novelAlta Chapter 461: I realized this recently.
Chapter 461: I realized this recently.
The palace was bustling from early in the morning. Eligible nobles, willing to travel long distances, gathered to observe the meeting.The servants working in the palace were busy preparing to welcome them.
In a crowd of people like never before, only two things came up in people’s conversations.
The same was true at the small tea party held at the palace before the meeting.
“Isn’t Count Eckhart not attending?”
“I heard he’s expressed his intention not to attend. Perhaps that’s only natural. I understand that the Count, Lord Arcus, and Sir Arendt are still at odds.”
“I heard that Lord Arcus von Eckhart will be attending in the Count’s stead. He’s been staying at the palace for several days.”
“Perhaps this is fortunate for the Count.”
The old nobleman who had been listening quietly shook his head.
“Isn’t Sir Arendt already accused of treason for the second time? It could even endanger the entire family, but since he declared his severance of ties so early… I doubt His Highness will hold the Count accountable.”
“But Sir Arendt is a man favored by His Highness.”
A relatively young nobleman came forward to refute the claim.
“The last betrayal was ultimately a plot to quickly grasp the enemy’s movements, so I’m sure there’s another reason for this one. From what I’ve heard, he’s quite intelligent.”
“He may be smart, but he’s a total rascal who doesn’t know manners.”
But the old nobleman was resolute.
“Do you know how many people have been humiliated by him?”
“But he saved the life of the hero, Captain Laius. I know he’s a staunch non-believer, but I can’t deny that fact. It was thanks to Lord Luce’s grace that his life was saved…”
Moreover, he had also made a great contribution in eliminating key enemy figures in the Everan Kingdom.
Someone who had been quietly listening to the conversation quietly chimed in.
“Is there anything to overthink? The young man was just being overly arrogant.”
Having gained the trust of the Crown Prince and Captain Laius at a young age, it was perhaps not surprising that he was so arrogant.
The young nobleman objected again.
“But if he had been that incompetent, His Highness probably wouldn’t have trusted him. Everyone here knows how cautious His Highness is.”
“That’s true. I heard he even refused when His Highness praised his achievements and offered to appoint him as an official knight early. Judging by that, it doesn’t seem like he has much of a desire for honor.”
This time, another person interrupted. There was a brief pause in the conversation, and silence fell over the small reception room.
It was because everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
“…Now that I think about it, he really is a strange person.” This update ıs available on N0velFire.ɴet
Someone muttered with an uneasy expression.
“I can’t even guess what he’s going to do.”
The apprentice knight of the Third Knight Order first made his name known when he was branded a traitor and driven to the brink of execution.
Since then, he has been at the forefront of revealing the identity of the Evil Cult that was shrouded in mystery, and has also become friendly with Lumiel, who was now the High Priest.
It was also Arendt who humiliated former High Priest Theodore and dealt a decisive blow to Lumiel’s rise to the position of High Priest.
But now, it was High Priest Lumiel who was taking the lead in demanding his trial.
“First a traitor, then Captain Laius’ savior… and now accused of plotting rebellion.”
“His contributions in the war cannot be ignored, either. His Majesty seems to like him as well.”
It was a problem that was not easy to judge.
“If he had been an ordinary person, he would have been dismissed and imprisoned on the mere charge.”
“I know there were voices calling for it to be done, but I heard His Highness declined that due to health reasons.”
“Perhaps that’s only natural. After all, Sir Arendt has done a lot up until now. It seems his health has deteriorated due to the recent battles…”
Someone answered uncomfortably.
“Besides, it is said that there are people other than Captain Laius who strongly support him.”
This included not only the Neumann Merchant Group, which was currently on the rise, but also Marquis Lanford, who had suffered hardships at Arendt’s hands in the past.
The nobles, upon recalling that fact, became even more confused.
There was another long silence, and then someone struggled to come to a conclusion.
“For now… we have no choice but to listen to Sir Arendt’s explanation.”
“I wonder if this is something that can be explained. There seems to be no other way.”
The old nobleman also nodded slowly.
Regardless, this debate would end one way or another in a few hours.
Of course, they didn’t anticipate that this situation would unfold in a direction no one could have imagined.
The largest conference room, which was rarely used, was opened.
In the midst of the large crowd gathered, the Emperor himself appeared, and the nobles were once again in an uproar.
And High Priest Lumiel and her assistants, Crown Prince Cantares accompanied by Jereon, Captain Laius, and the core members of the Third Knights also entered.
Among the knights, there was also the much-talked-about apprentice knight, Arendt von Eckhart.
From the moment Arendt von Eckhart appeared, people’s attention was immediately drawn to her.
“The atmosphere isn’t very…good.”
Henry frowned. Arcus, sitting next to him, nodded silently.
His unique actions also brought him much resentment. There were undoubtedly many who planned to use this opportunity to exclude him from politics altogether.
“Don’t worry about me. Just talk comfortably. I’m just here to observe.”
When everyone was seated, the Emperor smiled and opened the discussion.
But those words couldn’t be taken literally. The Crown Prince answered, the air growing even more uncomfortable.
“Thank you for taking the time to be here, Your Majesty. And to you all. It must have been difficult to come all the way here in these hectic times.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze slowly scanned the room.
“Since everyone is busy, let’s start the discussion.”
While everyone was swallowing dry saliva, Cantares looked straight at High Priest Lumiel.
“Without further comment, let’s get straight to the point. The recent blasphemies that have occurred throughout the Empire, taking advantage of the war… Your Excellency has identified the apprentice knight, Sir Arendt von Eckhart, as the mastermind behind them.”
His voice filled the quiet conference room.
“That’s probably what you’re most interested in today.”
“Yes. However, Your Highness, if I may dare to say something…”
Lumiel answered slowly.
“I personally question whether this kind of situation was necessary to judge Sir Arendt’s guilt.”
“There are so many people interested in this.”
Cantares smiled brightly.
“Is this troubling you? Normally, it might have been right to detain him and then proceed with the trial, but it seemed unfair to do that to someone who had just returned from battle after making great contributions.”
From the beginning, an unusual war of nerves was going on.
“Don’t worry, though. I’ve ordered him to recuperate under confinement within the Third Knights’ quarters. The order will not be lifted until his innocence is proven.”
“No. Since that is Your Highness’ intention, I have no objection.”
High Priest Lumiel, who had been listening quietly, also nodded with a kind smile.
“There has been a significant increase in recent attacks on the temple, and behind them is Sir Arendt von Eckhart… This is what High Priest Lumiel has personally investigated at the temple.”
Cantares continued.
“He sent letters to an unspecified number of people, and those who read them developed resentment toward Lord Luce, leading them to engage in actions like graffitiing the temple. That’s all we’ve discovered so far. So, I’d like to ask you this now…?”
The Crown Prince’s blue eyes moved and looked at Arendt.
He stood among the knights, looking at the meeting participants with his usual indifferent eyes.
Even though he was being discussed in a place where all the high-ranking officials and even the Emperor were present, he appeared calm and composed.
At first glance, he seemed bored, but at the same time, he seemed to be observing each and every person closely.
‘That looks familiar.’
One way or another, Arendt was Arendt.
“Sir Arendt, do you admit to the charges?”
“Yes.”
Arendt nodded dryly.
“…”
It was an astonishingly simple nod.
A silence flowed through the conference room, with a different meaning than before.
For a moment, Cantares, Lumiel, and even the knights who were with him all looked dumbfounded.
Laius bowed his head deeply, his face looking as if he were about to die from agony.
“I apologize. This was due to my failure in properly guiding him.”
“Why? I was just answering your question. What’s the problem…”
As Arendt began to babble, Laius quietly raised his hand and hit the back of his head.
“Ugh!”
Only then did Arendt shut his mouth.
In the midst of the awkward silence, someone burst into laughter.
“…Huh, heh heh. Hahaha.”
People who slowly raised their heads were even more shocked when they saw who had started laughing.
The Emperor, sitting in the highest seat, covered his mouth and his shoulders were trembling.
A nearby, expressionless aide sighed and called out to him.
“Your Majesty.”
“Ah, ahem. Sorry.”
Only then did the Emperor stop laughing and wave his hand.
“Keep going.”
But the Emperor still couldn’t hide his smile. At that moment, when everyone was stunned, Arthur glanced at Arendt and asked with a look of bewilderment.
“…Why do you look so proud??”
“Oh. Did you notice?”
“You didn’t really intend to hide it, you bastard.”
Arthur growled quietly, but Arendt pretended not to hear.
While Cantares, who had been feeling a headache, was rubbing his temples, Lumiel spoke sternly.
“I hope you take this seriously, Sir Arendt.”
“I’m quite serious. Didn’t I just tell you what I did?”
Arendt met her gaze and answered sarcastically.
“I had the rascals I usually knew send the documents I wrote to various places. What…? That’s all you’ve gathered here for.”
Arendt took her eyes off Lumiel and slowly scanned the room.
“I’m sorry? Well, I’m not really sorry.”
“…”
The nobles’ gazes wandered through the air. Duke Lancelot, who had been watching, let out a small sigh.
“I knew it would turn out like this.”
Lumiel let out a subtle sigh, while Cantares shut his eyes tightly and pressed firmly between his brows.
It was a moment everyone had been preparing for.
But it seemed the same was true for Arendt.
“Just in case, I’m telling you in advance that I have absolutely no intention of apologizing. I did nothing wrong.”
His tone was extremely relaxed, but his golden eyes were shining brightly.
As if he were declaring that he would unleash all the resentment he had built up during his confinement right here.