At the palace, the king, and queen are having their dinner in silence. The atmosphere in the room is very odd. The extraordinary room seemed very gloomy. Only after eating all elegantly, the queen pushed the plates and asked with a frown, her voice containing a hint of anger, "What do you think? Does he know? These past few days he is acting very unusual."
Grip sitting in straight posture said and raised off his eyebrow showing his stunning dark eyes, "Don't think so. He can't know. There is no possible way. Only you and I know this. He is just protecting his loved one, General Daniel."
Virno nodded in like-mindedness. She broke into a beautiful smile after some consideration, but her words were filled with killing intent, "If he is playing with us, we will not show him any mercy. We can't afford to lose anything." How could a mother be so heartless? The queen known for her simplicity and kindness has her face blackened. No one would dare to compare this slanderous and her usual appearance.
"Don't act like this. He doesn't know, and the imperial family has to keep the dignity and crown. Your words can be heard by others. Don't ruin everything after coming this far." Grip glared at Virno with a sharp piercing cold look making Virno tremble.
She admitted her mistakes and didn't react like before. She said, "I fear that he knows. Didn't you whisper at the court today, so I was feeling nervous all the time? How can you be so calm? It would jeopardize your life; you know what I have done in order to get you fine. I don't want to lose you."
Grip nodded and his eyes were filled with love, "I know." He looked up at her, smiled as if the previous person who was glaring isn't him.
He drank the wine, "It was just a guess. Don't take it so seriously. I never thought of Stephan detaching himself blatantly from the Imperial family. It's very suspicious. If he didn't know, he would not have done it, instead would have come to us for our permission to be together with Daniel."
"But hearing everything from his courtier again, it is clear that he is in love with General Daniel. He didn't care about Right Minister Allen, too. For him minister Allen is very important for the crown and his own life. You are worrying over nothing. I would always be fine, as you are seeing now. I know you are worried about me, but please don't. So please be at ease."
Right, who can stay still rooted without taking a move when someone harms their love? All in all, Daniel was greatly injured to the point of knocking on death. Just imagining it gives him a slight panic feeling. It is not a small thing like dying a commoner. His presence and absence have great effect in the country. The enemy countries fear even his name. If he died someday, they would face drastic situation.
This was the effect Daniel wanted from the start to end. This important position only belongs to him till here appears someone greater than him. But to expect the appearance of more peerless talent then him would be demanding something beyond their reach.
At first Grip thought this kid will die in there and so he didn't even hesitate to agree his request to join the military. Daniel was way too good in studies; his academic results shocked him. The whole examination cell came to question and three times repeatedly they took the exam. Officials were very happy. This talent was very precious for them. Yet he wanted to do something different. He asked for military guidance.
Everyone was shocked at first. Daniel was very beautiful since little, and he was also feeble protected by Stephan. He was visited by several knowledgeable personalities to make him stay but his stubbornness exceeded peoples thought. No one could make him stay here. So, everyone was looking forward for his dead. If people don't get what they want it is better to destroy it. That's exactly everyone was hoping for. Yet he let everyone see what he is capable of, and they are destined to not see him dead.
His first war was with the southern state, and he brought victory without much effort. He was evolved into very strong youth from his feeble look. He was determined to do anything to get Stephan. He procured victory in twenty major battles and protected the two ends of their country by excellent strategical knowledge. No one ever thought him to be this remarkable. The old man from capital were all shocked with repeated news of surprises. Yet his son was leisurely waiting for him here.
'If only I had known what Daniel actually wanted was my own son, I would have killed him.' he thought.
Grip never thought Stephan was feeling horrible at that time. He also didn't notice him falling in love with Daniel. He did feel something was off but nevertheless he shook of this thought. He refused to believe that his son was cut sleeve. In past he didn't like the idea of homosexual. It was disgusting to even thought. Yet with time passed he accepted it. It is good for him in some respects. Stephan won't have any descendants so there won't be any problem in his regime. Since then, he thought of marrying him and John to have strong root in his reign. His plan to have this reign forever would be completed without any problem. Yet now there is a variation in his plan. Stephan loves Daniel. It is problematic.
After thinking this much, he stood and said again with affection in his voice, "Let's go. Don't you feel drowsy after standing all day?"
The queen smiled, jerking her deep thought. She stood up and ambled toward Grip. Grip smiled; a flash crossed his eyes unnoticed by Queen. He can have Daniel as a sacrifice for Virno. They can have longer lifespan. He chuckled thinking this is perfect. The eunuch outside the dining room bowed, seeing them coming out.
The eunuch smiled to himself. He, ever since started to work in the palace, had seen the sovereign couple always happy and in love. After their grand wedding, the king announced his unwillingness to marry any other women. He is loyal towards the queen.
The Shenoy citizen knows that the emperor loves his wife dearly. He doesn't have any other concubines. His affection and everything are only for the queen. And the beauty of the empress also is worthy of his affection. Her background is also nothing special. She was protected by Grip from every danger's lurking in the palace. For it, she is very thankful.
******
It's been more than twenty years after the death of the previous king Jasper Logan, the father of Grip Logan. If the history of Shenoy is deciphered in a segmented way, it has some absent tomes of the previous king. As far as Ace knows, the Jasper was considered a dignified and wise monarch. He was highly regarded by the previous emperor. Everyone during that time knew this. Even before his death, the throne was given to Jasper. He ruled the Shenoy for only ten years before his death at age thirty-two. He brought various changes in the administration system, made new laws in favor of the citizens, expanding his territory. When everything was going well and fine, Jasper and queen Salina Logan were dead in the hallway without anyone.
The death happened suddenly. The doctors couldn't find out what and how the death happened without any illness or sign of a weapon. Soon it was said that due to incomplete knowledge about medicine, the doctors couldn't know the reason. The whole empire convulsed and broke down into chaos, grieving over his death.
In desperate need of Heir for the throne, Grip Logan the only son left behind by Jasper Logan and Salina Logan, who was capable to rule over the country was announced as the new king in his teenage years. He showed the prospect beyond his father Jasper, making the people feel awe and worship him. He denied talking about his father's death due to grief.
His cruelness in war and manipulative intellect are known to everyone. The Shenoy kingdom now rules over other kingdoms, frightening them into submission to Shenoy. The Shenoy kingdom takes every precarious way possible to make its citizen happy. Expanding one's territory is a must for an emperor, and it applies to every monarch. The neighborhood kingdom maintains a good relationship with Shenoy because of its immovable king and three great generals. The war in the four side is because they are very powerful as Shenoy are.
"The early tomes of the present king doesn't have his previous history, and Jasper don't have his later period's. Additional to this, there was not a single thing mentioned about the present king. He didn't write about his only son. Accord to his wise mindset, he should have nothing to dislike the prince. This makes me sure that someone has erased the data." Said Ace, his eyes glamour.
Inside the brightly lit room. The warm scene could be seen, the Crown Prince cuddles the general. His eyes warm, full of indulgence for his beloved. They were also talking about the secret anecdote.
Ace kissed his lover's cheeks, "This was what happened before. I found it after looking into the capital library through the system. Anyone except the king has to have the token to enter, and only the king has this token. Even I don't have it."
"However, is that the case?" Asked Aaron with a frown. The story has so many loopholes. Who is the one killing the previous monarch and queen? How they die? And why?
Ace had a placid look as said, playing with his long hair, "What is your speculation?"
Aaron ornate, "It's a meticulously planned trap. It's impossible to have no hands of someone powerful from the palace itself. The previous king was healthy till he perished. Not even a sign of fever, let alone other dangerous diseases. He fought with enemies, made several laws for people, and created a wise regime by himself. How can a person like him be manipulated by anyone? He was a strategist. He should have strong guards to protect himself. And that person who killed him didn't even leave the queen?"
"Furthermore, he was dead along with the queen in the hallway. Where were all the courtiers at that time? Why were they walk in the corridor at nighttime? More than anything, there was no sign of poison so, the killer went into the palace by eluding the eyes of several shadow guards or the killer was within the court itself."
He paused here and rubbed his delicate chin as he said, "If it's the current king, then why would he do it? Isn't he the only child in the whole imperial family adept at becoming the ruler? He had no reason to kill his parents, right?"
"This is the ridiculously confusing plot."
Ace said, "It's kind of hard to explain." Yet he smiled the next moment and said, "There is a shaman in the North country who is very mysterious. I find out about it by spying these two. Of course, now it is considered a myth, but that person exists and will visit the court soon. I have arranged everything. The plot will reveal everything in some days. All we have to do is to watch. Moreover, the information is not complete. Even the current emperor has not cleared past anecdote. I fear, but I hope it isn't what I'm thinking." Yet he also knows everything is pointing towards them.