Erika's troops training and preparations for their first assignment continued. The days followed the daily routine of training, military drills, marches, weapons training productions and maintenance. Time continued on. The weapons she primarily wanted to use in this particular mission were all acquired. Now all that remained was for troops to be trained and other services to bring the resources they can find inside the forest back. At the time when Erika was preparing for her Wehrmacht's first combat trial, another tension was on going inside the royal Capital.
The day was not very bright and the sun was covered by dark cloud foreshadowing not only the upcoming downpour but also the mood inside the palace. The prince was not very happy with his engagement and was hung up on how to frame the Raubenbraum family. Some of the lesser nobles who were also against the Duke was on prince's side. Generally the prince won't even meet them but one day he found them complaining to the king against the Duke. He was very happy to find an opportunity of recruiting help against the duke and swiftly arranged a secret meeting with the anti-Raubenbraum faction, eager to exploit their frustrations for his own advantage.The nobles who joined were mostly viscounts and below. They all held grudges against Raubenbraum Duke family because they were losing their business and other sources of mostly illegal incomes and benefits. Mostly their source of cheap slaves and tax income from the masses they previously didn't care was now gone. Previously many people from the desolate territory near the dark forest would seek refuge in their territories many them would later be kidnapped or forced to sell themselves as slaves which helped these nobles in various ways. But now the situation has changed and no one would come to seek refuge and to make matters worse many people who were unable to afford themselves in these territories would leave for the Raubenbraum territory. Which had become a constant headache. "Your Highness you are our only hope. We all know that the Raubenbraums are conspiring against the kingdom. But the king has refused to take actions against the duke. If this continues one day he will openly threaten the royal authority." Count Sommerschild opened the conversation by standing up and saying out these words. He was the top most noble present in the room other than the prince. The other nobles confirmed their agreement with him. "Please excuse me your highness but I do believe that His Majesty the king is much too lenient on them." "Those are some grave allegations Count." said the prince. "Don't talk about my father like that ever." Prince said knocking the table around which they all gathered. He knew that his father was too lenient. But that was not only on the duke but on these leeches as well. He remembered what the king told him a few days ago.
It was in his bedroom and the king and queen both were spending some family time together with the prince at evening. He clearly remembered his words, "Remember son, a king's most important job is to maintain stability in the kingdom. I don't trust the Raubenbraums in the slightest." "Then why don't you get rid of them, father?" Asked the prince sitting in king's bed beside him on the right while the queen was on the left. The queen was holding him with her arms around him while caressing him gently. "That's because I don't trust the other nobles as well. They are all the same. They will stab the royal family in the back in the first chance they get." The king slowly said. "This is why you as the first prince of this country must marry the duke's daughter. This will keep the duke in check while the other nobles will be more focused on the duke thus maintaining a balance of power and stability in the country." The queen who was silent up to now intervened. "Your Majesty stop these political nonsenses for now. Let us enjoy our free time as a family just the three of us. "Sigh... I can't win against you." Said the king.
The prince clearly understood what his father said that day. But with the insult he faced from the Erika during their engagement meeting, there was no way he even wanted her to remain in the same world as he. "I apologise your highness for my imprudence." Said Sommerschild. The prince sat silently while all the other nobles were talking about their concerns. The prince didn't interrupt them. "How dare these lowly nobles. They take me for a fool. They are acting if they are all puppet like loyal servants of the royal family, but their actions have hurt the royal family more. I will not tolerate you like my father. Once I use you to destroy the Raubenbraums, I will take care of you too." These were the things on prince's mind. Before he could think more someone interrupted him. Seeing that the prince was silent, Sommerschild spoke up, "Your highness," He cleared his throat "you must help us." "Help?" The prince almost spoke. "You don't want my help. All you want is to use me. I may be a 12 years old, but still I am a prince and I have been receiving the trainings to be a proper king for quite a long time now. So don't even think of deceiving me." With this thought in his mind the prince tried to find out about their what they desired. "Do you have any plans?" Viscount Sommerschild's face gleamed with joy. Although the outside was gloomy and little drops of rains were starting to fall the weather didn't reflect his mood. It was also the case for the other nobles as well. "Your highness I think we can embezzle the taxes the duke sends yearly to the royal treasury and blame him of tax evasion." Said Sommerschild. Another noble who was a Viscount spoke, "Why don't we send spies in his territory to provide reports on his movement while fabricating evidences against him?" "This way His Majesty take actions against him." The prince almost frowned. He was furious but kept his emotions in check. "How dare they! Not only are talking about openly drying up the royal treasury but also talking about using the king to do their bidding? I simply can't stand the nerves of these filthy pigs." The prince kept calm. He kept thinking, "Don't worry I won't take actions against you for now. Since I still need you to destroy the duke while still keeping the Royal Army and authority in full strength. But after that I will destroy you." In this moment the nobles were having heated discussions on what to do. One refuted the previous plan, "The people of that territory are highly loyal to the duke. Neither spies nor bribing locals work. Do you think we didn't try such approach before." The atmosphere was getting more heated not only with the nobles arguing with each other but also with the sound of rain which was now bucketing outside and it was like the rain and sudden thunders themselves were also joining the argument. "Ahem," the prince cleared his throat. The room became silent however the rain and thunder defied the prince. "For now I will ask the royal treasurer to remove the taxes sent by the duke as extra taxes sent by you, thus framing him of tax embezzlement. And since you were able to hold on all these years, I advise you to hold on some more. Within a few years his daughter will enter the royal magic academy. There I can frame her for some misdeeds which will deframe her while indirectly weakening the duke. With some false testimony from some teachers and student we can use them as pretext to invade the Raubenbraum territory and remove him completely." The crowd of nobles were very happy and enthusiastic about this plan. The count Sommerschild who was acting as the leader of this group stood from his chair placed his right hand on his chest and bowed his head. "Your highness, we will fully support your endeavors and will do our best to bring the traitors down." Another noble spoke up, "Perdon me your highness but may you be kind enough to give us some of the tax money?" "No, I will not." The prince rejected him without any thought. "Um, your highness...." He was about to say something but the prince cut him short. "You may leave for today. I will call when I need you again." "As you wish your highness." The nobles all bowed and left the room. Once they were gone, the prince said, "Do you think I will hand you the money from royal treasury you fools? See how I destroy you all. I will show no mercy." The prince said and laughed hysterically.