"Why?" Lloyd asked, the question directed as much to himself as to Ken. "Why now? Who benefits most directly from my removal?"
"Viscount Rubel possesses a clear motive and has demonstrated a willingness to act against the main line," Ken stated objectively. "However, the methodology of the first group does not align with his known resources or typical operational style. Too clean, too professional. Suggests a higher level of training and backing."
"Exactly," Lloyd agreed, his mind racing, connecting dots from two lifetimes. Rubel was ambitious, treacherous, yes. But he operated within the Duchy's political framework, using coercion, bribery, internal agents. This felt… different. Larger. More dangerous. "Someone external. Someone with the resources to field trained killers discreetly within our borders. Someone with a vested interest in destabilizing the Ferrum Duchy."
He looked out over the whispering hills, the fragmented memories coalescing. Old rivalries. Border disputes simmering for generations. Political marriages proposed and rejected. Whispers of espionage, of agents provocateurs. It wasn't just one possibility; it was a web of potential enemies. But one name resonated strongest, a recurring antagonist in the turbulent history between the nations.
"Ken," Lloyd said, turning back abruptly, his voice low but carrying a weight that made the seasoned bodyguard focus intently. "What if the threat isn't internal? What if it comes from across the border?"
Ken remained silent, waiting.
"What if…" Lloyd hesitated, tasting the name, the weight of the accusation. "What if it's the Altamira clan?"
The reaction was instantaneous, seismic, though Ken Park controlled it with legendary discipline. A barely perceptible widening of the eyes. A fractional tightening of the jaw. A sudden, absolute stillness that spoke louder than any gasp. The air around the bodyguard seemed to crackle with suppressed shock.
"The Altamira clan, Young Lord?" Ken repeated, his voice losing its perfect monotone for the first time since Lloyd's return, gaining a sharp edge of disbelief, of profound gravity. He wasn't just a bodyguard now; he was a Baron of the Duchy, a high-ranking military officer, hearing his young charge accuse the ruling dynasty of a powerful neighbouring kingdom of attempted assassination.
"The rulers of Eldoria?" Ken pressed, needing clarification, needing justification for such an earth-shattering claim. "On what possible grounds do you make such an accusation, my lord? This implies… state-sponsored action. An act of covert aggression that could ignite conflict between our nations."
He stared at Lloyd, the professional mask firmly back in place but unable to entirely conceal the seriousness, the sheer political weight of the words just spoken. "Do you have evidence? Intelligence? Or is this… speculation?" Ken chose his words carefully, respectful yet demanding substance. He couldn't dismiss the heir's claim, especially not this heir, the one who had demonstrated such unnerving foresight and hidden power recently. But neither could he accept such a potentially catastrophic accusation without foundation.
Lloyd met Ken's intense gaze, understanding the skepticism, the need for more than just a gut feeling fueled by fragmented memories of a life Ken knew nothing about. He couldn't reveal the source – the reincarnation, the future knowledge. He needed a plausible explanation, rooted in the present, however tenuous.
"Evidence?" Lloyd echoed, shaking his head slightly. "No, Ken. Not concrete proof, not yet." He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "But consider the history. The long-standing rivalry between Ferrum and Altamira. The contested territories near the Dragon's Tooth Peaks. The trade disputes over Azure Strait passage."
He ticked off points mentally, drawing on dusty history lessons from both lives. "Remember the 'Emerald Incident' fifteen years ago? The alleged Altamira spies caught mapping our border fortifications? Officially dismissed as rogue agents, but the whispers persisted."
He paused, letting Ken process the historical context. "Consider their recent military buildup along the western border. Ostensibly defensive, but the troop compositions suggest offensive capability. Consider the failed marriage proposal alliance between Eldoria and the Southern Marquisate last year – a move clearly aimed at encircling us."
"Standard geopolitical maneuvering, Young Lord," Ken countered quietly, though his attention remained unwavering. "Rivalries exist. Tensions fluctuate."
"True," Lloyd conceded. "But add this: My father has been pushing aggressively for increased control over the Dragon's Tooth mining concessions. Concessions the Altamiras have coveted for generations due to the rich veins of adamantine discovered there." He leaned in slightly. "What better way to disrupt those negotiations, to throw the Duchy into chaos, than by eliminating the heir? Create instability, weaken my father's position, potentially pave the way for a more… pliable successor?" He let the implication hang, glancing meaningfully towards the memory of Rubel and Rayan. The Altamiras might even see Rubel as a useful pawn, someone they could manipulate if he seized power.