Chapter 154

　　Argyle felt better after his talk with Kalen Caledon. It was as if a burden had been removed from his shoulders. He didn`t quite know when he had become so introspective and pensive. Maybe it was his age finally catching up to him and changing his behaviour as it did his body.

　　Whatever the reason was that drove him to confess, he felt lighter for it.

　　He walked slowly toward his quarters. The few servants he met in the hallways all bowed low. Their workload had increased since he had forbidden many people from accompanying him. Only the most loyal and trusted of his retainers were allowed on the surface at such a critical time.

　　The thought of trust and loyalty made him frown before he quickly wiped it away. Perhaps he was more akin to his father than he had realized. It was not a pleasant notion.

　　Entering his room, the scent of perfume immediately assaulted his nose, the unmistakable hallmark of the beauty women before him.

　　"I thought I made it known that I wish to rest tonight." Argyle stated, not making any effort to remove Bianca, Duchess of Tish, from the room. She was wearing a neglig閑, nearly see-through in the light from the window behind her.

　　Once, that image would have stirred a longing within him.

　　"I thought you may want some company. I`ve been lonely without you." Bianca pouted, her beautiful face and full lips making a seductive vision to the prince. Argyle let out a sigh as he moved to sit on a lounger.

　　He didn`t worry about being overheard or judged by his servants. Bianca had likely sent them all away before she entered the room.

　　"Where is he expecting you to bring me?" Argyle asked without embellishment.

　　He was tired of the games, the intrigue and backstabbing. It was why he enjoyed his time with the Imperial Guard instead of the Bureaucracy. Things were much more straightforward, Go here, protect that, defeat the enemy.`

　　Augustus preferred to work in the shadows.

　　Bianca froze at the statement, and Argyle could see her eyes widen in the dim starlight. Recovering quickly, she tried to brush off his question.

　　"I don`t know what you`re talking about. You must be exhausted. Come, join me in bed." Bianca cajoled him.

　　"I know you`ve been in contact with Augustus. I`ve always known you were ambitious, but I ignored it. I thought that you would back me when push came to shove." Argyle replied.

　　"My father warned me when I first got tangled up with you. That woman will be the death of you, Argyle.` Yet another one of my father`s predictions comes to reality. Where did he ask you to bring me?" Argyle repeated, and this time he said it with a forcefulness that made the Duchess forget the Prince`s age and infirmity.

　　This was the man who led the Imperial Guard during the Rebellion, who slaughtered millions in the name of the Empire and would do so again in a heartbeat.

　　Bianca lost that seductive and submissive look that she wore like a mask, her face growing colder and calculative. Running her hand through her hair, she walked over to a chair that had a robe thrown causally across the back.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

　　"His quarters. They will disrupt the camp`s sensors momentarily to allow us to cross. By the time anyone realizes you are gone, things will already be settled." Bianca responded, tightening the belt of her robe and hiding her body from his eyes.

　　"I hope you`ve been adequately compensated. I would hate to think that the life of a prince came cheaply." Argyle replied flippantly. He didn`t seem fazed at all by the revelations of her betrayal or that he was going to be handed over to Augustus.

　　In the distance, he could hear the sound of approaching footsteps. Bianca had hidden soldiers amongst her servants for this very moment.

　　"Augustus promised the same to Tish as to the other Houses supporting him. More territory, less taxes and greater autonomy. And I didn`t even have to sleep with him." Bianca spat out with disgust.

　　She had found Argyle attractive once when he was younger. But the old man before her, filled with guilt and self-doubt, was repulsive.

　　Argyle shook his head at the admission.

　　"The butcher`s bill keeps growing larger. There`s only so much to go around. Robbing Peter to pay Paul isn`t a way to build lasting peace." Argyle commented, and Bianca snorted at the archaic saying. By now, three Tish servants carrying laspistols entered the room.

　　Pointing them at the Prince, they waited patiently for their Duchess`s orders.

　　"And what have you offered? To fight for you and retain what we already have or risk losing it all? Better to gain something from this tragedy than nothing at all." Bianca said. Gesturing with her hand, one of the larger soldiers stepped forward to lift the Prince when Argyle waved him away.

　　Standing on his own, he acted as if it were an honour guard. His words were whispered, and even Bianca didn`t hear them.

　　"None of us are going to gain. All we can hope for is to survive."

　　Page Break

　　"How good of you to join us, Brother. You`re not looking well. Has your guilt affected your health?" Augustus joked from the center of the room.

　　They were in his quarters, joined by all his aligned Ducal Houses members. Gathered in a half circle, they watched as Argyle was paraded before them, a trio of guards flanking him.

　　Augustus was struck by how old Argyle looked. He seemed to have aged centuries since their confrontation in the space above Terra three years ago. The stern soldier and leader had been replaced with an elderly and decrepit figure reminiscent of the old Emperor. The changes were stark.

　　"I could say the same. There`s more grey in your hair than I remember, something on your mind?" Argyle retorted, and Augustus unconsciously ran a hand through his hair. His dark black locks were now an iron grey, and the prince had dark bags under his eyes. It seemed the war hadn`t been easy on either of them.

　　"Not anymore, now that things will finally finish between us. Duchess Tish, I must commend you on your actions. You`ve fulfilled your end of our bargain marvellously." Augustus looked at the robed woman behind Argyle, who frowned at the compliment.

　　"Truthfully, Argyle came willingly." Bianca replied, and Augustus quirked an eyebrow at the statement.

　　"Indeed? Looking for absolution, Brother? Well, I can grant you that as soon as you admit to your crimes." Augustus gloated, assuming that Argyle had finally broken under the strain of leadership and the guilt of his actions against Terra.

　　"No. I`ve done things I regret, Augustus, as I`ve no doubt you have as well. But I was not responsible for the attack on Terra or the death of our parents. And I believe that neither were you." Argyle revealed, his tone heavy with weariness.

　　The admission was shocking for those present. They remembered the fiery Argyle from only a few years before, shouting condemnations against Augustus while promising he would seek justice against him. What had changed his mind?

　　"What finally convinced you to see reason? Was it the preponderance of evidence I provided you?" Augustus asked with doubt in his voice. Around him, the gathered nobles stirred at the pronouncement. Perhaps the Succession War would genuinely end this day.

　　"It was the dreams the Titan Pilots have been having. They all have a similar theme of a threat to humanity. I`m sure you are all aware of them. I came to the conclusion that this is the sort of plot Father would hatch in order to prepare us for it." Argyle took a breath, steeling himself for what came next.

　　"I refuse to be a pawn in his games any longer. Even from beyond the grave, his strings are tied tight around us, puppets still performing their dance despite the puppeteer`s absence. Damn him. I`m no one`s pawn. I renounce my claim to the throne." Argyle muttered, shocking the room to silence.

　　Across the galaxy, at a distant point where even the Starships of humanity couldn`t reach, an old man smiled at the pronouncement. Turning toward his companions, his voice was filled with pride and satisfaction at the words spoken from a room on Terra.

　　"You see? I told you so."