Armand and Eris exited the chapel and walked into the grand hall. Brutus Medici stood right in front of them. There was a fake smile on his face.

"So, Brutus is actually showing his face to me? Good! I'll humiliate him," Eris thought.

"Brutus' words couldn't reach me, so he probably wants to expose Eris right here. Not just to me, but to everyone at the banquet," Armand clenched his fists so hard they turned white. "Eris deserves to be exposed. She murdered, raided, slaughtered, and committed all manner of crimes the last time around. And Eris has probably done the same behind my back."

Armand took a deep breath.

"But she's also my fiancé. If I'm going to redeem Eris, I need her to like me. And that means doing my duty as her future husband. I'm taking Eris' side," he thought.

Then, Eris whispered in his ear.

"Armand, what are you thinking?" she asked.

"That I'm going to shut Brutus down before he can do anything to you," Armand answered in a hushed voice.

Eris' heart fluttered.

"I'm so happy right now! Armand's siding with me over his old political ally! But..." she thought before speaking. "Could you stay out of this, Armand? This is between me and Brutus, and we both know he isn't your equal."

"Okay," Armand whispered before thinking. "Brutus, I don't know if whether you're lucky or unlucky that I accepted Eris' request."

Brutus gave a polite bow.

"Ah, my dear Eris, it's good to see you here. I trust that you're doing fine? I hope that you got my response letter," he said.

"Starting off by trying to aggravate Eris. And mentioning the letter to imply that Eris is interested in another man. Most people wouldn't think that someone as young as her, even if she is an adult, would have those sorts of interests. But Eris still has no choice but to respond to the starting letter," Armand thought.

Eris made an apologetic expression.

"I'm so sorry that you won't be able to attend my wedding. I hope that you're able to resolve your family issues?" she asked.

"As expected, you did a good job, Eris. You clarified things right away and diverted attention from yourself. Plus, anyone listening will now start looking into the nonexistent Medici family issues. Even if it doesn't cause trouble, it won't help Brutus," Armand thought.

Brutus' eyes were cold.

"It's a small matter, Eris. No need to worry," he said.

"A good move from Brutus. He deflected the issue while also giving Eris an opening to invite him to her wedding. If she does, then it'll give him another chance to expose her if this fails. If she doesn't, people will assume something else is going on. Of course, I expect Eris to bring up a third option. In any case, it extends the conversation. That leaves Eris with less time to continue her plans," Armand pondered.

Eris feigned concern.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Brutus!" she stated. "I'd have invited you to attend my wedding again, but the guest list is already full."

"Eris made the obvious response. Of course, it's a response that works. But I'm certain Brutus also expected it," Armand thought.

The Medici boy nodded.

"Such a shame. In any case, my family's lands are being beset by bandits. Do you know anything about that, Eris?"

Armand wanted to facepalm.

"Brutus, this is the sort of thing you confront Eris about when you're not in earshot of anyone. You've lost this game of intrigue."

"You fucking idiot. You just handed me victory," Eris thought before speaking. "You're being attacked by bandits? That's horrible! Maybe I can help? I'm sure I can convince my parents to send some men over."

Utter humiliation crossed Brutus' face. He looked to the floor, trying to hide his expression. Whispers erupted from nearby nobles.

"Eris just made it look like Brutus' family, a duke family, was trying to get help from a count's family that wasn't even their vassal to deal with bandits. Dukes shouldn't even need their own vassals' help for brigands. She didn't just shame Brutus. She shamed the Medici, and she did it while appearing helpful," Armand thought.

"And since my direct feudal lord is His Majesty, he won't object to me offering the Medici family help," Eris thought.

Brutus shook his head.

"I apologize, but I cannot accept your help, Lady Eris. I must leave now," he said.

The Medici boy stormed out of the building. Eris suppressed a smug smirk. Armand held down a sigh.

"Just a few more years, and I'll be able to hunt down Eris' bandits," he thought.

Then, Armand's and Eris' eyes turned to a group of people in the room. Most of them wore university attire. But two of them wore far finer clothes.

One of them was a man in his mid-20s. He had a short blonde beard with a long mustache. There was a hat with seven feathers on his head. The man had a black doublet with a white collar that puffed out around his legs. Two gloves were on his hands, several rings on them, and he had hose on his legs. Though, the man's most distinguishing feature was that his nose was made of gold.

a man in his mid-20s. He had a short blonde beard by Xela-The-Conqueror [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/313aaab4-767f-4cea-91cb-69c8d8fbef2a/dgv3frb-561eabb0-05a3-44e5-a93c-8930edc8a3fe.png/v1/fill/w_1081,h_739/a_man_in_his_mid_20s__he_had_a_short_blonde_beard__by_xela_the_conqueror_dgv3frb-pre.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9ODMyIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvMzEzYWFhYjQtNzY3Zi00Y2VhLTkxY2ItNjljOGQ4ZmJlZjJhXC9kZ3YzZnJiLTU2MWVhYmIwLTA1YTMtNDRlNS1hOTNjLTg5MzBlZGM4YTNmZS5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTIxNiJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.nCItp5hINuSo-Xm85L2kmPm4S_Evqpn4sJJH9nH-hhs]

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The other was a man of 17. His clothes were similar to the first's except he was clean-shaven, had dark brown hair, no rings, a normal nose, and his doublet was green in color.

"You shame the Cumberland family, talking with so many commoners like that," the second man grimaced.

"They are not just commoners," the other well-dressed person replied. "They're scholars, men of learning and knowledge! Would you throw away their knowledge because they're not nobles, brother?"

"How could commoners possibly have such knowledge?"

"Duke Tycho Cumberland and his brother, Lord Joseph Cumberland," Eris thought. "Joseph became one of my political allies while Tycho sided with Armand. I don't know what I'm going to do counts as stabbing Joseph in the back because I'm not allied to him this time around, but I really don't care."

Eris was about to approach them when she noticed that Armand looked like he was going to throw up.

"Are you okay, Armand?" Eris asked.

"I'm fine," he answered. "I just remembered the last time I saw Duke Cumberland."

"Oh, right. He died in the Fifth Disaster. Armand probably saw his corpse," Eris thought before speaking. "You came here to talk to him, right?"

"I'm not surprised Eris figured that out," Armand contemplated and then spoke. "I did."

"Then put on a smile. You're getting to see your old ally again," Eris said.

"Not ally. Friend," Armand corrected before thinking. "What does Eris want with him? Is she planning on humiliating him too? Or maybe she wants to align herself with Lord Joseph again?"

The two walked over to the Cumberlands and the scholars. Eris gazed between Joseph and a nearby woman.

This woman was about 19. She had a head of silky blonde hair along with green eyes. Her red dress was bedecked in jewelry, and its skirt extended wide around her legs.

"Duchess Armstrong, another key political ally of mine the last time around. She'd go on to marry Lord Joseph Cumberland. If they get married again, they'd be a threat to Armand and I," Eris thought.

She then looked across the room. There was a bearded man who wore a cuirass standing alone there. He had a military sword at his hip, far thicker than the dueling rapier. His wide-brimmed hat had several feathers in it, and the man's other clothes were more suited for a battlefield than a ball. No one was talking to him.

"Marquis Richard Salm. He was the crown prince and eldest princess' favorite before he found out their secret and refused to help them hide it. They conspired to remove him from power, getting him kicked out of his position as groom of the stool and almost succeeding at assassinating him several times. Two years from now, he'll raise a rebellion against the crown. This will be put down by a relative of mine from one of the larger Hapsburg branches. My relative will then be the prince and princess' favorite until he finds out their secret and refuses to help them hide it. Then, I'll kill him and take his place," Eris thought. "If I could make myself a target, Armand and I could be the ones to put down his rebellion. Then, I'll gain the prince and princess' favor earlier than before. And Armand will be happy that I didn't assassinate one of my relatives."

A smile crossed her face.

"Thankfully, Armand was always smart enough to keep his mouth shut about the prince and princess' secret. So, he won't get in the way. Now, in just a few moments, I'll start my orchestra of manipulation."

Armand approached the scholars with Eris at his side.

"Commoners at a banquet for nobles? You must be incredibly talented if you're here," he said.

"Thank you, my Lord," one of them replied.

"And who might you be?" Duke Cumberland asked.

Armand bowed, and Eris curtsied.

"I am Lord Armand Richelieu Concord," he introduced himself.

"And I am Lady Eris Hapsburg, his fiance," she added.

"It's good to meet you two. I am Duke Tycho Cumberland. And this is my brother, Joseph."

"Charmed," Joseph didn't bother giving a fake smile.

Armand stood up, gazing at the commoners.

"And who might these men be? They look like scholars," he said.

"No common scholar should be here," Joseph stated.

"Let the men talk," Duke Cumberland commanded.

He then gave one of the commoners, who had a tall hat, a nod.

"We are humanists from the University of Cumberland," he said.

"Humanists? I've never heard of that before," Armand spoke before thinking. "I always liked humanists."

"Ever since the days of the Reme Empire, and even before then, humanity has accomplished great things. Art, science, magic, and architecture are all the purview of humanity," the commoner stated.

"You have a good point," Armand replied.

"I'm glad you think so, my Lord. The fact is that humans are filled with potential, and we must make the most of that potential. It is not just our privilege but our duty."

"That's what you humanists believe, but what do you do?"

"We educate people in all the great achievements of humanity. Not just in what was accomplished, but how it was accomplished. That way, we can not just replicate those feats but surpass them," the scholar said.

"Eris, when we have children, we should have them educated in humanism," Armand stated.

"I doubt she'll like humanism, but Eris can at least pretend to consider the idea," he thought.

The Hapsburg girl contemplated things for a moment.

"What I'm wondering is why commoners like these men are interested in humanism," Eris said.

"We believe humanism is for everyone, not just nobles," the scholar replied.

"As if commoners could understand any of that," Joseph scoffed.

"I think educating commoners in humanism is a great idea," Eris said.

"Oh, good. Eris is playing along. That should..." Armand thought.

Then, he looked at Eris' face. There was an excited smile on her face. Armand noticed that Eris' eyes were smiling too.

"Eris really likes humanism, and she thinks teaching commoners it is a good idea? Why would someone like her care about educating commoners at all? She must have some ulterior motive," he pondered.

"I never put much stock in humanism before. I always saw it as some random foolishness, but now I see its value. If we make sure commoners know what humans have accomplished, they'll see the futility of resisting our rule. Humanism might bring peasant revolts to an end," Eris thought.

Then, her eyes turned to Joseph.

"But enough of that for now. It's time to play some music for Armand."

Eris gave him a smile.

"Lord Joseph, I must say that you're an impressive figure. You must have a lot of marriage proposals coming in," she said.

"I have a few, but not any that suit me," he replied.

"There aren't many appropriate matches for a duke's brother. Perhaps you seek someone above a duchess?"

Duchess Armstrong's ears perked up. Eris smirked.

"One of the princesses would be ideal," Joseph nodded.

"Ideal, but highly unlikely. His Majesty would never consider marrying his eldest daughter to Joseph. And his youngest daughters are both far too young," Duke Cumberland stated. "It'd be best for him to marry soon, perhaps to a duchess? There are quite a few in need of heirs."

Eris nodded.

"I'm certain there are. But perhaps the princess herself would be interested? I'm certain that she could convince his Majesty."

Joseph narrowed his eyes.

"What's your game?" he asked.

"There's a certain pathetic, insufferable little man that I hate. I want to see him humiliated right at this ball. I can't do it myself, and I want him to know that I'm behind it. It just so happens that humiliating him might get you the princess' favor. All you need to do is take public credit for it while making sure he knows I'm behind this," Eris answered.

"Oh, I see. I know exactly who you're talking about," Armand thought. "So, that's your game, Eris? You're making us a target so we can put down his revolt. I'm not against this plan. We could kill him with far less loss of life than your relative did."

"Who is this man?" Joseph questioned.

"Joseph, think carefully. I won't stop you if you want to do this, but we'll make an enemy with no gain if this fails," Duke Cumberland warned.

"I know what I'm doing, brother. Now, tell me, Lady Eris. Who do I have to humiliate?"

Eris smiled.

"Marquis Richard Salm."