Inside Duke Leto's office, an eerie silence lingered.
Leto sat in his chair, completely still.
His gaze was fixed on the far wall.
There was a distant look in his eyes.
Two glowglobes cast a soft yellow light across the room.
The doors of his office opened, and Thufir slowly stepped in, his steps careful and measured.
"Sire," he began but stopped seeing Leto's condition.
"It's been four hours Sire," Thufir said softly.
Leto raised his eyes up and glanced at Thufir.
Thufir frowned as he noticed Leto's dull eyes.
"Just when I thought I had the Emperor cornered, Thufir..." Leto muttered with slight mockery towards himself.
Thufir was silent for a moment.
"Duke Leto, we may not be able to get the Emperor this time, but we will get House Harkonnen," Thufir said.
"He was stable last night," Leto muttered, ignoring Thufir's words of support.
"Sire... it was a natural death. He passed while sleeping. No guards saw anybody enter the room."
Leto let out an exhausted sigh.
"It just doesn't make sense."
Thufir was silent.
He too felt the case of Cova's passing to be unnatural.
But all evidence points to a natural death.
"The recording isn't enough. It will be contested."
"And without proof, the Emperor will turn this on us," Thufir said and Leto nodded.
"I realize this," he said with a sigh.
"Sire, Interrogations have continued. If we get any testimony, I shall immediately inform you." Thufir bowed his head towards Leto, who was walking towards him.
Leto walked up to Thufir and patted his shoulder, "Cova was our best chance, but do try," Leto said with a soft smile.
As he began walking past Thufir, "The Harkonnens will not be spared." Leto muttered with seriousness as his face hardened.
Walking out of the room, he saw Jessica standing outside.
Leto paused for a moment.
Jessica's eyes met Leto's, and she felt her heart skip a beat. His eyes were filled with seriousness, yet he didn't speak.
He didn't even nod, he simply began walking away.
Jessica glanced at Leto walking away in silence.
"It had to be done" she muttered to herself with her eyes slightly squinted.
She was so focused on Leto that she didn't notice Thufir walking out of Leto's office at this moment.
Thufir was silent.
He didn't interrupt Jessica.
He just walked in the opposite direction quietly.
A frown was prominent on his face.
His eyes stared off into the distance.
Something about this felt wrong.
Thufir couldn't explain it.
But he didn't like it.
...
The Imperial Palace on Kaitain, within his office the Emperor, Shaddam IV sat on his chair in front of the desk as he held the Emergency Landsraad Notice of Assembly letter.
he was very silent.
every breath came slow and measured yet his heart was beating quick.
Dropping the letter onto the desk, he waited
uncomfortable silence filled the room as Time passed.
knocking once, the door swung open. And in stepped Reverend Mother Mohiam.
emperor Shaddam nearly jumped from his seat."You are here!" he said.
Without expression Mohiam bowed her head, "Your Majesty," she paid her respect.
impatience flashed across his face."Enough!" He exclaimed.
leaning forward he stared at Mohiam"Tell me it is accomplished" He asked.
letting a moment of silence, Mohiam spoke from behind the veil, "The child has succeeded your Majesty."
For a moment, neither spoke as the frown on Shaddam's face slowly vanished.
a breath escaped him slowly, He sat down on his chair as he glanced at the letter on his desk, a moment of relief flashing past his eyes.
lingering silence stretched between them.
"long had House Harkonnen been a thorn for me," Shaddam muttered with a slight frown as he glanced at Mohiam, who was silent--
"Not only did they waste five hundred billion solaris, money they would only see in fifty years of spice mining"
"They lost three battalions of my Sardaukar."
"And they created an enemy out of my own commander!" Shaddam said through gritted teeth.
Taking a moment to pause, he gathered himself.
"Mohiam… it may be time to remove the Baron," Shaddam said, a sharpness gleaming in his aged eyes as he glanced towards Mohiam, who remained silent.
"The Emperor does as the Emperor wishes" Mohiam said as she bowed her head and turned around to leave.
Underneath her transparent black veil, she revealed a very pronounced frown on her face.
"However," Shaddam said, pausing for a moment as Mohiam turned back around to face him.
"There is still the matter with Duke Leto, although we could not wipe out House Atreides, Leto should not be allowed to make it to the Landsraad. The council heavily favours him," Shaddam said.
"Are you sending someone to eliminate the Duke?" She asked.
"No."
"If I send a man, he will be caught."
Mohiam took a step forward, her eyebrows creased.
"Are you suggesting..."
...
"Wait... Cova is dead?" Jack asked, facing Leto who had been aimlessly walking the halls of the palace.
"Yes, a natural death," Leto said with a slight pause right after.
"Do you think it was natural?" Jack asked as he seemed to notice the slight look of hesitation on Leto's face.
Leto just shook his head, "It's nothing. The Landsraad is in three days. I need to prepare."
Leto was going to say something more but paused.
Suddenly, the tired eyes grew sharp.
"Excuse me, Paul, we seem to have guests coming soon," Leto said as his back straightened.
"Who?" Jack asked as Leto had turned around.
"A royal envoy"
"And I doubt they come as friends." Leto said as he began to pace away.
Jack stood in silence, watching Leto walk away. He turned around and activated his communication link with Thufir.
"Thufir, what is the current status of interrogations? I have been informed that Cova is dead and a royal envoy is arriving soon," Jack said.
A voice reached his ears just moments later.
"The interrogations have yet to yield results, Young Paul."
"The Royal Envoy is here to officially mediate between House Atreides and House Harkonnen" Thufir said.
"Where are they landing on Arrakeen?" Jack asked.
"The west flight pad," Thufir informed Jack nodded.
He ended the call and moved immediately.
The west flight pad.
He had to be there.
Something felt off.
He couldn't explain it.
He sped up.