One of the saddest aspects of Laurent's story is that he surely thought that the Regent only went after him because Auguste died, leaving him defenseless, and that he only tried to kill him in order to prevent Laurent from retaliating against him upon his ascension to the throne. Therefore, Laurent considered Damen's actions as the source of all his suffering. But the truth is that everything would have happened the same way with or without Damen.
The Regent had been after the throne from the beginning. He ordered Aleron's death before the battle of Marlas. It only makes sense to assume that he had planned to kill Auguste next, probably right after the King, so that he could get to Laurent before he got "too old".
Yes, Damen made it easier for him, but he would have managed to do it anyway. Even if there had been no war with Akielos, he would have found a way to get rid of his brother and nephew. Perhaps Aleron would have died in bed after a long and mysterious illness that the doctors “couldn't cure”. Perhaps Auguste would have been betrayed and killed “by his own guard” in his chambers. One way or another, Laurent would have been left alone with his uncle.
The only difference is that, in this scenario, Laurent would have had no reason to hate Damen and seek revenge. And without that, he might have ended up like Aimeric. And even if he had found the willpower to keep living, the Regent would have had no reason to send Damen to him as a slave. So Damen would have died with his father and Laurent would not have made it out of Arles alive without him.
Therefore, ironically, it was Damen's killing of Auguste that saved both their lives and ultimately prevented the Regent's victory.
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