Look at how quickly I actually wrote it.
Past and Present (sort of)
Chapter 4, the startling conclusion
“I couldn’t have your or your brother derailing my life-long work.”
“How do you know I would have hurt whatever it is your doing?” Asked Michael.
“Quite simply, you are Scottish,” his father said with a painful expression on his face. “As hard as it is to say, we Scots have never been known for our ingenuity. Most of our advantage has been from the fractured nature of the continent. Even after they broke off, their fractured nature prevented any monopoly on technology.
“What I’m working on is a weapon of terrible destruction. It would have the power to destroy whole cities in one blow. It’s the most awesome piece of weaponry devised, but it unfortunately takes time and vast space to create.
“You or your brother would simply not have the patience to wait for results. You probably would have murdered all the scientists after 6 months. Which brings me to my main point. You would have no idea how to use such a weapon.
“I will use it to bring the Loarns back on top. We’ll be far more powerful than the Orientals, or the hodgepodge of the continent. Hell, we could even subjugate the primitives in the west. But you, you would use the weapon itself, rather than its threat, and this would lead to destruction.”
Michael sat in an enraged silence. There were no words he could use to express what he was feeling. How dare his father, the one who orchestrated the Munich massacres, accuse him of being an ignorant, unsubtle, brute. He opened his mouth to shout his disdain, but found no words.
“I can’t have you unhinging everything I’ve worked for, so you simply cannot be my heir. Fortunately, I have another possible claimant to the throne.
“Arthur, will you step out here please.”
The door opened revealing a tall muscular man, with a shaved head. He had round, in descript facial features, the only noticeable attribute was his startling piercing eyes. They almost reminded Michael of his… father.
“Michael meet Arthur, your half brother. He is currently the only surviving Loarn besides myself and you. Of course, he is a bastard, but I can easily legitimize him when I find myself without an heir.
“Which won't happen you stupid old bastard,” came the cold reply from Michael, finally finding the right words for the situation.
“Well you see you have two choices,” his father said without flinching. “One you could sign this paper giving up your right to the throne, stating you feel you cannot after having killed your brother. Or you can die here and now, alone, with no one but yourself to blame. Live or die the choice is yours.”
Michael stared at the paper in his father’s outstretched hand. There it was the easy way out. But it would mean giving up everything that was owed to him. His years of anticipation and sacrifice of friends and enjoyment, all wasted.
“Come on we haven’t got all day,” said Arthur, breaking the silence.
“Hush Arthur, this isn’t an easy decision for him.”
“You shouldn’t be giving him a decision at all.”
“We already discussed why I’m doing this.”
They continued to bicker, but Michael didn’t care. He had already made up his mind.
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What will Michael decide
? I haven’t made a concrete decision, and readers can try to sway me towards what they think will give more interest.