Chapter 423

"Your highness. Great to see you again." Erik greeted Christian in the main dining room of the palace.

"Christian. Please. No formalities needed."

"Alright." Erik said as he sat down.

"I wanted to thank you for the advice. For having the courage to see me again. To be in the palace again. I know this all mustn't be easy for you." Christian said.

Erik nodded and Christian could see pain in his eyes. And he could also tell he was grateful for Christian's understanding.

"I spent my life here, never realizing what a gift it truly was. I was so caught up in all the turmoil of my father's doing, I never really had the chance to see the beauty in it all. I did some terrible things here. So did my father, your great uncle. It is difficult because of the good memories but it also holds many bad memories as well."

Christian nodded. "Yes. I understand. But, if you'll agree, I'd like to give you an opportunity to rectify some of that."

Erik looked at Christian, obviously curious and puzzled. "What do you mean?" Erik asked.

"I'd like to offer you a business proposition." Christian said. Erik sat upright and looked at him in a most professional way.

"I'm listening." Erik said. Auggie walked into the dining room and stopped in his tracks.

"Excuse me. You said you wanted to see me,'your highness?" He said, not acknowledging Erik at all.

Erik cleared his throat. "Hello, Augustus." He said quietly.

Auggie ignored him. It had been years since he had spoken to his brother. And rightfully so, after he basically made an attempt on his life.

"Please, sit." Christian motioned Auggie to a chair.

"No thank you, I don't have much of an appetite." Auggie said.

"Very well. I've asked Erik here today to make him an offer. I have spent much time debating this and feel it is the absolute right thing to do so I won't be dissuaded." Christian began. "We are family. Good and bad, it is still so. I am king now. And there will be many decisions and strategies moving forward. Auggie, you are a brilliant man. You know numbers and you know morals. Ethics. You know the regulations. You are my right hand, without question." Auggie bowed his head and smiled.

"Thank you, your Grace." He said.

"That being said, you are not exactly cunning or cruel. You don't understand the evils of the world. You aren't equipped for being steps ahead of what the ugly parts of the world might throw at me. Erik, on the other hand, is perfect for that job." Christian said.

"I don't understand." Erik said.

"I would like for you to be the crown's personal attorney. My second right hand, if you will. The one no one will see coming. The one that can help me be the darker side of the coin. I'm not equipped for it, either. My mother raised me to be like my father. Like Auggie. But you, Erik, you offer something I need as well. You offer a perspective from a life lived with pain and regret. With deceit and wit. You are a true secret weapon." Christian said.

"Your majesty, please…" Auggie began. Christian held up his hand to silence him.

"I know you have a busy practice. If this is something you are able to do, your practice will of course suffer. You would need to move into the palace and work for me full time. Please consider the offer and let me know. We can discuss salary if you decide it is something you want to do." Christian said. Auggie looked like he had just seen a ghost. Erik did as well. Maybe they did. Maybe the ghosts of the past presented themselves to both of them. But Christian wasn't bothered by it all. The past is just that, the past. And it was time to finally put the demons of what once was behind them, and concentrate now on doing everything they could to keep them there.

After lunch, Erik shook Christian's hand and told him he would consider the offer and get back to him soon. "Thank you, Christian. You have no idea what this means to me." Erik said. "And if I do decide to do this, I promise you that I will not let you down." His eyes welled with tears.

"I know." Christian said. Erik smiled and patted Christian on the arm and left.

"Have you gone completely mad?! Not only is this the worst idea ever, but your mother…Oh dear god! Pearl is going to kill you. That is if myself or Louis doesn't first." Auggie said, entering Christian's study.

"Look, I understand where you are coming from. I do. But it is an intelligent decision. I know what I am doing." Christian said, looking through some paperwork on his desk.

"You're mistaken if you think he's changed. People do not change." Auggie said.

Christian looked up and smiled slyly. "Yes. I know. And that's why I've asked to hire him on."

Auggie just shook his head. "Alright. Alright. But if this goes south, I warned you. We will be keeping a very close eye on him."

"Indeed, I wouldn't expect less." Christian said. Auggie stormed out and Christian sat down, taking a deep breath. He knew what he was doing and he knew the time had come to make these decisions for himself.