They played in silence for a while.
At first, Grace made slow and careful moves while learning the rules through trial and error.
It took her only a few games to fully grasp the mechanics and after that, the match changed with the game growing serious.
After several rounds, Alexander leaned back while Grace began resetting the pieces on the board herself. It was clear she was fascinated, not just by the game, but also its mechanics.
Alexander watched her quietly.
Marquess Grace Cadden was a beautiful woman. From what he could tell, she had likely once been close to his father, maybe even his mistress.
According to Victor, his father had personally funded her, backing her research and pushing resources into the Imperial Mage Tower.
That support had carried her all the way to Expert Rank (9).
But after his father's death, everything changed.
Alexander's brothers had tried to keep the court stable while under pressure from the Police, Defence, and Military factions with only 3 Experts Rank Imperial Guards not to mention, they feared Grace was growing too powerful.
So, they cut her off under the excuse of lack of fund in the Imperial Treasury, they reduced funding to the Mage Tower and stopped most of her works.
Alexander finally broke the silence.
"How would you like your funding restored?" he asked casually.
Grace's hand froze over the board.
She paused for only a second before replying.
"Your Majesty," she said carefully, "I would never wish to place pressure on the Imperial Treasury."
"Of course," Alexander replied with a small smile. "You won't have to."
He lifted his goblet slightly.
"We are seizing the entire Reus estate, and I believe the Campbell family is quite wealthy as well."
Grace's eyes widened.
She understood immediately.
"Your Majesty," she said slowly, "are you certain about this?"
Alexander's voice remained calm.
"The Minister of Police has worked with criminals and proof will be found at the Reus estate."
He moved one of the pieces on the board as if the matter was nothing.
"That is why I sent the Minister of Magical Resources, the Minister of Trade, the Minister of Imperial Businesses, and the Imperial Treasurer to catalogue the seized assets."
Grace felt a chill.
Everyone knew the Minister of Trade was a very fickle man and the Minister of Magical Resources was part of the Military faction while the other two were loyalists.
There was no path of escape, even if Earl Campbell tried to deny it, he would not survive the next council meeting.
Still, there was one concern.
"Your Majesty," Grace said, "if Earl Campbell learns of this before tomorrow, what stops him from fleeing? Would it not be safer to arrest him now?"
Alexander shook his head slightly.
"He won't find out," he said. "The documents will only be discovered by nightfall."
He took a slow sip of wine.
"Hannibal will detain all four officials until morning; they will be watched closely and will only return for tomorrow's council."
Grace studied his expression. He was so calm and certain of the outcome.
'He planned this from the start,' she realized.
Alexander lowered his goblet and gestured toward her.
"So," he asked, "your answer?"
Grace picked up the wine jug and refilled his goblet before setting it down.
"May I ask one more question, Your Majesty?" she said.
"Go ahead," Alexander replied.
She hesitated for just a moment.
"Did you destroy the Six-Seven Gang?" she asked. "And plan all of this from the beginning?"
Alexander did not answer her question; he simply smiled and took another sip of his wine.
But that was more than enough for grace. "I would be happy to have my funding restored," Grace said.
"Good," Alexander replied.
He set the goblet aside and lifted the tray Rose had brought earlier.
Beneath it was a prepared magical contract.
He handed it to her.
Grace read through it carefully, then smiled and without hesitation, she signed it using her blood and mana.
…
[You have successfully regained control over 'Imperial Valekar Mage']
[You have gained 1,000 Kingdom Points]
[You have gained a Special-Grade subordinate]
[You have received 1,000 Kingdom Points]
…
[Name: Grace Cadden]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Elemental Mage]
[Rank: Expert (9)]
[Special Ability: Elemental Echoes (A), Elemental Override(A)]
…
[You have created a new Convert Troop Type]
[You have received 1,000 Kingdom Points]
…
[Troop Name: Imperial Valekar Mage]
[Type: Mage]
[Rank: Adept (1), Intermediate (1)]
[Special Ability: Enhanced Elemental Conditioning(B), Superior Elemental Conversion(B)]
[Cost: 5 Kingdom Points, 50 Kingdom Points (KP)]
…
[Requirement for conversion]
[1. Target must be a reach all requirement to be a mage]
[2. Target must have at least one of the basic elements (air, earth, fire, water)]
[3. Target must have gone through basic mage training]
[4. Target must be at least Initial (5) for the Adept option or Adept (5) for the intermediate option]
[5. Target must have a minimum of low loyalty]
…
'Good, but why didn't I receive a troop for Catherine?' Alexander thought. 'Another time, for now, focus on the issue at hand.'
"How many of the mages do you still control?" he asked.
Grace let out a quiet sigh before answering. "I lost the branches in the Marmaros Region and the Aegean Region. Both overseers died some time ago."
She folded her hands as she continued. "We never had a station in the Dragon Teeth Mountains. And in the Southeastern Valekar Region, the duke and the Minister of Defence have us under heavy suppression."
Alexander's fingers tapped lightly against the table as he processed the information. "So, there's a chance the Southeastern Valekar branch will be overtaken as well?"
"Unfortunately, yes, Your Majesty," Grace admitted. "I ordered them to stockpile supplies and avoid leaving their cities unless absolutely necessary, but the situation keeps deteriorating."
Her voice hardened slightly. "Merchants charge outrageous fees just to deliver basic necessities, and the trade groups exploit us openly not to mention, most of the recruits have already quit."
Alexander leaned back, silent for a moment.
"Tell them to prepare to return," he said at last. "I'll have Marquess Walford and Count Malbon assign escorts to bring them home."
Grace hesitated. "Will that be enough, Your Majesty?"
Alexander smiled faintly. "After tomorrow… I want them to fail."
That answer ended the discussion.
After a longer exchange covering logistics, timelines, and other minor issues, Grace finally took her leave.
The moment she was gone, Victor stepped forward.
"Your Majesty," he said carefully, "are you certain it's wise to move this quickly? Every power in the capital will be on edge after this. Especially the Church."
"I know," Alexander replied calmly. "But waiting wouldn't help either, will it? My predecessors waited, compromised and you've seen where that led."
Victor nodded, though uneasily. "I understand. Still… I would have preferred a slower approach."
In just three days, he made a plan that sent the capital into panic, destroyed a major trade family, executed a minister and placed two more under direct threat.
'This is the will of the throne,' Victor reminded himself.
"I only hope we don't regret this," he muttered.
Alexander picked up his goblet, swirling the wine.
"Regret… why would I regret any of my decisions?" he asked.
He paused for a moment then continued evenly, "Every decision I make is the best that could possibly be made under the same situation and circumstances and even if it fails, I won't regret it."
Victor watched him drain the rest of the wine and he realized he couldn't really make any argument with that.
'He's seized control of the Emperor's Eyes,' Victor thought. 'He's begun cutting out the rot in the empire and now he has seized back control of the mages as well.'
Victor lowered his head slightly. 'You are the best chance we have in this generation.'