Hello guys, first I want your opinion on the novel, is it on the right track or not, and I hope that you give me any suggestion that will help me in developing it. I have not decided when I will publish the three basic weekly chapters, but I will decide soon. I will also make Patreon precede by a number of chapters. At first, I thought that I would make it precede by double, but this is not possible, so I decided that it will precede by two or three weeks. There is also that I will publish two chapters, one of them if the novel gets 100 power stones within a week and another if someone subscribes on Patreon.
Let me know if you find any mistakes so I can correct them, my friend.
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As the sun set, the veil of night stretched over the castle, wrapping it in silence and tranquility. The corridors were dimly lit by oil lamps, casting flickering shadows that danced along the stone walls. Outside, the wind blew gently, but within the castle, behind closed doors, events were unfolding.
Sitting in my chamber, I gazed at the vast amount of work and knowledge required to restore this family to its rightful place. But before anything else, there was a step I needed to take. Edward could not be allowed to live. He was not just a threat—he was an obstacle that would continue to hinder me. Even if he verbally acknowledged me as the head of the family, he would always be a challenge. That is, if he didn't betray me outright. And I would not leave room for betrayal. If I was to kill him, it had to be a strike from which he could not escape.
I stood up and walked to the window, watching the castle from above. The guards patrolled the courtyard in orderly shifts. Siegfried, the captain of the guard, was loyal to me, but he would neither assist me nor allow me to kill Edward. That meant no one could know. His death had to appear natural—something that wouldn't raise suspicion. Especially here, in Braavos, where kinslaying was viewed with disgust and would lead to my exile.
I needed to summon Fernando. I called for a trusted maid and instructed her to bring him.
Twenty minutes later, Fernando entered my chamber.
"Edward must die tonight."
Fernando's eyes widened, as if he hadn't expected this. But his face quickly returned to its usual calm.
"If you do this and get caught, there will be no turning back," he warned. "Edward has supporters. His death will cause an uproar and damage your reputation. You will lose many of your allies simply for being accused of kin-slaying. And if you fail, the consequences will be even worse."
I nodded. "I know all this. But the risk of failure is minimal if we do it correctly. Especially since Edward won't expect it after what happened in the meeting. He thinks I will do everything I can to prove myself to him."
Fernando exhaled. "Fine. How should he die?"
"We don't have many options. Poison is the most reliable and the least suspicious."
Fernando rubbed his chin. "And how do we poison him?"
"I need to know everything about his servants—the ones who can get close enough to do it."
"That's simple. The ones capable of doing this are the cook, the one who serves his food, and his wine steward."
"We'll rule out the cook—he prepares meals for all the prominent family members. I need details on the servant who serves his food and the wine steward."
"Understood. But there's still the issue of the poison."
"It needs to cause death naturally, without raising suspicion. I have a contact in the black market—Lucian. I'll give you his information. Make sure it's something that works slowly, something that makes death seem natural."
Fernando hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine, Marco. I'll do as you ask. Let's just hope this works."
Three hours later, Fernando returned.
"This poison works slowly. Once he drinks it, he'll feel slight chest pain at first. But it will worsen until his heart stops within two to three hours."
I smirked. "Perfect. And what about the servants?"
"That was easy. His wine steward—he's vulnerable."
"Oh? Why?"
"He's drowning in debt. A gambling addict. He has a wife, a son, and a daughter to support."
A slow smile spread across my face. I turned to Fernando. "It seems his time in this world is up."
Ten minutes later, the wine steward entered my chamber, visibly nervous.
"Lord Marco, how can I assist you?"
I looked at him and rose from my chair. "Oliver, correct?"
"Yes, my lord. My name is Oliver."
"Oliver, I have a task of utmost importance for you."
His eyes filled with confusion. "I-I'm sorry, my lord. I don't understand. What task?"
I retrieved a small vial and held it up. "All you need to do is add a tiny amount of this powder to my uncle's drink."
Oliver's face drained of color. "M-my lord, I can't—"
I smiled at him and held up a hand. "Oliver, don't interrupt your lord when he's speaking. I'll overlook this once because I can see you're a capable man who takes his duties seriously. And if you complete this task successfully, I'll pay off all your debts. In addition, I'll reward you with a sum so large you and your family can live comfortably for years to come."
I let my voice drop slightly. "However, if you refuse, I will ensure you and your family suffer the consequences. But I trust you won't refuse—you seem like a reasonable man. I'd hate for anything unfortunate to happen."
Oliver swallowed hard, his face pale. "S-sir... do I have a choice?"
"No, Oliver. That would be failure, and I can't allow failure." I shook my head with mock disappointment. "It would sadden me if you rejected this opportunity. But I understand—you only spoke out of shock. That's normal. I mean, who would choose death for himself and his family over a life of wealth and security?"
I smiled at him gently. "So, Oliver, do you agree?"
He trembled but nodded. "Y-yes, my lord."
"Excellent. Do you understand what you must do?"
"Yes. I will add a small amount of this powder to Lord Edward's drink."
"Good. Stay calm. Don't act suspicious. If you must, make an excuse—say your wife is ill or one of your children needs you. But don't behave like a fool."
"I understand, my lord."
"Then go, my champion. And when you've finished, return to me for your reward."
Oliver hesitated for a moment before slowly exiting the room.
Fernando crossed his arms and gave me an amused look. "Marco, I didn't expect you to have a side like this. You've surprised me."
I smirked. "Then you should get used to surprises."
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