But now, just after arriving at Frost Halberd City, he was unexpectedly "invited to take the stage."

"I..." He almost refused outright, but swallowed his words with clenched teeth. "I will comply with the arrangement."

At night, he returned to the carriage, not speaking a word along the way.

Returned to the temporary camp in Frost Halberd City.

Astha paced slowly in the tent, his cloak trailing on the ground.

"They knew I was coming long ago, yet no one informed me of the meeting in advance." He muttered to himself, his tone cold and heavy.

This was not just a sudden arrangement; it seemed deliberately aimed at catching him off guard.

He stood up, pacing slowly in the tent, his cloak trailing on the ground.

Were these local powers scheming against him, making him anxious and uneasy.

At this moment, the curtain was gently lifted, and an elderly man stepped into the tent—it was his mentor, Saif.

Saif got straight to the point: "Your Highness, this is an arrangement, not a mistake."

Astha furrowed his eyebrows slightly: "An arrangement?"

Saif nodded, picking up the brief from the table, flipping through it, then glancing at the map with a faint smile.

"Duke Edmund is not deliberately making things difficult for you. If he really wanted to cause trouble, he could easily delay granting land or let you linger outside the city for a few days, and the Lords would immediately know you have no real power."

"But he didn't. As soon as you arrived in Frost Halberd, he met with you without delay, exchanged pleasantries, granted land, and invited you to attend the meeting, without omitting a single step."

Astha remained silent, his gaze deepening.

Saif gently brushed over the ashes on the table, as if clearing away a layer of fog, and said, "He does not reject cooperation, but he is not a benevolent person. Edmund is an old fox, experienced in the life-and-death power plays between the court, military, and noble factions.

Of course, he wants to present you with a meeting gift. You take the stage unprepared, with no allies, he wants to see if you are a tame prince or a fox with claws."

Astha lowered his eyelashes, listening quietly.

"There's a deeper layer," Saif's tone slowed, "He is currently surrounded by representatives from three departments—finance, inspection, and military—all with their own schemes, none trusting him."

"He needs you, the Prince, this balancing thorn, to use you to keep them in check with each other."

"If you act like a docile mascot, he'll sideline you, but if you respond appropriately, with judgment and foresight, you'll be included in his next phase of the Northern Territory's plans."

Astha looked at the southwestern territory on the map allocated to him, his gaze complex, "So I... must take this stage."

Saif nodded, his tone calm yet firm, "You have no way out, Your Highness. The structure of this meeting is very clear with thirteen seats.

Eight seats belong to the Northern Lords, all nominated by Edmund, the remaining five seats are jointly appointed by the Office of Inspection, the Ministry of Finance, the Military Affairs, and the Imperial Capital's Logistics Bureau... and only the last seat is yours."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the map spread out in front of Astha, and added softly, "Your identity as the prince does not mean you have their trust. Don't think about using this meeting to vie for power, nor rush to make a stance.

Those who came from the Imperial Capital are not your allies; they only act under royal orders, and also seek their own benefits, anyone might betray you. And the local power, Edmund, he is an old fox, but you cannot bite him yet.

So what you need to do is not to draw the sword, but to observe the game. They are all waiting for you to make a move. But the smartest thing to do is not to make a move, not to take sides, not to act impulsively, or give any handle.

Let them know you are watching, you understand, but you will not enter the game lightly.

Astha furrowed his brows slightly, pondering for a long time, finally responding in a low voice, "... I understand."

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