The heavy doors of the great hall swung open, and Arthur entered with Klein by his side. As the gathered people in the hall noticed the king's arrival, they bowed respectfully, the rustle of movent filling the space. Arthur strode confidently across the room, his gaze sweeping over the assembly before his eyes landed on the guests standing in the center.
Among them were Duke Richard, his daughter Olivia, and a knight who had accompanied them last ti. Standing beside the Duke was another figure, dressed in a style similar to Richard's—a young man with sharp features and a composed deanor. Arthur took a mont to study him and, from the fragnts of his past mories, recognized him as Benjamin, Duke Richard's eldest son.
Reaching the throne, Arthur ascended the steps and settled into his seat. Klein took his place at the king's side, silent but attentive. Duke Richard rose, bowing slightly as he greeted Arthur.
"Your Majesty," Richard began, his voice steady, "I bring good news. With your support, we have successfully fended off Elysia's forces. Their retreat is complete, and our borders are secure—for now."
Arthur nodded, his expression calm but resolute. "That is indeed good news, Duke Richard. However," Arthur's gaze turned sharp as he surveyed the room, "before we delve into our discussions, there is an urgent matter to address within the King's Council."
At this, Arthur gave a slight nod to Klein, who stepped forward and motioned toward the doors. The sound of marching boots echoed through the hall as fifteen knights and ten mages filed in with precision, their presence adding an air of solemnity and authority to the gathering.
The atmosphere in the room shifted palpably, curiosity and tension thickening as everyone awaited Arthur's next move.
Richard exchanged a wary glance with his son Benjamin and subtly signaled his guards to stay alert. Though his expression was guarded, he couldn't hide the confusion in his eyes as he looked at Arthur.
Arthur noticed the unease and addressed Richard with a calm but firm tone. "Duke Richard, this is not a show of hostility towards you or your companions." His gaze shifted to the rest of the room, sharp and unyielding.
"This assembly has been called to address a grave matter that concerns the very foundation of our kingdom," Arthur continued. "For too long, corruption has been allowed to fester within the King's councils. So among us, entrusted with the welfare of Keldoria, have betrayed that trust."
The hall fell silent, save for the quiet shuffling of uneasy councils mbers. Arthur gestured to Klein, who stepped forward with a scroll in hand.
"Klein has uncovered irrefutable evidence of embezzlent, abuse of power, and negligence by certain mbers of this councils," Arthur declared. His voice carried the weight of conviction. "These individuals have stolen resources from the kingdom's treasury for their own gain, ignored the plight of the people they swore to protect, and abused their positions for personal benefit."
Klein unrolled the scroll and began reading the nas of those implicated, along with the specific evidence against them. Each revelation struck like a hamr blow, leaving the accused mbers visibly shaken. So tried to protest, but the evidence was undeniable.
Arthur raised a hand to silence the murmurs that began to rise. "There will be no debates or denials here. The evidence speaks for itself. Those nad will be relieved of their positions effective imdiately and will be punished accordingly. Justice will be served, and the people of Keldoria will see that no one is above the law—not even those in the highest seats of power."
The knights and mages stepped forward, their disciplined movents a stark contrast to the trembling council mbers being escorted out of the great hall and placed under arrest until punishnt was decided. The remaining council mbers watched in stunned silence, so clearly relieved they were not among the accused.
Arthur's gaze swept across the room, now far emptier than it had been monts before. Only 8 of the original 32 remained, their faces a mix of solemn determination and quiet pride. Taking a mont to let the weight of the scene settle, Arthur finally spoke, his voice steady and resonant.
"To those of you who have stood firm in your principles, serving Keldoria with honor and integrity," he began, his tone warm but resolute, "you have my deepest gratitude. You are the pillars upon which this kingdom stands."
Richard, standing nearby, found himself marveling at the boldness of the young king. He thought, Is he doing this deliberately to send a ssage? The sheer audacity of punishing the kingdom's most entrenched officials right in front of him spoke volus about Arthur's newfound resolve.
Arthur turned to Richard, breaking the silence. "Let's continue our conversation," he said, his tone asured but commanding.
Richard nodded, gathering his thoughts before speaking. "Your Majesty, how do you plan to punish those officials? And aren't you concerned about the potential consequences? Many of these individuals have served since the ti of King Arthur III. Surely they hold sensitive information about the kingdom—information they could sell to Elysia or use to cause harm."
Arthur chuckled softly, his confidence evident. "Richard, I anticipated those concerns. This wasn't a sudden revelation—it's been months in the making. I tasked Klein and his team with investigating these individuals three months ago. They've uncovered irrefutable evidence of corruption, embezzlent, and abuse of power. We've also traced their connections and took their assets."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "As for the risk of them leaking secrets, I've mitigated it. Many of these individuals are so deeply entrenched in corruption that their networks have already been dismantled. Those guilty of the most severe cris will face execution. Others, whose offenses were less egregious, will be imprisoned for at least three years. By the ti they're released, any knowledge they have will be outdated and irrelevant."
Arthur paused, his voice taking on a more contemplative tone. "This isn't just about punishnt; it's about sending a ssage—that this kingdom will no longer tolerate those who exploit their positions at the expense of the people."
Arthur shifted his gaze asked, "What are the damages from the war against Elysia?"
Richard bowed slightly before responding, his voice steady but somber. "Fifteen soldiers lost their lives, and twenty-four were injured. Beyond that, the rest are slightly injured or in good health. As most of your Majesty's forces were mages, the losses on your side were lighter—only three dead and nine injured."
Arthur, though inexperienced in battle, understood the harsh reality of war. Losses were inevitable. Still, he nodded, his tone asured. "I see. That's fortunate compared to what it could have been."
Turning to one of the royal treasurers present, Arthur gave a command. "Reward the families of the three fallen soldiers with ten gold coins each. If a soldier has no family or loved ones, split their share equally among the others. Additionally, provide fifty silver coins to each injured soldier and ensure they receive the care necessary to recover from their wounds free of charge."
The treasurer, one of the few mber left, bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will carry out your orders at once."
Arthur then turned back to Richard, and they began to discuss the war in greater detail. The duke shared the strategies he employed, the tactics that led to their victory, and the challenges they faced on the battlefield. Arthur listened intently, occasionally asking questions to better understand the nuances of war.
When their discussion concluded, Arthur's tone shifted, signaling a change in topic. "I wish to have a private word with Duke Richard. Everyone else, except Klein and Richard, please leave the great hall."
The mbers in the room exchanged brief glances before filing out silently. Though most of the corrupted counsels had been dealt with, Arthur remained cautious. Trust was not a luxury he could afford to extend lightly.
Once the doors closed behind them, the room fell into an expectant silence.
Richard broke it first. "Your Majesty, what is it you wish to discuss with privately?"
Arthur leaned forward slightly, his voice quiet but weighted. "As you may know, there was an assassination attempt on three months ago. Given your involvent in the war against Elysia, I'm not sure if you've heard about it."
Richard's brows furrowed. "Yes, Your Majesty, the news did reach my lands. I was furious to hear of such treachery. However, as far as I know, the matter was dismissed after no leads were found."
Arthur's expression darkened slightly, and his voice dropped lower. "That's what I announced to the public. In truth, only Klein and I know the full details. I concealed the truth until you had dealt with the Elysian threat."
Richard's confusion was evident. "What do you an by 'the full details'? And why wait until now to share this with ?"
Arthur paused, gathering his thoughts before speaking again. "Before I say more, know that this information is strictly confidential."
Richard nodded, his posture tense. "You have my word, Your Majesty."
Arthur's gaze hardened. "I know who was behind the assassination attempt. And I have strong, undeniable evidence to support it."
Richard's eyes widened in shock. "Your majesty knew? Then why haven't your majesty acted? Why not arrest or punish the perpetrator?"
Arthur exhaled slowly, his voice calm but laced with gravity. "Because it's not so simple. Confronting them will likely lead to open conflict, perhaps even war."
Richard's face hardened with resolve. "Then you wish for my assistance. I can muster my soldiers to support you. But if I may ask, who is it that you suspect?"
Arthur leaned forward, his voice a whisper, though it carried the weight of his revelation. "According to my investigation, the assassination was orchestrated by the Dukedom of Ashenfell."
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