The cold of winter was a beautiful contrast to the cup of tea that person held. Observing their own reflection in the light-colored drink, they could feel the heat of the warm water warming their fingers. While enjoying the tea, that person listened to the report of their last plans.
"We had considerable casualties with the attack on the Deep Shadow. The fear has spread and now the people of the Underworld are hesitant to provoke more problems that can get the attention of the Imperial Palace" reported the subordinate.
That person raised a complacent look at the rebel. An almost imperceptible smile appeared on it lips as the fingers clenched around the porcelain.
"That's... annoying" whispered softly, resuming the sip of tea. "With the Second Princess missing and now the loss of warehouses, we have suffered a significant loss."
"Should we reinforce security in the main warehouses?" asked the rebel.
"Of course, it would be prudent" replied, eyes turned again to the tea. "But the First Prince should already be in the trail of the sheds. Maybe it's time to divert his attention."
The rebel blinked stunned as he watched closely the reaction of that person. Their calmness while giving an order trumps their leadership and authority. While extending a medium ampoule, the rebel noticed that there was a transparent liquid in it.
"What is it?"
"A small distraction" said the other, with a touch of malice. "A gift for our friends from the temple."
The flask was given to the rebel, who watched carefully without feeling any smell coming from the flask. It was like water.
"Throw this content into the Temple pit."
The malicious tone made it clear that that person intended to ruin temple life. Swallowing dry, the rebel squeezed the ampoule with force and kept it in his pocket, accepting the mission of last minute.
"As you wish."
"Ah, and one last thing. Get ready to bring young Baragnon into our... safe house."
The rebel gave a brief peek at the knight who was guarding nearby. When he faced that person again, he knew would have more work to do. Several people would be affected by those plans. Only that it was clear the despair to win his victory.
Agreeing with his head, the rebel got up from the couch and went out of that parlor. The silence that filled the walls reflected the contemplative state of that person, who drank tea serenely. Nevertheless, it forced the calm to prevent the frustration of their plans from tormenting them.
Resting the cup of tea on the table, that person looked up to the window and observed the winter in the landscape. The temple has gained much political power since the eighth prince was appointed as a saint. The time he spent in that place doing missionary work and pleasing the priests and commoners caused the nobles to question whether the temple was supporting the First Prince indirectly.
That was a nuisance.
He needed to eliminate every person who insisted on bridging with the two princes. To ruin Cadec, Lucian's power was necessary.
"What do you intend to do with that contaminated water?"
The hoarse and low voice awakened the person of its thoughts. Without turning, it only opened a restrained smile again, knowing that the knight's hesitation came from fear of his plans.
"If the people who receive donations from the temple get sick, many will blame the temple for trying to kill commoners, don't you think?"
"Do you intend to diminish the power of the temple by forcing an epidemic?" The knight questioned again, clenching his fists to contain his own frustration "Why? Why waste lives like this?"
"The Eighth Prince needs to learn his place" replied coldly, looking out of the window again "That the people around him are liars, and that they are unable to give him the support he needs."
The knight raised his dark eyes to the person he was supposed to protect.
"In that case, shouldn't you point your knife at the Grand Duke?"
"And I will."
The knight did not notice the malice in that person's smile. He himself was immersed in the pleasure of his own imagination as he thought of the scenario in which the Eighth Prince would suffer some harm.
The plans they made to achieve what they wanted could even be undone by the Grand Duke and the First Prince. But they would never give up so easily.
---
At the same time one villain was planning their last attack, inside the Imperial Palace the other villain — who would most likely abandon such a title soon — delivered an envelope to the First Prince.
"This is the list of nobles who are involved in smuggling. For some of them, we still do not have concrete evidence to arrest them, so it would be good to be careful."
Cadec held the envelope and opened it to read the names. He sighed heavily when recognizing some of them, especially the low-ranking nobles who are thirsty to ascend in high society.
"If they are in the sheds, it will be proof enough. But I'll form teams to watch them" Cadec replied coldly, then raising his blue eyes to your best friend "But how did you get this list, Magnus?"
The Grand Duke opened a disguised smile and shake his head innocently. The dark aura he emanated gave a secret message that details should not be questioned.
"Somehow I got them" He replied by reaching out and picking up a buttery cookie. He bit a piece and looked at Cadec while continuing to talk "Just know that it was thanks to my husband."
"Lucian?"
"Let's say he has his hidden talents. But I would say that his abilities outside the halls are underestimated." Magnus took a cookie and gave it a bite, taking advantage of every second of the unresolved tension in the air. "However, if it's not enough, there are always... alternative methods. A sharp knife and good conversation can open many doors."
Observing the calm expression of Magnus, Cadec repressed a smile, already accustomed to violence implicit in the words of his friend.
"Anyway, there are many people involved, some even consider themselves neutral in the battle for the throne. I will need to find convincing evidence to avoid problems with the centrists."
"The last thing you need is to give reasons for them not to ally with you. But I am always in favor of using a sharp knife for stimulating conversation."
The prince sighed again as he watched Magnus. He could say such threats while enjoying a biscuit. Lately Magnus has been eating a lot of those cookies, which he thought was his way to contain anxiety. After all, the Grand Duke liked to swing his sword on the battlefield, be threatening and make his opponents kneel in terror.
"I would imagine you'd be more anxious to be on the battlefield this time. Are you sure you don't want to lead this operation?"
"Absolute. I was wounded twice in the leg, so I've been tired faster."
It was an obvious lie, but Cadec avoided scoring that. Although Magnus has been avoiding the front line lately, he seemed active behind the curtains, being even more threatening than it usually is. Lowering his clear eyes to the documents, the prince organized his thoughts trying as best to keep control of everything.
"I trust your approaches are effective, but we still need to convince some nobles to support me. No scandals."
"Scandals? What would I do with them?" Magnus joked, with a cynical expression. Then, abruptly changing the subject, cast a serious look. "But there is something that has been bothering me, Cadec. Strangely, lately I've been smelling Eugene on you."
Magnus' abrupt comment made Cadec shudder. Squeezing his fingers on the papers, the prince kept his composure so as not to raise suspicion. Didn't want to tell Magnus now, it wasn't the time for that. They needed to focus on the rebels and not on personal matters. Only that Magnus was too attentive.
"Are you so fond of your brother, that you can smell him everywhere?"
"I feel it, but only in you this is annoying" said Magnus, eyes shining with jealousy, clearly trying to decipher the reaction of Cadec.
The prince refrained from adjusting the collar of his military uniform. The high collar hid the bite mark, and thanks to the winter could easily hide without resorting to bandages. But the sweet smell of his omega was soaked in his skin, marking the territory as if it forbade the alpha to come near any other omega.
"You have been very sensitive to smells... and the food" Cadec crossed his legs and left the documents inside the envelope again "Are you sick? Or are you about to die?"
"I don't intend to die soon" Magnus laughed, amused by the friend's acid comment "Not when I have a husband to imprison at Grimwood Mansion."
"To imprison?"
"Well, please, I am a healthy man. Feeling jealous of my husband who is obliged to talk to that damn priest is natural."
Ah, Lucian must be fulfilling his function as a Saint at that time. Since the Emperor and Consort are temple faithful and religious, their encounters with the Eighth Prince must be tied to their activities with the temple.
Now it was explained why Magnus took his anxiety off the food.
"So, for feeling jealous, you wish to arrest Lucian at home? This seems wrong..."
"I wanted to destroy the temple and set that dove on fire, but Lucian won't let me. Then I must just seduce him and keep him with me, so that he will look only at me."
"Please refrain from making such malicious comments about my brother" Cadec asked tired "Just treat him with due respect."
"I respect him very much, don't get the wrong idea" Magnus laughed, amused to see his friend embarrassed "And I don't need much effort since I trained my alpha properly so he just keeps those beautiful eyes focused on me."
The expression of Magnus, his greed and obsession, was not new to Cadec. Only that, for some reason, he remembered Eugene, who would surely be waiting for him at night in his room with the window open. A secret meeting to make sure your alpha was aware of who it belongs to.
Lucian was right, the Grimwoods were too ambitious.