Chapter 84 Courting the lords
Damien rapped softly on the table, and the door opened, revealing a middle-aged man.
“Lord Calvin!” He exclaimed, standing up from behind his seat to shake the older man's hand firmly.
“What a delight to see you.” He continued, fully aware of the man's disgruntledness but choosing to ignore it. “Please have a seat.” He pointed at one of the chairs just in front of him as he took his own seat behind the desk.
“To what do I owe this pleasure,” he continued.
The man he'd addressed as Lord Calvin, hissed loudly. “You had your men bring me here, remember?”
“Oh!” Damien smiled, slapping his forehead softly. “I hope you were not manhandled. It would really be a shame.”
“What do you want, Lord Hale?”
Damien lowered his gaze, his lips curled. “Now that you're asking, it would be a really big shame not to speak.”
He cleared his throat, a bright smile on his face. “I know you're fully aware of what's been happening…”
“You mean your intention of plotting a coup?” Lord Calvin interrupted.
Damien smiled. “Putting it that way seems a bit out of place, don't you think?”
Lord Calvin grunted. “I'm only here because I was forced against my will. If you have nothing important to say, then I'd rather take my leave.”
Damien whistled softly. “My sources tell me that you haven't chosen a side to support.”
“I didn't realise that was a requirement.” Lord Calvin said dryly.
Damien guffawed. “Not really.” His fingers tapped gently on the table, making a tap tap noise as he spoke.
“It's just…” he trailed. “What do you want?”
Lord Calvin shrugged, a smile playing on his lips for the first time. “Why would you think I want something?”
He stood up slowly, adjusting his robe. “I'm all for legitimacy. I may not be supporting Lucien, but it's only a matter of time before I do. Have a nice day Lord Hale.”
He said and began the walk to the door.
Damien sighed. He hadn't wanted to play these cards, but he'd prepared for it, nevertheless. “The lands at the Eastern border…”
Lord Calvin stopped in his tracks, his hand on the doorknob, shaking momentarily.
“What about them?” He turned around, forgetting his earlier reservation.
Damien gave a triumphant smile. “Why don't you have a seat, let's discuss this, Lord Calvin.” He motioned to the chair he'd just stood up from.
Lord Calvin looked like he was studying Damien. His eyes crossed the room, landing on the sneaky man as he fought within himself.
He'd been known several times as a man of integrity…
He shook his head, shaking the thoughts away as he walked back to the seat he'd just stood up from.
“Feels good to have you back.” Damien teased.
“What do you know about the lands at the Eastern border?” He fired the moment he was seated.
Damien smiled. “I'm not the enemy here, Lord Calvin.” He said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “If there's anyone I think I'm your anger should be directed at, it should be Lucien.”
He paused, picking up a pen and a folder of papers from the drawer behind him.
“His father took the land, and he has refused to allocate it back to its rightful owner and…” he stopped, pushing the papers to Lord Calvin.
Lord Calvin swallowed, his eyes bulging. Getting this land back would be the next best thing that had happened to his family in almost a century.
“What do you think, Lord Calvin?” Damien urged, leaning back into his seat.
“How did you get these papers?” Were the questions that flew out of Calvin's mouth.
Damien rolled his eyes, groaning. He'd known the man was difficult, but he'd been expecting him to give his full support the moment he saw the document.
“I think those questions are really unimportant, Lord Calvin. There are more important issues on the ground. Important issues like having your family reclaim their rights.” He cocked his head to the side.
“And I assume this is going to be in exchange for my support for you with the war?”
“You live up to your name, Lord Calvin. I'm glad I don't have to explain these things to you and how they work.”
Lord Calvin grunted, his eyes reaching greedily for the documents on the other side of the table.
“What are your terms?” He succumbed, his hands clenched.
Damien grinned. “Nothing much, just your loud, unwavering support.”’
Lord Calvin hesitated. “Just the support? You can get as many supports as you need. Why insist on mine?”
Damien chuckled. This was going to be the final icing on the cake. “Because I believe everyone is important. We have a duty to the people, but if the men aiming to fulfil that duty are not happy, then I don't see how the people can be happy.” He rubbed his hands together.
Unconsciously, Lord Calvin nodded.
“So,” Damien urged, his eyes travelling to the documents on the table.
“Yes,” Calvin nodded hurriedly, afraid that the deal would be off the table before he could blink.
Damien pushed the papers at him, with a pen. “It's nice seeing your eyes light up again, Lord Calvin.” He stood up, stretching out his hands for a handshake.
Calvin grunted, clutching the papers to his chest like a little child who had just found gold.
He took Damien’s hands, his nod grateful. Unlike the first time where Damien was the enthusiastic one, Calvin nodded enthusiastically.
“You would make a very good king, Lord Hale.” And with a final wave, he stepped out of the door, leaving Damien alone in the room.
Damien walked back to his seat, plopping down on his chair. That was as easy as it could get.
He curled his lips in disdain, annoyance flashing through his eyes at the thought of the news he had received earlier.
The mercenaries he'd sent to attack Lucien had fallen short of expectations, and one thing was sure, many of them had heard of the little battle that had taken place near the Northern plains. It was up to him to frame it better.
And what better place to do that than on the evening of the ball?
Damien guffawed as he thought about his intelligent plans. This was going to be flawless.
He glanced at his watch. It was time to meet another Lord. His plans were starting to come together.
Damien sighed as he shut his eyes, his mind wandering. When he'd been approached by them, he hadn't realised he had it in him to do all that he had been doing now, but apparently, he did.
And now, it was only a matter of time before he met the leader, the…
His secretary poked his head into the door.
“Lord Fabian is here for you, My Lord.” She whispered.
Damien opened his eyes, nodding. “Send him in.”
He rubbed his eyes as he sat up. Exhausted couldn't be used to describe how he felt, but he had work to do. It was what he'd accepted to do when he'd taken the role.
The door opened and Lord Fabian stepped in, his hands lodged firmly at his back. Every step he took seemed measured.
“Lord Benneth!” Damien exclaimed, rising to his feet as he welcomed the older man.
“I didn't think you would honour my request. Please sit.” He blabbed as he motioned to the chair.
“Scotch? Bourbon?” He said as he walked over to the drink section on the other part of his office.
“That will absolutely not be necessary.” Lord Benneth said dryly.
“Hmm,” Damien grunted as he raised his brows. “Well, I could get some for myself.” He continued, pouring a drink for himself, before walking back to the table.
“I believe you know why you're here.” He began, taking a sip.
Lord Benneth nodded, his forehead creased. “Which is why I've come to make it easy for you. The answer is no.”
Damien chuckled. “Straight to the point I see, which is exactly why I need you in my team.”
Lord Benneth’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling in annoyance. “Stubborn or just being obtuse?”
Damien shrugged. “Insistent is the word I'd rather use, Lord Benneth.” He picked out a form from underneath his drawer.
“This should help change your mind.”
Lord Benneth's eyes widened as he read the content of the document. “This is supposed to convince me?”
Damien shrugged. “Not entirely I suppose. It's meant to be a prop.”
Lord Damien nodded, a smile of disgust on his face. “Perhaps, you should try harder, Lord Hale.”
He stood up, adjusting his robe. “Maybe if you'd asked around, you would have learned that I cannot be bought around with bribes.”
Damien nodded, a serious expression on his face as he walked Lord Benneth to the door.
“I believe that's what everyone says.” His hands stroked his beard. “Everyone has a price including you, Lord Benneth. It's only a matter of time before I find it.”