Chapter Thirty-Six: His Highness and the Settlement of Everything
The next morning, Marquis Dortrek went to work at the royal palace as usual, only to realize that everything had changed overnight. When he alighted from the carriage, he was surrounded by the royal guards.
Afterwards, he was summoned to the audience hall along with Nolan.
The first prince and his wife, the second prince and his wife, and several royal guards were present. By the way, the minister of war was also there, but he didn’t seem to understand why he was among those people.
The king who summoned them was seated on a wooden throne at the back of the throne room.
His complexion was still somewhat pale, while his cheeks were gaunt. Nevertheless, his eyes, which shone vividly, gave a window to his indomitable will.
Next to the king was the queen.
When the king clapped, one of the royal guards bowed, before moving swiftly towards the entrance to open the door.
Beyond the open door was a man surrounded by royal guards. He was none other than Rosie’s father, the Marquis of Dortrek.
“Marquis Dortrek, come.” Ordered the king.
Urged by the royal guards, Marquis Dortrek made his way to the center of the audience hall. But soon, he sank on his knees, blood draining from his face. His shoulders could be seen shaking from behind.
The king spoke, his voice resounding throughout the entire room.
“Marquis Dortrek and Minister of War, do you know the reason behind your summoning?”
The two men who were directly addressed by the king stared at each other, opening and closing their mouths like fish. The unexpected development had caught them off guard.
The king didn’t wait for a reply.
“Marquis Dortrek. Last night, someone infiltrated the Fourth Prince’s mansion. Do you have anything to say about that?”
“Your Majesty… While I feel sorry for Count Dahl, but why should I—”
“A few relatives of yours have been confirmed to enter Dahl Island. What is the reason for that? One of them confessed that they had done so under your command.”
Marquis Dortrek looked as if he’d seen a ghost.
His face twitched as a vague smile hung on his lips. Suddenly, his expression became serious as he spoke in a hoarse voice.
“There has to be a mistake.”
However, the king was unconvinced and turned to the Minister of War.
“Minister of War. You’ve always been proactive in dispatching troops to the Kingdom of Lyolka. Did you recommend Stefan to be the next king to resume the war?”
The Minister of War deliberately acted confused.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your relatives are also among the top arm dealers in the kingdom. If anything, resuming the war will play out in your favor.”
The Minister of War responded by insisting that wasn’t the case, and that he fought the war for the sake of his kingdom. However, Nolan took a stance against him.
“Could it be that Marquis Dortrek promised you a promotion?”
At that, the Minister of War furrowed his bushy eyebrows and glowered at Nolan.
“What nonsense! You moved the Royal Guards without permission! Who do you think you are to act all high and mighty!?”
Even though the Minister of War was nothing but uncouth to him, Nolan was unfazed in the slightest.
The first prince raised his voice, and spoke firmly.
“I was the one who dispatched the Royal Guards and the Royal Cavalry.”
…Only to burst out laughing soon after.
“—I don’t have authority over them, either!”
The Minister of War was seeing red.
Nolan walked up to the front of the Minister of War. His graceful steps didn’t at all suit the tense atmosphere. Then, he smiled softly at the seething Minister of War.
“Minister, the man you colluded with will soon be tried for the death of the Fifth Prince.”
“What—!?”
Apparently, the Minister of the War didn’t have any clue about the fifth prince’s case.
Perhaps, the minister only gave his words to support the second prince.
Nolan arrived in front of Marquis Dortrek. The marquis was glaring at Nolan, trying to intimidate him, but Nolan didn’t miss the way his thin chin shook.
The marquis was upset.
“Marquis Dortrek, your mistake was failing to kill me. …Jean found out that you attacked Aaron and killed him. Your mistress, Suzette Limourie, told me everything. You swapped the medicine that Jean was taking for his chest pain with poison.”
Suzette Limourie… that was the name of the maid who was in the mansion of the Minister of Finance, Jean Dortrek.
At the mention of Suzette’s name, Marquis Dortrek’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. After blinking a few times, he screamed at Nolan, his face turning crimson.
“What are you talking about!? You’re lying!”
“Suzette is your mistress, right? Or at least, was. You paid her a lot of money and cut off her hand. She told me herself.”
“Don’t bullshit me!”
“Why would you say that? …Have you already dealt with Suzette?”
“Gah!” Marquis Dortrek sputtered, and the king spoke in a grave tone.
“You’ll be investigated for Jean’s death and the incident with the Fifth Prince.”
Nolan returned to my side and declared to Marquis Dortrek.
“You were the one who attacked my mansion on Dahl Island.”
Marquis Dortrek neither affirmed nor denied.
Nolan stood in front of Marquis Dortrek, who was livid, and criticized him with a mocking tone.
“You used your own daughter, Rosie, to monitor me.”
Surprised, I looked at Rosie, who stood beside the second prince, and she quickly averted her gaze.
Apparently, the king was already aware of the facts that Nolan had gathered on Dahl Island.
“Your Majesty…!”
Pathetically, Marquis Dortrek cried out to the king. However, the king only turned a deaf ear on him and called for the royal guards.
Soon, the four royal guards emerged. Swiftly, they marched towards the center of the audience, and without wasting any seconds, restrained both Marquis Dortrek and the Minister of War, about to drag them away.
The Minister of War, who could only watch the scene unfold, screamed.
“Your Majesty! I never wish to harm His Highness Nolan or Aaron! I simply promised to lend my skills to Marquis Dortrek and His Highness Stefan as a form of support!”
Marquis Dortrek was snarling like a dog.
Rosie, who’d been watching silently until then, cried out as she clung to her father, the Marquis of Dortrek.
“No! Unhand him! What impudence!”
Rosie ran after her father and pulled the guard’s arm, desperately trying to prevent them from taking her father. As a matter of course, the royal guards were unperturbed and dragged Marquis Dortrek out of the audience hall.
When the door was shut in front of her face, Rosie collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Beside her, the second prince quietly took off his red cloak, folded it, before kneeling in front of the king. At that moment, he must’ve realized his future.
The king called for the first prince, and Prince Ethan stepped in front of the king, bending one knee.
After staring intently at the face of the first prince, the king began to speak.
“Ethan, I hereby name you my successor.”
Everyone that was there to witness the sight gasped all at once.
I unconsciously clung to Nolan’s arm.
“From now on, you’ll gradually assist me with my work so as to get acclimated to it.”
After hearing that, the first prince bowed his head deeply and swore allegiance to the king.
I stood next to Nolan, frozen. Somehow, I didn’t have it in me to look at Rosie and the second prince.
Marquis Dortrek was being accused of committing treason against the royal family. If he was found guilty, he was beyond saving.
—Did Prince Stefan know about his father-in-law’s plan…?
Suddenly, such a question flashed across my mind.
I didn’t want to think that he’d go as far as murdering his brothers just to ascend the throne.
The next thing the king called was my husband’s name.
Nolan gently brushed my arm off and stepped forward. Upon arriving in front of the throne, he kneeled.
“Nolan. Return to the royal palace. After the fire, the count’s mansion on Dahl Island must’ve been inhabitable. You shall remain here to help Ethan.”
“Your Majesty, both my wife and I are fond of that island. We have no intention of leaving it behind.”
“Nolan…” The king said, clutching his head in shock.
I didn’t expect to be used as an excuse. Under the king’s scrutiny, I felt myself getting smaller.
Fidgeting, I stared at the tips of my shoes.
Fixing my gaze at the glossy, delicate shoes that were exquisitely adorned with purple glass beads, I suddenly realized something.
—He might be done with me as well.
Nolan had avenged his brother.
The first prince had been chosen as the future king of this kingdom.
Nolan no longer had to abandon everything and seclude himself in Dahl Island. Nor did he have to keep me as his wife anymore.
Therefore, please abandon me along with Dahl Island.
If we were to stay married, I’d just bring dishonor upon him.
Although I wanted to remain by Nolan’s side, I was unworthy of him.
I no longer paid any attention to the conversation between the king and Nolan, and instead fell into deep rumination.
“—Well, then, excuse us.”
However, when Nolan took my arm, I came back to my senses.
I looked up, only to find that the king was staring at us, particularly at Nolan, who stood next to me. Then, the king let out a sigh of resignation.
“Father, Mother. Please take care of yourselves. I’ll always wish you both good health, wherever you are.”
Nolan bowed his head, and I awkwardly followed suit.
When I lifted my head once again, Nolan put his arm around my back, escorting me towards the exit of the audience hall.
Rather uneasy, I glanced at Nolan. However, he had a refreshing look on his face, as if a burden had been lifted. His light blue eyes sparkled like crystal, and soon met mine.
Nolan showed me a dazzling smile.
As we both stepped out into the hallway, I couldn’t help but ask.
“…Lord Nolan, are you really sure about returning to Dahl Island?”
“Why not?”
“I mean, you are a prince…”
“Being your prince is enough for me.”
Nolan said as he embraced me.
As our bodies overlapped, my love for Nolan overflowed, and I couldn’t help but cling to him with all my might.
“Lord Nolan is and always will be my wonderful prince!”
—But then, I heard someone clearing his throat. It was Ricardo.
“Lord Nolan.”
“What do you think, Ricardo? I can say cool lines too.”
“Good for you.”
Embarrassed by their conversation, I struggled to break free, only for him to tighten his grip.
“Liese. From the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful that you are my wife.”
Nolan and I were waiting for the carriage to arrive in the hall that ran along the side of the royal palace.
My family’s carriage was ready and just as I was about to get into it, the first prince arrived.
We lined up in front of the carriage door and waited for the first prince to reach us.
“Are you going to leave already? Why don’t you remain in the royal palace for a bit more?”
“Brother, I have a favor to ask you.”
The first prince blinked.
“What? If it’s a request from you, there’s no way I won’t listen.”
“When you ascend the throne as the king of Tigaro, I request you to abolish the current system of succession to the throne and introduce primogeniture.”
Although Nolan’s words weren’t particularly emotional, the first prince widened his eyes, unable to hide his shock.
He probably wasn’t expecting it.
When he saw that the first prince wasn’t responding, Nolan went on.
“I can no longer trust my parents. Even though we are siblings, we tiptoe around each other, keeping our cards close to our chests. Our bonds are superficial at best. Only Aaron was different. I want to put an end to that.”
The first prince frowned and dropped his head as he listened to Nolan’s story. His usual cheerful and energetic atmosphere was gone, replaced by an aura of melancholy.
When Nolan paused, the first prince hoarsely muttered his younger brother’s name.
Nolan continued.
“I can’t even honestly say that I trust you, even though you’re the person I’m closest to among my brothers. How sad is that?”
The first prince took a deep breath and exhaled just as slowly.
“I know. It is sad. I understand. I swear to you as the next king—I’ll reform the succession system in my reign.”
“Thank you.”
Nolan and the first prince shared a hug. After firmly patting each other on the shoulder, they eventually let go.
The next time they looked into each other’s eyes, it felt like their trust had deepened.
“Stay safe.”
“The same goes for you, Brother.”
The first prince turned to look at me, flashing me a friendly smile before taking my hand. The muscular man bowed, making himself look smaller as he kissed the back of my hand.
“Liese, I can’t thank you enough. Do come visit us again.”
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