Zander imdiately got up from the floor grabbed the server who was carrying a plate filled with wine glasses close to the crowd. All of the wine spilled as the glasses shattered but he grabbed one bottle midway before tossing it at Keith who was still dancing with Alia.
The bottle rotated at it flew and struck Keith right at sight of his skull as he was spinning.
The entire hall went silent as Keith slowed down and finally stopped. He let go of Alia's hands and turned around to look at Zander who was glaring at him.
"Hmm... I didn't expect the second prince to have such a short temper. If you can't dance, get the fuck out and let the others continue. You don't have to fight and ruin the atmosphere."
"YOUU!! You were the one who pushed !" Zander said as he stomped the ground and walked towards Keith.
*Pak*
The sound of a slap resounded across the hall, making the nobles gasp as Zander brought his trembling hand to his cheek.
"You... you slapped ? The prince?"
"And what if he did, brother? It's clear that you were in the wrong." Mathew said as he walked out of the crowd.
Zander glared at him and hissed, "He. Pushed. . First!"
"All I saw was that you bumped into him while HE was dancing and fell. To , it looks like you deliberately fell to antagonise my people. Why don't you apologise and end it right here?"
Mathew did not back down and stood right in front of Zander, whose gaze faltered before he decided to stand his ground.
"Everyone here saw what happened!" he yelled and looked at the crowd.
The people who were on his side, all nodded and began to yell, "Yes!! The prince was pushed and it is disrespectful to the royal family!!"
"Keith was the one who started this!!"
"Yes, punish him!"
"Punish him!"
Keith silently noted down everyone's faces and nodded to himself before laughing, "Haaaahahahahahahaahahahah!! Oh my god, this is funny. Disrespectful to the royal family huh? Let's see, more than half of the nobles here gave fake reports to the emperor and payed less taxes than they usually should."
He the pointed at Zander before grinning, "The second prince secretly accepted bribes, which can be interpreted as stealing money from the empire and the emperor! I wonder if this is disrespectful or not."
Everyone who just supported Zander had ugly expressions etched on their faces as they glared at Keith.
"Where's your proof? This could be considered as going against the royal family by instigating a rebellion." Zander said.
The nervousness was apparent on his face, but he did a decent job at hiding it from the crowd.
"Yes!! Where's you're proof?!"
"Bastard inquisitor of the church, Ptui!!"
Keith imdiately turned his head to glare at the person who had called him a bastard.
"Calling an inquisitor of the church, a bastard is the sa as cursing the goddess. Do you know that the punishnt for this action is?" he asked as he walked towards him.
"O- oi! Why are you coming towards ? I didn't say anything!" the guy yelled as the people around him moved away.
Keith did not answer his question and grabbed both his arms, "It's death. But I'll let you go once I take your arms."
Flas extended from Keith's fingers and imdiately burned the guy's arms. He scread loudly as he voice cracked, but Keith did not let go.
As the flesh burned, Keith's fingers sank into the cooked flesh. The guy fainted midway but Keith let him go only after a few more seconds once he burned both his arms.
He then wiped his hands on the guy's suit before turning to look at Zander, "An inquisitor is not required to provide proof since the goddess will judge my actions. But since you're asking, I'll give you an open challenge.
Try to get bribes from today onwards. Every ti you fill your pockets, the one who gives you money will die. You're the prince, so I won't touch you. But the nobles that work with you do not have that privilege.
I'd love to see how you or your people will stop ."
Mathew nodded as he looked at Keith and then turned to face his brother, "Why don't you go back and rest in your room, brother? You're ruining the atmosphere. Just look at our dear little sister over there."
Zander frowned as he turned to look at Silvia who was now in Max's arms. The grand duke's son had sohow managed to turn his face as red as his hair as he held the girl in his arms.
"Tch." Zander clicked his tongue and grabbed the woman's hand whom he was dancing with until now and stord off towards the palace.
Keith looked around and with just a glance, he could tell that many nobles wanted to leave right now so he grinned and clapped his hands.
*Clap clap clap*
"I suddenly have a question in mind... the second prince just left, so will his followers also leave now? Alia, note down the faces of the people who leave early and give the list later. We'll start a special investigation on these families. Also, can soone please toss that man out?"
Before anyone could do as he said, an old man grabbed his legs while another person held the guy's shoulders. The two of them looked at Keith and the old man spoke.
"My family has no connection to the third prince and we have no intention of taking his sides but, please allow to take my son back ho. I don't mind an investigation, but I hope that you don't harm the people who are under ."
Keith nodded and looked at the guy whose hands he had just cooked and sighed internally.
Find adventures on empire
'I'm feeling guilty now. But your son planned on assassinating you so he could take over as the head of the family and join Zander's side. Though, I don't think you'll believe if I told you that.'
Reviews
All reviews (0)