Chapter 5

"Your fiancé visited a today". Fathers voice was warm despite the scolding to come.

"Yes, she came without any word. The servants were in a frenzy", I replied.

I found the girl irritating. Father agreed to the engagement after mother passed, hoping she'd be some kind of replacement for the hole she left. She wasn't. She was only the source of my headaches.

"She'll be the lady of the house soon. She won't be needing to tell us before hand when visiting and she's shouldn't need to now either".

I could only nod demurely at his words. After all, father was just as affected by mother's passing as I was, so anything he said was simply out of love for his remaining family yet I still seemed to loathe him for all he's done.

"Right then father, to the topic at hand. The dam expansion", I had no plans on discussing anything else and thus I wouldn't .

"You're always ready to get down to business", he laughed in return, "you get that from me more than your mother".

He said in a way to express a joke, but I found my hands clenching anyway. It seemed my sour change of mood was visible.

"Don't look like that. I was only joking", he seemed to look rather nervous which irritated me further.

"Back. To the matter. At hand", I slowly spoke with harsh emphasis and father nodded, "the dam cannot be expanded like how you plan. If we carry through with your idea we'll end up endangering civilians and not to mention the labour will be dangerous".

Was it the fact that I finally got that out of my mouth that made me finally relax? No... it was the fact that I was closer to leaving.

"I know".

My head snapped towards my father, who had a rather sadistic smile on his face. He seemed satisfied at my observation which made me frown.

"If you know then why?..."

"The people in that village are immigrants from the neighbouring country. They will handle the labour".

"You're making the immigrant villagers do the labour of the dam that will make their village uninhabitable?" I wasn't sure if I was hearing this right, and at my fathers smug face I understood that I misunderstood nothing.

My nails dug into my skin. The barks of shouts that clawed at my throat made me shake.

"You... plan on killing the villagers..." I had known that plan was suspicious. That was the only reason I decided to read it. The plan wasn't a dam expansion. It was basically mass murder.

"That's right. You really are my son aren't you", father laughed as if I hadn't spoken of something so devoid of morals, "I was worried your mother had soften you up with how nice you were to those servants".

"Father", I could barely contain lashing out to him.

"I think allowing you to take the position of duke soon would be possible", he smiled, expecting me to be grateful.

But I knew full well he would plan to control me from the shadows. Like hell I'd allow that.

"What has the king said about your plan?".

The King of the Nevada was known through out the world as a benevolent King. Someone who would give shelter to his enemies and treat them with such hospitality that they would openly change their motives with shame.

I had met him and could say that he was the kind king that was spoken of, but he wasn't a fool. His kindness wasn't from his heart. It was always calculated and schemed. Although, only his closests confidents knew of this and my father being a Duke was among them.

"What do you think the 'benevolent king' said?", father leaned back, he grabbed a grape and obnoxiously chewed on it while grinning.

"He agreed".

If the king agreed then that meant this would easily be covered up.

"What do you think?"

"We must take into account our losses in the event we proceed".

"It seems you don't understand. We won't have any losses"-

"Oh but we will. We will". I leaned against the window to my back and stared down at the man, "The immigrants hold knowledge of agriculture that they still won't reveal to us. They have fruit that grows in winter and all year round for that matter. They have dishes that they eat for days- that don't spoil. We need their knowledge. At least before we dispose of them".

Father looked at me rather stunned. That was the difference between myself and my father. He was impulsive. I was thorough. If something was to be done then I would check every nook and cranny before doing something I'd regret.

He began to laugh, hands clapping lazily as he calmed, "you are the finest thing that's come from me".

I gave a forced smile.

"Yes, speaking of. Father how is your health?" I leaned forward in fake concern. At my question all humour left his face. Serious eyes met mine.

"I'm doing fine".

Of course you are.

"I see. That's good to hear".

"Back to the talk of your succession", he started, looking a tad bit more tired compared to before, "are there any changes you would like to make as of right now?"

My eyes widened at that. I hadn't expected this. To start changing things... in accordance with my will? I felt a tremor of excitement.

Was there anything I'd like to change?

Yes. Yes there was. More than anything else.

"I want to retire our current staff".

"Oh?" Father blinked at that.

"It's not unreasonable is it?" I raised a brow at him. It shouldn't be. Not for him.

"But I've trained them quite well. Is there anything lacking with them?" He seemed to be genuinely surprised and then his face darkened moments after.

"No I just prefer a change of pace" I lied, but father saw through me.

"It's those girls isn't it". He spat the words with such venom it interested me.

"Girls?"

"The sisters. Those girls your mother took in", the grape he held was gripped so tightly that the juices splattered, "I knew they were trouble. I tried to stop your mother from even taking them in"-

"You mean..." I didn't even want to say their names, but fathers reaction...

"I even threatened them that if they spoke to you and tried to brainwash you after her death I'd send them straight to a brothel. If you want I can do that now. Get rid of them straight away like the infestation they are", he seemed so ready to dispose of them. So eager to.

But I had barely processed his words.

"You.. threatened to send them to a brothel? Why?" My voice that once was harsh and filled with deliberate anger was now soft, much softer than it had been since mother had passed.

"Of course!" He walked over to me, looking at me with pitiful eyes that sprung that same anger back in me, "when I saw that bitch comforting you when it should've been me I knew full well what they had planned. They planned to seduce you for a higher status. I wasn't going to let some slave girls control you!"

I felt an unfamiliar suffocating feeling in my throat.

What was this? What the hell did this old bastard do?!

Suddenly, I felt a dread wash over me. Those burned withered hands came to mind. Those red cheeks filled with humiliation. All of it at once was unbearable.

If... If what father says is true than- than I-.

"Never mind the brothel. I'll throw them into the streets myself. That would do them worse! Although that younger girl might fetch a fair price" fathers words bought me back to reality. My mind instantly calmed and suddenly my plans for the distant future seemed to be set into motion right now.

"There's no need for that father. Actually I'll retire the staff once I properly become duke. I have some plans before I could properly dispose of garbage after all", I smirked at him.

He looked at my face with pride that made me want to laugh.

"That's my boy".