The Prince's Gambit

Chapter 2: The Prince's Gambit.

James Harrington had been born to a mother from Mississippi and an English father. His dad was a soldier who was deployed to the States for an assignment, and left afterwards before his mother knew she was pregnant.

He was raised alone by his mother and had a tough life, which is why he was interested when the recruiters came to his high school.

He had fought numerous battles, taken dozens of lives and fought honorably for his country. And yet here he was.

"Your majesty, please say Ahhh." Ruby said as she held a spoon of stew towards his mouth.

He hadn't focused on NPCs when creating the game, so it seemed as though the system generated them by itself.

Ruby was the maid personally assigned to Julian, and she seemed to be the happiest when he woke up from his coma from the poison.

His face contorted in disgust as he felt insulted, but he quickly made it neutral again, remembering the importance of not seeming off.

He was in the body of a seventeen-year-old after all, so he found a little solace in the fact that he wasn't a full-grown man being treated like this.

Reluctantly he opened his mouth "Ahh." As the spoon gently entered his mouth to the delight of Ruby, who had been begging him to eat since he woke up.

"Ruby, it's been a couple of days since I woke up. I think I should be able to eat by myself now." James stated.

"I'm sorry Your Majesty, but the royal physician said that you should rest yourself as much as possible, and not stress yourself at all." She said adamantly but respectfully.

She was a girl, about nineteen with red hair, a lovely oval-shaped face and gorgeous brown doe eyes. Without mixing words, she was gorgeous.

But the situation wasn't one where he had the luxury of admiring women. He needed to get a grasp of the situation.

Ruby was a maid, the uniform said as much.

He had been awake for a couple of days now, and after washing his face, pinching himself and just about anything to wake up from a dream, he realized he was actually in the game he created.

Whenever he looked in the mirror, he didn't see himself. He saw Julian Von Drazoven, the crown prince of Drazenovia. The character he had spent countless hours creating, was tall, but skinny with short black hair and piercing black eyes.

The only thing that gave him a bit of joy about the whole situation was the fact that his right leg was fine again. He could stand comfortably without his walking stick, but that was about it. Everything else was bizarre.

"Ruby, I think I'm fine eating for now." He said as Ruby raised another spoon to his mouth for the umpteenth time.

"Alright, Your Majesty." She said, looking a bit sad.

"Your clothes have been laid out and the empress, as well as the duke, are waiting to hear from you in the throne room." She said with a curt bow.

"Thank you." James said, not wanting to be mean to the person who had been nursing him this entire time, which immediately made her face light up.

"You're welcome, your majesty. Please let me know if you need anything at all!" She said, the joy in her voice very audible as she closed the door behind her.

"Quest."

A gentle hum rang in his head as the blue screen, the size of a small TV appeared in front of him.

Earlier, he had asked Ruby if she could see it, but as expected, she couldn't.

[New Quest: Survive the Assassination Attempt by Identifying the Culprit.]

The screen displayed boldly about two feet from his face. He had started the game and had to figure out the culprit who was responsible for poisoning him, to proceed with the rest of the game.

He shook his head, and the window disappeared. He was still finding it hard to believe the situation, but he would be in more danger if he sat idle and did nothing.

The duke, Duke Aldric, the younger brother of the late king, had always been a thorn in the side of the royal family. Ambitious, cunning, and with just enough popular support to be dangerous.

In his game, Aldric was created to be one of the central antagonists—constantly maneuvering for power, always two steps ahead. James had never decided whether to make him a boss quest or get rid of him in the earlier parts of the game.

The throne was empty for now, the empress was only a figurehead without much authority, and there was a council that ruled Drazenovia since Julian was not yet of age and his other siblings weren't direct descendants.

He would have to be wary of the duke in order not to complicate his situation any further. He got up heading to the bath where he washed himself and began putting on his clothes.

He heard a gentle knock on the door, followed by the voice of a man from outside.

"Your majesty, may I come in?" The voice asked.

James had a rough idea of who it might be.

"Yes, you can come in." He answered back. The door opened to reveal a man who looked to be in his early twenties.

He was lean, with sharp features and dark hair pulled back into a simple tie, dressed in fine yet practical clothing. His posture was straight and disciplined, but his piercing green eyes carried a hint of curiosity and concern.

Edwin Falkner—his aide and bodyguard, one of the few characters in the game who wasn't a potential threat. Loyal, cunning, and fiercely protective.

In the game, Edwin had been a vital ally, offering both strategic advice and a sharp sword when needed. If there was anyone James could trust, it was probably him.

He was modelled after a certain Someone from an Estate Development story. (if you know you know)

"Your majesty, I'm happy to see that you've recovered from your ailment." He said as he bowed deeply.

"You look just as cool as I designed you to be." James said unaware.

"Designed me? I'm sorry your majesty but I don't understand." Edwin said, obviously a bit confused.

"Oh, don't worry about that haha. My head is still a bit fuzzy, so I might say some strange things from time to time." He quickly explained.

"Alright your majesty, I will pray for your speedy recovery." He said as he bowed again.

"Shall we go and see the queen?" Edwin asked.

"Yes, we may." James said as he adjusted his clothes.

***

A short walk later they were standing in front of the main castle building, which contained the throne room.

It was a magnificent building, standing at about about 8 stories using modern standards. The outer castle was built with bricks which seemed to be getting worn out.

Drazenovia was losing a lot of influence and quite frankly was entering into debt, so there was a lot that needed to be addressed.

The grand doors opened and the herald took a deep breath as he introduced the crown prince.

"INTRODUCING THE LIGHT OF THE KINGDOM, THE PHONIX OF DRAZENOVIA WHO RISES UNBURNT FROM THE EMBERS OF PERIL!"

The herald's voice was so loud it made James's eardrums feel as though they would burst.

"THE UNYIELDING STAR, WHOSE RADIANCE PIERCES EVEN THE BLACKEST NIGHT."

"THE CROWN PRINCE OF DRAZENOVIA, JULIAN VON DRAZOVEN."

Well he hadn't done anything to receive such praises but he wasn't complaining.

The hall erupted in monstrous cheers that sent vibrations through the entire building.

Julian walked calmly to the front of the queen, his mother. Empress Katarina Valeria Drazoven.

As he knelt at her feet, she gave him her hand which he kissed gently. He could feel the elegance exuding off her as the hall went silent.

"The Gods have deemed it right that you return to us. Welcome back, my son." She said, trying to contain her happiness but James caught it in the tone of her voice.

"Thank you, your majesty. It is an honor to be able to stand here." He said boldly.

CLAP CLAP CLAP.

The sound of hands coming together cut through the moment between mother and son.

"Truly it is a miracle that the prince survived such an unexpected threat to his life. As expected of the star of Drazenovia and my late brother's son." A voice said with a hint of malice so small that most people would have missed it.

Duke Aldric Ravenshade was a tall man with slicked-back black hair, streaked with silver at the temples. His chiselled face bore a faint scar along his cheekbone, a remnant of battles long past. Steel-grey eyes, cold and calculating, missed nothing, and his sharp features gave him a perpetual air of quiet menace.

"Truly we are grateful that the future of our empire is alive and well." He said as he clasped his hands together and bowed his head dramatically.

He was taunting James openly, and a glance at the empress, seeing her faint displeasure spurred him to his feet.

James, still adjusting to the body of Prince Julian, straightened himself as the Duke's words hung in the air.

He could feel the weight of Aldric's eyes on him, the subtle mockery in his tone, but he knew this was his moment to let people know what he was about.

The prince he had created was a pushover, who didn't stand for anything but fell for everything. This would change over time, but his patience was already thin.

He lifted himself with the confidence and posture of someone who had fought dozens of wars. The confidence that Julian never had, but that a prince ought to have.

The room fell into a tense silence, all eyes on the Duke and the young crown prince. James knew Aldric's character, he literally created him. The Duke was the kind of man who wielded words like weapons, each phrase designed to provoke, to plant doubt, or to destabilize.

James took a deep breath, feeling the rhythm of the situation. With a slight smile, he addressed Aldric, his voice calm but sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Your Grace." James began, his tone dripping with a polite formality that had the room hanging on his every word, "It is always a pleasure to hear the wisdom of those who have seen so much, especially one whose life has been so...eventful." He allowed a small pause, just enough for the room to pick up on the subtle jab.

The Duke's lips twitched, but he did not break his composure. James knew he had struck a nerve—Aldric's past, his scars, the battles that had shaped him, all things he was desperately protective of, yet never spoke of openly.

"Yes, the empire has faced many threats." James continued, stepping closer to the Duke with a measured grace, his eyes never leaving Aldric's cold gaze. "But some threats, Your Grace, are not always as immediate as they appear. Sometimes, they are merely a matter of perspective."

There was a flicker in Aldric's expression, barely noticeable, but enough for James to see. The Duke was used to being the one in control, the one who delivered the blows, but now it was James who was on the offensive, ever so subtly flipping the power dynamic.

"As you so wisely pointed out, my survival is indeed a miracle." James said, his voice now laced with a touch of irony.

"Though, I would not be doing my late father any favors if a little aliment was enough to end the life of the star of Drazenovia. It is only fitting that the light of the kingdom remains unbroken, even when shadows linger."

James' words dripped with subtle implication, a challenge wrapped in flattery. He leaned slightly toward Aldric, his posture just a touch more commanding.

"You must forgive me, Your Grace. It's just that sometimes, the light can be blinding. Even the brightest stars can cast long shadows... shadows that only reveal themselves when one is careful enough to look."

The room was silent for a moment as the full weight of James' words settled in. Aldric's expression stiffened, his hands still clasped before him, though there was an unmistakable tightening in his jaw.

The Duke had been taunting him, but James had turned the tables. The insult was now Aldric's, not his own, and he had done it with such grace and subtlety that even the most observant could not call it out.

Aldric's eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted into a thin smile, but the mockery was gone, replaced by something far more dangerous. He bowed his head slightly, his voice low but still dripping with venom.

"Indeed, Your Highness, one must always be cautious of the shadows cast by great light. I am certain you will rise to meet any challenges that await you… just as your father did."

James returned the smile with a slight bow of his own, his posture regal, yet the air between them crackled with the knowledge that this confrontation was far from over. At that moment, James had secured a small victory. The Duke may have been trying to unseat him, but for now, the game had shifted in his favour.

James turned his face to the queen, who had a look of shock on her face before she quickly replaced it with a curt smile.

Perhaps he had overdone it, Edwin at the corner of the room also had a puzzled expression at how assertive he

must have been.

"Well then, shall we-"James's voice was cut off by the barging in of a soldier in armor, not of the Drazenovian soldiers.

"We request an audience with the crown prince!" The man said arrogantly.

"What is the meaning of this?! How dare you waltz Into our castle in such a brazen manner?!" The duke said, finding his voice again.

"The lady of Veridion wishes to pass a message to the prince" The guard said again, sending shocks through the building.

James looked at the situation that was unfolding and with a sly smile welcomed it with open arms, a treat had just dropped itself in his lap.