"That is good, Did Yeuh fiigure out how my father passed away?"
Thufir paused for a moment a small frown appeared on his face as he nodded slightly.
"The reason was due to a blood clot on his wrist," Thufir said as a small frown appeared on Paul's face.
"Didn't Cova pass away from a clot as well?" Paul muttered, and Thufir nodded with solemnness.
'Jessica.'
The thought came uninvited.
Paul's eyes hardened.
'No,'
'Jessica can do many things, killing Leto is not one of them.'
'However, this has Bene Gesserit written all over it,' he thought as he glanced around the room, his thoughts racing.
His gaze drifted downward towards his wrist.
A faint memory surfaced.
A sting.
It was Brief. Sharp.
A frown hung on his lips.
'Who have I interacted with?' Paul thought to himself and a memory surfaced.
Mohiam extending her hand out as a greeting.
"The handshake"
His fingers curled slightly.
The pressure. The grip. Too firm. It was all too deliberate.
'That means... She did it to Leto as well when he greeted her when they came to mediate.'
'The same method.'
'Nerve touch' the words appeared in his head.
A realization settled.
"That wasn't a meeting to mediate," Paul muttered as an almost self-deprecating chuckle escaped his lips.
"Is everything alright Paul?" Duncan asked but Thufir stopped Duncan from approaching Paul.
Thufir watched Paul's seriousness.
Paul felt a weird atmosphere forming as he glanced towards Thufir and Duncan in silence for a moment before he spoke, "Can I have the room for... 30 seconds?"
Duncan wanted to speak, but he hesitated when he saw Thufir glaring at him. Quietly, he nodded and turned around and began exiting the room and Thufir followed behind.
As the door shut behind them, Paul quietly stood there in silence.
"Am I also going to die like Leto?" He muttered to himself.
'... I don't want to die...'
Paul shut his eyes for a moment, clearing his head.
'The attack is a slow-acting one, and since I am aware of it, I can delay or fully get rid of it.'
'But... I remember the theory of reversal Jessica taught, but I never actually had to apply it to myself under such conditions.'
As he exhaled a deep breath, he opened his eyes, holding a determined gaze.
'I still have things to do, Dying now will damn House Atreides, ' Paul thought to himself.
"This is not ideal... but I don't have a choice." he muttered.
Paul walked towards the door and swung it open.
"Thufir, contact House Ecaz, House Richese, and House Vernius, ask them to draft a Landsraad session resumtion required to address Imperial misconduct and disruption of inter-house balance immediately."
"Paul..."
"Offer them a 5% preferential treatment to spice imports for 3 years for no extra charge, and 2 years after that with payment," Paul said seriously.
"Ask them to rally the small houses under them as well to build a political case. We must start Landsraad as soon as possible," Paul said.
"Tell House Ecaz to freeze distribution tied to CHOAM and House Vernius to announce production delays to major imperial contracts."
Thufir thought for a few moments.
His eyes flashed white for a few moments before he spoke.
"We can establish this pressure... with a little bit of time without constraining our finances, we can accomplish similar results," Thufir said causing Paul to pause for a moment.
His eyes moved towards Thufir, and a frown appeared on his face.
'I can not let Thufir and Duncan assume things about what has happened...'
"We do not have time, Thufir. Mohiam has used nerve touch on me just like she had done when she met Leto." Paul paused for a moment, "Although I may be able to prevent it, I cannot be too sure."
"And Emperor Shaddam will not act until I pass away, we have to force his hand."
"What...?" Duncan muttered.
Paul nodded towards Duncan.
"Why can't we just—" Thufir stopped himself.
A moment passed as Thufir thought of something.
"5% is generous," he muttered, changing his sentences mid-speech.
"That is what you focus on?!" Duncan exclaimed exasperatedly.
"What do you suggest?" Paul asked.
"We can... " his eyes flashed white for a moment before he spoke, "We can offer half of that... for three years maximum, with two years being free."
"Then do that."
"I understand," Thufir said as he turned around and began heading towards his chamber to begin drafting letters.
"Are you really going to die... Tell me the truth?" Duncan muttered.
"I am gonna fight like hell before I go" Paul said with a slight chuckle.
Duncan was silent for a moment before a small smile appeared on his face, and he nodded.
...
Paul sat on his bed, his legs crossed and his eyes shut.
His breathing was steady and controlled.
The only sound that filled the room at the moment was the rhythmic ticking of the clock.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and he let out a soft groan.
His fingers rubbed his temple.
"I should have been more careful... but the books never mentioned Bene Gesserit could simply kill with a handshake," he muttered to himself as he once again shut his eyes.
His breathing slowed once more.
Paul immersed his conciousness towards his wrist.
'Okay...'
'Feel the flow' he thought to himself as he tried to grasp the feeling of his nerves.
Two loud knocks suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Paul took a sharp breath in and his eyes snapped open.
"Come in."
The door opened and Thufir walked in holding three letters.
"You have received replies from the three great houses," Thufir said.
"What do they say?" Paul asked.
"House Ecaz and House Vernius have agreed, but House Richese wishes to again have a meeting with you in person before agreeing."
"I see," Paul muttered.
"Thufir... do you think I should meet them?" Paul asked staring at his Mentat.
Thufir took a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking.
"House Richese is dangerous. But they are ancient, as old as Atreides or Harkonnen, and even after the fact that they caused the Butlerian Jihad, they have survived across centuries and have built a reach amongst the Minor Houses that other houses lack. They can move them faster than anyone."
He paused.
"However, you must use whatever time you have to address the nerve touch, but it would be beneficial to meet them and have them on our side."