房客(糙汉)何璐程曜坤

Chapter 501 163 - Perserios territory - part 5 - Countering the plan that was thirty years in the making (part 33)

　　When Horeo and Zoemi were moving through the royal castle, all the servants that they encountered bowed down deeply and stood in place no matter how panicked and fearful about their lives they were moments before. As the extremely serious but otherwise calm prince was making his way, many servants breathed out in relief and as the gold-haired young man passed them, they would return to their duties while some would begin cleaning the glass from the broken windows as if they were sure that nothing dangerous will happen from that point on.

　　Zoemi glanced over at his best friend and said in a pleased voice.

　　"I have no need for troubling people who know their place and are willing to fulfill the work they were assigned,"

　　Horeo answered casually, without taking his eyes off of the corner of the next hallway they would have to ass next.

　　"If you say so~"

　　|Little ones, be ready to protect me and Horeo, just in case.|

　　The black-haired boy's smile became wider and he nodded lightheartedly before his expression hardened and he thought to the sentinels he took with him beforehand.

　　"(We will~!)"

　　(Yes! We will keep dad and his friends safe!)"

　　The murky-black spheres cheered out even happier than ever before, putting Zoemi at ease.

　　As the black-haired and the gold-haired young men turned the corner, they found themselves in the hallway leading straight to the meeting room, where by the main door were greeted by Yarvestreg and Karestas.

　　"The Light Order had evacuated the high nobles and the former king and queen?"

　　Horeo asked, raising his brow in response to the raised hands of both knights acting in perfect sync.

　　"Do not jest, my king. Subduing those fools filled with empty pride took us no time at all."

　　Yarvestreg scoffed, waving her hand dismissively.

　　"There was a reason why they were all rejected during the application or expelled shortly after joining the King's Guard."

　　Karestas added while making the same type of movement.

　　"Although initially, it seemed like we would have to get rid of everyone, making an example of just a few most vocal ones caused the rest to become meek and obedient really fast."

　　"Pathetic."

　　The pair of knights shook their heads in the exact same way and shrugged their shoulders with disgusted expressions.

　　"In that case, how is the meeting going?"

　　Horeo asked with a satisfied but still slightly mocking smile.

　　"Slightly shocked but otherwise composed. No one asked to be teleported away, so the king also stayed to not be seen as cowardly."

　　Yarvestreg answered, glancing at the momentarily closed door.

　　"Bullshit, everyone in there is considered to be the most important people in the kingdom. What cowardice? They should all be out of the spot of potential danger as soon as possible. Do they think that the safety procedures put in place after the assassination three centuries ago were just made up to make fun of them?"

　　Horeo scoffed in annoyance, before waving his hand in a domineering way.

　　"Open it."

　　He demanded, motioning at the door with his chin.

　　"...not you..."

　　Zoemi nodded his head and was about to comply with the request but was stopped by the gold-haired boy, frowning in disbelief.

　　"Aren't you curious how would they react if I was the first one they see, though?"

　　The black-haired boy snickered maliciously, looking at his best friend, whose face brightened up in realization.

　　"I take that back, my best friend. Feel free to announce our arrival~!"

　　Although acting in sync was Karestas and Yarvestreg thing, the grins on the faces of Zoemi and Horeo could be hardly distinguished from each other.

　　The two gold-haired knights moved to the sides, making way for the two, and the black-haired boy stepped forward, pushing open the door and entering a grand meeting room with an oval table able to fit a couple dozen more people than was sitting by it at the moment.

　　"Lords and Ladies. The head of the Banemor family arrived at the meeting. Pardon me for being late – I was held back by the malicious plan of a Barbariacca nation and was not notified about such an important occasion. Because no one would actually want to exclude the profound Banemor territory after it took so long to properly rejoint the Bellcephora kingdom... would they...?"

　　Making use of the element of surprise that rendered the other nobles speechless, Zoemi announced himself splendidly – glancing back just to see Horeo shaking form holding back laughter.

　　That kind of introduction certainly had taken the gold-haired young man by surprise and he needed a moment.

　　A moment that Zoemi was happy to give him – especially after seeing the utter shock at the face of the queen Hostersa Ratifa Bellcephora.

　　"You...! You brat have the guts to show your face n front of me after murdering my son?!"

　　A tall, bearded man slammed his hands on the table and shouted while standing up, giving Zoemi the opportunity that he wanted.

　　"Lord Derizno, I suppose? Unless there are some other shameless family houses that want to push the blame of the abysmal level of protection they give their family members on me just being in the same area?"

　　"!!!"

　　The black-haired boy raised his brow and asked, looking around the surprised faces, not giving Xeontih's father the least bit of attention that he had clearly craved so much.

　　"Abysmal level of protection...?! How dare you, a murderer, question...!"

　　"Where was Xeotnith's attendant when a well-known serial killer hunting mages was spotted near the Aspaekony Academy?"

　　The bearded man went red from anger, but flinched and was forced to swallow his words at Zoemi's question.

　　"Attendnatns aren't just servants like maids or butlers – they are the bodyguards too, and it is obvious that aside from some notable exceptions, they are always far stronger than the people they are protecting. All in all, attendants are willing to sacrifice their lives for their masters – where was Xeonith's attendant? The school allows each student to have one by their side. Although Xeonith was a powerful earth magician, why wasn't he protected by a powerful water magician that would compliment his defenses? By the looks of it, the death of the heir to your respected family was not terrible misfortune, but something that was planned for a long time."

　　Zoemi scoffed, raising his head and puffing out his chest with pride while declaring a line of defense he had prepared a long time ago in case anyone would want to launch a serious and unbias investigation and trial.

　　"...!"

　　|Huh...?!|

　　But that was exactly why lord Derizno's expression and eyes darting from side to side in search of an excuse threw him off so much.

　　Was...

　　Was he accidentally on to something there? Was it connected with the Barbariacca nation plan or something completely different?

　　"Hmph. That's what I thought."

　　Regardless, the time and place weren't right for trying to figure those stuff out, so the black-haired boy simply continued to act confident – and another glance back revealed Horeo ready to make his entrance.

　　"In case some of you still might have a problem with my presence here, I had the pleasure to be joining someone who no one here has the authority to complain about."

　　Zoemi stepped to the side, allowing everyone present to have a proper view of the door, and took a deep breath.

　　"The young king of the kingdom of Bellcephora – Horeo Marets Bellcpehora."

　　He announced and bowed down his head respectively, while the gold-haired young man entered the meeting room with his body already glowing with powerful light enchantments.

　　To make things even more significant – and let's be serious, a lot more threatening too – as soon as Horeo was inside, Yarvestreg and Karestas entered the room too, closing the door after them, and the other door and even a secret one behind a bookcase also entered and more members of the King's Guard had entered, essentially securing the physical ways of exiting the meeting.

　　"...did... did you say, young KING...?"

　　A serious-looking dark-green-haired man asked, furrowing his brows and looking over at the current royal couple sitting together almost exactly opposite to him.

　　"Horeo, what is the meaning of this?! This child may be your friend, but your mother and I..."

　　"Father. There are a few ways of ascending the throne but considering that you didn't abdicate or conceded me the crown, you should be aware of what path I have chosen to obtain it."

　　The king grabbed his wife's hand as if wishing to calm her down despite her acting much calmer than he was, and spoke up to scold his son, but Horeo talked over him with an indifferent voice.

　　"Wha...?! Guards! Seize that rowdy child and put him in his room to calm down and think about his action! You are too old for pranks like that, boy!"

　　While the other high nobles looked around, correctly assessing the situation and staying quiet, considering that the King's Guard have clearly chosen a side and they were in a prime position to get rid of them all at any point, the king himself still seemed to not be aware of what was truly happening.

　　"Guards...!"

　　"WE FOLLOW THE MIGHT OF THE KING!"

　　But as every single one of the gold-haired knights donning the finest available enchanted armor called out, the reality started slowly sinking in onto the gold-haired man, as his voice shook before he gulped down his saliva.

　　He slumped down on his chair, still holding his wife's hand as if it was his lifeline, and the crown tilted on his head rather pathetically.