King Alfred would have normally been moved by Henry's slip of emotion. He had a soft spot for the knight, after all.
However, now that Henry was being questioned for the legitimacy of his merits, the king couldn't outwardly support him. It would certainly raise questions from the other nobles. He didn't want to have a waning influence.
"Even though the mana-blocking chains are enough to prove your lineage, I would like one of my most trusted mages to test the mana within you," the king went on, pointedly ignoring the look on Henry's face or the people practically collapsing on the floor in front of him.
King Alfred was the only one speaking at that point. Everyone else in the room was falling into line, allowing him to direct them as he pleased.
A mage stepped forward and walked towards Henry. His old, bony hands pulled a sharp but thin knife from his sleeves and he stopped in front of the knight.
