I told, step by step, every detail of the plan I had devised, leaving out only a few parts. For example, the fact that I already knew the location of the cursed artifact.
I explained to Erik the effects it would have on Paul and how, by using Violet's group, I would stage a series of elements that resembled heretical rites.
"Joined with the unstable behavior Paul will show, and with one last push, the purge can finally begin."
There was a long, heavy silence before Erik spoke.
"You're really someone I would never want as an enemy..."
"I'm glad you're aware of that."
Ignoring my sarcasm, he went on.
"There's something that bothers me. The story about heretics will inevitably draw the inquisitors. I don't know if you realize how... troublesome they are. Once they smell something suspicious, they destroy everything in their path just to reach their prey."
"I know very well. But there are two things you're not considering."
I raised two fingers, speaking calmly.
"First: the archipelago is too isolated from the continent. The arrival of inquisitorial troops will be slow and limited. Second: what we're showing is nothing but a play. They won't find any real ties to evil gods or forbidden cults. Once they realize there's nothing solid, they'll lose interest and go back where they came from."
Erik didn't reply right away. He stayed seated, drumming his fingers on the table, eyes lost in thought. Alfred, instead, kept staring at me with a mix of distrust and resignation.
"A risky plan," Erik finally muttered. "One false step and we could drag ourselves into this disaster too."
"Try looking at it from another perspective," I countered, leaning slightly forward. "If we get rid of the most dangerous elements, the Explorers, together with the other two factions, you can present it all as an act of justice. To the people, you'll say those three groups were attempting a heretical ritual, and that your intervention prevented the archipelago's ruin. This way, even if you take power, people won't see you as just another tyrant trying to exploit them, but as the defender who saved them."
"...That might strangely work," Alfred commented, his voice carrying a trace of disbelief.
After all, everyone knew: the first step to gaining power was to have the people's support.
"Anyway, I think you know this, but you can't reveal your identity right away."
"I know, I'm not that stupid." Erik sighed.
Of the kingdom of Agorath, only ruins and memories remained; yet, if news spread that one of the heirs had survived, no one could predict how the continent's powers would react.
"Haah... I know well that whatever I say, you'll ignore it. And the plan is already in motion. Stopping halfway would make no sense."
In the end, it seemed Erik had also understood the inevitable.
"Finally, we're speaking the same language."
He gave me a sideways glance, then turned his attention to Violet.
"I still don't know your name."
Hearing herself mentioned, Violet straightened stiffly, answering in a mechanical tone.
"Violet... Sir?"
"Violet..." Erik repeated, nodding slowly, as if he wanted to engrave that name into memory. "I won't apologize for my behavior earlier. If you stand by this guy's side, I suppose you're not a fool. Which means you know very well the risk my identity carries."
"...Yes."
"I'm glad we're on the same page now. You wanted to meet me, didn't you?"
Violet took a deep breath, finding the courage to reply.
"Yes. For two reasons. First, to confirm that you really were an heir. Second... to understand if you are someone I can accept as a ruler."
Alfred seemed offended by Violet's words, unleashing his pressure on her and shouting furiously.
"HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ROYAL BLOOD?!"
"The same blood that dragged Agorath to ruin," I retorted, scornfully. "And stop using that fucking pressure of yours. She's just a normal young girl."
Alfred shot me a furious glare, but obeyed, withdrawing his power. Yet I noticed the way the others looked at me.
"What?"
"No, it's just... do you realize you're the youngest among us all, right?" said Erik, with a half-smile.
From their point of view, that was indeed the case.
"And besides, Alfred," he went on, "we can't demand respect by crushing others. If we did, we'd be no different from those who pressed this archipelago under their rule."
His words struck Alfred, who lowered his gaze and apologized to Violet. But I couldn't miss the spark of pride flickering in his eyes.
Maybe Erik hadn't noticed, but Alfred was playing the role of the scornful servant to highlight his lord's magnanimity better.
Cunning bastard.
I could have exposed him if I wanted, but there was no reason to.
"I can easily grant your first request, Violet."
Erik held out the back of his hand before us, and a symbol began to form, the crest of the Gridley family.
Violet didn't know how to react, and when she tried to kneel, I grabbed her by the collar, stopping her.
"There's no need, it's just a symbol," I told her.
"Your words could be considered blasphemous, you know?" Erik retorted, serious.
"Blasphemous?" I smiled bitterly. "A symbol given to one of your ancestors by the gods, then passed down from generation to generation, until it reached you... without you doing anything to truly deserve it. Tell me: how much worth does such a blind inheritance have, by itself?"
In Arcadia, true nobles weren't defined by wealth (at least not entirely), but by that mark. A divine recognition, granted to an individual who had stood out enough to attract the gods' attention. That symbol marked the birth of a house, along with a surname.
The problem came later. The following generations kept bearing that mark, even if they had never done anything worthy. Born into wealth, raised with the belief in their own superiority, they often turned arrogant and scornful.
Some of them can really test your patience.
Some extremists even claimed that commoners should live as their slaves, without the right to enter a pantheon or temple to receive a blessing.
Which, from my point of view, makes no sense, since the people who first received surnames from the gods were commoners themselves.
"Let's put theology aside and return to Violet's requests," Erik said, focusing back on her. "What do you mean by: accept as ruler?"
"I mean, what do you want to do with this place, with all of us, and where will it lead us in the future?"
Erik didn't answer right away. He stayed silent for a long time with his eyes closed, as if he was revisiting his entire life. In that moment, he was neither an unknown prince nor the successor of the Merchants' faction. He was simply a man forced to face himself.
"Once," he said slowly, "I wanted to be a king unlike any other. I wanted to bring Agorath back to its ancient glory, rebuild a kingdom that was feared and respected, and carve my name into history as the one who revived what was lost."
His tone lowered.
"I truly believed it, but over time I realized that was the obsession my father fed into my head."
He raised his head with a resigned expression.
"Even so, I still thought I could make it, but then I understood how hard that dream really was. I've seen what's left of this archipelago... and I'm not sure a kingdom can really be reformed today. A surname or a crest is not enough; what's needed is real strength, something none of us has."
He fell silent for a moment, breathing deeply. In his eyes, there was no longer an ambitious boy, but someone who wanted to make a difference.
"So my dreams have changed. I don't want a shining crown anymore, nor an ivory palace. I want something simpler: that my people no longer live in fear of being captured and sold. That they don't see this place as a prison anymore, but finally as a home. A home they can love, and be willing to defend."
His last words came out softer, but no less sharp.
"And if, through all this... came a day when just one person could look at me and thank me... for me, that would be enough."
A heavy silence fell in the room. Even Alfred seemed to hold back his emotions. Violet stared at him as if struck to the core.
Even I couldn't say anything. It was the first time I had ever heard something so sincere come out of Erik's mouth.
"Does this answer satisfy you?"
"Much more than I expected," Violet said honestly, bowing slightly, not out of fear, but to the person before her.
"I'm glad. Now, Violet, as you've understood, you're part of our group. I don't think I need to tell you, but you possess much delicate information, and if something happens, the consequences would be something you couldn't bear."
"I won't betray this trust," Violet said quickly.
"It's not me you should worry about, but him," Erik said, pointing at me. "He swore an oath on someone dear to him, and if you were to break it, I don't know what he'd do to you."
Violet looked at me, trembling, almost on the verge of tears.
"Don't listen to them, they're exaggerating."
"Hah!" (x2)
I heard their laughter, but pretended not to notice.
With everything we had to discuss now discussed, we prepared to leave when Erik suddenly called out to me.
"Adel... if we had really fought, who would have won?"
His question made me laugh, because the answer was more than obvious.
"Me, of course."
And with that, I closed the door behind me.