"Halt!" one man shouted. His voice was so loud that it shook everyone out of their reverie. Benedict was scared so hard that he nearly fell off his horse. He could recognize that voice anywhere!
As expected, a man wearing plate armor rode forward on horseback. If someone did not recognize him, his fluttering red and golden cape was enough for them to prostrate fearfully. His mere presence was accompanied with an awfully mighty Martial Aura. The aura was so strong and sharp that people felt their skin was being sliced apart! His rage was clear on his jet-black face as everyone reflexively took a few steps back. Many soldiers hurried to sheath their swords and make way. The commotion was immediately suppressed by a single man! It was surprisingly Sir Roland Hawken, Protector of Prince Ranir!
Roland was in a very bad mood. He had just returned to the Hawken estate after leaving the Grand Nobility's party to deliberate over his family's stance. Whether or not the Hawken Household would support Elizabeth was entirely up to him! However, before he could do anything, he learned of Elizabeth's ambush by the Second Hand. Infuriated, he changed into his armor and hurried to Castle Reinhard. At his core, he was a Royal Guard! Although he might reject Elizabeth's inheritance, that was strictly from a family standpoint as a Hawken. If push came to shove, he would protect the Royal Family no matter what! He would risk his life without hesitation! So, he was naturally infuriated that someone would dare point their blade toward the Royal Family. The audacity!
He also came to hear about his sons' involvement. Although they came close to death, it was fine! There was no greater honor than serving the kingdom! Of course, he was feeling quite proud. The duty of the Hawken Household was to serve and protect the Royal Family. Benedict and Lorenzo played their part spectacularly, helping to save Elizabeth from her fate! He could not ask for more. For once, Benedict had a positive image in his mind, and he contemplated placing more attention on the boy. Yet, these feelings abruptly evaporated when he saw Benedict. He could sense the commotion from afar and it instantly soured his mood.
"What are you doing here, boy?" Sir Roland seethed.
Benedict muttered through clattering teeth, "I…"
His father snorted. "Consider yourself lucky that I was here. Now, get yourself home. If you step outside of the estate, I'll personally break your legs and maim you." All things considered, it was a very light punishment. Making a mess when the Royal Family was already out for blood had completely negated Benedict's contributions in saving Elizabeth. Sir Roland realized his foolishness in thinking his son had matured.
While Sir Roland was technically not part of the military and could not influence their decisions, no one dared to refute him. He was one of the strongest knights in the kingdom, a Royal Guard! He had nearly legendary battle accomplishments that paled only against the likes of Sir Winstin, Sir Sebastian, and Lady Valentina. His mastery of the sword was widely considered the realm's second or third greatest! Therefore, his immense reputation allowed him to sway these lesser officers into giving a blind eye. The soldiers glared at Benedict and shook their heads. They played it off as a bad joke.
Benedict grew indignant and said, "Father, Princess Elizabeth is really in danger! She's-"
"Enough," Sir Roland said.
That simple word reflected his irritation and Benedict paled. Benedict knew that he took this matter any further, it would result in calamity! However… He knew Elizabeth's life hung in the balance. Maybe his relationship with his father might worsen but that was a small price to pay if Elizabeth lived. It was worth the gamble! Thinking so, a glimmer shined in his eyes.
On the other hand, Sir Roland noticed his son's hesitation and grasped his thoughts instantly. It was not because he could understand his son well though. Instead, Sir Roland noticed his every single minute movement. A person's body language was like a book! Like an open door straight to a person's thoughts, Perception Realms were the greatest beneficiaries of this! From Benedict's muscles tensing to his slight brow twitches down to his pupil dilations, Sir Roland's face turned as cold as a glacier. The man moved his arm and his sword burst out with blinding light.
Benedict flinched and lurched back instinctively. However, how fast was his father's strike? It was beyond his capability! As Sir Roland sheathed his sword again, Benedict saw his hair falling. The hairs in front of his forehead were cleanly chopped off! The blade came so daringly close to Benedict's skin that he felt the cold metal freezing the air. One breath from death! Clearly, Sir Roland was not aiming to kill his son, but to teach him a lesson. If he were serious, Benedict's head would have been rolling. Nonetheless, Sir Roland secretly frowned. Unbeknownst to Benedict, he had dodged the blade slightly! A single hair remained dangling!
After facing such cold treatment, Benedict was completely discouraged. To be honest, it was ingrained deep in his mind to never disobey his father. His very muscles and bones were rejecting the idea innately. Sir Roland had beaten the boy into submission too many times! Any thought of resistance melted away at the sight of his father's sword. He knew this was a real threat. If he continued to step out of line, Sir Roland would not hesitate to kill. After all, the Hawken Household was meant to serve and protect the Royal Family! If Benedict could not even do that, then what use did he have?
Benedict closed his eyes and yanked his horse to turn around. He realized this was a dead end. Sir Roland said nothing as Benedict's horse trotted away. As soon as he travelled far enough, Benedict's eyes opened to reveal a firm determination. From where Julie brushed past him, he estimated the direction and galloped there. His horse gradually picked up speed. Although he failed in getting help, he still wanted to save Elizabeth! He would not rest until this feeling settled! Little did he know, Julie's casual actions would bring him straight to the Lannisail Household!
Meanwhile, Queen Bethnal was looking through a report. Although Benedict was a small character, Sir Roland's intervention had changed everything. He was wearing the Royal Guard's uniform, so every action had to be carefully monitored and scrutinized! Moreover, it happened so close to Castle Reinhard in such a tense time. Within seconds, the queen learned everything. She reflected on Benedict's words. Everyone else in the room also learned what happened. No one said a thing, yet everyone felt a strange premonition. Their instincts were telling them something was wrong! Queen Bethnal's eyes shone with a deep and unfathomable light.
"Verify Princess Elizabeth's status right now!" she ordered.
Sir Winstin nodded with urgency and beckoned for Sir Sebastian and Lady Valentina. The three knights charged out of the room. A few minutes later, they returned with dark expressions. Queen Bethnal, Prince Dannark, and General Illion realized the problem immediately. Without hesitation, General Illion acted! He ordered for Algard and Corasen to be locked down! No one could enter or exit! Queen Bethnal gave her approval and the orders were sent down swiftly. On the side, Prince Dannark began mobilizing the military directly. The three brigades heeded his call and marched out for the Grand Nobility! The cities trembled in fear. The storm was finally approaching!