Chapter 84: Rival's Revelry (Patreon)

Leonardo and Raphael again stood in the study of the capital estate of the Dukes of Villamar.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” The Duke of Villamar looked at Raphael uncompromisingly. “Bending the knee to that Crown Princess?”

“I’ve done very little, except secure the grace of Her Highness,” Raphael said. “It was clear to me that Willem had the advantage of being the first mover. I thought I wouldn’t be able to find the Red Raven, and I couldn’t. Everyone saw Eleanor, but no one she suspected that was what she really was. Hence, I did what was optimal. And… I had a little bit of fun to boot.”

Leonardo paced around the study angrily. “And now, the Red Raven is in the halls of the king, courting his favor. Every day that passes, her merit grows. Every day that passes, she becomes more and more untouchable. She’s earned the favor of the king, she’s in the favor of Willem, who veritably pillages Duke Baptiste Dubois’ territories even as we speak.”

Raphael clenched his jaw tightly. “You refuse to show me any respect or hospitality within your house, and then you expect me to act in its sole interest? That isn’t how this works.” He shook his head. “I came here looking for you. Now that I found you, you’ve done nothing but disappoint me.”

Leonardo stormed toward Raphael, peering down at him. There was a tense standoff between the two, and as Leonardo looked into Raphael’s eyes, he saw a certain madness in them. The young boy wanted them to fight. He was almost anticipating it.

“How in the hell did you live this long?” Leonardo rubbed his forehead, stepping away.

Raphael laughed briefly. “There were more close calls and I can remember.”

“That thing… that thing that’s taking advantage of the kingdom in there killed your father.” Leonardo pointed to the distant royal palace outside the window. “You are the only other living son of my father. And you wondered why I hesitated in disclosing that information? You wonder why I dithered when it came time to welcome you into the family?” He sat on the desk.

Raphael blinked a little disbelievingly. As the information went through his head, he seemed to come to a conclusion. “And why would you tell me now?”

“Because whatever risk I might incur by disclosing you have a legitimate claim to my title is far less important to me than avenging our father’s death.” Leonardo’s posture slackened slightly as he sat on his desk. “Do you know what it would mean for our family’s prestige if we allow our father’s killer to strut about boldly through the royal court?”

Raphael stayed silent for a long while. “And why do you think that telling me who my father is would change my actions? He abandoned me, you forget.”

“He died,” Leonardo argued vigorously.

Raphael shrugged. “Maybe he did. Maybe that’s just something you’re saying to tug at my heartstrings. The fact is, I never saw my father even once. I didn’t come to you for sentimentality. I came to you because I want to do right by my mother. I came to you because I wanted to do right by myself. If you can’t do either, then why should I work with you?”

Leonardo stared out the window for a long time. “You know, I’ve spent a long time trying to wrap my head around why my father would do what he did. Fathering a bastard, of all things… he was unwed, you see. My mother had been dead for three years—perhaps he would’ve married your mother if he knew. But he never had the chance to know. He died.” Leonardo went silent for a bit. “I never really understood men’s fascination with women. It’s never made sense to me.”

Raphael with a little perplexed. “What are you saying? You don’t…?”

“To me, men, women… they’re just bags of flesh.” Leonardo fiddled with his hands. “Don’t feel much of anything when I look at either of them.”

“Concerning. But why are you telling me this?” Raphael asked, confused.

“You want some benefit?” Leonardo looked at Raphael with a serious gaze. “If you can kill the Red Raven, I will legitimize you and castrate myself. When I die, you will inherit the dukedom—that is, unless you pass before me. Then, your sons and daughters will still come to occupy the seat I reside in.”

Raphael stared in disbelief. “Are you crazy?”

Leonardo stood up and walked toward Raphael. “Yes. Yes, I am. All of us are. And that’s why I can tell you’re my brother.”

Raphael looked like he respected Leonardo more now that he revealed his madness. “Will you ask me to do all of this on your word alone?”

“I’ll keep good on the first half of my promise immediately. I will legitimize you, and you will become Raphael of Villamar. Thereafter, I will take a note of promise to the church, telling them the details of our arrangement. If you should wish it, it can be brought out to hold me to it.” Leonardo’s red eyes met Raphael’s own. “And if I renege on my promise, perhaps we can have that fight you so eagerly wish for.”

Raphael laughed a little crazily. “Why in the world are you doing this much for the honor of a dead man?”

Leonardo walked over to the window. “When you have children of your own someday, you will understand the psychotic blood of the Villamar lineage. There’s only one thing that we truly hold sacred, and that’s our family.” Leonardo shook his head. “After the pain I went through losing my father, I don’t want to wish the same upon any children that I might have. Besides, as I mentioned… I’ve no interest in women.”

Raphael narrowed his eyes. “If we’ve some blood bond, then why the hell don’t I give a damn about you?”

“Because the bond is between parent and child alone.” Leonardo looked back. “Why do you think you’re trying so hard for your mother?”

“Because she was good to me,” Raphael justified.

“And why was she good to you? Was she good to others?”

Raphael seemed to see his point. “Not particularly.”

Leonardo walked back up to his desk, and sat behind it. “Do we have an accord, brother?”

Raphael walked up to the desk. “Why should I settle for being a duke… when I might be king?”

“Why not both?” Leonardo raised a brow. “Keep your options open.”

A wide smile passed across Raphael’s face. It was the smile of someone who knew that he’d been bested. “Fair enough, brother.”

***

Willem stood in the halls of the Palace of Dubois late at night, entertaining a guest that had come. His guest. Unfortunately.

“Knew that I’d be seeing you again,” Willem said, looking upon Levente with a large amount of distaste on his face. “People like you never forget an obligation. You’re Coinorrhea. It’s like gonorrhea, but infinitely more painful for people like me.”

“Coinorrhea? That’s new.” Levente stared at Willem with a large smile on his face. “I have to thank you for your generosity. The Duchy of Dubois was a very wealthy place, and there was much that’s slipped through the cracks. Thanks to you, I made more in seven days than I had in my whole life.”

“That’s how compounding interest tends to work. You forego benefits now to receive massive benefits later,” Willem noted. “Maybe in your next lesson, I can teach you about leverage—and I’m not talking about blackmail.”

Levente shook his head. “I know that you’re talking about finances. Indeed, you seem to have taken on a great deal of debt. Aren’t you concerned that once the king strips the duke of his territory and thus inherits those debts, he’ll call them in all at once, ruin you?”

“If he’s brain damaged, sure.” Willem didn’t elaborate further. “Now, was there anything more than you wanted? Since my secret’s out, you don’t have anything more to extort me with.”

Levente pointed his finger at Willem. “You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. I think you’ve been given a taste of what it is that I can do, and I’ve seen firsthand just how skilled you are at managing finances. Thus, there’s a proposal that I’d like to make you.”

Willem shook his head. “There’s no way I’m working with you.”

“I haven’t even said,” Levente protested.

“Listen, Coinorrhea…” Willem walked. “You are trouble. It’s one thing to get in bed with someone when you don’t know what they’re capable of, but I know for a fact what you have.”

“Coinorrhea,” Levente finished.

“Exactly. I was lucky enough not to have contracted this first time, but I won’t risk it by hopping into bed with you again. You’re not interested in progress, in building something,” Willem said. “You’re interested in moving capital from one hand to another—namely, yours.”

Levente squinted his eyes suspiciously. “And you are so very different?”

“Are you going to hold on to the property that we got your hands on during this time? Do you intend to hold on to productive assets, and use them to purchase more productive assets, all for long term growth and consolidation of industry?” Willem shook his head. “No. I’ve seen you. You eat through the woodworks like termites. You don’t build anything; you just eat what’s there for coin alone.”

Levente stared at Willem evenly. “And what if I told you that I did want to build something?” he stepped a little closer. “The fact is, I know what the next stage of the king’s contest is. He’s going to mount another Grand Crusade.”

“Meaning?” Willem raised a brow.

“That was always his intent. He hoped to draw out the agents of Avaria to the capital by holding this contest. Then, deal with decisive and heavy blow to their espionage efforts using the best talents of the realm. Now, he intends to mount a Grand Crusade to cripple their nation for a long period of time, thus ensuring a period of safety and stability.” Levente’s eyes gleamed somewhat. “And if that comes to pass, there’s the potential for much more. We can build something from the ashes of Avaria.”

“Unless we’re talking ash wood, I imagine that ash would be a very awful building material,” Willem said.

Levente stared. “If you want to talk about an industry greater than all others… then there’s nothing more profitable than labor that works for free. Thousands upon thousands of slaves, all bound to the Fountain of Avaria, kept sustained by its enchanted lava. There is no finer workforce than someone who has no other option. And with your help, I’m confident that we could come to control it. With your oversight, we could become a mercantile empire that spans the world.”

Willem looked at Levente. “You’re just blathering nonsense you think I want to hear.”

Levente laughed. “You’re right, you’re right. It’s a big ambition, but it could never work out. I wasn’t lying about the Grand Crusade, though. But… the fact is, I won’t ever tell you what I want.” He tsked. “It’s a shame you’re so uncompromising, though. You really won’t consider working with me, not for a moment?”

“I compromise with people I can expect to do the same.” He shook his head. “But you’re Coinorrhea. You can’t reason with a disease.”

“You are smart. I’m impressed. Though… it’s unfortunate. I like competing with idiots—it makes thing so much easier.” Levente shrugged. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ve heard that you’re returning to the capital soon. Tomorrow, even.”

“That’s true,” Willem confirmed easily.

“Then we’ll both see what your little lovebird has cooked up for us all to eat,” Levente said. “If I can’t team up with you… well, there are three other drakes still in this game. The princess came out on top this round. She knows how to use people. But this new Grand Crusade? That’s different. That’s… well.” He threw his arms out. “Only six of us beat the Eye of Sovereigns.”

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