Vol.0 Ch.140 There’s a Traitor Among Us


    <span ss="userText">Upon entering the Royal Pce<span ss="aiText">, Duke ric Revelia was greeted by the royal knights, and he was escorted into the main throne room.


    <span ss="userText">Everything was much quieter than when the pce was bustling with Prince Quinus''s party earlier that<span ss="aiText"> evening.<span ss="userText"> But with theck of<span ss="aiText"> people andmotion, the silence was almost haunting.


    <span ss="aiText">ric''s footsteps echoed throughout the halls, and he had a frown on his face.


    <span ss="aiText">''<span ss="userText">Time to make my presence<span ss="aiText"> known,'' ric thought as he entered the throne room.


    ***


    <span ss="aiText">King Cyndre, Queen Rianna, and the nobles were already present<span ss="userText"> with Earl Nathaniel Valerian and Baron Johnathan Dule by their side.


    <span ss="userText">Earl Nathaniel Valerian is Cyndre''s best friend and his domain is to the north of the capital. Also known as the fertilends of Aurora ins. His territory is one of the richest domains in all of Fiafyr.


    <span ss="userText">Baron Johnathan Dule, on the other hand, is a Baron who rules over the western domain called Eder Hills. He is Cyndre''s friend and has a close friendship with Earl Nathaniel as well. His territory is mostly hills and had the Eldermyst Woods, a forest located in the northwest part of his domain. And his territory bordered the Galfrei Range which is ruled by Baron Arathar Coldforge. With the help of the purple g, he was able to grow crops that Eder Hills normally couldn''t.


    <span ss="userText">Johnathan was a little younger than the King and had a young son who was the same age as the Duke''s son.


    <span ss="userText">Then there was Marquess Duval Wrightwood and his group of allies. They were all loyal to the King, but Duval was the one who had the most sway over them. Especially, when he was able to make a few deals to secure Baron Thaddeus Windermere and Baroness Ysandra Fairchild. With them, he was able to be the Prime Minister before Cyndre took over the Kingdom once his father passed away.


    <span ss="userText">Duval also had Count Sebastian Ingham, Viscount Octavius ckwood, Baron Eamon Stirling, and Baron Caldorian Montir as his closest allies.


    <span ss="userText">They were known as ''Duval''s Nobles'' and went along with Duval''s agenda even if they were loyal to the King. Once Duval became the Prime Minister, he was able to appoint all his allies to a majority of the ministry positions. Duval appointed Count Sebastian Ingham as the Minister of Foreign Rtions and Viscount Octavius ckwood as the Minister of Agriculture. Baron Eamon Stirling was in charge of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and Baron Caldorian Montir was the Minister of Justice.


    <span ss="userText">Duval won over Baroness Ysandra Fairchild''s support when he promised to give her the Minister of Education. It was a position that Baron Alistair Dravenhart used to hold in the past when Earl Nathaniel Valerian''s father was the Prime Minister. But when the Marquess convinced her that it would help the Baroness and her people, she was convinced.


    <span ss="userText">Once the Baroness joined to give Duval the slight majority, Baron Thaddeus joined in with his support of Duval in the hopes of getting some benefits as well. Not wanting to be left behind.


    <span ss="userText">The territory that Marquess Duval Wrightwood ruled over was the southeast region. It was where the city of Everton thergest city in Berger Domain, secondrgest city in all of Fiafyr. The Duke knew that he couldn''t gain control of the Higher Court and decided to gain as many supporters within the cities around Fiafyr. Buying out as many governors and mayors as he could within the kingdom was the key to his sess. It was his only y to undermine Duval''s hold on the kingdom.


    <span ss="userText">Then there were the Duke''s strongest supporters and friends. Viscount William Lysander and Baron Alistair Dravenhart, their territories were located in the east and the northeast of the kingdom. Their territories were close together, and they were friends for a long time and they controlled the coastline of the kingdom.


    ***


    <span ss="userText">"My, my... It''s good to see you again, Duke Revelia," Duval said with an annoyed tone when he saw ric walking towards him.


    <span ss="userText">ric red at him, his eyes narrowed in anger as he held back the urge to insult him as he needed to y his cards right for this to work.


    <span ss="userText">"Well, I did miss you at my nephew''s party. I guess we were too busy like always, Marquess Wrightwood," ric greeted with a stoic face. He was doing well not to show the Marquess his displeasure of being around him.


    <span ss="userText">He would not call that bastard his friend. But it was a lie he had to say to gain support and the others would believe him if he was acting sincere enough.


    <span ss="aiText">Duval just smirked, "Oh, that is so true. There are a lot of things going on with my territory, you see. It takes a lot of time and effort to take care of those things.<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="userText">''Pff! Like selling the prince''s hand to the Divine Three''s whore of a girl... You fool! Always looking at the problems of today and never ying the long game. He''s too<span ss="aiText"> stupid to notice the dangers ahead of us to be the Prime Minister. I was too young to get your friends to join me. But I have age on my side Duval... And one day I''ll be the Prime Minister and get my son on the throne!''


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, I am quite familiar with such issues," ric said with a nod.


    <span ss="aiText">''And my biggest problem is the one standing in front of me...''


    <span ss="userText">*Bang! Bang! Bang!*


    <span ss="userText">King Cyndre<span ss="aiText"> hit the throne with his staff as he looked at his older brother, the Duke.


    <span ss="aiText">"Enough. I didn''t call you here for pleasantries," King Cyndre said.


    <span ss="aiText">"My apologies, <span ss="editText">Your M<span ss="aiText">ajesty," <span ss="editText">Duval <span ss="aiText">said as he kneeled.<span ss="userText"> "You''re right. We need to discuss this issue of the monster stampede in the west<span ss="aiText">ward mountain range. What are we going to do?"


    <span ss="userText">*Bang!*


    <span ss="userText">The King<span ss="aiText"> mmed his staff on the throne again as<span ss="userText"> General Kane came walking out with 30 knights into<span ss="aiText"> the room.


    <span ss="userText">Duval and his allies, as well as ric and<span ss="aiText"> his friends, all <span ss="userText">looked at the Knights with<span ss="aiText"> curious expressions.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">First of all, I lied about the monster stampede to<span ss="aiText"> get you all here," King Cyndre said.


    <span ss="aiText">Everyone except ric looked shocked and a bit confused.


    <span ss="aiText">''So, that was a ruse? Interesting, I didn''t think <span ss="editText">my brother could<span ss="aiText"> pull off such a thing.<span ss="userText">''


    <span ss="userText">Duval was a<span ss="aiText"> bit irritated and spoke up, "So you''re telling me that you interrupted my sleep just for a little gathering?! Your Majesty, what is your reason for doing such a thing?"


    <span ss="aiText">*Bang!<span ss="userText">*


    <span ss="userText">The throne room echoed<span ss="aiText"> with the noise, "I did this to get you all together because there <span ss="editText">is a <span ss="aiText">traitor among us!"


    <span ss="aiText">King Cyndre shouted, and everyone was in shock.


    <span ss="aiText">"Traitor? What do you mean, Your Majesty?"<span ss="userText"> Count Sebastian Ingham<span ss="aiText"> asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, my liege. How can there be a traitor among us, we''re all loyal to the throne," Viscount Octavius ckwood agreed.


    <span ss="aiText">King Cyndre looked at <span ss="userText">his older brother barely holding back his look of disdain.


    <span ss="userText">"Why don''t you tell us brother<span ss="editText">?<span ss="aiText"> After all, it was you that <span ss="editText">hired an assassin to kill my son<span ss="aiText">." King Cyndre said.


    <span ss="aiText">Duke ric<span ss="editText">''s <span ss="userText">face turned pale, while his two allies came to his defense<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Your Majesty, you''re wrong. ric would never do such a thing, he''s your brother and your most trusted friend," Viscount William Lysander said.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, I agree with Lord Lysander, Your Majesty. Why would Lord ric wish for Prince Quinus'' death? Is it not true that the Duke loves his nephew? He would never do something like this," Baron Alistair Dravenhart said.


    <span ss="userText">Duval and his allies were dumbfounded<span ss="aiText">. They were not expecting something like this to happen, and it was not a situation they wanted to deal with.


    <span ss="aiText">''<span ss="userText">How!? How did that assassin fail!? I-I need to find a way to prevent my brother''s wrath<span ss="aiText"> from falling on me. Otherwise, I will lose everything I worked so hard for,'' ric thought.


    <span ss="aiText">But the King was not finished.


    <span ss="aiText">"Do you really expect me to believe that, Dravenhart? <span ss="userText">Not only did he have an assassin in my pce but he also had loyalists working as servants<span ss="aiText"> here as well," King Cyndre said.


    <span ss="aiText">This new information was even more shocking.


    <span ss="userText">Marquess Duval started panicking. He never trusted ric but he never thought he would go this far in his<span ss="aiText"> own ambitions.


    <span ss="aiText">"Brother, you must be mistaken. I would never do something like that. These are just baseless rumors, and I know that you wouldn''t believe them," Duke ric pleaded.


    <span ss="userText">King Cyndre looked<span ss="aiText"> at the man he once trusted but now was not so sure.


    <span ss="userText">Marquess Duval jumped in.


    <span ss="userText">"Your Majesty. How did you find this assassin and loyalists? Could this not be some plot to tear our country apart?<span ss="aiText"> I believe we should find out more and not act rashly," Duval said in a calm tone.


    <span ss="userText">Duval knew that ric had almost most of the governors in his pocket and his two allies controlled the sea line. There would be uprisings across the whole kingdom if ric were <span ss="aiText"beled a traitor.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">So you are aiding my brother too, Duval?" King Cyndre said with anger in his<span ss="aiText"> voice.


    <span ss="aiText">Duval was taken aback, he didn''t think that the King woulde to such a conclusion.


    <span ss="aiText">"N-No, Your Majesty. I <span ss="userText">and the rest of the nobles would like to see this evidence<span ss="aiText"> first before jumping to conclusions," Duval said<span ss="userText"> as he tried to keep a calm presence about him.


    <span ss="aiText">"Your Majesty, it is not that I don''t believe you but the Marquess does have a point. It would be better if we could find out how much truth there is in these ims before acting rashly," <span ss="userText">Baron Eamon Stirling<span ss="aiText"> added as he was trying to help the Prime Minister.


    <span ss="aiText">T<span ss="userText">he Queen grabbed Cyndre''s hand<span ss="aiText">, and he calmed down.


    <span ss="userText">"Huh? Oh... Thank you<span ss="aiText">, my love. It seems you have a good head on your shoulders, Baron. And the Marquess has a point. <span ss="editText">So, General Kane. Please tell them the events of tonight<span ss="aiText">," King Cyndre said.


    <span ss="aiText">The general nodded.


    <span ss="aiText">"As you wish, Your Majesty," General Kane said.


    <span ss="aiText">The General stepped forward and exined the events that transpired during the ball and what led to the assassination attempt.


    <span ss="userText">"So, during that time three people died before Lady Wina and Sir Mathew were able to stop these three assassins<span ss="aiText">," General Kane exined.


    <span ss="aiText">Everyone''s faces turned pale as they heard about the events that almost led to the prince''s death and were filled with shock.<span ss="userText"> ric was sweating bullets as he heard that his own assassin hade in to save his nephew whom he wanted dead.


    <span ss="userText">Marquess Duval was to speak, "So, the assassin that was hired as the Royal Wet Nurse was the one to save the prince<span ss="aiText">''s life."


    <span ss="aiText">General Kane nodded, "Yes. That is correct."


    <span ss="aiText">"What happened to her, General?" Marquess Duval asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"After Lady Wina<span ss="userText"> confessed to the Queen. She told us about the loyalists who were working inside the pce as footmen and maids. We brought them in for interrogation. That''s where me, the King, and Earl Nathaniel witnessed their confessions in aiding<span ss="aiText"> the Duke," General Kane exined.


    <span ss="userText">Duval was trying to think of something that wouldn''t get ric executed or expelled<span ss="aiText"> from the kingdom. <span ss="userText">If he hadn''t let ric gain major control over<span ss="aiText"> the governors<span ss="editText"> and if his friends didn''t control vital seaports<span ss="aiText">, then he would have nothing to worry about.<span ss="userText"> But if a civil war were to start. He feared that the Kingdom of Marn and the Divine Three would try to invade as soon as <span ss="editText">possibl<span ss="aiText">e.


    <span ss="aiText">''No, no, no, no, no! If a civil war were to break out, then the other two kingdoms would try and take us while we are weak. Then our only hope would be for the Holy Kingdom of Chalced to aid us, but I doubt they would risk their alliance with the Divine Three. This is bad. I need to convince the King that <span ss="editText">he shouldn''t kill his brother! But how<span ss="aiText">,'' Duval thought.


    <span ss="userText">"So, I''ll ask it again. Was it worth it brother? Was it worthing after my boy?" King Cyndre said with<span ss="aiText"> a cold toneing from his mouth.


    <span ss="aiText">ric had a solemn face<span ss="userText"> while his mind was going a thousand miles a minute.


    <span ss="aiText">''Damn! How did thingse to this?!'' ric thought.


    <span ss="userText">All he could do was beg for<span ss="aiText"> his life and hope his brother would forgive him.<span ss="userText"> So he walked towards the steps to the throne as the general positioned himself in<span ss="aiText"> front of the King and Queen.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-Your majesty, p-please forgive me. I was <span ss="editText">a fool, <span ss="aiText">blinded by ambition<span ss="userText"> to see my son on the throne... I never meant to hurt you—"


    <span ss="userText">"YOU NEVER INTENDED TO HURT ME!? YOUR HEAD WOULD BE ON A PIKE IF IT WASN''T FOR YOUR ASSASSIN SAVING MY SON!" King Cyndre roared as he stood up from his throne. Seeing his brother cower<span ss="aiText">ing in front of him only made him sick.


    <span ss="userText">Cyndre continued, "Thank the Goddess and the fates that Lady Wina was more loyal to my family than<span ss="aiText"> you, ric! She and Mathew saved my boy''s life. And all I can think is if she didn''te when she did, my boy would have been dead<span ss="editText">..<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> I''ve never felt so betrayed in all my life.<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="aiText">The room fell into silence.


    <span ss="userText">''The fates! THE FATES! Why must<span ss="aiText"> it always be the fates?! Damnit all, damn them all!'' ric screamed in his mind.


    <span ss="aiText">There was only one option.<span ss="userText"> It loathed him to do such an act but he<span ss="aiText"> had no choice.


    <span ss="userText">ric went on his knees in front of everyone<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Please, brother. Let me repent for my crimes against your house and the kingdom. Let me be punished in a manner that suits the crime," ric begged.


    <span ss="aiText">King Cyndre didn''t have a reaction to his brother''s pleas<span ss="userText">. While all the other nobles <span ss="userText">had mixed<span ss="aiText"> emotions. Some were shocked, others were pleased, and others were not happy at all.


    <span ss="aiText">Marquess Duval <span ss="editText">was panicking while <span ss="aiText">his supporters had looks of displeasure and disgust. While King Cyndre''s supporters looked satisfied and hopeful.<span ss="userText"> But ric''s<span ss="aiText"> strongest allies had looks of despair<span ss="editText"> and anger<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">King Cyndre was done with this<span ss="aiText"> whole charade and needed to finish this.<span ss="userText"> All he wanted to do was pass down his judgment. And just as he was about to speak Marquess Duval quickly stepped in.