Other concerns

After Anya was taken back to her cell, Cathan sat about thinking of how he'd deal with the other threats. While he had defeated Anya, the story he was in had other possible invaders.

His biggest concern was his mother. There was also his uncle too but his mother was the most immediate problem.

From reading the other branches, he knew full well that she was just as depraved as her daughter, if not more so. Since he remembered his previous life, Cathan had spent the last ten years doing what she saw as "rebelling", though Cathan considered it to be setting up healthy boundaries. He would leave the castle without her permission and took a catgirl maid as a lover. His relationship with Kitty started off as a way of rebelling before growing into something more. His mother's influence almost got him denied training but he was able to sneak over demonstrate the skills he had at the time.

Cathan was surprised that Cain advocated for him. He always had mixed feelings about him. While their mother said that the world outside was a dangerous place for a prince, Cain told him that was actually why he should become stronger.

As Cathan pondered what to do, his mother came in.

"Why do you insist on showing such mercy?" she asked. "Has she gotten to your head?!"

"No, mother." he replied. "In fact, I'd hardly call it mercy at all. I simply do not wish to create a martyr. Sister will instead be broken down until she accepts her new place in this world."

"You are playing a dangerous game, my son. If you do not kill Anya, I will do it myself."

"You worried that I might end up married to her?" Cathan asked. "I know of your lust for me, your own son."

The bards said that Candace was the most beautiful in the kingdom, though Cathan suspected it had more to do with her being queen than anything else. He also hated his mother. He knew from reading the story that she considered him an embarrassment and didn't believe him worthy of the throne. That said, Cathan's current ambitions were merely to avoid the terrible fates he had read about but once all threats were eliminated, he could make a grab for the throne.

That said, the thought of his mother in the same position as his sister held a certain appeal to him.

Maybe the two could have a little girl on girl. In fact, he intended to use Candace to further humiliate Anya.

"I imagine that if your places were switched, she'd be asking of me exactly what you are right now," Cathan continued. "I honestly find it quite pathetic that you both catfight over a man who has no interest in either one of you. But I am willing to offer a compromise."