The man did not react much.
He was quiet as he observed Paul.
The man's eyes flashed towards Paul's wrist for a moment before he glanced back at Paul.
"You are an Aberration"
"A Paradox that should not exist," The man spoke, his eyes hovering on Paul.
"Yet you exist."
'Who the fuck is this??' Paul thought to himself.
He wanted to lower his short sword slightly, but all of a sudden, his body felt like it could not move.
Paul felt his heartbeat speed up.
'What is going on...'
"You have caught my interest."
"Before I leave, I have left you something," The man said.
Paul felt his eyes grow heavy, his body weakened.
"You'll understand later." Paul heard before his eyes softly shut.
His body, which had felt like it was completely frozen freed and he dropped.
...
The sun had risen, and the rays filled Paul's chambers with light.
His eyes snapped open as he sat up with a loud gasp of air.
His chest rose and fell sharply for a few moments before his eyes looked around.
The blanket was on his body, and his shield was deactivated.
His hand moved quickly towards his pillow and the short sword was exactly as he had placed it.
Quickly getting out of bed, he rushed towards the door.
Swinging it open, Paul saw Duncan standing there in silence.
"You stood guard here all night?" he asked.
"Yeah, I did," Duncan said glancing towards Paul. A frown appeared on his face.
"Is everything alright?"
Paul was quiet for a moment.
"Did you not hear any noise coming from inside?" Paul asked and Duncan shook his head in denial.
Duncan was silent for a moment before he spoke.
"Let me inspect the room," he said and Paul nodded quietly.
Duncan walked in looked all around, but found nothing.
"Paul... maybe you had a nightmare," Duncan said as he came to the door after finding nothing.
'Definitely not a nightmare,' Paul thought to himself but he simply nodded in agreement.
A bit of time went by as the sun rose higher, and Thufir had just informed the spacing guild representative of Paul's desire to meet.
The representative sat in his room in silence, staring at the letter in his hands, he let out a sigh.
Putting it away, he activated his communicator.
"Paul Atreides has requested an audience with the spacing guild," He said.
The voice on the end was silent for a moment before it spoke.
"Senior Administrator Morn, representing the Spacing Guild will attend the audience," The voice on the other end said.
...
An hour later, in the throne room of the Imperial Palace.
Shaddam was silent as his eyes stared at Mohiam for several moments.
"Why is he still alive?" He asked.
"The point of contact was too short, although it was a stronger attack delivered to Duke Leto, I suppose it wasn't enough, it will take him before 3 days are over and his nerves are fully clotted," Mohiam said with a little frown.
"I cannot delay Landsraad for that long," Shaddam muttered.
Mohiam paused for a moment as if thinking, "Accidents... happen during duels."
"One can be arranged," she said as she stared at Shaddam who sat on his throne in silence for a moment before he nodded.
"I have a request however. Princess Irulan Corrino must be engaged to Feyd," Mohiam said.
'After Paul, Feyd is the best option... but Jessica is pregnant with a daughter, so engagement is the correct option at the moment,' Mohiam thought to herself.
"My daughters are not livestock you can just offer as you please" Shaddam said.
Mohiam nodded.
"She is not livestock, she is Bene Gesserit ."
Shaddam was silent for a few moments before he nodded.
"How should we handle Paul? He will meet with the spacing guild for concrete proof," Shaddam asked.
"I am afraid there isn't really much that can be done to prevent him from coercing the spacing guild."
Shaddam gritted his teeth.
"Just kill the bastard quick," he muttered.
...
The sun had just begun setting when Paul walked into a chamber and inside sat a man with a black and golden robe and a circular globe on his head, tinted with gold.
Thufir and Duncan entered but stood by the door, not approaching.
Paul walked in and sat at the table opposite the man.
'The spacing guild is always so mysterious. I have no clue who this is.'
He glanced at the table and noticed a teacup with a top cover.
"Have some Melange tea, Duke Paul." The man spoke with a deep exhale.
His voice sounded synthetic and enhanced.
Paul shook his head in refusal.
"The Melange tea is the finest tea in the universe," The man said.
Paul's eyes glanced down at the tea for a moment, and he paused for a moment before he looked at the man and shook his head in refusal, and the man did not insist again.
"I am Senior Administrator Morn, representing the Spacing Guild. We have an idea for why you have requested this audience," Morn said.
"I want to replace the Emperor," Paul said and Morn froze for a moment before leaning back on his chair.
"Not possible," Morn said and Paul smiled slightly.
'I can force them... they know I can.'
'But that will put me in a position no better than Paul in the stories, I will have no choice then.'
'The terrible purpose... the golden path must be avoided.'
'...for me.'
'I can do better.' he thought to himself.
"I was merely joking," Paul said.
"Bad taste."
"Maybe," Paul shrugged.
A moment of silence fell between them.
None of them spoke.
When the silence stretched too long, Morn face.
"Testify against the Emperor," Paul said.
Morn paused for a moment before he nodded.
"The Spacing guild is willing to testify against the emperor, we however suggest this is settled before the next session of Landsraad."
"I am afraid not," Paul shook his head.
Morn paused for a moment before he nodded.
Paul stood up and began making his way out of the chamber.
Morn watched in silence as Paul walked away before his eyes glanced towards the cup.
"A pity," he muttered as he established contact with the Emperor.
"The attempt failed." Morn quietly muttered.