"So. Our plan." Prince Charles lounged lazily in the velvet chair across from Aucteros. The fire crackled softly behind him.
Aucteros grinned, flipping through a thick black tome with gold-etched lettering. "As you already know, I've read more about this world than its Gods ever wrote. Every possibility, every route, every ending."
"After peering into your mind," Charles said, swirling his wine, "I must admit, the throne feels a bit… beneath me now."
Fool. I only showed you what you wanted.
"True power does tend to spoil the palate." Aucteros said. "Let's review the pieces on the board, shall we?"
He flipped a page. "Ah. Prince Charles. Blessing of the Mind. A subtle one, dangerously so. I still don't know why you haven't seized the crown."
"Blessings don't work on royal blood. Ours are… protected by divine law."
"How convenient," Aucteros mused. "Explains your dynasty's longevity."
He turned to another page. "Veronica Venenatus. Blessing of Elixir, although she fancies it as poison. Dangerous girl. In the original book, she's your villainous ally for a time and loves your half brother, Theodore. A shame, but a marriage between you two would reveal the Worldheart."
"The late Duke Venenatus's daughter has a blessing? Hmp. An elixir blessing too? Well, she can't harm royalty, but everyone else…" Charles grinned. "Yes. That could be quite the wedding."
"Precisely. She would make it easier," Aucteros said, eyes gleaming. "Next, your brother. Blessing of Judgment, like your father. However, unawakened. Hmm, of course he gets something like that."
Charles sneered. "It's why people adore him. He acts as if he's normal. Naïve little idiot thinks he has no blessing."
"Yes, it awakens when the Gods will it. Interesting you know that secret."
"Of course I know. I did study it," Charles said, looking down. "Still, we need to be rid of them both."
"That's why we'll kill them. One publicly, and the other secretly."
Aucteros kept flipping. "Princess Felicia Bellus. No blessings. Princess of your rival kingdom. Potential wife."
Then Aucteros stopped cold.
That's not possible.
"What is it?" Charles asked.
"No…" Aucteros faltered. "Willow. The Demon Queen. And Rhenvar. They're all here."
"Who?"
"Read my memories. Now."
Charles raised a brow. Aucteros calmed his mind, and Charles read his thoughts. Then he blinked. "Oh. Oh..."
"Yes." Aucteros' voice dropped. "Willow… I knew he was alive. But the other two? How did they survive? Who sent them to come after me."
"Are they really threats?"
"Willow alone is a force of nature. But together with Rhenvar?" Aucteros leaned on his hand. "They're synchronized. Perfect in battle."
"I'm getting the sense that isn't the reason you reek of fear."
Aucteros sighed. "The real issue is Rhenvar restrains himself but if he snaps… Charles, without containment, there's no escaping that monster."
"And where are they now?"
"Heading to a ballroom." Aucteros stared in disbelief. "Those idiots followed me… to a goddamn dance."
Charles laughed. "How poetic. I have plans for that ball, about fifty to a hundred demonic beasts' worth of plans."
This is an opportunity. I could do what the church failed to do.
"Charles, listen closely. If Rhenvar is not wearing his black armor, use your mind blessing to crack his seal. He's fragile, shattered mentally, barely held together by a fairy he hides. If we can do this, his soul will be fully consumed."
That will be one less piece on the board. Nothing can bring him back from that madness.
"If he's armored?"
"Then you don't break him. The armor is like a skin. It's what completes his transformation. So you leave him. Otherwise, he'll transform and eat your soul, then burn this world to the ground."
And nothing would be saved. Just an empty soulless world.
"What's so great about this armor?" Charles looked at him.
"It was created using dead souls but that's not important."
Charles nodded slowly. "He sounds like a villain, could we not recruit him?"
"No." Aucteros' tone sharpened. "I killed his fiancée. With a hammer. And getting his ring is impossible, he must willingly give it away."
Charles let out a low whistle. "Well. That rules him out."
Aucteros stood and walked to the window. "We go through with both plans, yours and mine. If Rhenvar has no armor, you control him. If not, use Willow."
"And the princess and duchess?"
"Spare them. You'll need a bride, let that linger in one of the idiot's skulls."
"Understood."
"Remember, you must wait until your brother arrives with the King."
"Of course."
Aucteros leaned back. "If all goes well, we can get the Worldheart in a fortnight."
Charles raised his wine glass. "To the end of the world?"
Aucteros turned, his smile wicked. "Yes… to the end of the world!"
He's useful for sure. Cunning. Always trying to wiggle into my head. My divine book of fate protects me. I need his help, like it or not.