Chapter 400: A Fractured Family

"His Majesty has released Cato?" Bardas said happily as he spun around and took a seat in Julius’ room.

"Are you sure it was him?" In the face of his brother’s slight smirk. The suspicion that Bardas was the one who did it himself surfaced. Bardas saw the probing gaze and sighed. Throwing his hands up in the air, he innocently smiled.

"I wanted the prick to die more than you, Julius. So don’t look at me like that." Bardas sighed and leaned his head back, "No, it must have been him. No one else liked Cato enough, nor has the power to challenge you so directly." Bardas loomed into his half-brother’s eyes and smiled, "He’s being pushed into a corner. The fact that he went back for Cato says enough."

"Not yet," Julius said coldly, knowing Bardas wanted to remove Theodosius already. "Spread the word to the council that he released Cato." Julius fell into deep thought. With a sinister smile, he shook his head, correcting himself, "Send some of your men to arrest him once you are willing to lose. I’ll have Octavious ’save’ him."

"He’s not dumb enough to fall for such a cheap trick." Bardas wanted, but Julius shrugged.

"Usually, he wouldn’t, but right now, he has no allies and knows we are waiting for our chance to remove him. We couldn’t use my assassination. Fathers killing sons is bad for the public image of the Crown. This would be our perfect chance to remove him, and he knows it." Julius rested his hand on his mask and tapped it, a habit he picked up since he started wearing one. "I wonder why he acted so brazenly, to be honest."

"Like you implied, he’s desperate," Bardas said nonchalantly. "I’ll have my men ready. Cato is moving quickly to take back control of them, so we have to do this soon."

Julius lowered his head. "Use this chance. Get rid of Cato’s old network. Have a replacement ready to fill their boots." Bardas nodded and got up.

"If that is all, I have plans."

"You have no friends." Julius quickly quipped. Bardas just flashed him a soft smile. "Whatever. Be ready in five days." Bardas nodded and gave Julius a small bow before leaving the room. Looking at the door, Julius had a strange feeling that he had missed something. He didn’t know what it was, but Bardas was hiding something. Tapping his mask, he leaned back in his chair and fell into thought.

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Bardas calmly walked into the restaurant where he had met Horace last time, and at the table, he saw the man. "Your little helper isn’t here this time?" Bardas said softly, getting Horace to roll his eyes.

"He’s resting. We have been moving nonstop after all." Horace said with an exsuhsted voice that was rare for him. "I know you’re busy, so I’ll be blunt. I failed."

Bardas frowned but shrugged. "I’m disappointed. The Underwells have a good reputation. I didn’t know you guys failed at your tasks."

"If His Majesty ordered it, I wouldn’t have, even at the cost of my life. But you." Horace shook his head. "Either way, I won’t be able to get close to the Maximus manor anymore."

Bardas tapped the table and stared at Horace. His emotionless face quickly bloomed into a wide smile, "It’s fine. That fact you even tried proves your willing to work wth me." Bardas leaned back and sighed, "Right now, Julius is getting a lot of support. He had a banquet planned to celebrate Octavius’s rise to the Rank of General."

"What do you want me to do?" Horace asked casually.

"Well, a lot of important individuals will be coming. More specifically, the Eastern Duke. I need him under my control."

Horace sighed and closed his eyes. "You need something to blackmail him with?"

"Such a disgusting word. No, persuade him to see me as a suitable candidate for the throne. More specifically, as regent, if anything were to happen to poor Julius and the other members of the Imperial family."

Horace dryly chuckled. "I need something big to get the persuasion you need."

Bardas smiled, "That little friend of yours. How skilled is he as a fighter?"

Horace thought about it. He had seen Halfdan fight, and whilst he lost his right hand, he was still a skilled warrior. "Good enough to pose a threat to a trained soldier. Multiple, however, and he will easily be beaten."

"Fake an assassination of the Duke. You may not know, but the Magnus, although he has many friends, also has numerous enemies. The Eastern and Southern lords are his two main ones. It wouldn’t be a shock if Magnus tried to remove them before he made his move. After all, he’s already taken care of Albus for us."

"You want to be a literal guardian angel." Horace softly laughed, "You think saving his life is enough."

"Of course. He’s an honourable man who doesn’t forget. It’s why he hates Magnus."

"He would despise you then." Horace quickly added.

"Maybe, but I would still be the man who saved his life. That’s a debt not easily paid." Horace thought about it. It was a situation he had to trust Bardas on. He wasn’t well-versed in the nobility of Severia, even if he peeked at a few of Magnus’ notes on them.

"A performance like that needs to be practised. I can’t accidentally lose Halfdan yet. As you said, saving a man’s life is not an easy debt, and my father saved him from a very, very painful death."

"We have a week." Bardas thought for a second, "There is a tavern down the road. The big white sign is hard to miss. Meet there tomorrow with him. We will discuss then."

"Not here?" Horace probed.

"Julius doesn’t trust me. He will have people tailing me. I can lose them as long as I keep changing location." Horace expected as much. "I leave first. Wait thirty minutes before you do. I was in a rush today and don’t know if I was followed."

Horace nodded and watched Bardas leave. After the water was out of sight, he closed his eyes and drank his water, finally letting himself feel the exhaustion that had built up.

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Octavius casually let himself into Theodosius’ office and saw the fat Emperor sitting there in deep thought. Placing his hand over his heart, he lowered his head towards him. Theodosius didn’t care, and the disrespect Octavius had just shown by letting himself in. After a few meetings, he had given the special privilege to the general.

"You called Your Majesty," Octavius asked sternly, making Theodius finally focus on him.

"Yes, I need you to do something for me." Looking at Octavius, a pleasant smile and eyes full of respect stared back. Tapping his armrest, he wondered if he should move forward with his plan for Octavius. He weighed the pros and cons, but despite the numerous cons, he sighed and decided to go ahead. He needed the General. Even if Julius had the entirety of the nobility on his side, with the military, it was enough.

"Marry my eldest daughter," Theodosius said casually, stunning Octavius. It was something neither Julius nor he had predicted Theodosius would do. His mind spun, but seeing the Emperor slowly getting irritated at having to wait, he smiled and lowered his head.

"You honour me, Your Majesty. But I am unworthy."

"You are." Theodosius rolled his eyes at the pleasantries that always followed a proposal like this.

Octavius looked up at the Emperor. Thinking about it, he internally sighed and slowly nodded his head. He had been ordered to do anything Theodosius wanted as long as it didn’t undermine Julius. Whilst the marriage wasn’t great for Julius, it brought the Emperor trust.

"Are you sure, Your Majesty?" But he didn’t seem eager. It was a delicate balance. Not too eager, not too disinterested.

Theodosius felt himself getting more and more annoyed. Out of sight, his fist curled around his armrest. "Of course. I won’t hear any more. Yes or no. Will you marry my daughter?"

Octavius smiled and bowed again, "It would be my honour." Theodosius smiled and got up. Walking over to Octavius, he rested his shoulder as the man rose.

"We will be family now, Octavius. Remember, nothing is as strong as family. It is a bond that can’t be broken."

Octavius wanted to throw the hand of and curse the Emperor. He was a hypocrite who had already killed numerous of his own bastards and attempted to kill his trueborn heir. Nothing is stronger than family.’Bullshit. Nothing is as important as you.’Cursing him in his mind, Octavius made sure to wear a pleasant, flattering smile.

"I understand, Your Majesty." Octavius looked up into his eyes, "I’ll try for a child as quickly as possible." Octavius felt gross saying that, but it had the right effect, seeing Theodosius’ disgusting smile.

"Good." Patting his shoulder, he pushed the general forward. "Leave me. Go see your wife-to-be." Octavius nodded and left the room. Looking at his shoulder, he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped it clean before binning the item.

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Holy shit 400 Chapters.