Mohiam knocked on a door.
A few moments passed before Feyd opened the door.
"Reverend Mother Mohiam," Feyd muttered.
Mohiam nodded in silence.
"Have you been well, Young Feyd?" Mohiam asked.
Feyd was silent for a few moments, his eyes hovering on Mohiam before he nodded.
"Duke Paul... he has put House Harkonnen in a very precarious situation." Mohiam paused after saying that, her eyes hovering on Feyd.
Feyd did not respond however.
Mohiam observed Feyd for a few moments before continuing to speak.
"A few families would really appreciate it if you stepped forward and addressed this embarrassment House Harkonnen is facing."
Feyd thought for a moment before he spoke, "What is in it for me?"
"Engagement to the Emperor's daughter, Princess Irulan Corrino." Mohiam said without pause.
"Not enough," Feyd said.
Mohiam grew silent for a moment before she spoke, "What is enough?"
He thought for a few moments.
"House Harkonnen."
...
"Young Paul, House Thorvald has requested audience" Thufir said as soon as Paul walked out of the chambers belonging to Vorn.
'House Thorvald... The house is the leader of the rebellion against Paul when he tried to ascend the throne in the books, but right now... Memnon, his sister, has passed away recently.'
'He must not have a good impression of the emperor, can be a potential ally,' Paul thought to himself.
"Accept their request," Paul said without looking back at Thufir.
"There is one more matter, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen has invoked the Kanly Rule."
Paul paused for a moment.
Glancing back at Thufir, a frown appeared.
'Kanly Rule... is he high?' Paul wanted to say, but he controlled himself.
Duncan on the side laughed out loud with joy.
"This is perfect, you can finally get that boy, I heard rumours that he is the successor Baron is setting up, this would be a huge blow to House Harkonnen," Duncan said with a wide smile.
Paul stood still as his thoughts ran.
'I am the aggrieved party here, yet he is intending to challenge me even though he is the aggressor. Did House Harkonnen finally lose their minds?' Paul scoffed a little.
'He can kill me using a poison needle as he did in the original.'
'But...'
'If I refuse now, House Harkonnen wins, not financially, but they win politically.'
'I will have the reputation of a coward...'
"Duke Paul... I humbly suggest you do not accept this," Thufir said.
"What?!" Duncan exclaimed.
"He is Paul Atreides, a Harkonnen brat does not stand a chance against him," Duncan said pointing at Paul.
Paul tightly frowned, hearing Duncan's words.
"Come on Paul tell this old man" Duncan said. There were genuine twinkles in his eyes at this point.
Paul gulped slightly.
His eyes slowly moved towards Duncan.
"I am sorry Duncan... But fighting him will not grant House Atreides any extra benefits" Paul slowly said as he watched the sparkles in Duncan's eyes die out.
Thufir on the side smiled.
"That is a very wise decision Duke Paul. I shall inform House Harkonnen of your decision regarding their insolent challenge," Thufir said.
Paul nodded slightly.
...
A few hours quickly slipped by and in the throne room, Shaddam was staring at Mohiam.
"So did they accept the challenge?" Shaddam asked, staring at Mohiam.
"Duke Paul did not accept the challenge" Mohiam said.
Shaddam paused for a moment. He took a deep breath in, his breathing a little shaky.
A few moments passed before he spoke.
"Leave" he said softly, looking at Mohiam.
Sitting high on his throne, he watched Mohiam slowly walk out of the room.
His eyes were sharp as his thoughts churned.
'Mohiam's method worked on Leto. The boy should be dead soon.' Shaddam thought, letting out a heavy sigh.
'He forced the Guild to testify publicly... they couldn't refuse him. Not with Arrakis in his hands.' Shaddam pinched his temple.
'Leto I could read. Honorable. Predictable. A man who believed in the rules.'
'This boy uses the rules like weapons.'
Then the final thought, incomplete:
'If Mohiam fails...' Shaddam did not complete the thought as he leaned his back on the chair with a frown.
'I must begin bringing houses to my side...'
...
Thufir entered Paul's chamber.
"Yes Thufir, what is the damage?" Paul asked as Thufir walked in.
"House Thorvald has withdrawn their request for audience after hearing of your refusal of the challenge," Thufir said.
Paul hummed calmly.
'Life is worth more than some reputation...' he thought to himself with a small frown.
"However, once House Ecaz discovered your decision to refuse, and they conveyed satisfaction over it and wished to request audiences with you," Thufir said with a small smile.
Paul glanced towards Thufir, his eyebrows slightly raised in surprise.
'House Ecaz has genuine grievances against House Harkonnen.'
'...When one door closes, another opens' Paul thought to himself.
"Thufir, this is good news. Arrange for me to meet House Ecaz," he said.
Thufir thought for a moment, his eyes flickering white for a moment before he nodded.
"Guys" Duncan said as he walked into the room holding a letter.
"A messenger belonging to House Vernius arrived here and handed me this letter," Duncan said as he opened the letter instead of handing it to Paul.
Taking out the message, Duncan began to read it out loud.
Paul sat in silence as he listened to the contents before nodding his head.
"Thufir inform House Vernius that I am willing to meet them."
'The Atreides-Vernius friendship is ancestral, they will be useful in coercing the emperor during Landsraad.'
Letting out a long breath, Paul stood up from the chair.
His eyes glancing at Thufir.
"How are things going back on Arrakis? Has Gurney woken up yet?"
"He is still unresponsive, Dr. Yueh however, has given more accurate estimates after observations, he will wake up soon," Thufir said and Paul nodded.
Paul thought for a moment before he spoke, "Has there been any news on the fremen?"
"Cooperations are proceeding smoothly, trust is slowly building as they have recently sent a few fremen to be trained at our production lines."
Paul nodded in silence.