Chapter 110: The Accusation Before the Throne

“You are the victors.”

The King declared to those wearing red uniforms. But no one could accept those words with pure joy. The King’s distorted expression and cold gaze made it so.

“You must have wanted to hear this.”

His lips twisted further. The King’s gaze was fixed on Philius and didn’t move. Glaring as if he had stolen the praise he deserved.

“The praise you deserve, I will gladly give.”

Clap. Clap. Clap. The sound of the King’s applause echoed in the banquet hall. It was a sound enforcing silence instead of cheers befitting a victory ceremony.

He looked around slowly at the people standing as if frozen. His twisted lips gradually found balance. The appearance, more like a loser than a victor, finally made him smile fully.

Leaving behind people who received only sarcasm instead of deserved praise, he sat on the throne. The Queen Consort, covering his face, also lowered his body next to him.

Only silence unbefitting a banquet hall filled with light emitted by all kinds of gems remained. As if considering that silence as praise for himself, only the King wore a satisfied expression.

“What are you all doing? You should play the song for the victors.”

At the King’s command, the band started playing vigorously. Music too familiar to my ears, the song wishing for martial luck.

There was no one these days who didn’t know where this song was being sung.

I looked up at the platform again. The red giant stone receiving the light descending from the ceiling intact sparkled strangely.

“Why aren’t you dancing?”

The King tilted his head to one side. Like a spectator questioning a play flowing differently from expectations.

“Did you not prepare to dance?”

The King waiting for the event to proceed looked like a spider setting a trap and waiting. His eyes glistened scanning people.

The sound of someone inhaling breath sharply was heard. The King’s gaze was nailed to him and didn’t move.

Eventually, the person receiving his gaze took a step forward. As the footstep echoed, the music cut off. As if waiting.

How much does the King know?

Did Philius foresee this situation?

“Long time no see, cousin. Is Diane doing well?”

The King spoke to Duchess Mare who stepped forward. I saw Duchess Mare clenching her fist tightly standing to cover her daughter. Duke Mare standing beside her wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Around Duchess Mare’s neck hung the citrine necklace. The citrine Duke Mare gifted saying it resembled her lemon-colored hair. Which I also crafted. Considering the custom of avoiding wearing accessories already worn at official events again, it was a very unexpected choice.

The necklace hanging around her neck shook with the movement of inhaling breath.

“Thanks to you.”

It was a voice trying hard to hide trembling. But soon she opened her mouth again with a more powerful voice.

“Why does His Majesty the King insult those who brought victory to Henia?”

Although it was speech unbefitting a victory ceremony, many had no choice but to empathize with her. The group in red uniforms, disappointed with the King who neither praised victory nor acknowledged merits, sent her eyes of agreement.

“Whatever I do, that is Henia’s will. Their victory? No way. It is Henia’s victory and my victory.”

And they were disappointed once again. The King pretended not to see the stiffly hardened shoulders and the backs of hands with protruding veins.

The banquet hall where even music stopped was extremely quiet.

“You are not qualified to sit on the throne of Henia.”

Looking straight up at the King, she said in a voice not very loud unlike before. But the repercussions brought by those words were completely different.

Duchess Mare’s words meant treason. Surprised gasps filled the banquet hall. Those wearing red uniforms tensed up as if standing on a battlefield. Philius also caught his breath.

The most composed person in this place seemed to be, surprisingly, the King.

“Me?”

The King’s head tilted to the opposite side. That carefree appearance looked almost innocent.

“You embezzled the cost to be used for the war. The victory allowance promised in the King’s name to be paid to those who brought victory to Henia.”

“Is that wrong?”

“If the King doesn’t keep promises, who would risk their life for Henia! You shook the foundation of Henia.”

“I command, yet they dare to spare their lives?”

The King didn’t understand Duchess Mare’s words.

“Everything in Henia is mine, the King’s. Every single gold coin buried in the ground, even the lives of those standing here and the insects crying outside. Why is it wrong to use what is mine as I please?”

The mad King acted as if he were a god. In his delusion, everything in this land seemed to be his belonging.

However, it was a story unacceptable for nobles already sharing authority with the King. A bystander opened his mouth before those who fought directly in the New Continent and were deprived of what they should have received.

“Henia is not the King’s personal property!”

The Prime Minister’s ringing voice echoed. Those agreeing raised their voices following him.

“Are you ignoring the authority of the parliament?”

“The decision-making power on the budget clearly belongs to the parliament!”

Those wearing just red formal attire, not red uniforms, shouted. Every time different voices shouted sentences as if decided in advance, the King’s face was noticeably frowning, but the mouths of members asserting their rights didn’t stop.

Clack. Only when the sound of shoes echoed again did those voices subside.

Duchess Mare, taking one more step forward, opened her mouth again.

“You tried to hand over this war to Petan. To those who dared to try to steal Henia’s. Handing over the location information of the Commander-in-Chief leading the war to victory to Petan, and trying to ceasefire in exchange for him. While agreeing to give shares of the mine discovered by Henia, protected by Henia, rightfully belonging to Henia, to Petan. It is a clear act of treason.”

Along with her words, writing began to float in the air.

Testimonies of the captured Petan army officer and Rassett, and even the King’s order.

“I swear on the key. There is not an inch of fabrication in all this. Everything is exactly as facts.”

People’s gazes turned to the air. Those who expected what would happen here today and those who didn’t moved their eyes busily.

“Initi, your being in that position is treason against Henia.”

Toward them, Duchess Mare declared. Calling the King’s name, Initi, was a clear expression that she doesn’t serve him as King.

“Nonsense!”

The first person to refute was Count Umbra, the Lord Chamberlain.

“Your Majesty the King, please order to arrest that traitor!”

He spoke exaggeratedly like a clumsy actor. As if his loyalty to the King was excessive. It must mean his situation is that bad, and the only place to lean on is the King.

Starting with Count Umbra’s shout, people began to divide into three groups. Those actively agreeing with Duchess Mare, those standing on the King’s side, and those unable to stand on either side.

Both Duchess Mare and the King examined their faces. Especially those unable to grasp the situation. Among those who haven’t stood on either side yet was the fifteen-year-old Alpha girl who was my first custom-made client. The girl wearing gems made by me trembled with a face clearly showing fear at the unexpected situation.

Every time her body shook, the gems scattered sparkling light. It was a very beautiful appearance, but instead of praise for beauty, she received fierce glares forcing a decision.

She had to choose either side. Even if they were just attending an event held at the royal palace, they had no choice but to move their steps. Either to Duchess Mare’s side or the King’s side.

The fifteen-year-old girl also had no choice but to take trembling steps. It is unknown how much her own will was contained in choosing Duchess Mare.

“Victors? Look, those are traitors who dared to go against my will!”

When everyone in the banquet hall completely divided into two groups, the King shouted in anger. The reason for his distorted expression was clear. Because there were far more people standing by Duchess Mare’s side. Both members of parliament and soldiers in red uniforms.

But the Prime Minister standing by Duchess Mare’s side didn’t look bright. He twitched his eyebrows looking at some members. It became clear who leaked what would happen today to the King’s ear. Furthermore, it was proof that the Prime Minister’s political grip was declining.

While the two groups were in a standoff, a group of footsteps was heard. It was a sound coming from beyond the banquet hall door.

“Even the Royal Guard turned their backs on you, Initi.”

At Duchess Mare’s voice, those standing on the King’s side shrugged their shoulders. Justification was clearly with Duchess Mare, but personal interests had to be different. Those who had no choice but to remain by his side according to their interests even if the King treated them insignificantly couldn’t hide anxiety at the Royal Guard’s footsteps.

Soon a thud impact sound began. It was a sound trying to break the firmly closed banquet hall door.

The momentum of those wearing red uniforms inside the banquet hall also changed. To them, this place was already a battlefield.

Hahaha. At that moment, the King burst into loud laughter. Thud, thud. Sounds as if breaking the door continued amidst his laughter.

The door, which seemed likely to open any moment, however, neither opened nor broke. As the sound of bodies hitting the door grew louder and longer, flustered looks became evident on the faces of those standing on one side. Those standing by Duchess Mare’s side.

“How dare.”

The King, stopping his laughter abruptly, distorted his face. The red gem placed on his head began to shine.

“L-look at that!”

Someone pointed at the letters in the air.

The letters floating in the air began to fall one by one. Simultaneously, the gem shining on the wrist of the shouting person exploded.

That was the beginning. Every time letters fell down, someone’s gem lost light and crumbled. It was clearly the power of the key shining red.

The key didn’t distinguish between friend and foe. It easily crumbled gems of those standing by the King’s side too.

“Your Majesty the King, wh-why my gem…!”

“Duchess Mare, didn’t you clearly say you could handle the key!”

Those standing by the King’s side, those standing by Duchess Mare’s side, everyone let out urgent voices indiscriminately.

Even outside the door, commotion arose.

In the confusion, I tried to grab Philius’s arm.

But he shook off my hand. It was like a lie.

“…Why?”

Unable to believe it at all, I could only stare at him blankly. Philius put his hand on his cravat with an expressionless face. Movement of magical power was felt. Magic I had already experienced was about to manifest.