Once the banquet 'concluded', Alfred departed the hall with a contented expression. Behind him trailed a group of newer nobles and two of the five Dukes, while Julius and his faction chose to remain in the hall, leaving only one Duke, who was aligned with the Grand Duke's faction. He promptly relayed all the information about what had occurred to the Grand Duke.
"His Highness is coming himself… haghhhhh," the Duke of Ice sighed, a long frown forming on his face as the communication crystal went dark.
"The holy land will be a mess," he muttered, leaving the banquet hall with an annoyed look, dreading what his liege was about to unleash.
---------------------------
"John, honey, how… no, since when could you use aura so well?" Irene asked with concern, sitting next to John, her face reflecting her worry.
"Relatively recently, Mom. I was just training, and one day, I became able to use spirit aura," John replied with a smile, skillfully concealing his true abilities. Of course, it wouldn't make sense for a young boy to master aura like that, but internally, his soul harbored the wisdom of an old man who had been through countless battlefields. If talent alone granted the ability to use spirit aura, the world would be turned upside down every time a talented individual popped up.
"He… he just said he suddenly became able to do it one day. Does that make sense to you?" Eric said, looking at Gerrard with evident shock.
"I don't even know what to say, honestly. The kid's a plain monster. More than him being able to use aura, it's his ruthless ability to kill those assassins that surprises me. He could potentially be enlightened and start using spirit energy all of a sudden, but one needs to be fucking demented to pull someone's throat out like that," Gerrard whispered, a troubled expression crossing his face.
"You better take good care of this one. He's messed up in the head, which might be bad for those against him, but it's going to be hell for himself," Gerrard warned as he left the room. While initially impressed by John's feat, the more he thought about it, the more concerned he became about what might happen if such a ruthless young man obtained power.
As Gerrard whispered those words to Eric, John managed to overhear them, causing him to completely space out. "What the fuck happened to me?" John thought to himself as he stared at his blood-covered hands. "I completely lost myself there. When did I… no, how did I do that, and why? This doesn't make any sense. I definitely am not crazy enough to pull someone's throat out like that. Something went wrong somewhere," he pondered, trembling slightly. It wasn't guilt he felt but fear, as he couldn't recall when the change had occurred.
"I guess he isn't completely lost yet," the High King remarked, noticing John's trembling hands and blank eyes as the gate closed behind him.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?" asked one of the several nobles waiting outside the room.
"Nothing for now. I believe it's time to talk to the legitimist faction. The Empress seems to be disregarding my words due to the First Prince's age and meager talent," Gerrard replied, brushing off the noble's concerns as he walked towards the Ruby Palace.
Fifteen minutes later, the entirety of the High King's neutral faction gathered in a beautiful garden, with the First Prince and Empress standing before the High King as if awaiting their punishment.
"Marquis Erland, do me a favor and guide everyone outside the garden and wait for me there. I feel like I need to talk to them in private. Also, send the Guard Captain in here. He should be standing outside, waiting for me to call him." Gerrard said as he looked back momentarily.
"At once, Your Highness," a bespectacled young man of about 30 years replied, bowing lightly before turning around. All the nobles behind Gerrard promptly left the garden.
With his legs crossed, Gerrard fixed a furious gaze on the Empress. "Do you remember what I told you this morning?" he questioned.
"Y-y-you—" The Empress was sweating profusely, struggling to form words in front of Gerrard, who said nothing but continued to simply look at her.
"Your Highness, I was the one who ordered the assassination attempt. Mother has no fault, I—" Julius attempted to defend his mother, but the High King's eyes immediately turned towards him, silencing him.
"You called for me, Your Highness?" a voice came from the gate to the garden, revealing the Imperial Guard Captain and the father of the Empress, Marquess Hector Albus—one of the five sword masters of the empire.
"Hector, how long have you known me?" the High King inquired as the Imperial Guard Captain stood before him.
"About 60 years now, Your Highness," Hector replied, resisting the pressure emanating from Gerrard.
"One could say that's a long time to have known someone, right?" Gerrard questioned.
"One could argue that yes," Hector replied with composure.
"Then how come you have taught your daughter nothing about the things I despise?" Gerrard stated coldly, and a tremendous dominating pressure fell onto Hector, causing the ground beneath him to crack.
"And how dare you, in front of me, try to pull a stunt like that," Gerrard continued with an ice-cold look, the pressure intensifying on Hector.
"This will serve as a warning for all three of you… never, and I mean never, try to pull something that you know I objected to," Gerrard declared, the pressure on Hector and the Empress becoming so strong that they both had to kneel. The Empress started coughing out blood, while the First Prince was too frightened to make a move.
"You… disgrace. If only the second had been the eldest, if only," Gerrard sighed, shaking his head at the First Prince with disappointment.
"Today's event should never happen again. I say this for your own sake. That kid can't do anything to you today but given enough time… I'm sure you can understand," Gerrard warned as he stood up, the pressure still weighing on the three.
"I shouldn't have to tell you this twice, but I don't know how smart you three are, so let me clear it up. Don't even think about going after the youngest until he is 18. I don't care about his mother, but touch him, and the full might of the Shadow Legion will hunt you down," Gerrard said as he left the garden, only releasing the pressure after he departed.
"H-How is Grandfather so strong?" Julius muttered as his legs gave out, and he fell to the ground.
"Tsk-fucking useless! You don't even know about your family history. What the fuck have you been teaching him, Juliana, for him to be this fucking incompetent?" Hector exclaimed, looking at his daughter with fury, having experienced humiliation for the first time in a long while.
"Fuck, you couldn't even do your own fucking job right. You wanted to assassinate that bitch, but what the fuck did you end up doing? Going after the fucking prince! Have you gone crazy? Do you want the entire family to be executed? You think I can save you even if I am a Marquess?" Hector shouted with a disappointed expression on his face.
"Fuuuuuuuuh, get up. Let's get you treated," Hector said, his voice filled with concern as he looked at his daughter, who was crying and coughing blood.
"And you, read up on the Ascension of Domination, which the bloodline of the imperial family has awakened since the establishment of the empire," Hector instructed, directing his annoyed gaze at Julius before he turned and left the garden.
"We will need to lie low for a while… and the price for this incident will not be light. Even if the Emperor doesn't take action, your second idiot's faction will try to strip my title as the Imperial Guard Captain from me. Are you satisfied now?" Hector said, carrying his daughter to the infirmary, his words laced with frustration.