28 The Vice

For as long as he served the empire, Zoroan, son of Trajan the barbarian, has been under Tei'hi. Ever since he was a soldier, up to him being Tei'hi's second-in-command. Despite his usefulness in siege warfare, he had been living under Tei'hi's massive shadow. The number 2. And now, under his General's death, he expected himself to be crowned heir, to be the number 1 at the death of THE number 1.

Yet the title fell under a child, a child whose talents are yet to be proven, a child whose greatness only came in a spur of a moment decision from his General. He resented Astrian, with every inch of his being, yet he acted in his favor. There was nothing else to do, after all. He had to respect his general's wishes.

The resentment didn't falter anyway, despite owning up to Astrian, behind the scenes he acted against him.

Zoroan was in the southern states, in a city called Pergamum, during the eve of the Battle of Fiume. He was there to act as the representative of the Empire to the perhaps loyal states in a senate meeting. At the helm of this senate meeting is a man named Jacobus. A loyalist to Saclusia, and one seen by the other loyalists as their most capable leader.

Zoroan was at the center of the senate hall. A semi-circular audience, the loyalist senate body, sat in front of him, and behind him were several soldiers which he plucked as his bodyguard.

Jacobus stood up to face Zoroan at the center. Being hyped by the audience behind him. He declares, "Saclusia, and all its people are under the rightful rule of the King that your kind, who is not welcome here, murdered in cold blood. I protest that you give back the rightfully owned lands of Saclusia."

"Rightfully owned lands which were taken from conquest," Zoroan answered back, "You should be happy that we chose to let you live and take part in this senate hall. If not for the ongoing war with Sicilia you would be dead." He shot a dead stare at Jacobus, as well as some of the audiences behind him.

Jacobus stood there in shock, he was after all the intended heir of the former King. And now here he is being looked down upon by invaders who came and conquered. He furrows his eyebrows and says, "Saclusia is, and always will be a kingdom. A free nation whose lands have been owned by their grandfather's grandfathers. Our freedom will not be tarnished by mere conquerors like you lot!"

"Lot? May I remind you." Zoroan leaned closer towards Jacobus, "We own you by force. And if you intend to use force. We will not hesitate to bring this entire city down. We will exterminate your men, and take your women. Until the identity of Saclusia will cease to exist." He leaned back Jacobus' heart was trembling in fear, "Unless," Zoroan said under his breath.

"Huh?" Sweat trickled down Jacobus' face as the tension rose in the room. He may have whispered it but it was clear that every single man in the hall heard their conversation and the parting phrase. "Unless what?" He cautiously asked.

"If you value your freedom then I may have a deal for you." Zoroan keeps his posture towards them. The loyalist faction keeps their cool but it was clear that the atmosphere has shifted.

"Our freedom..." Jacobus looked behind him, around the people that once plotted against his father for more power. The same nobles who had forced him in this position for their own benefit. He breathed deeply. "Can be discussed."

Zoroan stretches out his hand, Jacobus shakes it and seals a Faustian deal. "It would be better to discuss this in private then." He and Jacobus then walked out of the senate hall. Much to the shock of the senators who later went home themselves after much argument.

As they reached Jacobus' room inside the castle, the guards stood outside. And they made sure no one inside or outside would hear their deal. Fortunately, details of their conversation have been much preserved by the guards standing outside who, due to the inherent thinness of the door, managed to hear the conversation.

There were a solid 10 minutes of silence. Until Jacobus broke the silence, "What do you want from us?"

"Well, I want you to be cooperative first and foremost. You know what would happen if you aren't. Don't you?"

"Yes." Jacobus said reluctantly, and through gritted teeth he replied, "Saclusia will be cooperative to Arc-"

"Let me stop you right there." Zoroan interrupted

"Huh?"

"You pledge cooperation to ME. Do you understand?"

There was a moment of silence, "... I see how it is. Tch." Jacobus thought for a moment, "I only demand that we are to govern ourselves. What say you?"

"I demand men. Half of your able men. And I will grant your governance to you."

"...Deal. Also.."

"Hm, I see. Okay." Zoroan walked out of the room and ordered his bodyguards to call upon the others.

On that day the rivers near Saclusia ran red with the blood of nobles and senators. None the wiser are the people there, who thought the Arcadians have finally done it and installed Jacobus as an Arcadian puppet.

There's some truth to this of course, but he was not an Arcadian puppet by any means, no. He was a Zoroan puppet. And the southern states fear as such they will be next.