Vol.0 Ch.131 The Duke’s Friends


    <span ss="userText">ric just finished scolding his son and sent him off before heading back to the party.


    <span ss="aiText">He looked around and noticed that many of the nobles were looking at him.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Have you had your fill?" ric <span ss="userText">asked everyone that was watching him and his family<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">He knew why they were staring and knew that there were going to be many whispering behind his back about his and his son''s conduct. So he needed to confront those who dared to <span ss="aiText">speak ill about him and his family.


    <span ss="userText">When confronted by the Duke<span ss="aiText">, the nobles couldn''t help but feel <span ss="editText">nervous <span ss="aiText">and turn<span ss="editText">ed<span ss="aiText"> away<span ss="editText"> acting like they didn''t see anything<span ss="aiText">. T<span ss="aiText">he<span ss="editText">y<span ss="aiText"> didn''t <span ss="editText">dare to<span ss="aiText">e near him and risk upsetting <span ss="editText">the Duke.


    <span ss="editText">"That''s what I thought..." Said ric as he turned on his heels and walked away<span ss="aiText"> from the nobles. What he needed was some <span ss="editText">wine <span ss="aiText">and his <span ss="editText">allies<span ss="aiText">. So he went in search of some wine first.


    <span ss="aiText">When he was out of the crowd''s view he <span ss="editText">just stopped<span ss="aiText"> and sighed and leaned against the wall.


    <span ss="aiText">"He''s going to be trouble, isn''t he?" A familiar voice asked Duke ric as he turned to see <span ss="editText">V<span ss="aiText">is<span ss="editText">count William Lysander walking towards him.


    <span ss="editText">"He is but a child. But yes he''s going to be trouble... My soncks tact and seems to be stubborn<span ss="aiText">," ric said as he took a ss of red wine from a waiter who was walking by.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Well, he better be ready <span ss="aiText">for w<span ss="editText">hen the timees... I always have faith in you Duke ric. You are the rightful heir to<span ss="aiText"> the throne," Viscount William <span ss="editText">whispere<span ss="aiText">d with a serious tone.


    <span ss="aiText">ric nodded, "Thank you. But I would be a fool to take the throne from my brother<span ss="editText">. Tha<span ss="aiText">t is<span ss="editText"> why we must get Marcus his rightful birthright back<span ss="aiText"> and get him on the throne. As I have stated before we can not let <span ss="editText">Duval<span ss="aiText"> ruin this country.<span ss="editText"> That fool will do everything in his power to avoid<span ss="aiText"><span ss="editText">conflicts at every cost. Even if that means the surrender of ournds."


    <span ss="editText">"Tell me about it... Did you <span ss="aiText">he<span ss="editText">a<span ss="aiText">r <span ss="editText">that the Divine Three contacted him... It seems those fanatics want to marry off one of their female objects<span ss="aiText"> to him as soon as they can," Viscount William said as he drank from his ss of wine.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I didn''t know but it isn''t unexpected<span ss="aiText">. I would be surprised if they didn''t contact him sooner orter... Especially since Duval is the most well-liked noble in the kingdom," ric said as he took a drink of his wine.


    <span ss="userText">"He''s only liked by most of the major lords... And you are wise to get the minor lords on your side<span ss="aiText">... Get the mob on your side and the kingdom is yours... They are loyal to house Revelia... That being said, d<span ss="editText">o you<span ss="aiText"> have a n? For you know who?" Viscount William asked with a serious look.


    <span ss="aiText">ric <span ss="editText">took a sip<span ss="aiText"> of his wine and then looked at the Viscount.


    <span ss="aiText">"I <span ss="editText">don''t know what you ar<span ss="aiText">e <span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText">alk<span ss="editText">ing about,"<span ss="aiText"> ric said as he looked away.


    <span ss="aiText">Viscount William looked at the Duke and s<span ss="editText">miled. He knew that meant he had a n and didn''t need to be involved. Which was fine by him.


    <span ss="editText">"Very well... We should look for <span ss="userText">Baron Alistair before he makes a fool of himself<span ss="aiText"> in front of the entire kingdom. I''ll be going," Viscount William said as he took his leave from the Duke.


    <span ss="aiText">The Duke nodded and watched the Viscount leave the room before going off in search of Baron Alistair.


    <span ss="userText">''That assassin bettere through<span ss="aiText">. Otherwise, I will have to deal with the consequences...''


    <span ss="aiText">The Duke thought as he looked around and spotted Baron Alistair.


    <span ss="aiText">ric smiled as he went in the direction of the Baron.


    <span ss="userText">"So, Alistair<span ss="aiText">. I hear that you''ve had quite an adventure recently. Care to tell me about it?" ric asked the Baron.


    <span ss="aiText">Baron Alistair smiled, "<span ss="editText">Duke ric! I wouldn''t know where to start<span ss="aiText">! My journey was long and filled with perilous challenges that I faced along the way... But I must tell you. I''ve never felt so alive, since my youth!"


    <span ss="aiText">"I see, so what exactly did you encounter in this <span ss="editText">perilous<span ss="aiText"> adventure of yours?" ric asked with a smile on his face.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well... We were in the middle of our trek across the Maldura ins when I felt something was wrong with the sky.<span ss="userText"> Everything seemed normal but everything was quiet and that''s when I noticed there wasn''t a bird in the sky...<span ss="aiText"> So, I decided to scout out ahead... And that''s when I saw it!" Alistair said with an excited voice.


    <span ss="aiText">ric <span ss="editText">smirked, "Saw what, Baron?"


    <span ss="editText">Before Alistair could answer the question two of the minor lords sighed and shook their heads.


    <span ss="editText">"You shouldn''t <span ss="userText">encourage this type of behavior, my lord<span ss="aiText">," said Lord Meriwell as he shook his head at the Baron.


    <span ss="aiText">Lord Clifton nodded and frowned at the Baron.


    <span ss="editText">The Baron was bbergasted by his friends'' remarks<span ss="aiText"> and turned to look at ric for help.


    <span ss="aiText">"Your Lordship. <span ss="editText">My colleagues think I''m under some type of delusion when I say that I saw a Griffin flying around<span ss="aiText"> the <span ss="editText">Maldura ins<span ss="aiText">!" Alistair said with a serious tone.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">You see my Lordship. A Griffin... There''s no way a Griffin was<span ss="aiText"> flying in the Maldura ins. It''s impossible!<span ss="editText"> They nest on the Southern tip of the continent where the Beastkin tribes are. Like I said full of delusions and grandeur,<span ss="aiText">" Lord Meriwell said with a sigh.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I bloody saw one in the ins you twit! It attacked me and I was able to defeat it all by myself<span ss="aiText">! And it was big! I''ve never seen anything like it!" Alistair said as he looked at Meriwell with a frown.


    <span ss="aiText">"Baron Alistair... I''m not trying to upset you but have you thought about why a Griffin would be flying in the middle<span ss="userText"> of<span ss="aiText"> the Maldura ins? And why a Griffin would attack you? They are not known to attack humanoids unless they are provoked. I think you''re just seeing things my friend," Lord Clifton said with a sigh.


    <span ss="editText">"And if the Baron did defeat this Griffin like he says he did, then why doesn''t he have the beak or a talon? Hell, even a feather would do<span ss="aiText"> for a trophy<span ss="editText"> and it shows you speak the truth<span ss="aiText">," Lord Meriwell said as he looked at the Baron.


    <span ss="aiText">Baron Alistair''s smile faded as he sighed.


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s not fair Meriwell!<span ss="userText"> I did fight it off and it was real. Not some made-up story just to get attention like my Menticor fib... I said that in jest<span ss="aiText"> to <span ss="editText">shut the both of you up about my hunting prowess<span ss="aiText">... But this time I''m telling you the truth," Alistair said with a frown.


    <span ss="aiText">The two lords looked at each other before looking back at the Baron.


    <span ss="userText">ric sighed as he listened to his nobles discuss Alistair''s story and chimed in.


    <span ss="userText">"So you fought it off and didn''t y it, Alistair? That doesn''t inspire confidence in your ims<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">The Baron shook his head, "Of course, I defeated it! It was only a Griffin! I know how to kill them!"


    <span ss="aiText">ric shook his head, "I thought you were the best hunter in the kingdom, Baron Alistair.<span ss="userText"> How are we supposed to y a dragon if you keep telling stories about your aplishments, aye?" said the Duke in a teasing tone.


    <span ss="userText">The Baron sighed in defeat, "It seems I have no one else to me but myself<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">"Indeed you don''t. And for the love of the god<span ss="editText">des<span ss="aiText">s tell the truth about this Griffin you saw," Lord Clifton said with a sigh.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">That wasn''t a lie Clifton<span ss="aiText">... You just need to trust my word this time. If you don''t want to believe me then fine! I''ll show you that Griffin <span ss="editText">is real if you decide to visit my territory sometime this month. Unless you are too afraid<span ss="undoDeletionText">,<span ss="aiText">" Baron Alistair said as he looked at his friends.


    <span ss="aiText">They looked at the Baron and sighed as they shook their heads.


    <span ss="aiText">"Baron... <span ss="editText">Even if the Griffin is really there in the ins. We have more important things to deal with<span ss="aiText">. Like he<span ss="editText">lping secure the minor lords'' support for the Duke<span ss="aiText">''s campaign. I have a bad feeling about the <span ss="editText">heir. I thought it was impossible for<span ss="aiText"> the Queen <span ss="editText">to give<span ss="aiText"> birth. But now with the heir and this <span ss="editText">rumor about the Divine Three offering an arranged marriage. Marcus might have lost his chance to be the next heir. We may be facing an uphill battle. We need toe up with a n," Lord Meriwell said as he looked at his allies.


    <span ss="editText">The Baron frowned as he looked at his friends.


    <span ss="editText">"Please... unexpected things happen all the time. The boy might not make it to age 10 when the trials to go into thebyrinths and prove his adulthood to the court... I find being patient is the best course of action <span ss="userText">my Lordship...<span ss="aiText"> Besides, we still have 11 years to <span ss="editText">get more nobles on our side and get your son as strong as possible before we should make our move<span ss="aiText">," Baron Alistair said as he tried to reason with his friend<span ss="userText">s<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Alistair... The fates have never been kind to me... I''m a patient man, but I will not rely on the fates to aid me when they never had... I have a n for the boy... Hopefully, I will see the results in due time, gentlemen."<span ss="aiText"> ric said as he took a sip of his wine.


    <span ss="aiText">"I must agree with <span ss="editText">Duke <span ss="aiText">ric on this one. I don''t think we should make any sudden moves that could endanger Marcus or any of us.<span ss="userText">" Lord Meriwell said with a frown.


    <span ss="editText">"I trust your n my Lordship. But do we have a backup strategy if things fall through?"<span ss="aiText"> Lord Clifton asked with a concerned look on his face.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">All I can say is I''m ying this one close to my vest, gentlemen... That is all I shall say on the matter,"<span ss="aiText"> The Duke said with a smirk on his face.


    <span ss="aiText">The other nobles just looked at him with worried looks. <span ss="aiText">The<span ss="editText">y knew what the Duke meant by that statement. They all assumed he hired a assassin and it made them nervous if word got out that the Duke was the one to order the prince''s death.


    <span ss="editText">ric looked at his friends'' worried faces and nodded, "You all need to enjoy the rest of the party and give my regards to the King and Queen.... Afterward, we will go to our territories and gather support from the lesser nobles... That will be all, gentlemen."


    <span ss="aiText">The three nobles bowed as they took their leave from the Duke.


    <span ss="editText">Once the men left ric finished his w<span ss="aiText">in<span ss="editText">e<span ss="aiText"> a<span ss="editText">nd w<span ss="aiText">en<span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText"> to<span ss="editText"> go find the rest of his family. He wasn''t going to be staying that much longer<span ss="aiText"> and wanted to make sure his son was fine before he left.


    <span ss="aiText">''I wonder how things are going to y out when the timees... Hopefully, I will have the backing of the minor nobles, and the nobles who don''t support Marcus will fall in line...'' ric thought as he walked into the main ballroom and looked around for <span ss="editText">his duchess<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">He then saw her with his<span ss="editText"> son and three daughters. The girls were staring at the dancing while Marcus was sulking. The Duke walked over to them with a smile on his face.


    <span ss="editText">"We should get ready to leave in a half hour or so... We have a busy day tomorrow morning<span ss="aiText">," The Duke said as he kissed his wife.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, of course, dear. I just need to make sure <span ss="editText">Marcus doesn''t make a fool of himself again<span ss="aiText">," The Duchess said as she kissed her husband<span ss="editText">.


    <span ss="editText">And after 30 minutes the Revelia''s left the party that went on into midnight<span ss="aiText">. The guests were shocked when they saw the Duke and Duchess leave the party. And many of the guests started to whisper among themselves about House Revelia''s sudden departure from the party.


    <span ss="aiText">They all thought it was strange and didn''t know what could have happened to make the Duke leave so soon.