Das Leben ist ein Würfelspiel (Life was a dice game)

Vaterian didn't surprise by the news from Igor, but neither was he completely calm, "I didn't surprised about it, the evidence wasn't being hidden and witnesses were everywhere, I even glad that they take such a long time to find the truth."

Vaterian tapped the table with his fingers, his mind pondering over all those information until getting to a conclusion. "Stefan might find Friedrich because of the murder, the grand duke might not expect we being so…aggressive. I highly expect the secret hearing would be canceled, they need to reconsider their judgment. This wasn't an issue that can be solved by a secret hearing, they need to call for a noble assembling"

Igor is still worried about the risk they baring, they can't take another failure, the failed campaign 8 years ago had cost them a lot. "You sure is a good idea for us to start this chaos? We lost the war before even with other families staying neutral, now we need to fight against an even stronger von Talismania that is supported by others."

"Igor, you still need to learn more about politics, the situation was different from the past. The strength of Von Talismania had alerted the other family, the grand duke had asked too much in the civil war." This question brought up Vaterian's memories on the past, the current grand duke was unlike his predecessor, he was greedy and ruthless.

"The block of noble wasn't as united as you thought, Von Nassau are with us because of Friedrich, Orange had trade conflict with Talismania, the others minor was suppressed by the grand duke," Vaterian explained the current situation to Igor, he pulled out a piece of charcoal and write it on the table to give Igor a clear sight.

"But even the Talismania alone would be hard to deal with." Igor brought up his questions, the strength of the grand duke still surpasses them. "War favor the person that was prepared, not the side with plain strength. They take at least 2 months to gather their army, by that time we are already under the city wall. Furthermore, that was the thing that my father need to worry about." Vaterian didn't afraid of failure, he worried about other things.

"What we need to focus on was how could we convince the Montferrat to leave as soon as possible, before the news that we being exiled arrive in the ears of the grand duke." Vaterian stood up and walked slowly around the cellar, thinking about a reason strong enough to convince Mister Montferrat.

"How many people would die from this war?" Igor asked.

"Might be over a hundred thousand, but thanks for the letter provided by those assassins we can just avoid it. That letter enough to let every family turn against the von Talismania, and force them to submit without a fight." Vaterian holds his hand tightly into a fist, "They must pay for Ilse's death." Vaterian whispered to himself.

Knowing that no blood will spill Igor was relieved, even he wasn't a saint, but he still wished the innocent won't die from the private conflict between nobles.

"Time to meet with Mister Montferrat, I will try to convince him." Vaterian opened the door of the cellar and went up.

______

"Miss Montferrat?" In front of Vaterian was Viridiana, she standing in front of their room waiting for them, Vaterian was confused by her presents.

"If you think about swaying my father, you don't need to try it anymore." "What do you mean, Viridiana?" Igor asked Viridiana before Vaterian could even talk with her, "Back down, Igor." Vaterian already had his answer in his mind, the encounter with Stefan had filled the final puzzle for Viridiana.

"Seems like you already knew who we are, the Stadthalter might give you the final clue to solve the puzzle, how is the feeling to stay with a member of the crown?" Vaterian didn't attempt to hide his Identity anymore, he somehow felt relieved.

"It's far more interesting than I thought, if the Stadthalter didn't remind me that royal family was not allowed to be in this city, I won't have figured it out." Viridiana grinned, she never felt so proud of herself.

"So I think this was the end of my journey, now you can report me to the grand duke and gain yourself a good contract." Vaterian pointed at his waist, showing Viridiana he didn't bring his sword alongside with him.

"If you stopped your journey here, who will protect us from those people along the way?" Viridiana walked in front of Vaterian, she pulled her hands out from her back, a longsword with a leather sheath was being held by her, Vaterian recognized that was his sword. Viridiana passed it to Vaterian, who was still surprised by her choice.

"I hope you won't mind that I touch it," Viridiana's sound brought Vaterian back to reality, the girl smiled at him. Vaterian hung the sword at his waist, his action showing his opinion, "Why you choose to help us? You should know the risk of it." Vaterian asked her.

"Getting the consent from von Talismania allowed us to trade in one province, getting consent from the crown allowed us to trade with the entire country, in addition to the friendship with von Nassau and von Felde, it's obvious which should we choose, right? Mister Vaterian von Felde." Viridiana didn't seem like she cared about the great risk of helping Vaterian.

"You would be punished if you called me like that in the court, but I will forgive you for your mistake. You were such a crazy person, I bet there won't be other people who had the guts to make such a gamble." Vaterian laughed, he was surprised by the courage or stupidity possessed by the girl.

"It was not a huge gamble as yours, Vaterian." Viridiana was rather calm compared to Vaterian, but her smile also show she was happy about the decision she made.

"Did your father know about my identity?" Vaterian questioned Viridiana about it, he was not concerned about Viridiana knowing the murder of Heideriech, she could easily get it from the conversation between him and Friedrich.

"No, I just told him we will get more reward from helping you go to Karchidon, he choose to believe me." Viridiana brought out an unexpected answer, Vaterian stunned for a while and laughed.

"You were crazy, so does your father."Vaterian laughed, although he never such a process but at least the outcome was something he wished.