A small team of the Demon Clan that had deeply infiltrated the Northern Border was wiped out without drawing any attention from anyone, as this team was originally in a one-sided contact state, at most just the liaison officer thought Burken was having fun in the Northern Border.
As for the newly appeared birdbeak-masked Sisters in Graywhite Territory, although there were many rumors, only downstream Fasen Town knew some specific situations.
This communication mainly relied on shouting, and contacts were established through verbal exchanges; everything in Graywhite Territory seemed to be shrouded in fog.
In contrast, even the slightest breeze in the Royal Capital could stir up a new storm.
For example, on that fine morning, the kingdom’s Chancellor Caudic had already entered Duke Lars’ residence.
At the time, many students and nobles lined the streets to see Caudic off, even creating a feeling of “the wind rustling and the cold waters of the Yishui.”
Caudic did not say what this trip was for, only stating it was for peace, which led many to speculate that Caudic was negotiating some matters regarding the Northern Border with Duke Lars, and others worried about how Duke Lars would treat this heroic chancellor in the current Royal Capital.
These people’s worries were justified; the enraged Duke Lars could barely control the surging magic power within him, while Caudic on the other side of the negotiation table sipped his tea calmly.
“Your Grace, have you thought it over? If you don’t sign soon, I can’t predict what your precious granddaughter will face.”
Behind Caudic was a little girl guarded by two bodyguards from the Chancellor’s office; this was Lena’s youngest sister, Ruby Lars.
Lena had two younger brothers and a sister. After Lena’s father went missing, Duke Lars initially intended to have the most outstanding Sean among the four siblings inherit his father’s position through an heir war, while the other brother and sister would also be granted territories to strengthen Sean’s lineage.
Ruby had her own territory under such circumstances, usually managed by her brother Sean Lars.
However, in this case, Ruby appeared in the Royal Capital, and in the hands of her political rival Caudic.
Duke Lars felt like his head was about to explode; Ruby could appear here while he himself knew nothing, not to mention that not only Ruby’s territory was in trouble, but even Sean’s territory might be in jeopardy.
“Caudic, I thought you knew the rules among nobles.”
Though Duke Lars’s words were devoid of aggression, his body resembled a giant bear poised to attack.
This rule was merely an informal guideline in the noble political struggle; no matter how brutal the conflict was, it would not harm family members, which was also why Duke Lars felt secure in letting Ruby be granted her territory.
“Is this rule written in the laws of the kingdom? How could I know? I only know that Ruby Lars exploits the commoners, inciting their resentment, and has been driven out of her territory by the mob, leading her to meet a miserable end.”
“She’s just a child; there are hardly any subjects in her territory! She doesn’t even collect taxes!”
Duke Lars slammed his hand down furiously, instantly shattering the table beneath him.
“Do you think the people of the Royal Capital believe you, this incompetent duke, or me, the heroic chancellor?”
Caudic replied proudly, “I have brought lasting peace to your Northern Border!”
Then Caudic glanced at the document that had shattered with the table, took another one out of his pocket, and continued, “Sign it, Your Grace. The king said that as long as you sign, you will be allowed to leave the Royal Capital, and you can take your beloved granddaughter wherever you like.”
This was clearly a mix of soft and hard tactics; Duke Lars glanced at the steward, who trembled as he brought the treaty over. Just then, Caudic took out another document from his pocket and handed it to the steward, saying, “Your Grace, don’t rush; I still have another one, but don’t worry, it’s not a treaty. Just read out the words on it in Queen’s Square, and of course, only after you finish reading can you reunite with your beloved granddaughter.”
Duke Lars took the document, and sure enough, this document was as outrageous as the treaty. To put it simply, this document that needed to be read out loud was a confession, filled to the brim with things Duke Lars had either done or hadn’t done.
However, most of it consisted of deeds done by Caudic, cleverly shifted onto the shoulders of the Lars family.
Seeing Duke Lars about to burst with anger, Caudic gently raised his hand, and the bodyguards behind him immediately drew their swords, resting them against Ruby’s neck.
“Grandpa…”
Not yet ten years old, Ruby hugged her beloved teddy bear, looking at Duke Lars with tearful eyes.
The next day, nearly all nobles and bards arrived promptly at Queen’s Square. Duke Lars had lost his former grandeur, appearing as a weary old man, standing on the already constructed high platform and beginning to read the contents of the document.
In order to quickly understand what was happening in the Northern Border, Duke Lars could no longer waste time in the royal city with these schemers. He had a premonition that something big had happened to the Lars family in the Northern Border, and Caudic probably used some means to completely block the flow of information.
“I am a sinner; I have betrayed the trust Your Majesty placed in me. My selfishness has led the Northern Border to become like this.”
Duke Lars, like a bear in its twilight years, mournfully read from the script that Caudic had set for him.
As more and more accusations not belonging to the Lars family were uttered from Duke Lars’s mouth, more and more people began to spread the word, and many passersby even threw rotten eggs directly at the old man.
The crowd grew larger, and someone shouted, “Hang him! Hang him!”
“Apologize to us!”
Of course, there were many onlookers who did not understand the truth, asking, “Who is this old man?”
“He’s the shame of the nobility, the grandfather.”
“Oh, that one, truly shameless; the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. No wonder he could raise such a disgrace in the noble class.”
This public confession quickly alerted the guards of the royal city, who quickly took control of the situation and swiftly apprehended the Northerners who were defending Duke Lars.
Among the crowd, a bard began to claim that Chancellor Caudic had caused Duke Lars to realize his mistakes, long live Chancellor Caudic!
Immediately, as if premeditated, the people in the square began to praise Caudic’s great achievements, and countless rotten eggs seemed to have been prepared in advance to be thrown at Duke Lars.
Duke Lars, hit in the face with eggs, could only wipe the liquid off his face and continue reading the document’s contents in the autumn breeze.
In a moment, the entire Royal Capital was filled with insults and criticism directed at Duke Lars, along with praises and accolades for Caudic.
The bards continually sang of Caudic’s wisdom and bravery, when in fact, Caudic had no real wisdom; he simply operated without any moral limits.
