Scorner ran to prince Theodore's quarters to report his findings to him.
"hah, hah, Your Highness I have something to report to you." He said bowing his head and gasping his breath.
"It better be good. I am very busy, you know."
"Please pardon me your highness. It's about that commoner student."
The prince got angry.
"Did you just came rushing to me to tell about your crush? I have no interest in the commoner. Get out immediately!" Theodore screamed the last part.
"No, your highness, actually I've found out that the commoner is being given some kind of immunity potion."
"So what of it? All the nobles take that to keep them safe from poisoning."
"But as a commoner it's impossible to get her hands on such an expensive potion."
"So you're saying that my little poison plan won't work on her. Is that it?" Prince calmed down a bit.
"No your highness but it seems she's being given some harmless sleeping drugs by that same person." Scorner continued.
"So your plan can still work your highness."
"Then get out of here immediately." The prince scolded him.
He was not interested in listening anymore.
"If the plan's still going to work then why did you come to me like that, you utter fool?!" Theodore reprimanded him.
Scorner went away. He was feeling down, but couldn't say anything.
He has been involved in the prince's scheme since the beginning and also had some immoral thoughts about Maruschka.
Actually he was a womanizer who couldn't control his desires and the prince had caught him in his trap using one of the palace maids.
The next few days in academy passed fairly peacefully without any incident.
Neither the prince nor the other capture targets bothered Erika or Maruschka.
But outside the academy nothing was peaceful. There was a storm brewing in the kingdom.
Letters were handed over to every lord of the anti Raubenbraum faction.
The preparations for a war had begun.
In all the territories commoners and slaves were being conscripted enmasse.
Sometimes by luring them with empty promises, sometimes forcing them.
Even the Royal knightage was going through a rapid expansion and under the pretext of training, made their camps near the Raubenbraum territory border.
This brought in unexpected strain on the nation's economy as people struggled to pay up for the expenditure.
However, the prince and the other nobles didn't care.
The prince made the situation worse by asking all the nobles to cough up extra taxes for the Royal Army and Knightage.
Even Duke Walther Raubenbraum was asked to pay more taxes.
Actually Raubenbraum Duchy was asked to pay the most for this military project.
The duke frustrated by this development went directly to the king to complain and things took an even worse turn.
As soon as the king heard about this, he was furious. He dismissed the duke saying that he'll take care of it.
After the duke left the royal court, the king immediately called for his son Theodore.
In the meantime he asked for the army commander to bring him the financial and manpower data of the army.
The king met his son the prince in his private chamber.
As he sat on the chair of his study desk, he heard the door knock.
Prince Theodore entered the room and bowed his head as customary.
"You asked for me father?" He asked standing in front of the king.
The king didn't answer the question. He just sit on his chair.
Soon the commander of the army also came in to hand over the finances and manpower data of the army.
At first the prince couldn't understand what the army commander handed his father.
But looking at the red eyes of the king he could somehow feel what it might be.
"What's this Theodore?" King asked calmly.
"What's what father?" The prince replies acting aloof.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" The king screamed.
Theodore was taken aback. he swallowed hard and turned pale.
"I-I don't u-understand f-father is anything wrong?" He was trembling in fear.
"Why are you increasing the tax expenditure on the army? Also enlarging its size?!"
"Do you know what consequences it'll have on the national economy?!"
The king scolded his son.
"But father, the money for the army is coming from the nobles. I am not using the money from the royal treasury for this purpose."
The prince tried to validate his actions.
"It's entirely necessary to make the royal family more powerful to fight off those Raubenbraums who are conspiring against us."
"How do you know that they're conspiring against us?!" King screamed getting even more angry.
However, Theodore was determined to make his point noted by the king. He had been preparing for this since the beginning.
Actually from day one the prince Theodore knew that as soon as he puts his plans into action, the king will notice sooner or later.
So he prepared for this eventuality with his most trusted aides by coming up with all sorts of evidences and theories to make his actions justifiable to the king.
All he needed to do now was not to be overwhelmed by his father's scoldings and hold his ground calmly.
He maintained a straight, calm and calculated appearance as he replied to the questions of is father.
"The spies appointed to the Raubenbraum territory found out that the lords were recruiting thousands of men with a promise of high rewards and salaries."
"So, what would that mean? There could be various reasons for recruiting people, especially remember that they have the dark forest which could require the manpower and rewards."
This time the king was calmer. He could see that his son had some practical reasons for expanding the army.
"You can't just go expanding the army based on half assed assumptions. You must have more solid proof to claim such serious crimes."
The king explained to his son. He was yet angry but not as much as before.
"Also this extra expenditure is a strain to the royal treasury. Remember we are not wealthy enough to maintain a permanent army this big."
This conversation which started as the king reprimanding the prince turned into an argument and counter-argument.
"I know very well about it father. And that's exactly why I have asked the aristocrats who've been leaching off of the power we gave them to pay extra taxes for this army."
The prince maintained his calm demeanor. He was ready to provide counter argument to every question the king asked about his actions.
"This way, rather than the royal treasury, the pockets of those nobles will be emptied."
"Then what if the nobles revolt together? Their combined might will be almost equal to the Royalty." The king argued with his son.
"Don't worry father, the news of Raubenbraums increasing their military strength has already increased paranoia among the others." The prince stood his ground.
"They all hate Raubenbraum family and I have promised them that this army will maintain stability in the kingdom. Those nobles can't stand against the Raubenbraums. They need the Royal Army. So as long as we promise them that, they will pay."
Before waiting for the king to say anything the prince spoke again,
"And once the the nobles destroy themselves we can seize their lands and hand them over to people more loyal to the monarchy."
The king found this plan impressive but one fatal flaw in the problem ached his heart.
"The plan you're talking about means civil war. That would leave the kingdom in a very weakened state and vulnerable to foreign aggressions."
"Don't worry father. I have thought about this scenario as well. I won't let the Royal Army or the Knightage join this conflict. That way foreign countries will have to face the full might of them while trying to invade us."
He continued,
"And in the meantime by consolidating the newly gained territories, we can launch a counter attack using the people of those lands."
This time the king was pleased. The idea of gaining more power is something intriguing for any lord.
The fact that the prince was planning to get rid of the unruly nobles and has thought so far ahead was indeed something to be proud of.
"Alright, I will let you continue as you are doing. I will talk to the duke Raubenbraum and make sure that he won't complain."
The king said feeling proud about his son's idea.
"Continue with your project. I hope to see your success soon."
With this prince Theodore achieved the approval of his father.
He knew that the king was also tired of these nobles and only maintained a good relations for keep the kingdom stable.
All the while implementing every possible step to weaken the aristocracy like the rule that stated that, other aristocrats can't possess any force more than half of the Royal Army.
The king was satisfied because it was a procedure he started which may now culminate in the end of aristocracy in the kingdom.
As for the civil war and potential threats of external aggression; those are just some barriers to be overcome.