Chapter 123: Stage

Banios and Ruel entered at the same time for the ceremony to choose the successor. Huan, who was seated ahead of them, could hardly hide his displeasure.

Ruel looked at him leisurely and inhaled Breath.

Adoris, glancing at Ruel, turned his head away when their eyes met.

Good.

Ruel liked the current atmosphere.

Today there was no loud music, no eye-catching delicious food, or greedy gazes.

Everyone was just sitting quietly, seemingly shocked by the sudden news from the king.

Ruel walked to the place where the patriarchs were gathered.

Its nice to see you all, Ruel smiled at them, breaking the silence.

Diagos nodded and squeezed his arm, and Corrence swallowed his nervousness and went along with the charade for now.

Rie was worried about Ruels bandaged arm, and Ben handed him the snack he had brought to give Ruel, saying he seemed to have lost weight.

Sniff.

Leo sniffed the snack bag Ruel received and raised the corners of his mouth.

Its a macaron! This body remembers that!

Just when I was feeling a bit hungry.

Ruel laughed as if he had made a fortune.

Long time no see, Ketlan greeted Ruel warmly and made space next to himself.

Thank you, Lord Prios, Ruel took a seat and took a deep breath. Ne?ww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com

Just exchanging greetings was already exhausting. To regain stamina, Ruel took a bite of a macaron and offered one to Ketlan.

Would you like one?

Its okay. I dont think I can handle it well in this tense atmosphere.

Did I just hear someone swallowing?

Ruel watched his surroundings and secretly passed it on to Leo.

Oooh! This is what it tastes like!

Ruel couldnt understand why they hesitated to accept what he offered, whether it was Aris or other servants.

He moved his hands back and forth.

The spirits tilted their heads following his hand.

Is it because there are a lot of needle marks?

Mostly on his arms, but a few on the back of his hands.

He considered wearing gloves like Cassion, but the sound of the door opening made him turn his head.

The heavy atmosphere deepened.

The king had appeared.

His Majesty Brans Leponia, the sole Sun of Leponia, enters!

The servants loud shout broke the silence.

Everyone rose from their seats to look at the king.

The words he was about to utter would change the balance of power among the nobles and ministers, including the fate of the country.

Without a show of any emotion in his expression, Brans walked over and sat down on the throne.

Turning to face them, he spoke.

Take your seats, everyone.

Making sure everyone was seated, Brans spoke again.

This was sudden.

In an instant, a murmur arose.

As Brans said, it was a very sudden announcement.

Since there were no prior signs, the confusion was further aggravated.

Brans eyes turned to the three princes.

Huan, Adoris, Banios.

Each and every one of them made eye contact.

Instantly, his heart sank.

No matter what anyone said, they were all his precious sons.

But please know that there will be no change in the choice of my successor today.

Brans first made his intentions clear so that no one would object.

Your Majesty, may I be presumptuous

However, someone among the ministers cautiously spoke.

Brans immediately showed his displeasure.

Be silent. I will not accept any comments on this.

Brans knew that it seemed like an arbitrary choice.

However, most of the dissenters were those who joined the Red Ash.

It was ugly, but the thought of them deciding the countrys successor made him feel like he had bugs crawling all over him.

There was no point in dragging it out.

Brans again tried to speak directly without paying attention to the minister standing next to him.

Your Majesty, this is too sudden, and somewhat unjust.

Huan spoke up, cautiously.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the ministers expressions relaxed as they heard the refreshing sound.

But it didnt take long for Branss anger to hit him like a bolt of lightning.

What did you say now? Unfair? What does the prince say is unfair now!

Your Majesty, please hold on. Youre choosing the heir to the country, and youll be deciding its future, so please be more careful

Brans held out his palm.

It meant to stop talking.

I have made it clear that I am here to choose an heir. Is the prince here to lecture me?

Huan was surprised at the remark mixed with anger and was unable to answer hastily.

I tell you clearly. If there is anyone who objects to my decision to select a successor, I will bring down the law.

Brans nailed his point firmly so that no more words could be spoken against his decision.

He paused, letting his anger settle, and then spoke again.

His voice was softer than before.

Some may think as Prince Huan does, but I have been dismayed by the state of affairs in this country lately. I can no longer stand idly by and have made this decision, so follow it.

At the subtlety of his words, the ministers began to stir.

Brans looked at the three princes again and gestured.

Princes, come before me.

The princes rose from their seats and walked toward him.

That was Brans signal that the performance had begun.

Ruel inhaled the Breath and stifled a laugh.

Its time to get up.

Torto shouted immediately after the reply.

What are you doing, not capturing the traitors now?

At Tortos command, the knights arrested the ministers who colluded with the Red Ash, including Luruan and Cron, whom they were previously briefed on.

Your Majesty! What is the meaning of this ugh!

Torto struck Huan on the back of the head as he approached Brans and knocked him down.

Brans did not turn his head.

Your Majesty! It is I, Huan! Huan is here!

Huan tried to rise, but the knights grabbed him and held him down.

He hurriedly shouted with an incomprehensible expression on his face.

Treason! Your Majesty! Its all a misunderstanding! Let me explain it properly, so

I cherished you! I really cared about you! But what have you done to me and to this country!

Brans shouted desperately.

Huan realized then that this was all a trap set by the king and Adoris.

They had lured him and the others of the Red Ash into the trap with the bait of choosing an heir.

Who led all of this?

You son of a bitch! Adoris!

Huan turned his head with difficulty, glaring at Adoris as if he were going to kill him.

Ruel looked back at the crowded hall and inhaled breath.

Ruel expected this situation, but it was more hectic than he expected.

Even those who already knew about this stage seemed confused.

Who the enemy was.

What the enemy had done to us.

Dont worry.

Aris watched the surroundings while holding the sword given to him by a knight.

Aris.

Aris responded firmly to Ruels words.

Yes.

Cough, cut down all those who come after me.

Alright.

Ruel moved his cane while listening to Aris answer.

Ttak.

The sound of the cane echoed off the ground as Ariss sword moved.

Enemies appeared, taking advantage of the chaos and coming to target Ruel.

Even though the enemies collapsed to the floor and vicious curses were heard, Ruel did not stop walking.

Blood splattered on the ground and screams rang out, but Ruel didnt stop walking.

Splattered blood stained his white clothes red.

He stopped in front of Huan.

He laughed at the sight of him being captured and tied up by the knights.

How did you feel when you killed my father?

Huan was startled by Ruels cold voice.

How, how could you

For what reason did you kill my father? Have you longed so much for a throne that you will grovel at the Red Ashs feet on the floor?

Huans eyes filled with bewilderment, then gradually turned to anger.

Its you! It was you!

Looking at Huan moving his whole body in a frantic struggle, Ruel leaned down slightly and touched his cheek, then stood up again and looked around.

Now that the knights have blocked the door, they leisurely capture and kill the enemies in this hall who had no hole to escape.

After a while, silence came.

Ttak.

The sound of Ruels cane broke the silence.

They belong to an organization called the Red Ash, including Prince Huan Leponia. The Red Ash seeks to sell this country, your Majesty, the princes, and all of us to a man they call the Great Man.

His voice was full of appeal, but those who were not Red Ash were unable to come to their senses due to the carnage and sudden actions of the knights.

Ttak.

Ruel slammed his cane on the floor again.

At the sound, they all turned to look at him.

The Red Ash killed my father, Trino Setiria.

At those words, those who were not Red Ash came to their senses and were shocked.

All the heads of the household, except Diagis Shio, were equally surprised.

What a place Setiria was.

Everyone here knows what Setiria is like. Its the Red Ash that killed Trino Setria, my father the former lord.

Only then did everyone understand what Ruel wanted to say.

They understood why Brans had been shouting treason, and they realized how terrifying the Red Ash were.

But those were secondary thought.

What mattered now was that the Red Ash had killed Trino Setiria.

The Red Ashes had declared war on Leponia.

As Ruel secured the legitimacy of the current situation, the atmosphere of fear quickly turned into anger.

Those who were not Red Ash glared at those captured by the knights, considering them enemies.

They must be the same guys.

Brans looked bitterly at the blood-stained hall and then bowed his head towards the honest ministers and heads of families of this country.

Im sorry, because it was like this, I had no choice but to let the situation unfold like this without any explanation to you in advance.

As soon as the kings apology confirmed the gravity of the situation, the ministers became angry.

The number of those captured by the knights was huge.

The influence of the Red Ash had been so great.

Wondering why they hadnt realized this before, one of the ministers bowed to the king.

Your Majesty, its the fault of this subject! I didnt know anything while this country fell into enemy hands!

Please kill this subject!

This subject is guilty and deserves to die!

They didnt care if their knees were soaked with blood or if they stepped on the corpses of their enemies, but instead they all bowed their heads to the king.

No matter who they were, they were all people of Leponia.

Brans spoke as if he was embarrassed by the ministers sudden actions.

Rise. It all happened because of my lack of virtue. My son, Huan Leponia, was part of a Red Ash.

Dont be pretentious, Your Majesty! Didnt you turn your head when you learned of the death of Trino Setiria?!

Huan gritted his teeth and shouted.

Author''s Thoughts

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