The night was thick with tension, the skies over Rimuru darkening under an ominous storm. In the palace, Padrino sat in the war room, his mind racing with thoughts of the speech he had given earlier. He knew it had an impact, but whether it was enough to thwart the brewing rebellion was uncertain. His enemies were moving in the shadows, and time was not on his side.
The council chamber was quiet except for the soft rustle of parchment and the faint crackle of the hearth. Padrino glanced around the room, his gaze settling on Marko, Hinata, and Vincent, all of whom were absorbed in their respective tasks. Each of them was a crucial pillar in the kingdom, yet they, too, could sense the undercurrent of something darker lurking on the horizon.
"I've had scouts tailing Adrien and Elara's movements," Marko said, breaking the silence. "It's clear they're gathering support, but they're not foolish enough to make a public move yet."
Vincent nodded in agreement. "They know you still have the people's trust, Padrino. They won't risk an open rebellion, not until they've sown enough doubt."
Padrino leaned back, rubbing his temples. "And in the meantime, they'll keep spreading lies, chipping away at the foundation of Rimuru. We have to root them out before they strike."
Hinata, her hands glowing faintly with light magic, stepped forward. "We can't be defensive any longer. They'll keep gaining ground if we wait too long. We need to go on the offensive, find a way to force them into the open."
Padrino nodded, the flicker of a plan forming in his mind. "You're right. We need to force their hand. If they want to play in the shadows, we'll drag them into the light."
Before Padrino could elaborate further, a sharp knock echoed through the chamber door. The tension in the room rose as the door creaked open, revealing one of the palace guards.
"Your Majesty," the guard said, his voice low and serious. "There's someone here to see you. They claim to have important information about Lord Adrien."
Padrino exchanged glances with his council before nodding to the guard. "Send them in."
A few moments later, a cloaked figure entered the room, their steps soft but purposeful. As they approached the council table, they removed their hood, revealing a familiar face—Lady Selene, one of the minor nobles who had long been aligned with Adrien. Padrino's eyes narrowed as he assessed the unexpected visitor.
"Lady Selene," Padrino greeted her cautiously. "This is a surprise. What brings you here at this hour?"
Selene, her face pale and her eyes darting nervously around the room, stepped closer to the table. "I don't have much time, Your Majesty. I've come to warn you. Adrien... he's planning something dangerous. Something that could tear the kingdom apart."
Padrino's jaw tightened. "Go on."
"He and Elara have been conspiring for weeks now, but it's worse than you think. They've hired assassins. Their plan is to eliminate you, Padrino. Once you're gone, they intend to take control of Rimuru."
The room fell silent. Padrino's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, even though the threat was not immediate.
Marko leaned forward, his voice low and urgent. "Do you have proof of this, Lady Selene? We can't act without evidence."
Selene nodded quickly, pulling a sealed parchment from her cloak and handing it to Marko. "These are the correspondences between Adrien and the assassin's guild. I intercepted them from one of his couriers. If you act fast, you can stop them before they make their move."
Padrino's eyes darkened as he took the letter from Marko and scanned its contents. The evidence was damning—detailed plans to take his life, including the timing and methods. It was clear now that Adrien had moved beyond rumors and manipulation; he was ready to strike directly at the heart of the kingdom.
Padrino's voice was cold when he spoke. "Adrien's betrayal ends tonight."
Hinata, sensing the gravity of the situation, stepped forward. "What's the plan, Padrino?"
Padrino's eyes blazed with determination. "We lure Adrien and Elara out of hiding. We'll use their own plan against them."
That night, the streets of Rimuru were eerily quiet, the air thick with anticipation. Under Padrino's orders, the palace guard moved silently through the alleyways, securing key points throughout the city. Hinata, Vincent, and Marko had dispersed to their respective posts, each playing a role in the unfolding plan.
Padrino himself, dressed in a simple cloak to blend in, waited in the shadows of the palace courtyard. According to the intercepted letters, the assassins were set to strike during the change of the night guard—an hour when security was at its weakest. But this time, they wouldn't be met with an unsuspecting king. They would be walking into a trap.
As the hour neared, Padrino's senses sharpened. The courtyard was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the cobblestone path. He heard the soft shuffling of footsteps, far too deliberate to be one of his guards.
The assassins were here.
From the corner of his eye, Padrino caught movement—a dark figure scaling the palace walls with expert precision. Another shadow darted toward the garden, moving with the stealth of a predator.
Padrino drew his sword, the sound of steel whispering in the night. He waited, his pulse steady, as the first assassin approached. The man moved with deadly intent, his hand reaching for the dagger at his waist. But before he could strike, Padrino lunged, his sword slicing through the night air.
The assassin barely had time to react before Padrino's blade found its mark, the man crumpling to the ground with a silent gasp.
The second assassin, hearing the noise, whirled around, but it was too late. Marko, hidden in the shadows, struck with lethal precision, his dagger plunging into the man's back. The body hit the ground without a sound.
From across the courtyard, Hinata emerged, her hands glowing with a soft, ethereal light. "There may be more. We need to search the palace."
Padrino wiped his blade clean and nodded. "Let's move."
As they scoured the palace grounds, Padrino's mind raced. Adrien's betrayal had reached a dangerous new level. This was no longer about political maneuvering or whispers in the shadows—this was an all-out attempt on his life. And with the evidence Selene had provided, Padrino knew that the time for mercy was over.
By dawn, the assassins were dealt with, their bodies taken into custody for questioning. Adrien and Elara's plot had failed, but Padrino knew that this was only the beginning. The web of betrayal ran deeper than he had imagined, and it would take more than a few dead assassins to cleanse Rimuru of its corruption.
Standing in the palace courtyard, the first rays of sunlight breaking over the horizon, Padrino vowed that Adrien would pay for his treachery. And when the time came, he would face judgment—not just for his betrayal, but for every life he had endangered in his quest for power.