Dune: Prophecy episode 2 ends with Emperor Javicco Corrino sparing the life of Duke Ferdinand Richese rather than letting Desmond Hart kill him. Played by Travis Fimmel in Dune: Prophecy cast, Hart became an enigma in the series, as he is original to the series and has powers that are not shown in the books. He is a soldier who survived several tours of Arrakis before his squad was killed in an attack. He was then swallowed by a sandworm and managed to live, “reborn” with strange abilities.
Desmond Hart’s main ability appears to be making someone’s skin burn from the inside.which he can start and stop on a whim. In Dune: Prophecy At the end of episode 2, he does this to the Emperor to torture Duke Ferdinand Richese. However, instead of killing the pompous Duke as he did his son, Javicco orders Desmond to stop, leaving him to suffer on the floor. Given Richese’s threats, he may have been a safe choice to be sidelined for good, but Javicco made a tactical decision.
The Emperor used Desmond as a warning to Duke Ferdinand Richese in Dune: Prophecy
Emperor Javicco Corrino showed off his new weapon
The True Ones of the Brotherhood have been the power behind the Empire’s nobility for some time. In this final scene, Emperor Javicco Corrino demonstrated a new form of power in Desmond Hart, torturing a powerful duke with almost no effort. By killing Ferdinand Richese, Javicco would be left without an enemy, but the Duke could become a martyr to those who worked against the Empire as they could spread the news that the Emperor was a tyrant.
By sparing the Duke, Javicco instilled fear and lasting pain that the treacherous man will never forget and will live to tell the story of what happened there. Javicco has a new trump card on his side that has proven to be more powerful than a single True or even Mother Superior, with her resistance to the Voice. Notably, by keeping Ferdinand Richese alive, the agreement can still be enacted, which will grant the Imperium the fighter fleet.
Why Emperor Javicco Corrino needed House Richese to keep his deal
Emperor Corrino needs to control Arrakis for spice production
The fleet of combat ships is vital to Javicco Corrino, as The key to maintaining control of the known universe is spice production on Arrakis. Production has suffered in recent times due to attacks on the Fremen and, recently, an attack by the Imperium’s allies, and it is essential that Javicco controls this situation if he is to remain in power. Spice is the premier resource for the world of Dune: Prophecyand “whoever controls the spice controls the universe.”