"You have to disappear," I said. "Get a new identity. Next, you'll need money and documents to start your life in the southern city."
The tailor nodded. "What about the Purple web ?"
"Stay silent. Only use it for emergency communication. I'll take care of the rest."
After the tailor left, I thought about it. A suspicious king is more dangerous than an enemy brother. I had to create a diversion.
The next day, I met with the king voluntarily and reported a security breach in my room. I mentioned that some personal documents, including poems and love letters, were missing. I complained that someone might be trying to find a scandal to bring me down.
The king listened with an intimidating gaze, then said, "Or maybe you're hiding something, Aurelian."
I shrugged, trying to look innocent and naive. "Father, the only thing I'm hiding is an unfinished birthday present for you: A poem about your youth. I wanted to surprise you."
It was a risk, but the old king turned out to be sentimental. His expression softened slightly. "A poem? Do you still write?"
"Some habits are hard to break," I replied with a small smile. "But now I'm also studying financial reports. Both have their own beauty." I began to introduce myself vaguely.
The king chuckled, then coughed. "All right. I'll increase security around you. The second test will be administration. You will be given control over a troubled province: The Northern Province. For three months. We'll see if you can implement port reforms there.
The Northern Province is a notoriously difficult region with stubborn local nobles and a history of rebellion. It was a much greater challenge. But it was also an opportunity to build a real power base.
Before leaving, I held a final secret meeting with the core of the Purple Network. I appointed Leo as my emergency representative at the palace. I also ordered Kael, my swordmaster, to accompany me as my personal guard captain.
Finnian, now in exile, sent a farewell gift: A rare book on the history of the North. I examined it carefully for poison or hidden messages. There were none. Perhaps he was reconsidering the alliance, or perhaps it was a sign that he now considered me the main threat.
Cassian, on the other hand, openly belittled me in front of the nobles. "He will return without his hands, or not return at all. The North will eat him alive."
The journey to the North took two weeks. The terrain was rough and harsh. The cities were surrounded by walls, and the inhabitants were unfriendly. The provincial governor, Lord Beron, was an old nobleman loyal to the King, but he was old and tired, surrounded by greedy advisors.
I was greeted with a cold ceremony. Lord Beron welcomed me politely but without enthusiasm. "Welcome, Your Highness. We have heard about... your administrative prowess. May you find the North less complicated than the eastern ports."
It was a subtle insult. I smiled. "I am sure every problem has its own solution, Lord Beron."
I spent my first days listening. I visited the market, spoke with farmers (with disguised guards), visited small forts. The problems were clear: excessive taxes, petty nobles extorting the people, poor harvests due to a broken irrigation system, and the threat of attack from discontented mountain tribes.
Rather than implementing reforms immediately, I used the old mafia approach: identify the key players.
There were three: Lord Gareth, the largest landowner, greedy and connected to Cassian. Lady Moira, the widow who controlled the salt trade, cunning and neutral. And Chieftain Torin, the mountain tribe leader, whose people often raided because their land had been seized.
I invited Lord Gareth first, pretending to be unaware of his connection to Cassian. I praised him for his land management, then subtly mentioned that a new royal audit would examine the tax compliance of all the great nobles. His face turned pale.
To Lady Moira, I offered a deal: help improve the market and salt distribution system, and I would grant her a legitimate monopoly and royal protection from Lord Gareth's extortion. She agreed quickly. Of course she wanted stability.
The most difficult was Chieftain Torin. I requested a meeting at the border, with only Kael and two guards present. Torin arrived with ten of his rough soldiers.
"Prince on a lazy chair," he sneered. "What do you want? Our gold? Our lives?"
"I want to stop the waste," I replied, unprovoked. "Every attack you make brings the royal soldiers, drains resources, and causes my people to suffer. You attack because your land was taken and the agreement with your ancestors was broken. Is that right?"
Torin was surprised. "You... know?"
"I read history. And I believe in justice, not just power." I took out a scroll of maps. "Here is a proposal: your ancestors' land in the Black Stone River valley will be returned to you, with management rights. In exchange, you become the official border guards of the mountains for the kingdom, and your men stop attacking. Your children can study in the capital, and we will build trading posts."
It was an offer his tribe had never heard before, recognition and integration, not conquest or extermination. Torin looked at me for a long time, his eyes narrowed.
"Why should we trust you?"
"Because I'm not like the others. And because..." I looked him straight in the eye, using Viktor's authority to the fullest, "...because I'm not lying. The first step is to withdraw from your position on Cursed Hill within three days. As a sign of goodwill, I will withdraw the royal army from Tepian Village. Just watch."
Three days later, Torin retreated. I withdrew my troops. Trust began to form.
Meanwhile, with evidence gathered by my spies (several former bandits who now worked for me), I confronted Lord Gareth with records of tax fraud. I gave him a choice: pay a large fine and support agricultural reform, or be tried for embezzlement. He chose the former, losing both face and money.
Within two months, the Northern Province transformed. Taxes were reformed, irrigation improved, trade increased, and raids ceased. The people began calling me "Prince of Stone," harsh but fair.
The report to the King was very positive. He sent a letter of praise, but also a warning: Finnian had partially cleared his name by finding a "scapegoat" for the letter scandal, and Cassian had won a small battle in the south. The competition was still fierce.
The night before returning to the capital, I stood on the fortress balcony, looking at the mountains. The Purple Net had provided the latest report: Cassian, growing increasingly desperate, was considering drastic measures, perhaps even a coup if he was not elected Crown Prince. Finnian had quietly gathered support from nobles who feared Cassian and doubted me as the king's legitimate son.
The final gamble would come in the capital. The third test: diplomacy and relations with the people. But I knew this was no longer about tests. It was about who would survive.
Kael stood beside me. "You have done the impossible here, Your Highness. But the capital is a different kind of snake pit."
I smiled, the night wind ruffling my hair. "I know, Kael. But remember, in the underworld, the most dangerous snake is the one you can't see. And we... we are the shadows that have now learned to bite."
I twirl my personal seal ring on my finger. The ring with the purple sapphire eye. The final act is about to begin. And Viktor Dragov always saves his best card for the end of the game.