Strategies to avoid dying in the succession war

Lucca left the castle and entered the waiting carriage, while William took a horse and positioned himself behind the carriage.

After a few minutes, Sophie entered the carriage. She looked at Lucca and asked, "Is everything okay, my son?"

Lucca replied, "It's not!"

"What happened?" Sophie inquired.

"The war for our father's position has already begun," Lucca answered.

Sophie didn't show any immediate reaction to the news. Lucca noticed her lack of reaction and said, "You already knew, didn't you?"

Sophie admitted, "Yes, I did. What do you plan to do?"

Lucca continued to gaze out of the carriage window and replied, "Mother, will you teach me how to use magic?"

Sophie responded, "Of course, but be prepared. I won't be your mother during the training; I'll be your master, so I hope you won't confuse our roles."

Lucca assured her, "I understand, and I can handle it; don't worry."

Sophie continued, "Your father won't be pleased with this decision at all, haha! Just thinking about breaking the news to your husband is making me laugh."

Lucca asked, "Why not?"

"Because your father's family takes great pride in their reputation for being skilled in aura, whether it's wielding two-handed or one-handed weapons. That's what earned them the title of Duke," Sophie explained.

Lucca questioned, "Is the Manson family famous in the kingdom?"

Sophie nodded, "Very famous."

Lucca contemplated, "Do you think my father will allow it?"

Sophie assured him, "Of course he will. I already discussed this with him. Although he wasn't thrilled, we made an agreement."

Lucca asked, "What kind of agreement?"

Sophie elaborated, "Your father insisted that you also learn to use aura."

Lucca seemed puzzled, "All this just to learn magic?"

Sophie affirmed, "Yes."

Lucca concluded, "Fine with me. After all, I didn't have much say in that agreement."

Sophie chuckled, "Haha! True. But your father wanted to ensure that you learned to use aura, and that's why we agreed."

"Ahah!" She laughed and continued, "You really don't have much to do. But what made you realize that the war for your father's position had already begun? I'm genuinely curious."

If I'm correct. My brothers already knew who their bodyguards would be; I was the only one in that room left in the dark. But now that I've thought about it, there's something that scares me more. What is the goal of the person who put me in that room?"

Sophie smiled and said, "I know who put you there, but I want to hear your analysis. So, tell me, what are your suspicions?"

Lucca shared his thoughts, "I have two theories. The first is Sebastian, as that scheming snake is always plotting something. The other is that it might not have been the factions of my brothers but rather another group of people interested in this dispute for some reason."

Sophie praised his analyses, "Good insights! But you're partially right; it was both things. I know that Sebastian was the one to suggest putting you in that room initially, but the person who actually convinced your father was someone else. All I know is that this person doesn't belong to your brothers' faction. That's the most your father told me, as this person asked him to keep it a secret."

Lucca started to understand, "Ahh, I think I get my brother's plan. He wanted to steal the bodyguard of my older brother, right? But that's very risky. What would be the goal?"

Sophie explained, "It is indeed risky, but it almost worked. The goal is quite evident, isn't it? To make the Rose family stop supporting your brother!"

Lucca puzzled, "It doesn't make sense. The Rose family would still have a spy with me. I only see disadvantages."

Sophie advised, "You need to think outside the box. You're looking at it too objectively and not considering the long-term perspective."

Lucca continued to ponder, "It still doesn't make sense to me. Unless he paid someone to create a dispute, potentially altering the person they would support. But why would he do that when the heir of the Rose family is with me?" He kept thinking but didn't come to another conclusion.

Sophie suggested, "What if he tried to create a conflict of interests within the family?"

Lucca considered, "It could generate a conflict of interests, but would it be enough?"

Sophie reasoned, "If you were to show more potential than Liam, it might increase the discussions, don't you think?"

Lucca agreed, "You're right, Mother."

Sophie then realized, "Wait a minute, do you think that the bodyguards inherit their parents' positions?"

Lucca questioned, "Don't they?"

Sophie clarified, "Not at all. On the contrary, when you become the guardian of the heirs, you swear loyalty to them and are by their side. How could you manage their territory?"

"Thought it was about pledging loyalty, families wanted their heirs to serve as the bodyguards of the next Duke or King, but it makes more sense, as they can be with the heir all the time. Ahhh, the life of nobles is so complicated! All because of a dukedom!"

"But first of all, why is Dad helping me?"

"Because he knows you won't receive much help from the nobles! So your father is helping you as much as he can so that you don't die in this war!" She said with a sad expression.

"Why?"

"Because I'm not from nobility! So the nobles see you as the son of a peasant woman!! And now that you can become a wizard, even worse!"

'It seems like I've used up all my luck being brought back from the dead, oh crap!'

"How did you meet Dad?"

"I was part of a guild, and we met during an outbreak, and your father fell in love with me, and after a while, I gave in. But, talking about my love life with my son is embarrassing!" She said with embarrassment.

"I didn't know there were guilds!"

"Do you remember the story I told you about the war of the heroes against the king?"

"Yes, I remember!"

"Many people began to hate the heroes after that event and they gathered and came up with a solution to create guilds, and the king approved the creation of them, and that's how it all started! But let's leave that aside, the most important thing!"

Sophie continued, "After that event, many people started to resent the heroes, and they formed a solution by creating guilds. The king approved the formation of these guilds, and that's how it all started. But let's leave that behind for now. What's most important is what you plan to do."

Lucca took more than 10 minutes to come up with a strategy.

He finally revealed his two plans, "I have two plans."