Alaric moved to the other chair and sat down. "So why tell me this?"
"Because our engagement puts you in the middle of it whether you want to be or not." Verelia leaned forward slightly. "If my father goes down... I want to take over his position as the new Duchess."
Alaric raised a brow.
Verelia continued. "I have two older brothers. But both are incompetent. One spends his time gambling, the other is more interested in hunting parties than governance." Her voice was cold, matter-of-fact. "If my father falls, they'll fight over the title like dogs over scraps. The eastern territories will destabilize. Lords will pick sides. Trade will suffer."
"And you think you'd be better."
"I know I would be." She said without any hesitation.
"I've been managing the duchy's affairs for years."
Alaric leaned back, crossed one leg over the other. "What do you want from me?"
"Your support when the time comes. Publicly backing my claim."
