"Richard Salm?" Joseph smirked. "I'll do that."

He walked off, approaching the Marquis. Armand turned to Duke Cumberland.

"I know how he's going to answer this, but I need to ask anyway," Armand thought before speaking. "Are you sure you want to let your brother do this?"

"Joseph wants to stand on his own. If I don't let him do this, he'll never forgive me. Even if he gets injured or killed, it's better than making my brother an enemy," a hint of sadness crossed the duke's face.

Armand nodded.

"I agree. It's a shame that the crown prince and eldest princess don't," he said.

That caught Eris' attention.

"Armand, what are you doing?" she thought.

"Yes. Their father just became king, and they're already fighting over succession. He hasn't even gotten a chance to warm his throne yet," Duke Cumberland agreed.

Rage flashed through Eris.

"Armand, you know that getting the crown prince and eldest princess' favor was key to my power! Are you betraying me now?"

He looked at Eris.

"I know exactly what you're thinking, Eris. You're wondering if I've betrayed you. Don't worry, Eris, I will get you the power I promised. But I will take down the crown prince and eldest princess. They caused division and war between nobles in Foldzar, all to hide their disgusting secret. We can't afford that with the disasters," Armand thought.

The boy winked at Eris. Her heart thumped.

"Is Armand doing this for me? Or is it mutual interest? I told him to just watch my schemes today, but was he planning this from the start? Whatever it is, it's...nostalgic? I think that's the right word," Eris thought.

Armand turned back to the duke.

"A princess who wants to steal her brother's throne, and a prince who despises his sister. Their younger brother has his hands full, keeping the two of them from murdering each other," the boy stated.

"Yes. I hate to think about Foldzar's state with those two," Duke Cumberland said.

"At least their younger brother is there. He's a good child," Armand nodded.

Eris' heart thumped again.

"Armand, are you trying to make the second eldest prince the heir? You never dared to challenge the crown prince and eldest princess. It was too much, but now...why now? This is so bold! I love it!" she thought.

The boy gave her a quick glance with a slight smile.

"Eris, I know you'll like this plan. And if we work together, I'm certain we can take down the crown prince and eldest princess," Armand thought.

A soft smile crossed Eris' face. She was cackling with glee inside.

"If we can put the second eldest prince on the throne, he'll owe us more than the crown prince and eldest princess ever owed me! I'm so glad I'm going to marry you, Armand!" Eris thought.

Then, a great need welled up in her. Eris hugged herself and started wiggling.

"I want to have another manipulation game with you so badly! It would be so much fun! Calm down, Eris, control yourself! You're Armand's fiance, and he's going to get you power. Right now, you need to have his back. We can have a private manipulation game later."

Duke Cumberland saw this.

"Is your fiance okay, Armand?" he asked.

The boy looked at Eris.

"What is she doing now? Is something actually wrong with Eris? Is she in danger? I've never seen Eris do something like this before," he thought.

Worry flashed through Armand.

"I hope she is. I'll talk to her," he said.

Armand walked over to Eris.

"Are you alright, Eris?" Armand asked.

She stopped her wiggling.

"Oh, I'm fine, Armand. I was just really happy," Eris answered.

"That is not a normal way to express happiness. Then again, Eris is hardly normal," Armand thought before speaking. "Perhaps you should sit down a moment? I'll go with you."

"Oh, no. I might have ruined Armand's plans!" she waved it off. "There's no need to worry. You're talking to Duke Cumberland. I would hate to interrupt your conversation."

"Now is not the time to worry about schemes! Unless you really are okay. But...I can't take any chances," Armand thought.

"Your health is more important," he said.

Armand turned to the duke and bowed.

"If we may be excused," the boy spoke.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"You may. Go on, take care of your fiance," Duke Cumberland said.

"Thank you."

Armand gently grabbed Eris' arm. He guided her to a bench where they both sat down.

"Eris, you need to be honest with me: are you okay?" Armand asked.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry that I interrupted your scheming. You were trying to convince Duke Cumberland to help you side with the second eldest prince, right?" she replied.

"Of course, that's what you're worrying about," he thought before speaking. "Somewhat. My goal was to plant the seed in his head. I've done that. It'll be a while before it's anywhere near fruition."

Eris breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good. You have a good scheme. Just make sure you don't change things too much, or we won't be able to know the future as well as before," she said.

"It's too late for that now. My parents and siblings are still alive. Things will change in ways we can't predict," Armand replied.

The girl sighed.

"That's a good point," she said.

"And I'll need your help for my plan. You're still going to work for and gain the trust of the crown prince and eldest princess. I'll help set things up so that you get your old position under them," Armand stated.

"And then I stab them in the back when the time is right," Eris nodded.

The boy sighed. A wretched feeling of guilt flowed through him.

"I hate doing this. I hate betrayal, gaining peoples' trust, and then destroying them. But in the case of the prince and princess, this is the best way to ensure they don't cause too much damage to Foldzar," Armand said.

Eris placed a hand on his shoulder.

"They had me murder people to hide their secret. I'm sure that you think their actions are morally wrong," she stated.

"Now, I just feel like a hypocrite," Armand shook his head. "I know that sometimes, you have to choose the lesser evil. But that doesn't mean I like having to choose it. But there are times when I choose it. I really am a horrible person."

Before Eris could deny that, a noise caught their attention. The two turned to see Marquis Salm and Joseph grappling on a table. Daggers were drawn, and blood splattered the cloth.

"Just as predicted," Eris smiled.

"You knew this would happen?" rage flashed through Armand.

"By the gods, can Eris not do something evil for one day?" he thought.

"Don't get mad yet," Eris said. "3, 2, 1..."

A grand voice boomed through the hall.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Stepping into the room was a man covered head to toe in armor. Behind him was a group of partially armored men with greatswords. And behind them was a tall man with an impressive beard and fire in his eyes.

Rasputin,renaissance,long Beard,rasputin S-2924799 by Xela-The-Conqueror [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/313aaab4-767f-4cea-91cb-69c8d8fbef2a/dgwhpj2-99dd44d2-fe87-404b-a35f-aac9090a8089.png/v1/fill/w_1081,h_739/rasputin_renaissance_long_beard_rasputin_s_2924799_by_xela_the_conqueror_dgwhpj2-pre.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9ODMyIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvMzEzYWFhYjQtNzY3Zi00Y2VhLTkxY2ItNjljOGQ4ZmJlZjJhXC9kZ3docGoyLTk5ZGQ0NGQyLWZlODctNDA0Yi1hMzVmLWFhYzkwOTBhODA4OS5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTIxNiJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.qvcKIwFPUFODXKb0ZziQWBjqnp4bEXXKIOiMpJ2IEb0]

"Just on time," Eris said.

"Rozwiazly," Armand muttered.

Fury covered the armored man's face.

"I come to relax at a feast after putting down a rebellion, and there are men trying to murder each other!" he stated.

Count Staufer approached the newcomers.

"I'm just as mad as you are, Marshal Ludwig. What are those fools thinking?" he grimaced.

"I apologize," Marquis Salm said. "But my honor was insulted."

"What honor?" Joseph asked.

"Enough of this! You lot are a disgrace to nobles everywhere, no discipline. You rush to your deaths over petty bickering. If I had my way, I'd have you lot replaced with my Landsknechts," Marshal Luwdig stated.

Fear pulsed through the crowd. No one dared say a single word. Even Armand and Eris shivered.

"But enough of that," the Marshal shook his head. "Rozwiazly, can you heal these bastards?"

The bearded man bowed.

"Of course, my Lord," he said.

Rozwiazly walked over to the bleeding nobles. He placed his hands on their bodies. There was a golden glow, and their injuries faded away. Shock crossed over everyone in the room.

"How did you do that?" Count Staufer asked.

"Magic, my Lord," Rozwiazly answered.

"Impossible! Healing magic speeds up the recovery process. It can't just close wounds!"

"Mine can."

The Count walked over. He grabbed Rozwiazly's hands and looked at them.

"There's no runes or sigils or anything," Staufer said.

Ten minutes were spent casting a spell to determine if there was any long-term magic on Rozwialzly. There was none.

"You didn't cast this spell ahead of time, but that's impossible," Staufer stated.

"It is not for me, my Lord," Rozwiazly replied.

"I found him in town, curing people of the plague," Marshal Ludwig stated. "It was impressive, so I brought him here after he was done."

Rozwiazly took a bow.

"I am unworthy of your praise. And I am truly honored to be here at this feast," he said.

The Marshal took off his helmet, revealing that he looked a lot like Count Staufer. Armand contemplated for a moment.

"I'm so used to hearing him be called Marshal Staufer that I almost forgot what his first name was," he stated in a whisper.

"I don't blame you," Eris replied. "I almost did the same. Only Marshal Staufer's brother and wife call him Ludwig. And even they use his title."

The Marshal walked over to the table his brother had been seated at. He sat down, grabbing an empty glass. A servant rushed over to fill it.

"Enough of this silence. Go on, get back to enjoying the feat, you ingrates," Ludwig muttered.

Instantly, everyone rushed into conversation. Many nobles rushed to Rozwiazly, burying him in conversation. Even people who weren't talking with him were talking about him.

"And now, you see my plan, Armand. When Rozwiazly was introduced the last time around, the nobles only had Marshal Staufer's words to go by. Now, they saw his healing abilities for themselves," Eris said.

Armand's heart thumped.

"I don't approve of how you did this, Eris. You started a fight. What would have happened if Marquis Salm or Joseph were killed?" he asked.

"It was a risk, yes, but one that I was happy to take," she answered.

Then, Eris smiled.

"And now, Rozwiazly will be more accepted among the nobility. That should make your plans with him easier."

Armand's heart thumped again.

"Eris, your plan was brilliant, but I can't approve of your methods. I'd say I'm disappointed, but I expected you to do something cruel," he spoke before thinking. "What's happening? My heart's fluttering. I feel faint. But I can't help it. Eris impressed me. I should be terrified of what she could accomplish if I hadn't stopped her in the past, but I just feel...what am I feeling?"

"Oh, fuck! I backtracked! Armand might not like me anymore! I have to do something, fast!" Eris thought before speaking. "Rozwiazly was popular with women even this early. He's going to break in some maidens tonight."

Then, fear pulsed through her.

"Why did I tell Armand that? I made a mistake!"

Armand just nodded.

"Yes. We'll have to convince him to not do that as much. It's only a matter of time before some people violently object. He avoided that the first time around, probably because he died," he said.

"Maybe Eris has some ideas? Convincing someone like him to sleep around less won't be easy, even if my plan works," Armand thought.

Then, the boy took a deep breath.

"Are your schemes finished, Eris?" he asked.

"Not yet, but the rest will wait until after you've talked with Rozwiazly. I've accomplished most of what I wanted to," Eris answered.

"Then here comes the hard part for me. Your plan to make Rozwiazly more accepted among the nobles helped me overall, but it made things more difficult for me today. I need to talk to Rozwiazly alone. Do you have a plan for that?" Armand questioned.

"I didn't think I needed one. You got this, Armand," she gave him a smile.

"You're right. I do," he nodded.

Armand stood up. He approached the crowd around Rozwiazly.