Chapter 63: All Hail


    In the city of Josenheim, today was already destined to be bustling with people, as it was supposed to be the day of the coronation of their new ruler, Prince ke Bancroft. Many people didn''t even sleep as they waited with anticipation for the arrival of the new king, while others were a bit more skeptical, but couldn''t say anything.


    Before the sun even rose, Josenheim had already started to fill with people, and after a while the entire city was flooded as though everyone in the country had turned up for the coronation ceremony.


    The citizens of Argria were familiar with the grand and outstanding celebrations of the Royal Family, but they usually weren''t too thrilled about the Monarchy to be in the mood for celebrations. However, today, they were celebrating a glory of a different type; the dawn of a new era. And most of the citizens were extremely weing of the change.


    Vibrant red carpets paved the walkways of the city, and ornaments were hanging from every tree nearby. The roadsides were filled with flowers of various colors for a distinctive vor. These were the voluntary efforts of the citizens.


    By now, Prince ke Bancroft''s name had already spread all across the country, and almost everyone knew about the new ruler of Argria.


    At this moment, inside the Royal Castle in Josenheim.


    The members of the Royal Council sat around a table inside one of the giant halls of the castle.


    "Hah, atst... it''s all finallying to an end. I''ll tell you what, I really didn''t think we would pull it off. Especially after the whole scandal with Hannibal and Isabelle. I thought we were done after that. It was a miracle that we were able to find ke. That''s when everything changed." Minister Staffordughed while staring at the rest of the council. "Honestly, I don''t think this n would''ve worked without ke."


    "You know what? For once, I actually agree with you, Stafford." Minister Copp smiled as Minister Stafford chuckled in response, nodding his head in satisfaction. "Ha! You hear that folks? He said he actually agrees with me! You all heard it, alright? So don''t tell meter that you never heard him say that, you hear me?"


    "And now I regret telling you that!" Minister Copp shook his head with a sigh and the Royal Council erupted withughter, echoing through the air.


    "Well, I for one am d that we''re still in power. Who knows what could''ve happened had we let Hannibal and Isabelle continue with their tyrannical rule." Minister Egerton smiled and shook his head.


    "Hmph, those buffoons..." Another Minister, Minister Corlonspoke coldly when the words ''Hannibal and Isabelle'' were spoken, as the cold light of a killing intent shed in his eyes. "It''s all because we gave them too much freedom. They actually dared to go against us, thinking that they could rule however they wished. Look where that got them. Pathetic pests!"


    "Calm down Carlon. I get that you''re angry, but be d. It''s all over now. Those morons are locked up, and will never see the light of day again, and the public''s perception of the Monarchy is slowly shifting. It''s all going well," Minister Berbatov, who was humored by Minister Carlon''s response, let out a short chuckle.


    "Is it really over?" A voice suddenly interrupted, causing the entire hall to turn silent. When the gazes of the Ministers shot in the direction of the voice, they soon discovered that it was Minister Shaw who spoke.


    "What do you mean Minister Shaw?" The Ministers frowned.


    "It''s exactly like I said, my fellow council members. I asked, is it over? Although we have sessfully eliminated the reckless King and Queen from their positions, we''re still not sure that we haveplete control over the Prince. Am I not right?" Minister Shaw stated calmly, and his words caused the countenances of the other Ministers to turn extremely unsightly.


    "But the Prince knows that he''s only in the position that he is because of us. And plus, he''s a cautious person who was raised by peasants. I''m pretty sure he''d be too wary to do anything to make an enemy out of us." One of the ministers interjected, and Minister Shaw shook his head. "Do not take the Prince''s behaviour for granted, Minister Jones. Let''s not forget, thest time we let a ruler do whatever they wanted, we almost lost the power from our hands."


    The countenances of the other Ministers were all exceedingly ugly to behold, but they had to agree that Minister Shaw was making a good point. They didn''t want another repeat of the same fiasco yet again.


    "And unlike the King and the Queen, who were morons who got too addicted to power, the Prince might be a legitimate threat to us if we let him do whatever he wants. He''s extremely intelligent, which is one of the reasons everything is moving so smoothly for us right now. However, it wouldn''t be nearly as fun if we''re on the other side, would it? Which is why we need to have a leash on him. He''s dangerous, Ministers. He''s the real deal." Minister Shaw''s eyes swept through the council, staring at them and the expressions of the Ministers turned even more unsightly because of it.


    "If I may interject" Minister Burne spoke, and the entire atmosphere turned heavy as the gazes of the ministers were fixated on him. "I agree that we need to make sure that the Prince stays in check and he knows his boundaries. But I''m afraid we''re currently not in a position to be making such risky moves. Right now, it''s all in the hands of the Prince, and any moves we make against him will only end up pping us in the face. And we also have another problem to deal with; Gilbert Gottfried. Both of these problems require the Prince to work in our favor. So although I understand what you are saying, Minister Shaw, I''m afraid now is not the time for this discussion."


    "Ha ha.. very well. If that''s how you want to handle this problem, then I''ll leave it alone for now. But don''t say I didn''t warn you earlier, alright?" Minister Shaw sneered, and heid back on his chair.


    Soon, the topic of the discussion shifted to something else, but the council members knew; the Prince was a problem.


    *********************


    Riderstone road, a few miles away from Josenheim.


    Quite a number of vigorous-looking horses were pulling multiple carriages that were decorated with the symbols of Golden Avarice Academy on its sides.


    The carriages looked like they were heading towards Josenheim, most probably to attend the coronation of the new King of Argria, ke Bancroft.


    Inside one of the carriages were ude Rayforth and the rest of the juniors of the Flying Sword Faction.


    "What do you think about Argria getting a new ruler, ude?" Hugh Kenton, who was sitting next to ude, asked him with an exciting face.


    "What does it matter what I think of the new ruler, Hugh? It won''t change anything." ude replied calmly, and Missy Newman, one of the juniors, clicked her tongue, clearly dissatisfied with ude''s answer.


    "Ohe on, just say that you don''t want to give us your opinion," She pouted, and Hugh let out a chuckle in response.


    "Come on ude, we aren''t going to judge you. Just say what you think about the whole incident," Miller Baldwin, who was sitting opposite to ude, spoke enthusiastically. It seemed that he really wanted to know what ude thought about the abrupt ending to the era of King Hannibal and Queen Isabelle.


    "I just don''t think that a change in position doesn''t exactly mean hope for a country," After a brief silence, ude finally spoke, voicing his opinion about the incident.


    "Oh? And may I ask why do you say that? Is it because the academy is against the Monarchy?" Hugh asked curiously, and ude let out a heavy sigh.


    "Because that''s how it is," ude replied. "I don''t even know who Prince ke Bancroft is. Most people don''t. So, why on earth is people so excited about him taking the throne? It''s only because they hate the King and the Queen right? Which is fair, except it doesn''t exactly make the situation hopeful. Just neutral. And yet people look at it as hope for a better rule, which is just naive."


    "What if there was a reason for hope?" All of a sudden, a voice drifted over from outside the carriage, and the juniors looked outside, through the window.


    "Senior Beldon!" Missy Newman eximed loudly. Wilfred Beldon was riding a horse, moving alongside the juniors'' carriage while keeping a safe distance. He smiled at his juniors, and nced at ude as he asked his question again, "What if there was a reason for the hope?"


    "If there was a reason?" ude thought about it for a few seconds before answering, "Then all hail King ke Bancroft, I guess.."