August decided to combine business with pleasure. He ordered the table to be set for dinner in his office.
"The conversation will be long," the captain answered the prince's silent question "Why don't we have a bite to eat before we make plans to overthrow the king."
Gorold, Pritik, Brod, and two other men whom Klaus did not know were already sitting at the table. August introduced them as Conor – a man slightly younger than Gorald, who had been a middle-born merchant in the past. The second was old Mastan – the former elder of a village that had been wiped off the face of the earth after they found out that they had hidden their mages during an inspection underground.
Now, as the prince had planned, everyone was part of his inner circle. Gorold – as a representative of the mercenary soldiers, Pritik – of the slaves, August and Brod – of the middle and upper-ranking high-born, Conar – of the middle-born, and Mastan – of the low-born.
"So, what is your plan?" August asked the question that everyone gathered was eagerly awaiting an answer to.
"Before we discuss the plan, I want to fill you in on the situation. This concerns my family personally and has been hidden for years. The former and, as far as I know, still current queen is alive and in seclusion."
There were surprised sighs, incredulous mutterings, but no one openly expressed their disbelief. So Klaus told how he learned about it and what happened when he visited the prison estate.
"So," Gorald spoke up first, "are you planning to make this information public among the highborn? Forgive me, but I'm not sure everyone will believe it so easily."
"That's why I plan to take over the fortress. What if it doesn't draw attention to the inconspicuous old estate, and most importantly to the secret hidden there?"
"It's very risky. I don't think it will be so easy to do, considering how many years the king managed to hide this place and your mother."
"He succeeded only because his secret was carefully hidden, and no one intentionally planned to reveal it," the prince smiled his cold smile, which made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
They discussed the plan of action for several hours and came to the conclusion that they would act in several groups. The first - infiltration into the estate through a secret entrance. Klaus decided to take Pritik and Gorald with him.
"There is no way I will stay on the sidelines!" August was indignant.
"You won't stay. Your role is to lead the second squad."
"I don't agree! No, after the last time you barely got out of there alive, do you think I'll let you..."
"One of your best warriors and a mage who can create portals will be with me. Even in the most hopeless situation, we'll get out alive."
"You should lead the army, not me!"
"It will be much more effective to hang out the flags before taking the fortress. This will confuse the guards, and you will take the outer walls without interference."
"Then it doesn't matter who leads the army. Why should it be me?"
"Because I decided so."
"Your Majesty, please take the captain with you and, if you honor me, I will lead the outer army," Gorald spoke up.
"I asked you not to call me that! Is my name so difficult to pronounce?"
"Forgive me, but it really is difficult... Adapt to the new rules."
"If we want to change the country and its way of life, then we need to start with ourselves. Try, for starters, removing all these titles and addressing me simply by name."
"I'll try. So how about my proposal... Kla... Klaus?"
"There, that's better. I'll think about it. And now we can go. We'll start putting the plan into action in three days."
"Klaus, stay a couple of minutes," August called out to him when everyone was already leaving. "And you can go," he threw to Egor, who was frozen in the doorway.
"August, let's discuss everything tomorrow, whatever it is. Today I want to rest."
"As you say, Your Majesty," August bowed, and Klaus just rolled his eyes. He didn't want to deal with all this today, because he guessed what the captain wanted to talk about.
The prince did not know how to act correctly in this situation. Now he even slightly regretted that he listened to Pouoku and decided to take a step towards Egor, and before that he listened to August and took a step towards him.
"Still, there are many downsides to all these feelings that I was not warned about," thought Klaus, leaving the captain's office.
"Listen," the prince began the conversation while Egor was laying out his belongings in their now common room. "Is all this love fuss always so complicated?"
"Huh? Love fuss? What exactly do you mean?"
"Let's take you, for example. You set me a condition, hey, hey, don't look at me like that, I'm not going to break my promise, I just want to understand."
"Understand why I don't want you to sleep with someone else? Klaus, that's a stupid question. I'm head over heels in love with you and it's natural when you don't want to share your loved one with others. Would you be pleased if I slept with someone else? Forget it..." Egor stopped short, realizing that this was a bad example.
Klaus was silent. He imagined Egor kissing Mia and an unreasonable anger immediately arose inside him. He threw this image out of his head and imagined August with Lissa and felt nothing like anger, some slight indignation, but not anger.
"I think I understood what you're talking about," the prince answered after a while.
"Yes?" Egor asked incredulously.
"When I imagined you kissing Mia, I wanted to rip her head off and lock you up and never let you out."
"It's called jealousy. Wait, are you jealous of Mia? But she's..."
"Yes, yes, I know she's in another world, but that's the first thing that came to my mind. You better come here, you'll finish the analysis tomorrow. I want to sleep."
"So lie down."
"I said, come here," Klaus repeated, grabbing Egor by the hand as he passed by, and pulled him onto the bed.
"Wait a minute, let me finish! This is completely..."
Klaus didn't let him finish and shut the young man up in the usual way. The prince kissed Egor and all thoughts gradually left his head. There was only one left. Desire. So Klaus didn't deny himself and reached for the buttons on Egor's shirt.
"What are you going to do?"
"What do you think?"
"What if someone comes or hears?"
"Do you even care? Weren't you the one who wanted me to be only with you? Here's your chance to consolidate your position."
"Oh, you..."
They said and thought of nothing else. They had each other's full attention, and then fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
***
"My king, your son has been brought. I have ordered that he and the wet nurse be sent straight to their chambers. Any other orders?"
"No, go."
Ichiro had not been able to sleep for the second night, because he did not know what to expect from his eldest son. He had placed great hopes on him since childhood, although he saw that Klaus was not like him.
He had spent so much effort to raise a strong heir, tough and impartial. Someone who would be able to hold the country in his hands, but Ichiro was wrong. He had not managed to completely deprive his son of feelings and attachments. If he had known from the very beginning how his eldest nephew had influenced his creation, he would have stopped all attempts at communication between them, but unfortunately the king noticed it too late.
It was a pity. He had expected August to become a great warrior, despite his fickle nature, this boy was strong and merciless on the battlefield, but he had also become a threat to the future of the country. Getting rid of his nephew was a good decision, but alas, it did not help. Klaus had already felt affection. No matter how he hid his emotions, did not suppress his feelings, he did not have what the king of this country needed.
Jiro? What was he planning and how could he miss Klaus when he had him in his hands? Or did he miss him, and are they acting in concert? How many questions Ichiro could not find answers to. He did not care who he would have to get rid of in order to maintain power. A son? A twin brother? They were all just figures. What a pity, what a pity that years of work had gone down the drain and he would have to start all over again with a still weak baby. Her son. The king's only weakness and his miscalculation.
One problem solved. Klaus is now a traitor and he can kill him without hesitation as soon as he crawls out of his hole. The son was never interested in politics or war, but he performed his duties brilliantly. Who knows if he will do something or stick his head in the sand. For his own good, choose the second option.
"Your Majesty! I beg your pardon, but the matter cannot wait."
Ichiro winced. Who dared to barge in on him without knocking, but looking at the expression on the slave advisor's face, he decided to postpone the punishment. At least until he heard it out.
"What gave you so much courage that you barge in on me?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, but the matter is serious. His Highness, that is, excuse me, the traitor and former heir has seized the secret estate!"
"What did you say!" the king shouted, rising abruptly from his chair. "How could this even happen? How did he know?"
"We don't know. A report has just arrived that the estate has been captured. All your soldiers have been killed. Not a single one has been left alive."
"What happened to her?"
"We don't know. The traitor hasn't made any demands yet."
"Good, send a messenger to negotiate immediately and do everything as quietly as possible."
"I'm afraid that's no longer necessary."
"In what sense?"
"The news that the queen is alive and has spent more than twenty years in captivity has already reached the highborn. I'm afraid it can't be stopped. By dawn, everyone will know your secret."
"Damn geek! How dare he challenge me! That spineless youth! Send a messenger, and then an army. I'll show him what it means to measure his strength with me!"