Oswald was a powerful mage but after all his years in the royal court, he knew that the situation was terrible. No amount of politics and force could be used to pressure this figure.
Saras was one of the many kingdoms that had a strong anti-vampire agenda. The Castellon Empire was a superpower nation and whose identity was on par with the Theocracy. The Rex Capital Bank was the largest bank in-known Idris whose influence could raise or destroy economies.
A powerful vampire with the highest noble status of a superpower nation and the banks dancing on his monstrous, slap crazy, hand was already worrying but to have immediately offended such an existence made Oswald's heart beat rapidly in his chest as though it wanted to escape and leave behind the fools who started this.
Now the public had seen and heard everything that happened. Rumours and word would quickly spread about how the crown prince's escort along with the grand court magus had offended as well as attacked a visiting noble from the Castellon Empire.
"All this for what? Because he was a vampire? Are vampires not different?"
"This noble vampire walks in the sun and had not committed any known crimes. How could he be the same as the ones that burn in the day and look as pale as ghosts?"
Oswald wanted to silence the crowd.
Where was their sense of patriotism, their loyalty, hell, where was their pride or shame? Moments ago, they were watching what they thought would be the execution of a vampire with interest and zeal. Now, the b*stards had switched sides without hesitation.
"Lord magus, you look unwell." the one who spoke was Valerian. His voice was not caring but totally indifferent. It was an observation, not a question.
Oswald wanted to answer but he lacked the words. He tried to smile but it was rigid and insincere.
"My Lord," Alexander chimed in. "I fear that the Lord magus has found himself in an inexplicable situation. He attacked a foreign, high ranking, noble who was coming out of his own business for no real reason."
Oswald's eyes opened wide. This man was not giving Oswald and the royal family any chance to back track.
"Hehe...surely you jest, Sir. The knights were the ones who attacked Lord Valerian, I would be happy to offer them up to Lord Valerian as an apology. The crown prince and I are merely witnesses to their over zealous crimes." Oswald attempted to pacify Valerian by offering the offenders.
The knights felt betrayed but they could only hold back their bitter emotions and bite their tongues. They were no longer qualified to speak in this matter. A noble of a powerful nation was involved.
They were knights who were prepared to die in service but this...was this not simply being offered up like hogs to the butcher? There was no honour in this. They would actually die as the villains!
"Tsk. Over zealous? Is that what you would call the attempted assassination of an Archduke of the Empire?" Alexander pretended to be offended and angry. "Do the knights not act under and with the validation of His Majesty the King? What are you and the crown prince even doing here without an appointment, an invitation or even announcing yourselves? Why has the crown prince been quiet through all of this? Is this the behaviour of a future king?"
Alexander's words were like a bolt of lightning directly to Oswald and heavenly justice for the knights.
'Haha Lord magus, you tried to sacrifice us and throw us under the chariot but look at the grave you have dug for yourself as well!'
"Assassination? I assure you that this is simply not the case, Lord Von Windsor, the kingdom of Saras would never..."
Before he could finish speaking, a group of flying horses eclipsed the sky. Twelve figures riding pegasi descended from the sky and all made space for them to land. The man in the lead, word full body armour and chainmail, his helmet had an ornate crown with a similarly decorated sword by his side. Three steps behind him was a beautiful woman who looked to be in her teens with raven hair and piercing grey eyes.
The crowd immediately knelt down before their king. The knights, Oswald and the crown prince all bowed and greeted the king.
"I have been informed of the situation. Where is my son?" The king's voice boomed. The crown prince immediately stoop upright and ran to his father.
He opened his mouth to speak and gestured to Oswald.
The crowd looked surprised. When did the crown prince become mute?
"Oswald." The king uttered his name and Oswald undid the spell he had cast on the prince.
This was Oswald's privilege as the state teacher and guardian of the crown prince. In times of crisis and Oswald deemed the crown prince a threat to peace talks, he had the right to suppress the eldest son of the king in anyway that did not cause physical harm.
Once the spell was broken, the prince's tongue immediately began wagging. "Father, the devil has entered the Capitol!"
The first sentence out of the royal brat's mouth made the knights who had escorted him, the civilians and adventures who had been watching feel as though a cold and wicked hand had been wrapped around their hearts.
Oswald himself was had his mouth agape and was on the brink of tears. He had lived for centuries and felt as though his life would end here and now because of this foolish child.