Judge had always been extremely careful about using people to do what he desired. When he saw more strings attached to the story than his scissors of deception could cut, he took the first return train out of the act.
That was also what he had planned to do with Stein, the second prince. His initial plan was simple: manipulate Stein into being a puppet ruler, making sure the man trusted Judge enough to follow his "requests" with the same blind devotion as a dog spotting its owner holding a steak.
But, as always, the world was allergic to letting things go smoothly. Even more allergic when it was Judge doing the smoothing, or so his experience told him.
At first, Judge thought he had won the lottery when Stein seemed like the ideal candidate: a man with enough ambition to want the throne but not enough cunning to realize he was being played. It was all too perfect. Then came the problem — Renald, the first prince.
