“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” - Oscar Wilde (Lady Windermere’s Fan)

  ???

  The villagers of Halberd Reach, and even the bannermen of House Hunt, had never seen such a sight before.

  For at least a week now, the lords and ladies of the Ten Great Houses had arrived in Halberd Reach with their heirs, and even with several guards in tow, all of them called together for a full convergence of the Ten Great Houses.

  This was the first time in living memory that all Ten Great Houses have gathered together under one roof.

  While the Ten Great Houses were never openly hostile with one another, there had always been an unspoken understanding between the Great Houses for centuries: that each House had its own role to play in the governance and stability of Alathia, and they do not interfere in each other’s affairs.

  Apart from Houses Nightray, Rovaryn, and Valemire, which have been allies and shield brethren for generations, the remaining Great Houses have remained detached from each other with no formal alliances, and for good reason.

  They were the ten most powerful families in the kingdom.

  Records still existed from a time in history when Houses Nightray, Rovaryn, and Valemire first formed their official alliance and brotherhood. No one even knew the reason behind it any longer, but there were records from when the alliance was first made, and it had made not just the other Great Houses uneasy, but also the king at that time.

  For the ten most powerful families in Alathia to gather together in one place could only mean trouble. Hence, the Ten Great Houses have kept news of the council quiet, disguising it as a lavish party hosted by House Hunt.

  To the citizens of Halberd Reach, however, the arrival of the nobility had sparked more than just curiosity. Men and women that the citizens of Halberd Reach have only heard about, and even seen pictures of in newspapers, or heard mentioned in noble gossip, now strolled through their streets.

  “What do you think is happening?” The local seamstress wondered, watching as the latest carriage rolled down the streets of Halberd Reach, and toward Hunt Manor.

  “Who knows?” The grumpy blacksmith muttered, hammering away at his anvil. “It’s not our business. The less we know what the nobles are up to, the better.”

  “Must be something big, though,” The florist muttered, arranging a fresh display in her shop window.

  In Hunt Manor, in the estate’s largest room, the lords and ladies of the Ten Great Houses sat at a long oval-shaped table in the middle of the room. Most of them were flanked by their heirs, brought along as part of their training.

  Though she had yet to formally assume her position as the head of House Nightray, Yulia sat at the table with the other lords and ladies, with Gareth Vyrell standing behind her chair in his role as her retainer. Beside Gareth was Jaden Nightray, who had come along as Yulia’s guard.

  Gale Valemire and Elias Rovaryn were also present at this council, in their positions as the heirs of their Houses, with Gale looking troubled and also concerned. Cassian Hunt sat in his place as Heir Hunt, though even more surprising was the presence of his younger brother, Nathan, standing silently behind their father’s chair.

  “Never thought that I’d see the day when the lords and ladies of the Ten Great Houses would all gather together under one roof at the same time outside of royal balls and events,” Lady Maris D’Aragon spoke, her sea-green eyes scanning the room.

  She had since assumed the position as the head of House D’Aragon after the demise of the late Lord and Lady D’Aragon during the war against Nuvelle, with House D’Aragon being known for their command over Alathia’s seas and the royal navy.

  “I believe we all know why we’re here,” Lord Bastian Grimalde grunted, his arms crossed over his chest. “We had to disguise this unofficial council of the Ten Great Houses as some kind of party that House Hunt is holding, just to avoid Parliament panicking.”

  “Frankly, at this point, I don’t even care what they think anymore,” Lord Garron Kael grumbled. Broad and bear-like in frame, with a harsh military cut and a sharper scowl, the head of House Kael—one of the most militaristic Houses in Alathia, looked ready for battle. “I’m not sure about everyone else, but I’ve been facing border skirmishes almost daily at this point. Sometimes, multiple times a day!” He slammed his fist onto the table, making everyone jump. “My men are exhausted! Several of them are wounded, and they are basically running on fumes at this point, because I do not have enough forces to protect my territory and people!”

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  “House Nightray has been sending whatever help we could, but even we’re having the same problems within my territory,” Yulia added, and there were nods from all around.

  “Same with my lands,” said Lady Meredeth Rovaryn, Elias’s mother, seated next to Yulia, and there was a solemn nod from Lord Arden Valemire, Gale’s father.

  Nathan fidgeted next to Cassian behind his father’s chair, but he said nothing. His father was very firm when he had insisted and almost begged to be allowed to attend the Ten Great Houses council. Nathan is not to speak a word. Not unless he was spoken to.

  “And so help me if you so much as say anything to Yulia unless it’s to apologise,” His father had growled the night before.

  “Let’s face it,” Lady Elenya Marrowind sighed, almost cradling her head in her hands. With House Marrowind known for their skills in diplomacy, she was one of the youngest heads at the table. Much like Lady Maris and Yulia, she had inherited the title after her parents died in the war. “We’re all facing the same damn problems. Even some of the smaller noble houses are starting to feel the strain, and facing issues in their own lands. Whether it’s bandits, food shortages, or disappearing militia funding.” She exhaled. “Marrowind territory doesn’t even span the borders, and even we’re having trouble getting grain and medical supplies to our villages.”

  The eyes of every head and heir in the room turned towards Lady Meredeth Rovaryn, who exhaled slowly, combing a lock of her dark hair behind her ear. “We’re trying,” she admitted. “But even we’re running low on medical supplies. And don’t get me started on grain and crops. The farmers in my agricultural villages couldn’t even afford the seeds needed to plant the food that the kingdom so badly needed! I’m doing what I can, but I am stretched thin, and I have to choose which regions to prioritise. We’re only in summer, and we’re already having dangerously low food reserves. I am almost afraid to imagine what it’s going to be like once winter hits. And if things are this bad now…” She trailed off slowly. “Not to mention that the trade and caravan routes are constantly being raided and attacked. We may not even make it to winter without serious loss of life.”

  Everyone present could easily envision the ugly picture that Lady Rovaryn had painted for them. Once winter hits, there might very well be several mass deaths due to either starvation or even people freezing to death because there isn’t enough firewood to keep warm.

  A slow national collapse.

  “Exactly what is the Crown Prince doing?” Lord Kael growled. “It’s been years since the war against Nuvelle, and it’s like we’re still stuck in the post-war recovery period!”

  “To be fair to Prince Rem, he’s being played by Parliament—” Lord Thalric Myrren spoke up in defence of the Crown Prince, with House Myrren sitting along the northeast border of Alathia, being well-known for their hunters and tracking units.

  Lord Kael slammed his fist onto the oak table again, making everyone jump, and for their goblets to wobble on the surface. Lord Hunt hurriedly straightened his goblet before it could topple over, as did several of the other lords and ladies.

  Behind Lord Kael, his two sons sighed, exchanging resigned looks with each other.

  “That’s not an excuse, and you know it!” Lord Kael almost barked. “It is his responsibility to protect his people! And if he’s not up to the task, then perhaps we should reconsider who’s wearing the crown!”

  Murmurs rippled through the hall, and Nathan shifted uncomfortably behind his father’s chair.

  “And now, I even hear from Lord Valemire, as well as Lady Rovaryn, that Prince Rem hasn’t even been listening to Heiress Nightray. Or even to Lord Merren!” Lord Kael thundered, his eyes flashing angrily.

  The eyes of the lords and ladies, as well as the heirs, shifted to Yulia, who remained calm. Unlike half the room who’d jumped when Lord Kael had slammed his fist onto the table, she didn’t react.

  “Heiress Nightray?” Lady Maris prompted.

  Yulia sighed. “I’ve been trying for years. Goddess knows that I’ve tried,” she said tiredly. “I tried to tell him over and over again. But it’s like whatever I said went in one ear and out the other. It’s like Rem is living in this fantasy that everything is fine and dandy in Alathia, and he can become a king who can rule without bloodshed, even though myself and Lord Merren have tried to tell him otherwise. He’s not listening. Parliament’s honeyed words don’t help, definitely, but Rem’s own idealistic view of the world isn’t helping either.”

  Behind his father’s chair, Nathan Hunt winced, trying not to let the glares from half the heirs in the room affect him, especially the ferocious glare from Gale Valemire. He is very aware that he hadn’t helped matters.

  Lady Maris sighed, exchanging looks with Lady Elenya. “So those rumours are true, then?” she murmured, and Yulia nodded. “It doesn’t paint a pretty picture for Alathia and the future of the kingdom if the future king is refusing to face reality. Even our naval routes are constantly under threat from pirates and outlaws. My people live off the sea, so they aren’t starving yet. But even we’re facing shortages in food and medical supplies. The black market auctions are getting more brazen. Even my docks are under pressure.”

  “We’re doing whatever we can,” Yulia added grimly, and Gareth nodded from behind her chair. “But even our reach is limited without proper military backup. Not to mention that the soldiers are all exhausted and lacking proper gear and weapons. The military has been defanged by Parliament’s budget controls.”

  “Weaken the military and you weaken the kingdom,” Lord Kael muttered. “Exactly what is the Crown Prince thinking? Is he even thinking at all?”

  Nathan flinched again.

  Yulia let out a bitter laugh. “Trust me, Lord Kael, you’re not the only one who wanted to throttle the Crown Prince. I wanted to do that so many times. Even now, I am solely tempted to shake some sense into him whenever I see him in the halls of the Academy.”

  Despite the severity of the moment, Lord Hunt can’t help grinning, as did the other lords and ladies. “I do believe that might qualify as assault on a royal, Heiress Nightray,” Lady Maris said dryly, and with amusement. “Though I understand your frustration.”

  Several moments of silence fell in the room, even as the lords and ladies took sips from their goblets.

  “I’ll say this now,” said Lord Bastian Grimalde, with House Grimalde being known for their siege engines and civil engineering, “if the Crown won’t act, then we, the Ten Great Houses, must. It’s already come to such a point that if the situation escalates any further, the soldiers and the civilians are going to riot.”

  “Then let’s stop dancing around the real issue,” said Lady Elenya, her sharp blue eyes scanning the room. “We’ve gathered here together for a reason. This council of the Ten Great Houses was called for because Parliament and the Crown left us with no other choice. We have influence, yes. But what good is that influence when Parliament ignores us? And when the Crown Prince won’t act, out of fear of being called a tyrant? Being too afraid of being hated to act?”

  Silence fell once more.

  Finally, Lord Hunt rose slowly, his face grim. “Let’s face it. Alathia is rotting from the inside. Parliament is corrupt, and we all know it. And if the current situation in Alathia worsens any further… If the constant skirmishes and attacks on not just our villages, but also the roads increase… If more people die…” He exhaled. “The people are going to turn on someone. And if we don’t handle this soon, forget the throne. There won’t be a kingdom left to argue over.”

  Chills ran down everyone’s spines at this brutal sentence.

  Finally, Yulia spoke. “The Ten Great Houses may not agree on many things. But if we’re all in unanimous agreement on this, then this means something. This isn’t about pride, power, or politics anymore. This is about survival. This is about ensuring that our people don’t go hungry. To stop them suffering and dying. We’re all forced into a corner. And we must act, with or without Parliament.” Her eyes narrowed. “And Prince Rem had better choose quickly exactly which side of that line that he wants to stand on. And if he wants to be a king, or an observer.”