50 ENVY

Palais Castle

Meeting of Palais

One man looks across the room and he massage his temple.

The chilliness of the room is not as chill as the feeling in his heart when he was thinking of that one particular family.

This room is one of the secret rooms in his castle. The reason why it was secret is probably because he himself has many secrets

And it fits this kind of occasion of conspiracy and plot. The man could no longer endure. Could no longer just let that family be.

This man is none other than the High Lord Henry Palais

Henry Palais is musing over a glass of wine over the matter of that family. There is only one family that Henry Palais fears these days.

The Vermont's

He had heard that the Vermont boy had returned home to Danoba as the youngest Knight Brother in History.

But that is not all he knows about this family.

The Vermont Family in these past few years has emerged as a force to be reckoned, with their gold which is beyond even of his family.

Their influence is far reaching all over the Continent and some could even say it suppresses that.

Their trade monopoly guaranteed them to become a wealthy family.

Even the Zephyr family who is even more influential in the noble circle than the Vermont doesn't have that kind of wealth.

The Vermont's business and trade prospered so much that they are now probably one the wealthiest family in the Continent…. if not the wealthiest, rivalling that of kings and queens.

Henry felt that even the Emperor of Vern wealth could not compare with the Vermont family wealth.

Vern empire might have gold but their gold is not their private property. It is the state property and they still have many debts after the last war.

On the other hand, the area of Danoba is fertile land but was abandoned by many noble houses because of its proximity to the Bleeding Wall before the Vermont's founded their house there.

With lush lands and fertile soil, prospering ports and trades worlds over, they have dominated trade and business.

The way they do business is completely different than the other noble family that found merchants to be quite a sorry sight and a blemish in a noble ancestry and lineage.

It wasn't until the Vermont's started rising that people now understand the true power of silvers and gold

The Palais house had managed over the years to monopolize the policy that Hadrian Alan set, forging alliances and put their man in the House of Alan, as courtiers, as squires and knights.

But the Vermont family did not fight them on this and instead Countess Julia gives them a tacit support but Henry Palais couldn't believe it.

The Vermont's had excessive wealth and power, thought Henry, so why were they always so keen to stay hidden in the background of the city?

Almost nobody ever saw them. Why are they getting all this power if not to use it?

Perhaps they were planning something, he thought suddenly, suspicion creeping into his mind. Something big… What if… what if that was the key to their success, scheming in secret?

Henry decided he must do something. He summoned a group of minor lords to the dining room of his castle, and expressed his concerns to them.

"Gentlemen, I'm afraid we have a problem," Henry said once the men were seated around the large table.

He paused while his attendants filled glasses with a particularly expensive wine from his private collection.

Water them well, he thought, win their favor. "As you may have noticed, there is something quite unsettling about the way the Vermont's handle things."

"Oh, the Vermont's!" one of the lords from the end of the table nodded and smiled. "They're wonderful! They gave me quite a bargain on products like bread, you know, before they became so successful. There aren't that many good people left around!"

"Ah, but that's what they want you to think," said Henry, and the man frowned.

"Don't you think it's odd, all this generosity, winning people over with their charm, whilst staying hidden away in their castle? Nobody knows much about their private business; they keep everything to themselves. No one knows their next move… Well, my friends, I believe I do."

"What are you talking about, Henry?" several of the lords looked at him doubtfully.

"I understand," Henry began, "that the Vermont's have won your trust and your affection, but I believe they have been planning this for quite some time. They have made sure to get everyone on their side, so that when the right time came, they would be able to do it."

"Do what, Lord Henry?"

"Haven't you noticed their family crest? It displays a dragon, and as you all know, the dragon symbolizes royalty. But why, you might ask, would they have a symbol of royalty on their flag when the Dukedom has no king? Is there a greater possible way to disrespect the high lords, to ignore them and worship a king that does not exist? I had been curious about this for a while, and the answer finally came to me." Henry paused for dramatic effect and looked at the faces of each of the men in the room, who stared back at him, puzzled.

"What they're planning, gentlemen, is to overthrow the high lords, and make themselves royalty."

Silence filled the room, and Henry looked around triumphantly at the stunned faces staring back at him.

He could see his words filling the brains of the men and being churned and digested. All at once it seemed his argument had sunk in.

"Outrageous!" a man with a long red beard slammed his hand down onto the table. "We cannot allow this sort of treason! Let them take over the Dukedom with their sneaky, manipulative ways and curb the power of the high lords? I for one won't stand for it!"

"Nor will I!" the man sitting opposite him nodded vigorously in agreement, and before long the whole table was roaring about the nerve of the Vermont's.

Henry sat in his chair and smiled.

"Lord Palais, what can we do?"

"We must first get the consent of Hadrian Alan, then we will charge them with conspiring to overthrow the high lords. And we must prepare our men for battle. It's best to be ready if we need to defend ourselves. We don't know how their minds work. We don't know how they'll react when they realize we have figured out their plan. But one thing is certain, gentlemen. We will not let them win!"

The men cheered and applauded Henry, some patting him on the shoulder and praising him for his perception skills.

The fire had been lit inside them. As soon as Hadrian Alan gives his consent, the Vermont family would be charged within a month.

The lords will have time to prepare a defense if the Vermont's decide to attack.

This accusation levied upon the Vermont's, its reason is actually a laughable reason and justification. But if everyone says the same thing even hot air could become fire.

And the Dukedom has no King.

They scorn at the thought of a King since it will curb the power of the nobility. That's why even though Alan family is respected they are not the sole ruler.

If they raise their armies, that doesn't mean everyone will follow them. Only those who swear fealty towards them will answer his call.

Henry Palais is actually feeling threatened by the Vermont family wealth. Some of his vassal wanted the Vermont family to be executed after they charge him.

But some feared if they take it this far, maybe the Vermont family will employ sellsword from Ariundus or Vorthy or from the Black Companies or the White Companies, or even the Dancing Blade Companies.

Their wealth is intimidating.

Henry had heard stories of the Vermont boy, but he was still a child and couldn't possibly pose much of a threat.

People had a tendency to exaggerate when telling tales; and no matter how talented the boy was; Henry knew that strength did not always solve everything.

Nobody would stop him.

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