Eris walked over to her parents with a smile. They were sitting in the solar, looking over some documents. The girl held a flier in her hands. She tapped her foot lightly until her parents turned to her.

"Mother, father, look at this," Eris said.

Count Hapsburg took the flier and looked through it. Then, he handed it to his wife. She did the same.

"Count Staufer's castle is finished, and he's having a banquet and charity auction," Countess Hapsburg stated.

"Yes," Eris said before thinking. "They would have found out soon enough. Staufer's messengers will make sure every noble in South Foldzar knows about his banquet. As per my plans, I'll tell my parents now."

She looked between them.

"That way, I can keep them from going. I'm an adult, but my father is still the head of House Hapsburg. He'll want to interfere in any political actions I take. My mother will be at his side, like the good wife she is, as ever. Either of them interfering is unacceptable."

"I'm going," Eris said.

Count Hapsburg nodded.

"It seems like a good opportunity. I'll go too," he stated.

Eris curtseyed.

"Father, Mother, I must ask that you stay in our castle. I want to go by myself," Eris said.

Count Hapsburg shook his head.

"Eris, this banquet is going to be as much a political meeting as a party. We must secure the future of House Hapsburg," he replied.

"Armand's going. I want to have some time to talk to him. It might be awkward if either of our parents show up," Eris stated.

"He is? Did you get a letter from him saying he'll go?" Countess Hapsburg asked.

"No, but I know Armand better than anyone," she answered.

"This banquet was Rozwiazly's first public appearance. Armand will want to make contact with an important commoner like him. There will also be several members of the anti-serfdom faction there. The faction won't be founded for another year, and Armand didn't join until he was 14. He'll want to get a head start on everything. And, most of all, Armand still doesn't trust me. He knows I was at the feast, that I will be there again, and he'll want to stop me from doing anything too cruel. And Armand will want to go without his parents so they won't interfere with his plans, same as me."

Count Hapsburg stood up.

"Even so, I cannot allow you to go without us. You're still new to politics. We can't leave this in your hands," he said.

"Exactly what I expected you to say," Eris thought before speaking. "Armand will go alone too. His family trusts him to bring glory to their house. What will people say if you don't trust me to do the same? I'm your heir, just like he's their heir."

Count Hapsburg mused over that idea for a moment. His wife, on the other hand, shook her head. She sighed.

"What if one of our enemies shows up?" she asked.

"I will make Brutus Medici publicly humiliate himself. I might even poison him if I have the chance," Eris thought.

"What enemies? The Concords are on our side, and they were our biggest rival. The other branches of our house have more enemies, but we're too minor to get much attention," the girl answered.

"That doesn't mean you won't be in danger," Countess Hapsburg said.

Eris' expression turned serious.

"What do you think Armand will do to anyone who hurts me? Don't you trust him? He's my fiance, and that makes him your heir too. I could show you letters from him. His parents have given him more control of House Concord. A year from now, he'll be running it," she stated.

"He could just be lying to impress you. Men will do whatever they can to make the woman they love happy," Countess Hapsburg replied.

"And it isn't an issue of trust. Armand is inexperienced," her husband added.

Eris held down her laugh with expert precision.

"If only they knew," she thought with smugness.

"I'm not just worried about our house. I'm worried about Armand's too. People might say that you don't trust your heir, or they might say that Armand's parents abandoned him. If he goes by himself, I have to too," Eris said.

Her parents paused in thought. They moved to the side and talked to each other. Eris merely smiled.

"I have them now," she thought.

The Count and Countess Hapsburg walked back to their daughter.

"You can go without us, but you'll have double the usual amount of guards with you," Count Hapsburg said.

"Of course," Eris replied.

"You'll also have double the number of maidservants with you," Countess Hapsburg added.

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"Good. I'll make quite the impression for the daughter of an unimportant Hapsburg branch. But won't you be lonely without all those servants?" Eris said before thinking. "It's what I'd have asked the first time around, but I have no idea how commoners could be any sort of company for nobles."

"Don't worry, Eris. I'll be fine. I'm the one who should be worried about you," her mother assured her.

"If you knew how much power I'm getting, you wouldn't worry at all."

After the Hapsburgs finished their talk, the castle was a flurry of activity. Servants went to and fro to prepare for Eris' trip. The carriage was made as beautiful as possible, the horses were thoroughly checked for any health issues, and Eris was brought into a fitting room.

Her family brought in a professional clothesmaker. He took her measurements with as much precision as he could. Eris watched him with a smile on her face.

"Make this dress beautiful. I want to look as good as I can for Armand," she ordered.

"As my Lady wishes," the clothesmaker said.

"I wonder how Armand will react to me? He only complimented my looks as a courtesy before, and now he's at the age where people start feeling physical attraction. I can't wait to see him too! It's been years, and I'll get to see how handsome he's grown. I hated him too much to find him attractive before, but now..." Eris giggled.

The clothesmaker spoke up.

"My Lady, I must ask you to stand still," he stated.

"Of course. I just got excited," she said.

In her head, Eris stood in front of a grand orchestral. Every single musician was a noble who would be at the banquet. She held a baton in her hand. With every motion Eris made, the nobles played to her tune.

"When I show up to the banquet, every lady of my status will be jealous of me. I'll have more guards, more servants, and my fiancé with me. A marriage that is both a love and political match is perfect. Some of them will try to kiss my ass. Others will try to ruin me. They will all fall before me, one way or another."

Eris was elated.

"Years of planning, finally coming to fruition. I know exactly who I need to manipulate."

Little Boy,light Brown Hair,red Eyes,nobleman,rena by Xela-The-Conqueror [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/313aaab4-767f-4cea-91cb-69c8d8fbef2a/dgqzvfh-f6378b0a-8cab-42b6-a129-0d1695a2457b.png/v1/fill/w_739,h_1081/little_boy_light_brown_hair_red_eyes_nobleman_rena_by_xela_the_conqueror_dgqzvfh-pre.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTIxNiIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzMxM2FhYWI0LTc2N2YtNGNlYS05MWNiLTY5YzhkOGZiZWYyYVwvZGdxenZmaC1mNjM3OGIwYS04Y2FiLTQyYjYtYTEyOS0wZDE2OTVhMjQ1N2IucG5nIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTgzMiJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.1kj8CS_NAaFd4-djPZ0QzAeQfu-TDwdS_64yqj6cu2c]

Armand stood before his parents. They gazed at him with cold eyes. He had a look of determination on his face.

"You want us to put your siblings' marriages in your hands?" Countess Concord asked.

"Yes," he said.

"I've given you management of the lesser manservants, control of the Southern forest, and lordship over the village of Blakesburg. For some ungodly reason, you freed all the serfs there," Count Concord replied.

"Don't forget that I am in charge of hunting bandits," Armand stated.

His father pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You have more than enough, Armand," he said.

"The only thing I've done that you don't approve of is freeing serfs. Aside from that, have I failed you?" Armand asked.

His father glared.

"You have not, but I will not give you any more power."

"I knew he'd say that. But now, here comes an opportunity," Armand thought.

"Why do you want to arrange your siblings' marriages anyway?" Countess Hapsburg questioned.

"Because I have an agenda that contradicts yours. I will not allow you to fulfill your agenda," Armand said.

His parents said nothing, but the boy could see their faces swell with pride. He smiled.

"Tell me, how much would it humiliate you if I arranged marriages for my siblings behind your backs?" Armand asked.

"You wouldn't dare," his father said.

"I would. Even if you locked me in my room, I already sent letters to Eris giving her specific instructions. As my fiance, she can relay messages from me as long as they have my seal. And when we get married, she can act on my behalf," the boy replied.

"Of course, I haven't sent Eris any letters like that, but my parents don't know," he thought.

Count Concord smiled. His wife did the same.

"You are a worthy heir, Armand. However, I still can't let you decide who your siblings will marry. I have a deal for you instead."

"And that would be?" Armand asked.

"I will not arrange marriages for your siblings for 3 years. If you can prove yourself politically before then, I will put their weddings in your hands," Count Concord answered.

"Perfect. I predicted exactly what he would say," the boy thought.

Armand pretended to contemplate that offer for a few moments. Then, he spoke.

"Very well, father. I will prove myself soon. Thankfully for me, I have the perfect opportunity to advance our family's standing more than you ever could," Armand said.

Both his parents grinned wider.

"Tell us more, Armand," Countess Concord stated.

"You remember those fliers we received from Count Staufer?" the boy asked.

"Yes. He didn't send letters because he wanted to make refusing attendance have no social consequences. The Orlock Plague has hit many houses hard," Count Concord answered.

"Eris is attending his banquet, and I intend to go too," Armand said.

"It's been a few years since you saw her, and that will be an important political event. Kill two drakes with one arrow," he nodded.

Armand smiled.

"It's more than just a political event. My spies told me that a genius spellcaster is attending. He's so good that he'll get the queen's attention," Armand said before thinking. "I doubt my parents remember the story I told them years ago. So, I can reveal this information without them getting suspicious."

"That good?" shock covered Countess Concord's face.

"And yet, we haven't heard of him before. Has he been hiding for some reason?" her husband pondered.

"I will reveal that sometime in the future," Armand said.

Suspicion flowed over his parent's faces.

"And how do we know you're not lying?" Count Concord asked.

"I'm going to the banquet regardless of whether I'm lying or not. You'll find out after it's finished," Armand answered.

He then turned away from his parents. Armand waved dismissively at them.

"I'll be going without you," he said before thinking. "If my parents find out that Rozwiazly is a commoner before he gets the attention of the queen, things won't end well. It's getting more clear that they're more like Eris than they are like me. I can't trust them either."

Bitterness gurgled down Armand's throat. He hated that revelation, but the boy couldn't deny it.

"Eris is lucky. She hasn't had to spend years constantly impressing her parents."

Armand went to one of his family's carriages. He had some servants make it look far more upscale than it originally was. The boy then went into town, going to the best clothing maker he knew.

When he saw Armand, the clothing maker bowed.

"What can I do for you, my Lord?" he asked.

"I need to make Eris like me as much as possible. Besides, she's no doubt planning something for the banquet, and I might be able to stop her with my charms if manipulation fails," Armand thought before speaking. "Give me the best suit you can. I need to look good for my fiance."

As his measurements were taken, the boy contemplated further.

"I've been stuck with my family for the past few years. The most contact I've had with Eris is with letters. I have some ideas of what she's planned, but she's had all this time to scheme while I've been busy with my parents and siblings. I'm not sure if I'll be able to stop her plans."

He suppressed a shiver.

"It's hard enough to stop Eris when I can actively scheme against her. Now, I'm unprepared and she's prepared. I'll have to hope that I can at least stop her from doing anything too bad."