Light crept into the room, slow and unwelcome.
Paul sat upright on his bed.
His leg crossed, trying to focus on his nerves.
As the rays of light hit his eyelids, they fluttered open.
He was quiet.
Slight bags under his eyes as he glanced around the room.
His eyes shifted towards his wrist where it hovered for a few moments.
"What am I missing...?" He muttered.
A sigh escaped his lips as he got out of bed and stretched his body a little. His joints cracked as he stretched.
Letting out a breath of air, Paul glanced around the room in silence for a few moments before moving to get dressed.
...
Midday period.
Paul walked into the garden.
Meanwhile, Thufir and Duncan tailed behind him.
Walking on the stone brick pathways, Paul arrived at the patio, where Count Aldric and Sera were peacefully drinking tea.
"You wished to meet?" Paul asked as he took a seat opposite Aldric and Sera.
Aldric nodded in silence.
"The terms you offered were no doubt attractive," he said, pausing for a moment as he took a sip of Melange tea.
"Which is why we wanted to meet you even more."
"You must have questions then."
"Why are you trying to rush the Landsraad?" Aldric asked.
'Straight to the jugular,' Paul thought to himself.
"Because the Emperor is more dangerous with time than without it."
Aldric was silent for a moment before he set his tea down.
"House Richese is willing to agree, we don't want the spice allocation, we want exclusive guaranteed contracts to supply and operate equipment for Atreides spice harvesting operations on Arrakis." He paused for a moment
"For twenty years. In writing."
'This is...'
'... Good' Paul thought to himself, but he didn't agree just yet.
His eyes flashed towards Thufir, whose eyes had just turned white.
A few moments passed, and nobody spoke up as Thufir ran calculations.
Finally, Thufir's eyes returned to normal and he nodded towards Paul.
"I agree," Paul said, staring at Aldric.
Aldric paused for a moment as his eyes panned over to Thufir and back over to Paul, and Sera watched in silence as Paul agreed to the condition set forward with ease, a small frown hung on her lips.
"There is more to the reason you wish to rush the Landsraad, am I right?" She asked.
Paul did not respond as he stared at her.
"The Emperor is more dangerous with time than without it," he repeated.
No one spoke up for several moments after.
Finally, Count Aldric set his tea cup after taking a few sips.
"House Richese, in cooperation with House Ecaz and House Vernius, and with the support of a vast number of Minor houses, will draft the petition post haste." he said.
Paul nodded as he stood up. "Looking forward to our cooperation," he said, adjusting his black coat slightly, and then began walking away.
Stepping out of the patio, Paul walked through the stone pathway in silence before entering the imperial palace. That is when he glanced back at Thufir.
"Have them get the contract of cooperation with House Atredes and House Richese ready, I want to sign it quickly" he said before turning his head forward, he began walking towards his room.
'Leto had no warning. I have had time and I still cannot find it,' he thought to himself as he quietly headed to his room.
'Jessica taught the theory of reversal for a reason. It exists because it works.'
'Find it.' he thought as his jaw clenched.
Inside the patio, Count Aldric set his teacup down and Sera silently followed, setting her teacup down.
"We must begin to move," Aldric said.
"Contact the house and alert them and begin drafting the contract and letter," he said.
Sera, however, was silent for a moment and did not move.
"Duke Paul seems to have been hiding a deeper reason as to his rush," Sera said.
Aldric nodded.
"That is clear to see," he said.
"What if he is dying and wants to grab as many benefits as soon as possible?" Sera asked, but a frown appeared on Aldric's face.
"You cannot assume or jump to a conclusion like this child, that is what pushed Duke Paul away last time," Aldric scolded and Sera fell silent for a moment.
Her eyes hovered on the tea for a few moments before she spoke.
"Simply drafting a letter to the Emperor will not force Shaddam to start immediately as Duke Paul desires." Sera said.
Aldric glanced at her in silence.
"How many houses signed the petition?" She asked.
Aldric thought for a moment before speaking, "three great houses and with us and a slight majority of Minor Houses."
Sera went silent for a moment as she stared at Aldric.
"We can do much better than drafting a letter urging Shaddam."
She said as she quietly picked up her tea and took a sip of it, while Aldric was silent for a moment.
Slowly, his eyes widened slightly.
"Draft the letter" he muttered.
"We must take care of our allies."
"After all, if we allow the Emperor more time to accumulate support, our contracts will mean nothing" He said, picking up his tea he quickly drank whatever was left of it.
"Let's move swiftly," he said as Sera finished her tea and quietly set it down.
...
Inside the throne room.
Shaddam sat on his throne, meanwhile Mohiam stood by.
A messenger stood in the center of the hall as he announced what was written on the letter.
"In accordance with the rights granted under the Landsraad Charter, the undersigned Great Houses and Minor Houses hereby petition for immediate resumption of session to address Imperial suspicions on violations of inter-house balance..." he said reaching the end of the letter, but he paused for a moment before he finished reading the rest of the letter.
"The undersigned requests that Emperor Shaddam IV be present for the duration of proceedings," he said.
Silence settled across the chamber.
Shaddam's fingers tightened against the armrest.
Three Great Houses.
A major majority of minor ones.
'Paul has sacrificed several resources for this push from the houses... he is getting impatient,' Mohiam thought to herself.
His eyes shifted briefly toward his Truthsayer Mohiam before he glanced towards the messenger.
"Leave" Shaddam said, and the messenger bowed, turning around, and he quickly exited the room.