Fourth Arc (Thorns of The Black Throne) - 490. Like a Competition
The night came.
Pontus did not quiet easily. Even after sunset, the castle hummed with restrained tension. Torches burned along the outer walls, their flames bending in the wind. Somewhere in the courtyard below, steel clashed faintly as soldiers finished late drills. The scent of oil lamps and warmed stone drifted through the guest wing corridors.
Inside the Euphorion guest chamber, the air felt heavier.
Angel stood near the window, documents in his hand. The candlelight flickered across his face, sharpening the line of his jaw and casting faint shadows beneath his eyes. Rose sat at the low table, pouring tea with steady hands. Jane sat opposite her, posture composed, no longer pretending confusion within these walls.
The door was sealed.
No servants.
No hidden ears.
Angel broke the silence first.
"What do you think?"
He handed the documents to Rose.
The parchment rustled softly as she accepted them. She scanned quickly, eyes moving with practiced precision. Her fingers traced the margins, checking numbers, routes, projected yields.
"It's decent," she said after a moment. "Balanced tariffs. Fair exchange ratios. Tea for steel. Silk for salt. Herbs and potions in phased increments."
She flipped a page.
"Win-win."
Angel leaned back against the window frame.
"The Chancellor drafted it."
Rose looked up briefly.
"Then he's competent."
"He is."
Angel's tone shifted slightly.
"But he leaned in at the end. Quietly. Said we still need the king's approval."
Rose's brows lifted faintly.
"Darius?"
Angel nodded.
She exhaled slowly.
"I thought he entrusted trade matters to the Chancellor."
Angel gave a small, humorless smile.
"If he trusted him that much, Seraphine wouldn't have attended."
The words hung in the room.
Jane's gaze lowered slightly.
Rose tilted her head.
"And since he also doesn't like you," she added gently.
Angel shrugged.
"He doesn't want to sit across from me longer than necessary."
Rose cringed faintly.
"Yes. I caught that."
She set the parchment down carefully.
"Rather than two fellow kings negotiating," she continued, "he treats it like a competition."
Angel gave a quiet hum of agreement.
"It is a competition. In his mind."
"For influence?" Rose asked.
"For relevance."
The candlelight flickered again.
Rose leaned back slightly in her chair.
"He measures himself against you."
"Yes."
"And he feels… lesser."
Angel did not deny it.
Rose sighed.
"That insecurity will complicate everything."
Jane finally spoke.
"My father… always like that."
Both of them turned toward her.
She did not meet their eyes at first.
"He doesn't like sharing the spotlight," she continued quietly. "When I was younger, if a noble praised another court member too much, Father would find a reason to silence them. Politely. But permanently."
Angel's expression did not change.
Rose's gaze softened.
"And Seraphine?" Rose asked gently.
Jane hesitated.
"She understands that weakness."
The words were careful.
Measured.
"She amplifies it when needed."
Angel's eyes darkened slightly.
"How?" he asked.
Jane lifted her gaze finally.
"By comparison."
Silence settled.
"She doesn't challenge him directly," Jane continued. "She encourages him subtly. Suggests threats. Points out rivals. Then lets his pride do the rest."
Rose exchanged a brief look with Angel.
"And you believe she sees us as rivals," Rose said quietly.
Jane nodded once.
"Yes."
Angel stepped away from the window.
"And me?"
Jane held his gaze now.
"You especially."
Rose's fingers tightened slightly around her teacup.
Angel did not react visibly, but the air shifted.
Jane continued, voice steady.
"You're younger. Stronger. Your kingdom prospers visibly. The nobles whisper about Euphorion's reforms."
Rose gave a faint, ironic smile.
"Reforms are rarely appreciated by neighboring rulers."
Angel sat down across from them.
"So Darius will hesitate to approve."
"Yes," Jane said softly. "Not because the trade is bad. But because approving it makes him appear to follow your lead."
Rose exhaled.
"Then we need to reframe it."
Angel's gaze flicked to her.
"How?"
"Make it his idea."
A faint spark of amusement touched Angel's eyes.
"Go on."
Rose leaned forward slightly, candlelight reflecting in her gaze.
"The Chancellor already drafted favorable terms. That means he sees benefit. We need to let Darius think he extracted concessions."
Angel considered that.
"He'll want visible advantage."
"Yes."
Rose tapped the parchment lightly.
"Offer minor symbolic adjustments. Something that appears like compromise but doesn't harm us."
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