BXBX NOVEL Chapter 62 Who Came Up With This Scheme?!
"T-this.." The noblemen were left wide-eyed and speechless by the image displayed in the projection hall.
The scroll containing the handwriting of the Elven Chief really did mention the Third Prince's name for all to see!
Duke Vesala and Marquess Astaze gritted their teeth in vexation. But since it was the Elves, who did not even take part in the political affairs of the Empire, they couldn't protest.
Gritting their teeth, the two princes threw an aggravated glance at the emotionless Leon.
"What kind of trick did you do, to be able to manage to get the attention of the elves?" Kazimir uttered discreetly towards the uncaring Third Prince in wonder.
"Who did you ask for this favor?!"
"It must be just mere luck! Whose forces in the Empire were even willing to support him with his lowly origin?!" Antoine declared with obvious envy.
His fist was clenched so tightly that veins could almost pop out of his fair smooth hands.
"Tsk! You're right, who would dare to support him with his reputation and abilities?"
The two princes grievously shrugged and pretended to be benevolent to their 'little brother', as if they were the ones who gave away the precious opportunity for him.
Because of this, they were not able to see that as Leon rested his handsome frigid face in his hand, the corner of his lips was slightly lifted in a smirk.
'Who in the world did I ask? Heh…' His heart couldn't help but laugh with pride and contentment.
'It's just my capable, strong, and independent future wife!'
The rest of the agenda had proceeded smoothly, but with obvious stiffness from the rest of the crowd.
However Emperor Valentin didn't bother appeasing them, the only one he needed to appease was his beloved Tehila!
'Luckily, I have a very kind and capable future daughter-in-law!'
'If not for her suggestion and close relationship with the elves, my Queen would have sent me to the cold palace!'
'Hmm, I must send the secret guards to buy many goodies for my grandchild and daughter in law… I'm quite ashamed to be taking advantage of her brilliance when I haven't even seen her personally!'
His heart became troubled as he unconsciously let out a heavy sigh.
"Is there something that matters, Your majesty?" His closest aide asked worriedly.
"No, go on, I'm listening." Emperor Valentin waved his right hand dismissively and continued with the agenda.
"This is the last concern, Your Majesty! Please hear us!" After some time, a baron from a remote area in the Empire humbly presented.
Signaling the guards, a group of pitifully dressed farmers came to the hall with a sorrowful faces.
"Impudence! You, a lowly baron, dare to invite peasants within the castle walls!!" Some of the higher-ranking nobility reprimanded the actions of the baron.
Disgust could be seen in their faces as they could clearly see the filth from the commoners' attire. Others couldn't help but step back, afraid of catching germs and smelling a stinky odor from them.
The group of farmers shivered in fear and shame. They hung their head low as they couldn't bear to lift their faces when the vicious eyes of the nobles and monarch were directed at them.
"Silence!" Emperor Valentin shouted in irritation as he coldly stared in the direction of the noble who ridiculed the baron.
"So much for being a noble! You seemed to forget where you all came from!" The Emperor squinted his eyes and continued,
"Who are all of you without that title? Don't dare throw a high almighty act in MY assembly!!!"
Everyone went stiff and embarrassed.
Seirende is an Empire.
It means that every territory within the empire was conquered and trampled down by the Seirende family. People who gained noble status were all solely granted by the Emperor, but it was all earned through hard-earned work and sacrifice.
In short, all the attendees in the hall became noble because an Emperor of Seirende granted them their status, even the duchy!
The Emperor had struck the sore spot of every noble in the hall.
Like a direct slap for them, reminding them that they were also of 'low origins' in the eyes of the Imperial Family.
They, the 'noble' ones who had been ridiculing the Third Prince for having commoner blood.
It is the reality once a territory was conquered by a strong force.
Even if you are a former royalty or a peasant under the previous rule, once your ruler was defeated, everyone will be of lowly status and their lives will be in their conqueror's hands.
The Duke of Vesala couldn't hide his fury and humiliation. With gritted teeth, he stealthily glanced at the monarch with deep resentment.
'How could he utter those words at this moment, of all times!' His heart was in a panic.
In his ears, it was like he was finally defending the third prince's origins. 'Could it be because of the Elves' favor?'
He stealthily looked at the area where the princes were sitting, concentrating his venomous gaze on the third seat.
Chill ran down his spine as he met the cold and 'barbaric' stare from the Third Prince! His crystal blue eyes seemed to be emitting some aura that froze his breathing.
!!!
'He has been observing me! That Barbarian!'
He almost wet his pants in shock as he could feel the bloodlust directed at him. He couldn't do anything but nervously hung his head low as he felt powerless under Leon's glance.
'A mere D class devourer managed to scare me like this! You damned monarch just you see! Savor the time you could sit on that chair!' He thought in his heart while biting his lips in frustration.
Seeing that the noblemen had learned their place, Emperor Valentin looked toward the baron and the group of farmers and said with authority, "State your case!"
The Baron then became at ease and explained their situation, "Your Majesty, this humble one, from the Rugglestan Barony seeks your help in our situation!"
As he bowed, the farmers behind him also followed and pleaded, "Have mercy on us, Your Majesty!"
"These farmers were desperate to find their missing wives. Although they were only a few, what was alarming was that they all had similar cases - their missing wives were all pregnant…" The Baron of Rugglestan explained.
"This case, how could your Barony fail to handle this one? To be raised in this assembly, you must give me a good reason." Emperor Valentin didn't show any expression and kept on displaying a fair and unbiased attitude.
"This.. Your Majesty, it was the same as I had thought initially, yet these people didn't come from the barony! They came from the different vast lands near the border and stumbled into our town in desperation of looking for their wives!
Our territory was the first gateway to access the nobility. Thus, I was the first one to receive their complaints.
During the investigation, I verified with the neighboring county and villages if there were any traces of their wives. But what I had discovered were similar cases of missing pregnant women!"
Hushed discussions and murmurings rang into the entire hall. This case, to their ears, is not simple.
"What's scarier was that not only commoners were involved, but to date, we have noted five similar cases involving lower nobility…
Your Majesty, at this point I have recognized that this case was clearly beyond my capabilities and tried my luck to plead to you in this assembly…
If this case wouldn't be properly looked into, the capital might also be in danger!"
Panic ran through the hall. Everyone was discussing how peculiar the case is. Yet what really engaged the nobles was the keyword, "Nobility".
Of course, the report was clearly exaggerated, for this was the scheme of the father and son to bait the nobility into cooperating with the investigations against the Spectre. They knew that the only way to do it was by threatening the nobles with 'known unknowns'.
Engaging a powerless baron who doesn't mean to either of the major forces of the first and second prince, crafting an accessory store for the real victims to be more pitiful and effective in persuading the nobles were all part of their setup.
Surely their scheme was extremely effective as the nobles started to plead in favor of supporting the investigation of this matter.
"Your Majesty! We must look into this case thoroughly!"
"Indeed! Who knows, these cases could already be happening throughout our lands!"
"Your Majesty!"
Emperor Valentin lifted his hand to gesture at the silence of the crowd. After a long silence, he then addressed the people,
"This needs an empire-wide investigation...Hmmm,"
Stroking his chin to scan through the agitated crowd, as if contemplating a solution he then announced his decision.
"Then, I assign the three princes of the Empire to look into the matter! Each of you would receive a territory to assign!
First Prince to the West Territory.
Second Prince to the East.
Third Prince to the South.
As for the North, since I'll be going to the Silver Dew Forest soon, I'll have my men cover it.
I decree this as final!"
!!!
The two princes and the nobles were given another shock.
However, this shock wasn't because of the commotion made by the third prince but...
The decree was asking the first and second princes to investigate each other's major territories.
As to the third prince, since there were no forces supporting him, his assignment in the south covers an insignificant portion of both. So the nobles didn't find any issue with the third prince's assignment.
The two princes went stiff as they cautiously looked at each other. It was the same as the Duke of Vesala and the Marquess of Astaze.
They all clearly knew what was going on!
The Emperor wanted them to fight each other! However, now was not the time yet!
Both the parties knew that one day, they would be fighting for that one spot in the monarch to get the ultimate power.
But they had a tacit understanding of not going against each other until they have eliminated the unkillable third prince, much to their dismay!
Emperor Valentin observed the reaction of the two forces that controlled the aristocrats.
'Hmmm, they needed a little more push…' He immediately glanced at a certain farmer in the group of peasants.
This farmer was not a real victim, but a Roaming Blade member blended with the group.
Getting the Emperor's signal, the undercover member then immediately knelt in panic and agitation,
"Your majesty there is one thing that you need to know! I happened to survive the abduction so I saw something that could lead us to the case…"
The undercover was still shaking in fear and nervousness, he looked pale as if he was traumatized by what he had witnessed.
"What is it?" The Emperor went with the flow.
"I saw cloaked men, with the sign of the raven on their bodies!"
A burst of panic, dread, and horror spread in the hall.
"The Spectre!!!" They all exclaimed.
At this point, the hesitating princes and the two high nobles no longer display hesitation with each other, this time their faces surely displayed an expression meant to kill each other.
Because of the commotion, no one noticed the Third Prince, Leon, looking at them as if watching a circus show.
Obviously uninterested in the people around him, he couldn't help but wander in his thoughts,
'A flavored fried chicken would have been so nice for dinner…' he thought as he was reminded of Eli's bright face as she excitedly introduced the three flavored fried chickens.
'What would her reaction be, if she saw that her scheme of letting my brothers quarrel with each other was extremely effective with these clowns?'