Chapter 85: Blackmail

After a few hours of visiting with Ayana and Nyla, we really needed to get back to the palace in time for dinner. Our absence would be noticed if we missed it two days in a row.

"Al, we need to go," I told him reluctantly as I watched the sun begin to sink in the sky.

Ayana's face fell. "…will you visit us again? I would love to tell you more about the Kanta clan. Anything you want to know. And you have to meet my other children and their families."

Al smiled softly at his aunt. "I can't promise when because it is a bit difficult for us to get away but yes, we'll be back. I want to know everything you can tell me about our homeland and my parents."

This appeased her and she let us go. Al's face hardened the moment we were outside. Here it comes.

"You had already figured it out, didn't you?" he accused. "Who I am."

I held my hands up in defense. "I did wonder if the king was suppressing you because you were someone important briefly before but it wasn't confirmed until I heard Ayana's story. I wouldn't have kept something like that from you if I was sure!"

He sighed and tilted his head up to gaze at the cloudless sky. "It never would have even occurred to me. You truly are a political genius. No wonder everybody wants a piece of you."

I didn't know how to respond to that. I wasn't a genius. Any poli-sci student was capable of thinking the way I did in my world.

But that was the problem. This wasn't my world. The way I acted, the things I said, and my particular type of thinking were all foreign here. They made waves no matter where I went or what I did. All I was trying to do was be myself but I kept making a mess of the plot.

Al being the heir to the leadership of the Kanta clan complicated things. He had never felt like he belonged in his family—because he didn't—so now that someone who knew about his past and valued him had come along he wanted to know everything.

I couldn't blame him for that. In his shoes, I would likely be the same way. But what did this mean for the future of this novel world?

He hadn't thought it would matter if Sigmund or Franz became king because he didn't like either of them. He allowed my support of Franz's bid for the throne because it mattered to me and he wanted me to be happy.

That might be thrown into disarray now. Al loathed the king; that much was obvious based on his attitude the past two days. He probably didn't care if the entire monarchy fell at this point.

His apathy towards the people of Annalaias had been there from the start. Nobody cared about him so he didn't care about anybody else either. That had been the primary reason he had wanted to run away and start over somewhere else.

Now that he knew the truth about his heritage…what if he started caring about the scattered remains of the Kanta clan? As his friend, I would be thrilled if he cared about something other than me but it could spell definite trouble for our peaceful future.

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Sigmund was even worse than his father. If he knew the truth about Al, he would have him killed without a second thought. Especially if he decided to try and get the Kanta region back from the kingdom.

I was getting ahead of myself. Al hadn't said anything about wanting to take over the role he had been born into. This was nothing but overthinking on my part.

"What are you thinking?" he asked after a while.

It was a long walk back to the castle and I had been silent for most of it because I was too wrapped up in my thoughts. Al had even more to think about than I did but I was the type whose mind went a million miles a minute when I was stressed.

"I was wondering what you want to do with this new information," I admitted.

He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Do? What is there to do? Knowing about the past doesn't change the reality of the present. I'm still the useless third prince with no power. Even if I wanted to help the Kanta clan somehow it wouldn't be possible."

So the thought of regathering them had crossed his mind. I should have known. His apathy only extended as far as people who weren't interested in him. Ayana's deep love for him as her brother's son was obvious as they talked.

"You won't like this," I said slowly. "But I think Franz can be reasoned with. If he sits on the throne instead of Sigmund we might be able to convince him to give the Kanta their lands back and negotiate a trade deal about the mines."

Al finally looked me in the face and showed the most incredulous expression I had ever seen from him. "You think that selfish pig would do anything to help me out after what I said to him yesterday?"

I hadn't factored Franz's pride into this. But it wasn't the only thing at play. We had an ace up our sleeves.

I smiled wryly. "Weren't you just talking about how everyone wants my brain? Use me as a bargaining chip. I'm sure he'll cooperate if I threaten to go over to Sigmund's side and tell him how to thwart his plans."

"You would really resort to blackmail?" Al asked doubtfully. "I thought you cared about Franz's plan since you were the one who came up with it."

"I do care…but I care about you more. If you want to rebuild the Kanta clan, I'm with you every step of the way. I told you that I'm on your side no matter what. It's my job as both your best friend and your wife."

He reached out to take my hand and squeezed it. The rest of the walk back to the palace was quiet but I could tell he was thinking over what I had said. I really did want the commoners here to have more rights but if Franz was willing to go along with our plan we could have that and rebuild Al's homeland.

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