On the first day of martial law in the Royal Capital, the army was patrolling the streets and did not directly arrest anyone. Most of the people apprehended by soldiers were those attempting to force their way through the inner city gates or trying to escape secretly.
Escaping was actually meaningless; after all, where could one really escape to? It’s impossible to flee with the entire family.
The dimwitted old nobles still fantasized about defecting to the Anju Kingdom, while the truly clever old nobles were already writing their confessions.
Although the Queen was said to be brutal, she was not bloodthirsty. Even the former Chancellor Caudic was doing just fine, albeit lying in jail, but one could claim he was alive.
Many extreme measures were taken by those soldiers, but now Lilith’s control over them had already changed significantly; at least these soldiers were no longer simply obeying their commanders or the nobles, but truly following Lilith’s orders.
However, this was only the first day. Starting on the second day, more nobles were pulled out from their residences and taken to jail to prepare for trial.
By the third day, although nobles were still being arrested, there were already daring nobles who went out as usual to engage in social activities.
Especially those from the Old Party, they had realized that Her Majesty the Queen wasn’t expanding the scope of the arrests and wasn’t randomly capturing people, so they began to muster their courage and visited one another, holding dinners and even balls to exchange information.
“I served the former king, my ancestors bled for the kingdom, I must see Her Majesty! I must see Her Majesty!”
Peter was dragged out by soldiers in a very undignified manner, and despite his wails, the soldiers dragged him away without a care.
Peter did not dare to use magic; at least he was the only one being captured for now. He had seen someone resist with magic in his residence yesterday, and the soldiers immediately switched to open-fire mode.
Even now, Peter still vividly remembered what the knight had said at that time: “Her Majesty the Queen is reasonable, but if you don’t want to reason with Her Majesty, then I also know a bit about gunpowder and magic.”
So, no matter how rough and undignified these soldiers were, Peter only dared to shout a few words in venting.
On the way, Peter saw Marcel and other members of the Old Party preparing to attend the evening ball. They were not riding in a carriage, but were walking while discussing something. Peter immediately shouted, “Sir Marcel, save me! Save me!”
This shout caught Marcel’s attention, and still in a fit of anger, he pointed at Peter’s nose and cursed, “It’s your lot of vermin who caused the death of the former king, making the Royal Capital a complete mess. You all deserve to die!”
These nobles had just been talking with Marcel on the street about nothing other than remembering the former king Klan.
Because death holds great significance, combined with the stark contrast between Klan’s and Lilith’s ruling styles now, and the nostalgia filters of these old nobles, Klan was exalted to an incredible height in the hearts of these Old Party nobles.
Seeing Marcel take the lead, another enthusiastic noble who had just been chatting immediately knelt down at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where Klan’s remains were kept, and said, “Your Majesty the former king, did you see? The culprits who caused your death have already been captured; you can now rest in peace in the Divine Kingdom.”
Soon, more nobles dramatically knelt down, although it might also reflect genuine feelings: “How good a king Your Majesty was, diligent and tolerant, striving for progress! Who would have thought he was harmed by treacherous people? If Your Majesty the former king hadn’t died, our Cape Kingdom would have been so prosperous now.”
Peter felt confused. Had these people forgotten the pressure that Klan imposed during his reign? Had they forgotten how Klan expanded the queen’s powers to counter the old nobles? Had they forgotten how Klan aimed at the core lands and taxes of the nobles?
However, compared to the current queen, Peter felt a hint of regret inside.
After all, Klan did engage in deep reforms, and he would sit down for discussions rather than leading the army into the city.
At this point, another noble lamented, “I even held Klan when he was a child, how good a child! So sensible and polite, just like that, gone.”
This was true; quite a few old nobles had indeed held Klan as a child.
In an instant, this group of nobles could not distinguish between false sentiments and genuine emotions, right there in the street, they began to wail for Klan Augustine.
Even Peter was caught up in this atmosphere and started to cry, repeatedly admitting faults and saying he would strive to reform after going inside, anyway, the atmosphere was set.
However, the soldiers had no feelings about this; after all, they were loyal to the Southwest Borders’ baron, and Her Majesty the Queen provided them with weapons and equipment. As for the former king, they wished him well in the Divine Kingdom.
Thus, the soldiers continued to drag Peter away roughly.
Seeing this, Marcel, along with other members of the Old Party, got up. Regardless, their attitude was appropriate, and they continued toward tonight’s ball venue.
The ballroom scene was filled with members of the Old Party who had not been affected. The nobles, as usual, were toasting one another at the ball, but in reality, most looked sullen.
Although many leads in this incident were provided by the Old Party, and in the future, Her Majesty the Queen would undoubtedly reward them, these Old Party members could not bring themselves to smile.
Even with the division already underway, this incident still had a tremendous impact on the Old Party; on the surface, it seemed the Royal Capital’s powers had balanced out, but in reality, the Old Party had lost a group of people for mere prestige that was currently of little use.
After all, could the reputation of the Old Party ever surpass that of the current Queen?
Though there were also some benefits, at least the people from the Southwest Borders would no longer show a disdainful attitude towards the Old Party; at least openly. Behind the scenes, everyone knew what was going on—the Old Party hadn’t only failed to provide leads, but had also helped to cover things up.
“I hear Her Majesty the Queen is going to become a Saintess again.”
A noble began to sigh in front of Marcel. The Queen’s prestige among the common folk in the Royal Capital was already high; becoming a Saintess would allow her to intervene in Church matters with justification, and her reputation would receive unprecedented enhancement.
The Cape Kingdom would witness its first political and religious unified Queen since its founding.
Marcel clearly understood what this noble was worried about; this was also the main concern of the Old Party now—that following this incident, Her Majesty’s reform pace would become unstoppable.
But Marcel clinked his cup with that noble and said, “This isn’t something we should worry about, or rather, whether Her Majesty becomes a Saintess again isn’t our concern. There are others who are much more anxious than we are.”
“You are right.”
Hearing Marcel say this, the noble understood. The Augustines guarding the palace without a king would likely be more anxious than the Old Party upon hearing Lilith would become a Saintess again.
Marcel had to admit that Her Majesty had some means, but ultimately she was still too young. Collaborating with the Church could indeed expand her power, but greater power also meant greater risk.
Moreover, the Church’s current situation was hard to put into words.
