Duke Reinhardt did not become one of the most powerful nobles in the empire by ignoring threats, and Lucian Veilwood was fast becoming one.

  Back in Duskwatch, Lucian was having a good morning for once.

  No one had burst into his office yet.

  No one had shouted “My lord! We have a problem!”

  And most importantly—he was drinking tea in peace.

  Naturally, this meant disaster was on its way.

  BANG.

  The doors slammed open, nearly making Lucian spill his tea.

  "My lord!" Dorian gasped, out of breath. "We have a problem!"

  Lucian exhaled slowly. "Of course we do."

  Dorian threw a letter onto the desk. "An envoy from Duke Reinhardt has arrived!"

  Lucian blinked. "…Who?"

  Dorian looked ready to faint. "A very powerful noble. The kind that doesn’t ‘visit’—he sends envoys before he crushes you politically!"

  Lucian rubbed his temples. "Great. What do they want?"

  Dorian adjusted his glasses. "A ‘mutual prosperity agreement.’"

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  Lucian frowned. "Hmmm, sounds like trouble." He was thinking of the additional paperwork it entailed.

  Dorian nodded aggressively. "Because it is! If you sign, you’re basically handing over control of ......"

  Lucian interupted. "Tell them we’re busy."

  Dorian paled. "You can’t just—"

  But it was too late. A guard at the door hesitated, then relayed Lucian’s words.

  Down in the waiting hall, Lord Cedric Vale froze.

  "They… they’re refusing the meeting?" Cedric stammered.

  The messenger nodded. "Lord Veilwood says he’s ‘busy.’"

  Cedric turned pale. "Duskwatch has the upper hand…?"

  His attendants exchanged nervous glances.

  This wasn’t how weak nobles reacted. Weak nobles rushed to meet Reinhardt’s envoys, eager to please.

  But Veilwood? He didn’t even bother to greet them.

  That meant one of two things:

  1?? Lucian was a fool beyond measure.

  2?? Lucian was powerful enough that he didn’t need the Duke’s help.

  Cedric, misinterpreting everything, panicked. "Offer them more resources. Double it!"

  Dorian was having a breakdown.

  "My lord, do you have any idea what you just did?!"

  Lucian sipped his tea. "Not really."

  "The envoy thinks you rejected their offer as a power move!" Dorian groaned. "They just DOUBLED their proposal!"

  Lucian blinked. "Huh."

  Elaine snorted. "Nice work, my lord. That was the fastest negotiation I’ve ever seen."

  Dorian buried his face in his hands. "That wasn’t a negotiation! That was you accidentally outmaneuvering a noble house!"

  Lucian stretched. "Well, whatever. If they’re offering more, we might as well take it. "

  "Since, I have done the negotiations, you do the paperwork Dorian!!" --

  Lucian shamelessly pushed the work onto Dorian.

  Duke Reinhardt read the new report from Lord Cedric.

  His expression darkened.

  "He refused the first offer?" Reinhardt murmured.

  Cedric’s letter explained how Veilwood hadn’t even met with them— forcing them to double their trade proposal just to stay in negotiations.

  To the Duke, this was not the move of an incompetent noble.

  It was the move of someone who knew exactly how to handle power.

  Reinhardt swirled his wine, his mind racing. "This man… is dangerous."