"Alfonso Lockheart, I have to ask, what did you give to my mother for her to protect you for this long?" Asked Pierre.

"Nothing much really, in fact, technically, I didn't give her anything" Said Alfonso.

"Oh, well, anyway, the fact that we have to protect you is true, so, you are our stemmed here in storm manor" Said Pierre.

Currently, Alfonso and Pierre were walking towards the entrance of Storm manor, the home of the Veritia family.

"I have here the rumors, however, it is stunning to see it in person" Said Alfonso.

Storm manor was at least, five times bigger than the manor in Wasteland Valley, Alfonso could even call his home a rat hole compared to this.

"If fancy yes, however, everything was bought by mother so is not something to be proud about" Said Pierre with a smile.

Alfonso knew about Pierre Veritia, however, he only know him for the rumors about him being the monarch of the sword, however, taking to him and beginning to know him better, he felt that this man, that had all the right to be as proud and arrogant as he wanted, was rather humble and kind.

"How come you are so different from Claude even though you grew in similar environments?" Asked Alfonso.

"Because we had different connections and priorities, I don't blame Karl for the way he raised Claude, in fact, I can see that he is an excellent father, just… he needed to be a little bit more strict with Claude… anyway, my mom, raised me the same way, I could say that I was… no, I am spoiled, however, I had someone that tough me that power is not everything in the world" Said Claude.

"You sure are strange" Said Alfonso.

"The donkey talking about ears, hehe" Laughed Pierre.

"You mean that I am strange?" Asked Alfonso.

"For instance, how come that you need assistance in walking, as far as I know, you aren't blind" Said Pierre.

"I had an accident" Said Alfonso.

"Yeah sure, keep the act, if you really are blind, how come you evade every single hole that your cane could fell in" Said Claude with a smile.

In fact, Alfonso really couldn't see, with his eyes at least, however, his will power let him control 'see' the environment around him, he could walk by himself if he wanted to, however…

"Being a blind weak man has its own advantages" Though Alfonso.

By the way, the one assisting him was Clara.

"What's more, Alfonso Lockheart, I consider myself quite proficient at reading people's heart, with the things that you went through, vengeance would be the first of your priorities, or at least I would expect something around those lines… however…"

Pierre turned to look at Alfonso.

"I have done my homework, despite everyone's thoughts about you getting revenge in your funeral, you didn't actually do something, you basically told us…'stop messing with me', and your attitude so far has been developing your town… so my question here is… what are you up to?" Asked Pierre.

"Nothing much really, is kind of hard to think in vengeance and those stupid things went I have to focus every day to survive, you know the condition of Wasteland Valley, don't you?"

"Well, that's true" Said Pierre.

"Anyway, my thoughts on revenge are zero, however…"

Alfonso smiled.

"If they try to mess with me, now that's another story" Said Alfonso.

Pierre laughed.

"It seems that you really hate your brothers" Said Pierre.

"They are… unique in their own way, however, I can't blame then if they don't like me, but no, I don't hate them, I just don't want anything to do with them" Said Alfonso.

"Are you sure?" Said Pierre with a smile.

"Well… not all of them at least" Said Alfonso.

"You are quite interesting, that's why I will let you know something good" Said Pierre.

"What is it?"

"First, the Veritia family has distanced themselves from the first prince" Said Pierre.

"And that is because…?"

"Leonardo went after you because of Fernando's order, clearly an offense to mother, so, we decided to maintain a certain distance from him until he decides to apologies" Said Pierre.

"There is more chance that he goes bald than he apologizing" Said Alfonso with a sarcastic smile.

"I know that… I was the one who suggested the idea" Said Pierre with a smile.

"Hoh? It seems that the Veritia house doesn't have that much faith in Fernando anymore" Said Alfonso.

"That's true, his recent actions have made us think twice about who do we support for the throne"

"Might I ask who do you want to support?"

"We are still thinking" Said Pierre.

"What about you? Who do you want to support?"

"I don't think that any of my brothers or sisters want my support" Said Alfonso.

"Oh! I wouldn't be so sure" Said Pierre.

"Why?"

"Well, think about it, all your family wants to kill, but that is because you are an unknown variable in the game, however… if you were to suddenly stand under a flag, then, I can assure that whatever prince or princess, they would be more than happy" Said Pierre.

"I haven't thought in that way" Said Alfonso.

"This fight for the throne is just a game, there are players and pieces of chess, however, who is the player and who is the piece of chess, now that would be the question you should be asking yourself" Said Pierre.

"At first glance, the players are the royal family" Said Alfonso.

Pierre smiled.

"However, that depends on your perspective, for them, we are the chess piece, but for us… we are the players"

"Whoever assumes the throne, depends on how many families can they put under their wing, there are two ways to do this, first, its loyalty, this represents the 1% of all of the houses, a minimal percent" Said Pierre.

"And the other 99%?" Asked Alfonso.

Pierre smiled sarcastically.

"What more could it be?"

"Loans"