Conquering Planets: Rise of the Cosmic Tyrant-Chapter 15: who would outplay whom?

Aldric didn’t believe in luck.

Only power.

Power won him the throne.

Power crushed his enemies.

And power would keep him on top—so long as he played the game better than anyone else.

The nobles were cowed. For now.

But Aldric wasn’t foolish enough to think that fear alone would keep them loyal.

He needed something stronger.

Something that would bind them to him—permanently.

A Kingdom to Secure

The morning sun filtered through the high windows of the war chamber, casting long shadows across the map spread before Aldric.

The kingdom was his. Officially.

But maps were liars.

A border drawn in ink was meaningless without men to enforce it.

Lands he had "claimed" were still restless. Cities still whispered of Cedric, the deposed king. And the outer provinces, ruled by lords who had sworn begrudging allegiance, were waiting for the first opportunity to rebel.

Aldric tapped his fingers against the table, thinking.

"We need more troops," Elya said, standing across from him.

Aldric nodded. "Agreed. But we also need coin."

War had drained the treasury. A single misstep and the entire kingdom would collapse under its own weight.

He turned to Verren, his steward. "Who has gold to spare?"

Verren hesitated. "The merchants, mostly."

Aldric smiled. "Then let’s pay them a visit."

A Meeting with the Merchants

The Merchant Council was the real power behind the kingdom’s economy.

A collection of self-made men who valued profit above all else.

They didn’t care who sat on the throne—so long as business thrived.

Aldric strode into the council chamber, flanked by Elya and two guards.

The merchants sat around a massive oak table, their silks and jewelry displaying obscene wealth.

Lord Auren, the head of the council, folded his hands. "Your Majesty. To what do we owe this visit?"

Aldric didn’t waste time.

"I need gold."

Auren chuckled. "Gold, you say? And what do we receive in return?"

Aldric met his gaze.

"You get to keep your heads."

Silence.

Auren’s smirk faltered. "Surely, Your Majesty jests."

Aldric leaned forward. "Does it look like I’m jesting?"

The merchants shifted uncomfortably.

Elya spoke next. "The kingdom’s stability benefits you as much as it benefits us. Or would you prefer trade routes overrun by bandits? Cities in chaos?"

Auren exhaled slowly. "And how much do you require?"

"Enough to raise two more battalions," Aldric said. "And to rebuild the eastern roads."

Murmurs among the merchants.

Auren’s eyes narrowed. "That is... a considerable sum."

Aldric smiled. "A wise investment."

Auren studied him, then sighed. "We will provide the funds."

Aldric nodded. "Good."

Because had they refused, he would have simply taken it by force.

The Cost of Betrayal

That night, as Aldric returned to the palace, a messenger intercepted him.

A breathless young man, dirt on his boots, fear in his eyes.

He fell to one knee. "Your Majesty... urgent news."

Aldric gestured for him to continue.

"It’s about Lord Davos."

Aldric’s expression hardened.

Lord Davos ruled one of the border provinces—a man who had sworn loyalty after Cedric’s fall but had always been... uncertain.

"What about him?"

The messenger swallowed. "He’s... raising an army."

Silence.

Then, Elya stepped forward. "How reliable is this information?"

"Very," the messenger said. "Our spies saw it firsthand."

Aldric exhaled.

Tavian had been a coward.

Davos was not.

If he was gathering an army, it meant he was preparing for war.

Aldric turned to Elya. "How many men does he have?"

"Five thousand, at most."

Aldric’s jaw tightened. He had more troops, but if other lords joined Davos, this could spiral into a civil war.

And civil war was unacceptable.

He needed to end this quickly.

Aldric looked at Elya. "Ready the troops. We march at dawn."

The Battlefield

Davos had fortified his city, thinking it would be enough.

It wasn’t.

Aldric’s army arrived in force—banners flying, steel gleaming.

He gave Davos one chance to surrender.

Davos refused.

So Aldric burned the city.

It wasn’t a battle. It was a massacre.

By nightfall, Davos was dragged before him, bloodied and defeated.

The once-proud lord knelt in the mud, breathing heavily. "You’re... a monster."

Aldric looked down at him. "And yet, I’m the one who won."

With a single motion, he had Davos executed.

No trials.

No mercy.

Just a message.

By the next morning, the other nobles understood.

There would be no more rebellion.

----

Victory was supposed to feel satisfying.

Instead, Aldric felt only exhaustion.

He stood on the balcony of the royal palace, staring down at the city below. The people were quiet, the air thick with the unspoken understanding that their king had crushed yet another enemy.

Davos had been a fool.

Aldric had given him a chance—one chance—to bend the knee. He had refused. Now, his lands were ash, his name a warning.

And yet... Aldric knew this was far from over.

The Consequences of Power

Elya entered the chamber, her expression grim.

"The other nobles are afraid," she said. "But fear only lasts so long. If they sense any weakness—"

"They’ll strike," Aldric finished.

Elya nodded.

Aldric clenched his jaw. He had spent years fighting for this throne. But ruling a kingdom was proving to be a different kind of war.

One that required a different kind of strategy.

"Any signs of another rebellion?" he asked.

"Not yet," Elya said. "But we received a message from the kingdom of Valtor."

Aldric raised an eyebrow. "Valtor?"

"They request an audience. Their king wants to discuss... an alliance."

An alliance?

Aldric didn’t trust it.

Valtor had remained neutral during the war. Their king, Edric the Silver-Tongued, was known for his cunning. If he was reaching out now, it meant he wanted something.

Aldric’s fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair.

"Summon the council," he said. "I want every detail about Valtor on my desk by midnight."

Elya hesitated. "And if Edric proves... untrustworthy?"

Aldric smiled coldly. "Then I’ll remind him why I’m the one sitting on this throne."

A Dangerous Proposition

Three days later, King Edric arrived in Aldric’s court.

He was older, dressed in fine silks, his silver beard neatly trimmed. Unlike the trembling nobles who bowed before Aldric, Edric carried himself with confidence—as if they were equals.

They weren’t.

"King Aldric," Edric said, offering a respectful nod. "I must say, you’ve done well for yourself."

Aldric didn’t bother with pleasantries. "Why are you here?"

Edric chuckled. "Straight to the point. I admire that." He folded his hands. "I come with an offer. A proposal that would benefit us both." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Aldric leaned forward. "Speak."

Edric’s gaze sharpened. "A marriage."

Silence filled the throne room.

Aldric’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.

"You want me to marry one of your daughters?"

Edric nodded. "A union between our houses would solidify peace. Your rule is still young. There are... those who would see you fall. I can ensure that doesn’t happen."

Aldric laughed.

Not out of amusement, but because he saw the trap.

A marriage meant ties.

Ties meant obligations.

And Aldric bowed to no one.

Still, he didn’t dismiss the offer outright.

Instead, he studied Edric. "And what do you get out of this?"

Edric smiled. "Protection. Trade. Influence."

In other words—leverage.

Elya stepped forward. "This is a bold request."

Edric nodded. "Bold times call for bold actions."

Aldric tapped his fingers against the throne.

Marrying into Edric’s family could stabilize his rule. But it could also be a shackle.

And Aldric hated shackles.

After a long pause, he said, "I’ll consider it."

Edric’s smile never faltered. "That’s all I ask."

The Price of Trust

That night, Aldric sat in his chambers, deep in thought.

Elya poured a goblet of wine, watching him carefully.

"You don’t trust him," she said.

Aldric took a sip. "Should I?"

Elya shook her head. "No. But... the offer has merit."

Aldric exhaled. "I didn’t fight this hard to be tied down."

"Then don’t be," Elya said. "Accept the proposal, gain what you can from it... and when the time comes, cut the rope."

Aldric smirked.

That was why he valued Elya. She understood the game.

The only question was—who would outplay whom?