City of Desire: Chapter 1080 Assassination of Prince (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

“So, Vaz Hendriks? I didn’t think you would pick him to be Governor of Norke,” said Locke as he sat in front of me.

I had announced it publicly yesterday.

The man had already reached Norke that morning and taken charge. Locke wasn’t in the Dominion when I had informed the council; he was in the empire.

“Who did you expect?” I asked.

“Someone from Velvet Garden,” I laughed; many who know me expected that.

“Well, the old man is good, at least enough for Norke.”He would have been lacking to lead other cities, but he is perfect for Norke.

“How was the trip?” I asked.

“Tiring.”

“So many people wanting so many things, but it was also beneficial. I secured a lot of promises on many of the things we wanted.” Hearing that, I smiled.

He went to the empire to deliver the invitations to the opening ceremony.

It’s a massive place. I had to send my people to the different corners of it. I wish I could just mail them, but that would be considered highly disrespectful.

He did other things too, like making a few deals.

“Good, we will need those things. Especially the support for the flow of people.” We are getting steady, but now we need more. For the Dominion, but also to send it to the region.

“I had gotten a lot of messages after your battle with Viremont. Many nobles are interested in coming to Greltheaven. Especially the broken nobles,”

I shook my head at that.

“The city will not spend money on them; that offer has expired. Though other governors are offering the incentives.”

I was offering the nobles a lot to come to Greltheaven.

Manors, monthly allowance, and a lot of things, but not anymore. Now, the only thing we are offering is legacy privileges, and only around reservations, not with the bill.

Valentina and I both agreed we don't need them anymore, at least not as much as before.

That money could be better spent anywhere else.

Though I wouldn’t stop the other governors from extending privileges; the nobles would help their cities, and they've gotten a good response from the nobles in the past few days.

A lot of them contacted us on their own.

Most inquiries came for Greltheaven; however, Valentina directed them to the other cities.

“Now that the war is over, I hope you will increase the budget for my ministry,” he said, his tone turning serious. “There are so many projects, and I want to start on them as soon as possible.”

“You will get it,” I replied immediately.

He seemed surprised by the answer. Usually, I declined his request or didn’t give him as much as he wanted.

This time, I plan to.

The massive infrastructure will be necessary to support the growth I need, and I plan to give the ministry a lot of money for it.

“Speaking of which, I want you to expedite the planning of the waystation plan and add the Norke route to it,” I ordered. His eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face.

“I think it is for the best; the nobles are untrustworthy. It will cost us to do it on our own, but I believe it will benefit us more  in the long run.”

“I agree.”

I don’t trust nobles and don’t want to sell territories for now. Yes, it brings money and nobles, but it also brings risks.

If I had been in Grimvale or Summerfield’s place, I would have sold the territories like they are, but the risks are unique to me, and I need to be careful about them.

That doesn’t mean I won’t sell territories. I might, but I would be very cautious about it.

Since I am not planning on doing that soon, I have to do other things. I control a vast territory, and I need to use it more efficiently.

Thus, the Waystation Plan.

“I was thinki…”

“What happened?” Locke asked, noticing the change on my face. I didn’t reply, instead focusing on the sudden feeling I had gotten, which disappeared a few moments later but not without leaving a mark.

“Something has happened in the empire,” I replied finally before turning to Zela.

“I will connect to our contacts,” she said before I could say anything. I nodded and turned to Locke.

“Your class?” he asked, and I nodded.

“What do you think it is?” he asked. “I don’t know, but whatever it is, it's significant.” My class could only tell me that something significant had happened, but exactly what, I don’t know.

We waited for a minute, but nothing came.

“As I’m saying, I think we should let the merchants handle the Waystations,” said Locke, and I laughed.

“I don’t trust nobles, Locke, and while I favor merchants, it is not so much to hand over the keys of waystations to them. We will use the same system as we had used in new villages and towns of the baronies.”

He opened his mouth when Zela interrupted.

“Prince Unmer is assassinated.” Immediately, my expression became somber.

“You mean he is dead?” asked Locke, and she nodded.

“Unmer, isn’t he one of the fence-sitters who had declared support for Prince Orlena a week ago?” he asked, and I nodded, and his expression changed drastically.

“Shit!” he cursed, understanding the implications.

“Shit, it is,” I agreed.

Some princes joined the war, while others sat on the sidelines. Some among them were staying neutral, while others chose sides.

Unmer is one of the princes who were sitting on the sidelines, neither fighting nor supporting any of their siblings until a week ago

“This is the first death of a royal prince since Prince Grelt’s death, and it happened right after he declared support for Princess Orlena,” he said.

“She will take it as provocation,” he said, and I nodded.

“Things have just gone to hell.”

The fighting at the border had been constant, but battles between the princes had lulled. This could change things.

As he said, the princess could take it as a provocation and renew the civil war.

“It might not be the Crown Prince, but given what he did to Prince Grelt, it is likely him,” he said. He had killed Grelt, another prince, and many nobles with an Archmage spell.

So the crown prince is more than capable, but there is a good chance it could be someone else stirring up mischief.

“Inform the council that there will be a meeting about it tonight; also invite the governor to the meeting,” I ordered. Al nodded, and I felt him activating a skill.

“What kind of effect do you think it will have on us?” he asked.

I didn’t answer it immediately; it’s not something that I could answer definitively.

“It depends.”

“If those with influence and reach can calm things, then barely anything. If they couldn’t, then anything.” I do not know what will happen; the only thing I can do is prepare.

This could be bad, but it could also be good news.

“There are a lot more things to discuss, but I am sure that this has changed your plans. I will come tomorrow.” With that, he left, while I turned to Zela.

I have a lot of people to call. I need to get as much information as possible to be ahead of this thing.

…

Countess Bezsolar

‘I hope you and others will be able to keep things calm. We don’t want more chaos in the empire than it already has,’ said the man from the other side.

“I do not have as much influence as you think, Lord Silver, but you are right.”

“It’s in nobody’s favor other than our enemies if the civil war intensified again, and I will use the little influence I have to prevent that.”

I looked at my assistant, who shook her head. I am waiting for the Princess to take my call. I had talked to the prime ministers from both sides, and things were not looking good.

‘Well then, I will leave you to it. Best of luck, Countess.’ With those words, he cut the call.

This is the thing I like about this young man. He does not waste time on useless chitchat. It is why I took his call when so many want to talk to me.

“Were we able to find out who did it?” I asked.

I know the Crown Prince did it, despite his prime minister refuting it. He had raged and threatened to kill his younger brother publicly when he expressed support for the Princess.

I spoke with the man the day before he did it. Told him what might happen if he did, but he didn’t listen.

Now, because of him, the civil war might intensify, and only our enemies will benefit.

“No, but if it is the Crown Prince’s people, it will be very hard to catch them.”

I glared at her, but she was right.

Crown Prince has the loyalty of most of the imperial assassins, and they are very good.

They are one of the reasons he is so feared, and those Archmage spells. I still haven’t been able to find out how he had used them.

I have a few theories, but they are not conclusive answers.

“I was looking forward to visiting Velvet Garden? I am hearing it will be the legacy of the century,” said Tilde, and I sighed. Yes, I was very much looking forward to it, but now it won’t happen.

This will be a loss for me.

I wanted to negotiate for more essence and those plants, which he has so far been unwilling to part with.

I also wanted to talk to him about opening his store in my city. I am hearing a lot about them, and I wanted one in my city.

There is also the artifact I wanted to charge. Now, I will have to send it with someone else.

“Prince Kenan is being quite insistent,” she said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Tell him I am busy.”

He is one of the useless princes; he squandered a massive inheritance the emperor left him, and now moves from noble to noble, eating their hospitality.

He is also under an enormous debt, borrowing from nobles and merchants to raise funds.

Unfortunately, he isn’t the only one; most of the princes are like this.

That's why Unmer publicly supported Princess Orlena: she promised to pay him for it. He didn’t get the money, but he also ended up losing his life.

Now these people would be scared, and there would be no safe place.

Namdar is one place, but they can’t go there if they want to maintain their status. It has strict banking laws, and the Storm Mage has no patience for spoiled princes.

She will not let them party and throw their money around until they owe debts to the city’s merchants and banks.

“She is ready,” Tilde informed me, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Finally,” I said, and extended my aura. I now hope that I will convince the woman not to react. It’s a tall order, but I will have to try.