was only a matter of time before Victor's influence would extend beyond the court and into the very heart of the kingdom.
As the days passed, Victor began to subtly shift the power dynamic. He arranged secret meetings with the nobles who had survived the prince's wrath, whispering promises of power and safety if they followed his lead. These nobles, desperate for stability in the face of the prince's growing madness, agreed without hesitation.
Victor was no longer just a mere advisor. He was the true power behind the throne, manipulating the court with precision and finesse. The prince, now a puppet in his hands, had no idea how deeply he was controlled.
And yet, Victor wasn't done.
Victor's ultimate goal wasn't just to rule from the shadows. He needed to remove the prince entirely, but not in a way that would raise suspicion. The court was already on edge, and an outright assassination would only lead to more chaos. No, he needed the prince to destroy himself.
One evening, Victor presented the prince with a bold plan. "Your Highness, I believe it's time to solidify your rule. We must strike before any more betrayals occur."
The prince, desperate for control, agreed without hesitation. Victor's plan was simple: a grand display of power. A public execution of those still loyal to Sir Gregor, followed by a display of the kingdom's might to crush any further dissent.
The plan worked flawlessly. The executions were brutal, the message clear. But as the blood stained the palace grounds, the people began to whisper. The prince was no longer seen as a ruler but as a tyrant, driven mad by paranoia and fear.
Victor had successfully turned the kingdom against its own ruler. The final move would come soon.
As the prince's reign crumbled around him, Victor prepared for his final play. The nobles, now loyal to Victor, began to openly question the prince's ability to lead. The people, tired of the constant bloodshed, grew restless.
It was only a matter of time before the kingdom demanded a new ruler. And when that time came, Victor would be ready to step in, not as an advisor, but as the true power behind the throne.
Victor's grand design was nearly complete.