A few days passed. Armand met with Eris and the "guests," always making sure to tell the rebels a lot while also telling them nothing. In the meantime, the revolutionaries made plans and attempted to get into various rooms. These efforts sometimes succeeded and sometimes failed. However, eventually...

"I found something!" Nadine grinned.

She stood in a guest bedroom with Eris and her fellow rebels. Nadine had called them all there and made sure that no one else was inside. But Eris let out a slight sigh.

"Please be quieter. Are you asking to get caught?" she spoke before thinking. "Armand has no idea how much of a headache these idiots have given me."

However, Nadine listened. Her next words were softer.

"It isn't a threat, but a bribe. Not perfect, but it might have to do," the revolutionary said.

The girl put several sheets of paper on the bed. Everyone in the room looked at them. Eris suppressed a smile.

"Ah, the fish caught the bait. Let's see if we can pull them in," she pondered.

"Lord Armand is feuding with a member of the Medici family," Francois noted.

He picked up a piece of paper and started reading it.

"And he can't find him? Is that Medici in hiding or something?"

"I'm not sure. The letters don't tell us everything," Nadine stated.

Eris pretended to try to recall something. The noblewoman even paused a few moments for effect.

"Armand has been trying to kill Brutus Medici for some time now," she explained. "Ever since a feast. Brutus misinterpreted an offer for aid from me as a slight. One thing led to another, and now he and Armand are mortal enemies."

Francois sighed.

"Nobles are always getting in pointless fights," he shook his head. "Well, I suppose that's better for the revolution. Less unity among our enemies."

"Unfortunately, that's a good point," Eris thought, suppressing a grimace.

Nadine shrugged.

"Anyway, if we can find this Brutus Medici, we could offer his location to Armand in exchange for him joining us. Of course, the Revolutionary Council will be disappointed if we don't get anything we can blackmail him with. But this is better than nothing."

Eris' mind was filled with contemplation.

"I wonder if the fact that Armand is the target of this mission means this is a test for me? Are they judging my loyalty? Or do they want an excuse to get rid of me? Well, either way, they can't win with Armand helping me with my deception," she thought before speaking. "Brutus Medici could be anywhere, even overseas. Somewhere in a colony or the far east. Does the revolution have the resources to locate him there?"

Hesitation flashed through the various rebels. For a moment, all was silent. Then, Nadine folded her arms and scoffed loudly.

"We have two nobles in our ranks. Why don't you make yourself useful and find him?" she asked.

Eris nodded.

"Alright. I'll find him," the noblewoman answered.

"Hah! See? You..."

Nadine blinked. Shock coated her face. The other two revolutionaries were surprised too.

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"You'll...find Brutus Medici? You can do that if he's overseas?" Nadine questioned.

Eris shrugged.

"Why couldn't I?" the girl wondered. "Like you said, we have two nobles in our ranks. If we can't find one person in hiding, what's the point of us even being here?"

Inside, she was laughing like a madwoman.

"Thank you, Armand! These fools are falling right into our trap! I wonder how long I should wait before telling them? If it's too soon, they'll get suspicious. Too long, and they'll think I'm incompetent or at least a liar. Well, I am a liar, but I don't want them to know that."

Nadine grimaced. Eris kept her gaze level.

"I don't believe you can do this, but if you want to try, knock yourself out," the former said.

"Do not worry. I will find where Brutus Medici is," Eris promised.

Nadine shook her head.

"Fine. Go ahead. The rest of us will look for blackmail material."

Another few days passed. Eris pretended to contact people to search for Brutus. The revolutionaries looked everywhere they possibly could get to for things they could use to threaten Armand. None of them found anything.

When the next meeting came, everyone seemed frustrated except for Eris. The Hapsburg girl was sitting on the bed with a slight smile on her face. She was so very tempted to brag about her 'success' and to lord it over the commons...but Eris held herself back.

"What progress have you made?" she asked.

"None," Francois complained. "Your fiancé cleans up pretty well. There's probably not a single incriminating thing here."

Nadine folded her arms and grumbled.

"I can't believe it. He's a noble. There's no way he's hiding or destroying evidence. They're too arrogant for that. And there's no way he's not corrupt either," she grumbled.

Eris felt a flash of rage. But she pushed it down, deep into her.

"How pathetic. You've talked to Armand for days, but you can't tell that he's not arrogant?" the Hapsburg girl thought before speaking. "I found where Brutus Medici is."

Nadine's eyes locked with Eris'. The latter could see a deep jealousy build up in the former. She wasn't even bothering to hide her envy. That made Eris feel a hint of disappointment but little more.

"Where is he?" the rebel asked.

"Overseas in a foreign colony," Eris answered. "We should be swift about this. He might leave sooner or later."

Francois nodded.

"Yes. The Revolutionary Council will want to confirm that what you're saying is true," he said. "Let's search for another day and get moving if we don't find anything."

Eris walked to the door. She could feel Nadine's eyes boring into the back of her head. The Hapsburg girl allowed herself to have a smug smirk, now that no one could see it.

"I will inform Armand of our departure," she spoke before thinking. "If your insults towards Armand didn't seal your fate before, Nadine, your jealousy has. You are too inexperienced at the political game to survive around me."

A day later, Armand watched Eris' group leave. He stood on the town gates, flanked by his guards. There was a contemplative expression on the boy's face.

"They found some of the fake evidence I planted, but not all of it. I wonder if they're being too hasty? What will the Revolutionary Council think of this?"

Still, the boy shrugged.

"Eris can handle whatever they have. These people clearly have no experience with politics. Or at least not enough experience to be on her level. Though there are probably only a few people in Foldzar who are as good at politics as Eris, if you take away her ruthlessness."

Determination welled up in Armand. It combined with a hard steel that he hadn't felt since he last went to war. The boy's eyes were cold.

"That being said, I am Eris' fiancé. I have a duty to help her, regardless of whether or not she can handle this herself. And I'm sure Eris would be happy to get my help anyway."

There was reluctant murder in Armand's heart.

"Some of the points the rebels raised weren't entirely wrong. Foldzar is too divided. The nobles constantly fight among themselves, and everyone else suffers for it. And this is a problem that will just get worse if someone doesn't do something about it. His Majesty is weaker than the last king, and the least king weaker than his predecessor. If this continues, Foldzar may be a unified kingdom in name only."

Armand sighed and shook his head, realizing how odd he must look to his guards.

"But the rebels aren't helping anyone. I know they won't accomplish anything other than getting themselves and others killed. And even if they succeed, their revolution will just bring about more blood and death. There is no way this can end well for them. This must end."

The Concord boy turned to his guard. Orders barked out of the noble's mouth.

"Gather the hussars. Have half of them go to Eris to help her with whatever she needs. I have special orders for the rest," Armand declared before thinking. "And it's about time I try out those special mercenaries I hired."

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