Fingers tucked around his chin, Eric contemplated his options.
Other nobles were targeting him—all because of Adam's ridiculous provocations. At least, that's what he had thought. Now, realising the teenager's origins were far more complex, he saw the absurdity for what it was—a clever design.
"The artifacts come from his house," he declared, the certainty of an enforcer slotting the final piece into place. "Every move he made had one purpose: to use me to drive prices up."
A sharp breath steadied him, though his pulse refused to slow. A Duke's heir banished? A disgraced Duke's heir? A trial set by his family to prove his worth? Or was there more?
The answer eluded him, but one truth glistened as clear as the plundered Stillbloom Pool in the rector's basement. Targeting Adam was a terrible idea.
