Chapter 159: [159] Mind Games

Marcus leaned on his office chair and smiled casually.

“And speaking of my brother… have you by any chance… considered my proposal?”

The mood in the room immediately changed, the formerly friendly atmosphere turning tense.

Duke sat down on the soft leather couch, his face hard as he pondered on his uncle’s words.

His proposal was a hard pill to swallow. Although he knew his uncle was doing his best for the sake of the barony, what he was asking for…

It was just too much.

He had thought about it for weeks now, yet, no matter how long he did, nothing seemed like the right choice.

“Haaa—!” He breathed out a sigh, running a hand through his damp hair.

Plop!

Just as he did, a soft towel landed on his head, and then delicate fingers massaged it into his hair, drying it.

When the towel came off, Doris, his fiancée, was smiling at him.

“I told you to stay out of the rain, you’re going to catch a cold at this rate…” Doris pouted.

Duke chuckled. “I can’t just sit back at home while the knights do all the hard work you know? I need to show them I am a capable leader as well.”

Doris smiled. “You are, you just need to have a little faith in yourself.”

She stood up and placed both hands on her waist.

“You know what, you should drink something at least.”

There was a shelf at the other side of the room filled up to the brim with an assortment of wines and other drinks.

Doris walked up to it, her hand on her lip as she glanced through the collection.

“Hmmm…”

While she was looking at the drinks, her eyes strolled to her reflection in the glass.

The leather armour and daggers she had a few minutes ago were gone, replaced by a red flared skirt, black tights, and a shirt that cut right over her chest, exposing her shoulders and just the right amount of cleavage.

Enough to arouse the senses, but not too much that it was no longer a mystery…

Now, the fierce warrior looked no different from a regular homely girl.

Doris held back the urge to laugh.

’Imagine using such a high value artifact for this…’ She thought, glancing at the necklace hanging on her neck.

’Anyways—’

“Aha, this should do…” Doris smiled as she skipped towards him with a glass of wine.

She placed a glass cup on the desk and uncorked the bottle, pouring the sparkling red liquid into the cup.

“No, I don’t feel like drinking—” Duke was about to protest when Doris cut him off.

“Don’t be like that, are you really going to reject a drink from me?” She asked, bringing the glass to his lips.

“O-of course not!”

Duke chuckled and grabbed the drink, consuming everything in one gulp then placing the empty glass on the table.

Doris smiled and scooched closer to him on the couch until their bodies were in contact.

Marcus sat down opposite them, his face solemn.

“You know how much I love my brother, don’t you Duke?”

Duke sighed. “Yes uncle, I know…”

“Then you must know how much it pains me, but this is something that must be done. With the current way Pieter is leading our barony, we will soon end up destitute…”

“From giving handouts, to lowering tax and focusing on the farming infrastructure, instead of working to boost trade. He may think he is working for the good of the people, but soon, we will go bankrupt…”

“I understand you uncle…” Duke sighed.

Him and his father had always butted heads due to the way he ran things, but to matter how much he tried to convince his father, the old man was just too stubborn!

“Duke, you must first seek the growth of your people, by focusing on their quality of life, the barony will by itself flourish along the way.”

Those were his fathers words, but they were absolute garbage.

All the other well to do baronies had long doubled their taxes, and using those taxes, they turned their baronies into grand cities.

But still…

Even though him and his father never met eye to eye, what his uncle was asking for was betrayal, and he could not agree to it.

“I’m sorry uncle, I know you mean the best…” he stood up, his eyes burning with resolve.

“I cannot betray my father.”

Marcus slowly shook his head.

’It seems I underestimated him, the boy is indeed a man…’ Marcus mused.

’No matter, there are many ways to kill a rat.’

Doris pressed her side against his, placed one arm over his shoulder, while the other slowly traced circles around his chest.

“Dukie…”

That was all it took to melt off all the defenses he had put up.

He stared at his fiancée and sighed, his gaze softening.

“I understand your reservations, son.” Marcus cooed, pretending to be distraught.

“But are you willing to bet your mother’s life on your beliefs?”

Duke froze, his expression darkening.

The news of his mothers illness was something only a very small amount of people knew.

How come his uncle was already aware? Did his father tell him? Or was there a spy in the Kingsbridge household?

“Calm yourself, Duke. Do you think I would not be informed of my own sister-in-laws’ ailment?”

“Am I willing to bet my mothers life on my beliefs…” Duke repeated his words through gritted teeth.

“What did you mean by that statement?”

’Check mate…’

Marcus hid the smile creeping up on his face then spoke in a low, solemn tone.

“How do you think your mother got sick? You should already be aware that this is no mere illness.”

Duke nodded, meanwhile, Doris continued calming him down.

“It pains me to say this, but this very illness was caused by none other than Pieter. It was a family he carelessly showed kindness that ended up poisoning her…”

Duke’s hands balled up into fists, his nostrils flaring.

So all this time, his father acted as though he did not know what was wrong with his mother, but it was his fault to begin with?!

“How dare he deceive me this way?!”

Now it made sense why he did not let him see his mother no matter how much he begged.

He was trying to keep the secret hidden!

“Calm down Duke, Pieter did not know at the time, he was simply acting out of the goodness of his heart…”

“Damn him and that fucking heart of his!” Duke barked, banging his hand upon the center table.

The moment Duke looked away from him Marcus smirked.

Then slowly, like a serpent coaxing his prey, he walked up to Duke and placed his hand on his shoulder, leaning closer.

“It is time you stood up to the challenge and led your people…”

His voice dropped even lower, each word laced with poison.

“Don’t worry, when it’s all over, I already have a cure ready for your mother…”

Baron’s eyes widened slightly, tears already forming in them. “T-thank you, Uncle.”

Marcus smiled. “No need to thank me, what we should be doing now is getting you a suit…”

He tapped Duke’s shoulders in a friendly manner.

“We have a ball to attend!”

“…”

Duke’s jaw was clenched tightly as he boiled with rage.

“You’ll look great Dukie!” Doris cheered him on, and only then did he manage a small smile, unable to look away from his father’s betrayal.

’What a fool.’ Marcus mused, a smile on his face as he stared at the boy.

’This ball will be the death of your entire family line.’

From his cocky sister Cassie, who kmew too much for her own good, to his sick mother and his foolish father…

All of them would die, never realising what hit them.

’And you, Duke, you will personally hand me the keys to your own undoing…’

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