At the event, before the Duke spoke with Benjamin, he remained on the second floor with Marquis Vapund.
Marquis Vapund approached the Duke with the intention of having a conversation, but the Duke showed no interest until the Marquis mentioned a particular topic that caught his attention.
"So." The Marquis began, "Have you made your decision on the marriage alliance between our houses?"
The Duke remained silent, clearly uninterested in responding.
"You should think this through, Gerin." The Marquis said, using the Duke's first name. "Your family is by far the strongest. Even the King and his kin fear you. But your family's isolationist mindset has left you with no allies in the Capital. Everyone hates you and if the time comes, they will take up arms and attack you from all sides."
The Duke was surprised by the thinly veiled threat but kept his composure.
"Marquis, it's true my family has remained on the sidelines of Ikarus' politics." The Duke replied with pride. "But don't forget that we were never conquered like the rest of you. The Kingdom asked us to join to end a war they were losing. We accepted peace in exchange for autonomy. So it's irrelevant whether or not we gain influence in the Royal Government."
The Marquis laughed mockingly. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say. But the reality is that they are drafting laws and making plans specifically designed to undermine your house." He leaned in slightly. "You may think you're powerful, but in politics and influence, Duke Gerin, you've got nothing."
The Duke scoffed. "So, you're suggesting I ally with a newly-born, upstart house from the middle of nowhere? What support can you possibly offer me? A few votes in the Royal Parliament where the King's supporters already hold a majority, while his two children are busy waging a shadow civil war for the throne? You bring nothing to the table to get my interest."
Marquis Vapund sighed. "Look at the bigger picture. I may have little influence but it's still influence and together, we could form a new power bloc at the center."
"In the end, it's just to fuel your own ambitions," the Duke muttered. "I still don't understand why you want your only daughter to marry into my house."
The Marquis smirked. "Why wouldn't I? House Angeras is powerful, old, and rich. My four sons are already well off. The eldest is being groomed to inherit my title. So, I would rather secure my daughter's future in a worthy family."
"Are you sure you want her to marry Carnel?" the Duke asked, referencing his second son who was also the eldest of his second wife, Lady Cornelia, the King's sister.
"Of course," the Marquis answered bluntly. "I know Carnel has... issues. Especially his taste for brothels for which I am fine with because he is a boy anyways. But I don't understand why you're reluctant to let my daughter marry your eldest."
The Duke avoided the question because he seemed to not show much interest towards Estefan.
"It would've been better for her to wed your eldest." The Marquis continued. "He may be the son of a commoner, but at least he isn't tied to the royal bloodline from your second wife Lady Cornelia that actively hates your family."
The Duke looked away. "I do not trust him with my position. It's better if your daughter marries my second son if the wedding were to happen which probably won't considering your annoying ambitions."
"But your eldest is hidden away, your second is a hedonist, and your third has been given to the Church of Gloriana as a Paladin. He'll be celibate for life." Marquis continued to speak but in a way where he was deliberately trying to make the Duke and his entire family look bad or even below than Marquis's own family.
The Marquis stepped closer. "It's as if only Carnel will inherit your title. Is that really your plan?" He chuckled. "My four sons support each other without envy. They uplift their eldest who I chose as they show no competition, only loyalty toward him, towards me and towards our family. That is the Unity Duke, something your family clearly lacks and something you may not see unless you do this marriage alliance with my family."
The Duke said nothing. His own situation was a mess. Estefan, his eldest, was seen as a lazy recluse. Carnel was a spoiled libertine. The third, though promising, was now celibate and removed from succession.
Gerin could have done something, even strike the Marquis down for daring to disrespect him as a war would only see Vapund's family getting exterminated by the Knights of Angeras who were one of the strongest forces in the Kingdom or perhaps the entire central region where the Kingdom exists.
But he tried to ignore it because they were his growing weight of failures after all those three were his children no matter the difference in their mothers, but by the end of the conversation, he stormed off due to frustration and the humiliation he felt due to his so called sons.
The succession to his seat was being questioned due to their failure of showing any signs of progression or achievements.
Meanwhile in the present time, his talk with Benjamin ended with him giving new orders regarding Estefan and his daily activities being reported only to the old man instead of the Duke, Duke Gerin stood alone on a balcony, smoking a large, expensive cigarette made specially for him.
The wind was cold. Smoke curled into the air, briefly lighting the dark sky obscured by thick clouds.
"All useless." The Duke muttered, exhaling the smoke. "Seems like I'll have to delay the succession since I have no worthy heir."
He wasn't sure if he was speaking to himself, the wind, or the gods above. Either way, the bitterness wouldn't leave his throat.
The King was plotting against him. What Marquis Vapund had said might have been a warning or maybe a prophecy and Duke Gerin knew, deep down, that the time to act was fast approaching for a conflict was inevitable.
[To be Continued]