Two birds

"Well, it's not like I didn't expect an ulterior motive. So, what is it? What is it that you want?" I asked.

"I have a sister, my lord. She's my only family left in this world. My parents died when she was born and with them dead, we were just left vulnerable. And that was when my mas—previous master picked me up from the streets. He promised me that if I managed to do all the work that he assigns me, he'd take care of my sister. And at that point, I had no choice but to agree to that. However, when I learned that he actually made her do menial work… Well, I didn't like it, but I couldn't say anything on that matter. But then I came to know that the maids over there harassed her and I just can't keep her in an unsafe environment like that." Reeve spoke.

"And that's why you took this risk? So that you could save your sister from there?" I asked.

"Yes, my lord!" He nodded his head.

"But what makes you think that I'm going to be any better than your previous lord? I mean, you see me killing all those people. What makes you think that your sister won't suffer the same fate here as well?" I asked.

"My lord, I've been in this place for almost a year now. And I'm someone who has literally been on your tail more than anyone else has been. And for that very reason, I know… I know that you won't hurt us as long as we don't get to your wrong side. And even if I manage to get to your wrong side, I'm sure that my sister won't be suffering from the consequences." He spoke.

I don't get this kid's confidence to be quite honest. How can he trust me like that? "Reeve, you are really fascinating. Why? Why do you think that I won't kill your sister if you betray me?" I asked. It was question after question for me at this point.

"I've seen it with my own eyes, my lord. Although you didn't show it on the outside, I saw how you asked Sir Jerome to reimburse the families of the dead people. I mean, you could've killed them all, but you didn't and chose to punish the people who did wrong. So, I believe that you won't kill my sister like my previous master might, my lord." He explained his point of view.

"Huh, you're quite a good spy, aren't you?" I couldn't help but chuckle at that point. I mean, he notices even the smallest things. He surely is an asset to keep by my side, even if it's not as a spy. I mean, at this point, I can't send him out as a spy to his previous master… But that doesn't mean that I can't send him to the other bastards. So, I don't know. Whatever it is, the kid's got a great future.

"You have to notice the smallest things if you're looking to survive, my lord." He replied.

"I mean, I can see that." I nodded my head at that point. "So, about your sister. I guess you want me to kill your previous master and bring her over here, right?" I asked.

"Yes, my lord." He nodded his head.

"So, tell me. What's the name?" I asked.

"It's Duke Myghell." Reeve replied.

"Myghell, huh." I decided to act as if I'm thinking something cuz I had no idea who this Myghell guy is and I wanted Jerome to help me out here.

"Umm, Reeve, why don't you step outside for a minute. Grand Duke is trying to conjure up a plan on how to deal with this." Jerome spoke up once he saw the helpless look on my face.

And once Reeve was out, I gave out a huge sigh. "Thanks for the save." I turned towards Jerome with a smile on my face.

"No worries. You're probably wondering who Duke Myghell is, right?" He asked.

"Oh, you know me so well." I spoke.

"Okay, here's the thing. Barring the crown prince, he's the main guy gunning for your head." He replied.

"Really, now? Are they the same faction then?" I asked.

"Well, yes and no." He spoke.

"Huh, that's the most vague answer that you could've given." I couldn't help but shrug at that point.

"I mean, he acts as if he's in a separate faction from the crown prince, but the fact that his daughter is engaged to the crown prince says otherwise." Jerome replied.

"Oh, I guess they are not a faction, but allies or something." I placed my thoughts down at that.

"Yea." Jerome nodded his head.

"So, why is he out for my head?" I asked.

"Well, it's simple isn't it? You're the last of your family, so once you're dead, the post of Grand Duke would be vacant and that means that the most influential Duke would probably get it, which is Myghell." Jerome replied.

"Bruv, what is wrong with these people? One is worried that I would take his post and one is looking to get my post. Like, what's up with this?" I was quite frustrated at that point.

"Well, this is the bane of being the royalty, I guess." He replied.

"True." I sighed.

"So, what I'm trying to say is that you just might not be able to grant Reeve's wish. He's literally unkillable. Like, if it was some random Baron, we could've. But the most influential Duke… It's gonna create havoc." He spoke.

"I guess it will… But think about it for once. If we managed to do it, don't you think we'd be killing two birds with one stone. I mean, we could not just crumble one faction, but we could screw two whole factions with that, considering Myghell's ties with the crown prince." I fancied my chances at that point.

"Well, it is not something that we can end up doing with just a day or week of planning. We need a systematic plan to do something like that." Jerome was quick on shutting down my dreams with that.

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