48- Shadows Behind the Throne

The storm of battle had passed, but the work was far from over.

The ruined estate of House Velthorn was now under Aldric's control, and the process of reorganizing its governance had begun. Tobias, ever diligent, had already set up a makeshift administrative office within the castle's inner chambers. Rows of scribes and record keepers scoured through the scattered documents, taking stock of assets, debts, and transactions. Velthorn's personal accounts, ledgers, and hidden correspondences were gathered, with Tobias personally overseeing the effort.

But what should have been a routine consolidation of power soon became something far more troubling.

⸻

The Hidden Truth

"Lord Aldric," Tobias called, his usual composed expression tinged with unease. He stood in the war room, surrounded by a mountain of documents and ledgers. Gustov was present as well, sipping from a goblet of wine while he listened.

Aldric, seated at the head of the table, looked up. "What is it?"

Tobias adjusted his glasses and placed a parchment before him. "At first, I assumed these were ordinary financial records. Taxes, expenses, troop payments—typical noble expenditures. However, as we delved deeper, we found inconsistencies. Darius Velthorn was receiving large amounts of resources—food, weapons, medical supplies—far beyond what his fief could afford."

Gustov narrowed his eyes. "From where?"

Tobias exhaled sharply. "The Crown Prince."

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Aldric leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "Explain."

"We found multiple records of shipments originating from the capital, all coded, but the patterns are clear. These weren't mere trade deals or personal favors—this was deliberate funding. And it wasn't just money. Underneath the keep, we discovered hidden supplies: crates of weapons, armor, medical herbs—enough to outfit an entire army."

Aldric and Gustov exchanged a look.

"This wasn't just about petty banditry," Gustov murmured, setting his goblet down. "They were preparing for war."

Tobias nodded. "And not just any war. Velthorn's forces were meant to seize your lands, Lord Gustov. Specifically, your iron mines."

Aldric exhaled sharply. "Iron for weapons."

Gustov clenched his jaw. "Meaning the Crown Prince is preparing for something. But the real question is—against who?"

Aldric stood, pacing. "There are only two real possibilities: a coup against the king… or a preemptive strike against the Second Prince."

Tobias tapped the ledger. "The Second Prince has been gaining power at an alarming rate. He's built strong alliances and is securing his own military strength. If the Crown Prince is moving this aggressively, it suggests he sees his brother as a threat."

Aldric frowned. "A civil war?"

Gustov ran a hand through his beard. "It's looking more likely by the second."

The room went silent, the weight of the revelation settling over them.

⸻

Caught in the Crossfire

Gustov broke the silence first. "House Eisenhardt and House Ravensbourne are neutral families. We have always refused to get involved in royal faction disputes."

"And yet," Aldric muttered, "we are now in possession of direct evidence that the Crown Prince is preparing for war." He turned to Tobias. "How much time do we have before the capital hears about Velthorn's fall?"

Tobias adjusted his glasses. "At most, a week. Maybe less. Velthorn's bannermen who fled the battlefield will carry word, and spies will undoubtedly relay information back to the capital."

Aldric cursed under his breath. "Then we don't have much time to decide our next move."

Gustov crossed his arms. "For now, we keep this information between us. If word spreads that we uncovered the Crown Prince's plans, we become targets."

Aldric nodded. "Agreed. We need to control the narrative. Officially, Velthorn fell due to his corruption and banditry. Nothing more."

"And the supplies?" Gustov asked.

Aldric glanced at the stockpiled weapons and provisions. "You take them. Your forces have been worn down dealing with Velthorn's bandits. Use this to replenish your army."

Gustov let out a low chuckle. "Generous. What's the catch?"

Aldric smirked. "You owe me one."

Gustov laughed. "Fair enough."

Tobias cleared his throat. "There's more. Among the documents, we found schedules—dates and coded messages regarding future transactions. This means the Crown Prince was expecting more shipments."

Aldric's eyes narrowed. "Which means someone will come looking when they don't arrive."

Gustov exhaled. "That complicates things. If we remain silent, the Crown Prince may grow suspicious. If we send a false report that Velthorn is still handling things, it buys time but risks exposure."

Aldric's mind raced. "No matter what, the Crown Prince will eventually realize something is wrong. We need contingencies."

⸻

Planning for the Unknown

Aldric turned to Tobias. "How long will it take to decrypt the rest of these documents?"

Tobias glanced at the pile of coded messages. "A few weeks at least. But I'll prioritize the most recent ones first."

Aldric nodded. "Do it. We need to know what exactly we're dealing with."

Gustov leaned forward. "And what about the Crown Prince? Do we approach him?"

Aldric shook his head. "Not yet. We don't know his full intentions. If we reveal that we have this information, he could see us as either potential allies or threats. We need more clarity before making a move."

Gustov exhaled. "Then what do we do in the meantime?"

Aldric placed his hands on the table. "First, we secure Velthorn's territory. We need order restored as fast as possible. If the people here remain stable, it prevents outside forces from using unrest as an excuse to interfere."

Gustov nodded. "And the upcoming scheduled meeting in the documents?"

Aldric smirked. "We intercept it."

Tobias raised a brow. "Risky. If we botch it, we expose ourselves."

"That's why we don't go in blind," Aldric said. "We observe from the shadows first. See who shows up, what's being discussed. Then, we decide if we make our presence known."

Gustov grinned. "Now that's more like it."

Aldric folded his arms. "We prepare for the worst. If this is truly a civil war in the making, we'll have to decide where we stand. But until then…"

Gustov finished his sentence. "We play the game carefully."

Aldric nodded. "Exactly."

The room was silent again, but now it was the silence of strategy, of men caught in the tides of history, knowing that whatever came next would reshape the kingdom itself.