Page 34 of A Monarch's Fall

“You said the southern Houses secession is your least favourite route. What’s your favourite?” I asked, leaning forward.

“I’d like the title Lord Paramount of the South,” he looked at me slyly as he played with the glass absentmindedly in his hands, “That would mean I have power over the lesser Lords of the southern Houses. I want everything to stay relatively the same.”

“You said, before, when I was listening, that you don’t hide your ambitions, but I think you do. Lord Paramount of the South doesn’t sound like something The New Foundation would agree to.” I told him. He was slimy in a scary sort of way, the type to say one thing convincingly and mean another entirely.

He laughed loudly.

“You caught me. Yes, The New Foundation wouldn’t like that at all. They want to reform the House system. They understand the need for political structure, for law and order, and each House has too much uniqueness in terms of culture and history to willingly become one amalgamated mass. No, just look at what chaos your mistress caused by destroying the personhood of one small northern House.

The New Foundation can’t entirely destroy the foundations of our society, but they can tweak and change them to their liking. Maybe you’re wondering just how aligning myself with The New Foundation benefits me. Hmm?” he asked, but didn’t wait for an answer, a smug grin on his face as I sat forward, unable to hide my interest.

“I want to survive. The Kingdom is too unsteady, King Nyx,” he paused to laugh, “has grown too weak. A shell of the man he once was. Power is up for the taking, and there will be those who try to take it. I’m not naïve, I am not Icarus. I do not want absolute power; such a thing does not exist. But I can and will ensure the survival of my House, my name, my line, my people.”

“You think your cause is noble,” I stated.

“Is survival not noble?” he questioned.

“If it comes at the cost of everyone around you, I don’t think so,” I replied.

He hummed.

“I still don’t understand how aligning yourself and helping The New Foundation helps you,” I told him, feeling like I was missing something.

“I’m hedging my position. Someone will win. Regardless, so will I,” he explained.

I understood then. I was a pawn to him.

“The New Foundation have promised you, House Halvorsen,” I said, and he nodded, “And if they fail, if King Nyx defeats them, I’m what you will use to bargain with, you’ll switch sides.”

“Something like that. My side will be decided upon who wins.”

“Creon was left with nothing,” I warned him.

“Creon had a weak and useless son and wife,” he replied. “There are no Gods to anger.”

I wasn’t sure if angering Selene wasn’t as dangerous as angering the Gods.

“Do you know the history of King Nyx?” he asked, and it felt like he was changing the subject as he laughed again.

“Why do you keep laughing when you speak of the king?” I asked.

“Do you know how he gained his name?” Arvid asked instead of answering.

“From his parents?” I answered.

“Oh, you really were raised outside the loop, weren’t you?” he mocked me.

I didn’t respond. Being mocked for my background by nobles and others had become almost common. It was a sign of their own ignorance - not mine.

“King Nyx was nameless for the first seventeen years of his life,” he told me.

“Nameless?” I asked. “What did people call him?”

Arvid hummed and picked up the glass of wine he had poured for me and took a drink.

“I suspect His Royal Highness Prince of Borealis. It was before my time. The important question is how he gained the name Nyx, why name the future King after a Goddess?”

“Why not give him a name at birth?” I countered. That seemed like a far greater question to me.