"That concludes the eting," said the Pri Minister, giving a firm nod to the other ministers seated around the long table.
Today marked the monthly conference—an important gathering where matters of the capital, national welfare, civil issues, crises, and foreign relations were brought to the table.
At the center of today’s discussion was the upcoming summit, scheduled to take place in a month’s ti. Leaders from across the continent would gather under one roof, all to speak about a matter growing heavier with each passing day—the crumbling pact.
The ancient agreent forged by the Sage and the Dragon Lords was on the verge of breaking. And the mont the Sage vanished... so would the pact.
What would follow, none could predict.
And that uncertainty made the summit critical—perhaps even the most important one of their ti.
Yet, just as the Pri Minister was about to signal the end of the session, a sharp voice broke through the stillness.
"Aren’t we all pretending to be blind to sothing far more urgent?"
The words ca from Ross—the bespectacled minister seated beside the King. His expression was tight with frustration, his tone far from calm.
The Pri Minister’s brow creased. "Ross? What are you talking about?"
They had discussed every pressing matter. Or so he believed. What was this sudden protest?
Ross didn’t flinch. His eyes locked onto the Pri Minister’s.
"Don’t act like you’re unaware," he snapped. Then, shifting his gaze to the one who held the most authority in the room, he bowed slightly before continuing.
"Your Majesty, with all due respect... why haven’t we brought Hades in? Why hasn’t he been interrogated?"
The room fell silent.
Now it was clear what weighed on Ross’s mind.
A few other ministers exchanged glances, so even nodding subtly in agreent. Their expressions echoed the sa question—the sa dissatisfaction.
Why, after all this ti, was the man who killed the Crown Prince still walking free?
Ross rose to his feet, voice steady but burning with emotion. "The Crown Prince was murdered in front of the entire school, My Lord. Provoked by none other than Hades. And he wasn’t alone—Saintess Rinne played a part in this as well."
He paused, his eyes sharp behind the rims of his glasses.
"I demand that both of them be brought into the interrogation ward and questioned. We deserve to know why they targeted His Highness."
His clenched fists trembled at his sides. Ross’s expression was fierce—bordering on vengeful.
To him, Cedric was more than a royal. He was like a son.
And when it ca to Hades, that red-haired scourge, Ross’s hatred ran deep—too deep to contain in this mont.
Why?
Why wasn’t he shackled yet?
Why hadn’t he been tortured until his bones scread for rcy?
Hades should have been executed the mont he dared to plot against the Prince. And now, even after the nation lost one of its brightest lights... that arrogant man still walked under the sun, unbothered, untouched.
Ross’s blood boiled.
Such defiance deserved a punishnt so cruel that even the imps of hell would stagger back in fear.
His eyes narrowed.
There could be no forgiveness. Not while the Crown Prince’s killer still breathed.
Many in the room instinctively tensed.
They had hoped—perhaps even silently agreed—not to utter the na of the late Crown Prince. The wound was still fresh, and the King... the King must still have been clawing his way through grief.
But it was too late now.
Ross had spoken with too much emotion to see anything beyond his fury. The silence that followed his outburst was dense, almost suffocating.
Lucen let out a long, quiet sigh, then finally broke the stillness.
"I have already made my decision on this matter."
Ross slowly sank back into his seat, his face unreadable. Around him, ministers leaned in, their attention locked onto the Supre Authority of the nation.
"I have reviewed the evidence," Lucen began, his voice calm, but firm. "I have spoken to those involved. I heard from the Pope. I consulted with the Headmaster."
His hands folded in front of him, elbows resting on the polished table as he continued, "And after weighing every truth I was shown... I’ve co to the conclusion that Hades is not guilty."
A wave of stunned silence rolled across the chamber.
Ross’s eyes flew wide open, disbelief written across his face. Around him, murmurs stirred. So were shocked by what they saw as unjust leniency... others were stunned that the King—the father of the victim—had not only withheld punishnt but absolved the boy.
Only the Pri Minister remained still, expression unchanged. He was the King’s closest friend. Perhaps he already knew.
Lucen didn’t stop there.
"Yes, Hades provoked him," he acknowledged, his gaze unwavering. "But Cedric... was not blaless either. He forged evidence to discredit Hades. He sent rcenaries to kill him. If anything, Hades held back longer than most would have."
The King paused, the weight of his next words crushing the room.
"It breaks my heart to say this, but... if I had been in Hades’s place, I don’t know if I could have waited as long as he did to strike back."
Lucen’s eyes were heavy with sorrow, the kind that didn’t fade with ti. Yes, the news had broken his heart. Yes, the fire of vengeance had once consud him too.
But what Hades did... was not murder. It was justice. Bitter and painful, but fair.
He had wrestled with that truth more tis than he could count.
And in the end, after uncovering the full extent of Cedric’s actions, Lucen had co to realize just how dangerous blind revenge could be—how close he had co to making a fatal mistake.
Ross, however, couldn’t accept it.
He shot to his feet, face red with disbelief. "Are you freaking nuts?! How can a father—"
SQUELCH.
A wet, sudden sound sliced through the room.
Gasps erupted.
Ross’s head hit the floor with a dull, sickening thud—his mouth still half-open in rage. For a brief mont, his body stood, trembling... then collapsed beside his severed head.
Silence devoured the chamber.
Blood pooled at Lucen’s feet.
Without a flicker of remorse, the King calmly sheathed his sword—its silver edge still gleaming with red.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned to his Pri Minister.
"Phil," he called evenly.
The Pri Minister, who had remained utterly still until now, finally looked up—his brows raised, though not in surprise.
Lucen’s tone was cold.
"Find a more level-headed Advisor next ti. This one was useless."
Phil gave a slow, asured nod. "Understood, Your Majesty."
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
Reviews
All reviews (0)