Chapter 28 – Dancing On Top of My Hand
On that day, a heavy rain falls in the capital city Rugartia.
On that evening where a heavy dark cloud hanging on the sky, one man is visiting the royal castle.
That man name is Duke Conrad Laciel Rugartia.
He is the younger brother of the current king, Bernard Laciel Rugartia.
Conrad has gotten permission to have audience with the king before so after he arrives in the castle one of the castle attendant briskly lead him to the audience room.
The door to the audience room open up when Conrad stands in front of it. Then he walks on the red carpet that is spread out inside the audience room until he gets close enough to the throne.
He gives a light bow to his older brother that is sitting in the throne along with all his retainer that are present now. Even if he is a blood related family to the king, as long as the king royal guard present, he have to pay the minimum respect to him.
“It’s alright, lift your face. This is not a formal occasion so be more at ease”
The king is in his early forties which already making him an old man but his body still not withered by age yet. Because he is just the same as his little brother, a master at sword, so the king still able to maintain his strong body until such advanced age. He also had lined up many achievements when he was a youth with his skill as a warrior.
Because of that, Conrad doesn’t think of overpowering his older brother by physical power. But still, his eyes contain a strong fire for wanting to uphold his ‘righteousness’.
“Elder brother, I have come today to voice my opinion for the last time. Please cancel off the talk about the princess engagement. And also at the same time, cancel the kingdom unification declaration that accompanies it. Please reconsider again.”
“As expected you come to talk about that. You are persistent! The time for this kingdom to walk a new path to avoid destruction had come close, and this is exactly that time when we can change”
“So you saying that you are willing to sell this kingdom for the sake of your safety in the future new kingdom? Are you sane?”
Duke Conrad starts to approach the king with a heavy step. The royal guards with threatening glare try to protect the king behind them but the king commands them to step down with only his hand. With the glare the king was like commanding his royal guard to let Duke Conrad speak his mind up. The knights undo their defense posture but they still not relax their guard yet toward the duke.
A faint thundering noise can be heard from outside. It seems like the storm outside is getting heavier. It was just a coincidence but even the situation inside the audience room starts to get stormy.
“To be fooled by foreign country prince trickery… Are you really going to end our kingdom long glorious history!? What is your excuse when you met our great accentors?”
“The state of the world is bewildering and keeps on getting worse. How can we match numerous foreign countries outside the continent when we always made the kingdom before our eyes our sworn enemy? How long do you plan on instigating the people with that meaningless dogma? Are you intending to keep the war between us two countries, which will only bring us tears, blood, and destruction, this meaningless unprofitable war to keep on going? In our long history, at last a chance to take each other hand has come! For me this is a great blessing that comes down directly from heaven!”
“You are the one that is stupid! Such kingdom created from such kind of conspiracy can only be a papier-mâché kingdom! Eventhough it was big it will become despicably weak! The only right way to bring the two kingdoms into one is by exerting force and makes the other side submit under our greatness!”
“If we choose that means then it will only make the people of Sirkaberia held resentment and hatred toward Rugartis. Will Rugartis become strong annexing such kingdom where its people hate our guts?”
“That’s why I told you to use full force right? Because we never show our true full power that those guy keep on looking down on us and think that they could disobey us. Let’s bring our overwhelming power and force them to surrender immediately! We will then heavily punish those who try to disobey us and made them example of what those rebels will become if they disobey us! And in the end, they will be our servant who will help us getting glories for our kingdom”
“How long are you going to keep on fighting until that time come! That way you suggest would only drags the two kingdom people into a b.l.o.o.d.y dispute! While those greedy n.o.bles stay safe in the sideline while ama.s.sing more fortune from war, the people will grieve over the unending war. And what will be left from that? Our kingdom that will be laid waste with destruction all over the place! So are you still wishing for that kind of war that will end up in a draw again?”
“Ending up in a draw? That is wrong. What I propose here is a way for Rugartis to have a complete victory. And I have made enough preparation to make that plan come true. I now possessed the [Power] that had never been recorded in history before! This is my last warning to you elder brother!”
The duke draws the saber that is hanging in his waist. It was outrageous to bring weapons inside the audience room but he is a high cla.s.s n.o.ble and also the king younger brother so the soldier let the duke carry his weapon.
“A timid and weak like you king that can’t even produce successor are not needed in this kingdom. Would you rather hand me the throne or be a corpse right now, you are free to choose!’
“Have you gone insane…… Conrad”
“I am sane……! I will never let this kingdom to walk on the wrong path! The greatest wish of our ancestors in which is to unify the continent into one kingdom...... I will never let…… I will never let it to be fulfilled in such a disappointing way! I absolutely won’t accept that! I won’t accept that as the descendant of the royal family that is proud of their valor!”
“Indeed… indeed I, as the descendant of the royal family, may be considered as a foolish one. But then again…… to blindly trample other kingdom with an unreasonable war just for the sake to fulfill our kingdom interest… such thing is contradicting my royal road!”
“That! That feebleminded approach is definitely you b.a.s.t.a.r.d weakness! Does a kingdom can flourish by just using such kindhearted approach? No! It was because we sacrifice the blood of our people to steal other kingdom territory that has more commodity and wealth than what we have! For you who don’t have the resolution to attack other kingdom is not adequate to sit on the throne!”
With that word, King Bernard stands up. Against his little brother who scream with angry expression, King Bernard look at his little brother with a somewhat sad look then say to him with a dignified manner.
“If Sirkaberia is a stupid kingdom that threatens the peace of our beloved kingdom then I will definitely take up arms and fight them until the last drop of blood that I has. But, both of our kingdoms people now wish for peace! They already had a life filled with happiness so I won’t forgive anyone that tries to harm this peace even if it was for our own kingdom interests!”
“The people are there to serve the kingdom! The people that live underneath peace oriented king like you will only rot and become bad!”
“That is wrong! The kingdom is there to help its people! A king that doesn’t respect his people will definitely met resistance from it people and overturned in the end!”
“How much of a fool you are……! Ah it’s a waste trying to talk it with you!”
With a masterful step, Duke Conrad held his sabre in thrusting stance. His posture is strong without any sign of weakness that is expected from an experienced warrior he is. He, an expert who have experienced real war, with a movement void of excess movement in a blink of an eye close up himself to his target, King Bernard. Even the royal guards who try to obstruct the duke by using their spear, with a horizontal sweep from the duke, two of royal guard member got thrown backward unable to match the duke frontally.
The deadly sword edge that is swung by a masterful skill is presently closing in the king’s neck.
But suddenly the king appearance disappear from the throne without a trace.
“What the!?”
It was one common reaction of everyone that present in the audience room. Where in the world did the king disappear to? The one who is going to answer their question leisurely comes out from the door in the back of the throne. He then with air full of composure says:
“I would never dare to think that you will come at us with the most poor plan Duke Conrad”
“You…… that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Prince Gerard!”
“I’m not alone though”
From Gerard back is King Bernard who until just some time ago sits on the throne. And the one who offer such kind of ‘magic trick’ is of course Renya.
Hearing the duke requesting for an audience, Gerard ask the king to have some insurance just in case.
No one in the audience room except the parties related that can follow up with anything that had happened just now. But the knights that are devoted to their duty without hesitating quickly surround the king to protect him.
“With the announcement getting closer, I have predicted that you would somehow tried to usurp the throne. And you should also predict that I would have many preparations in that conference so you must make your move before the conference. But I never thought that you will try to take the throne with brute force like this. Did your self-conceit blinds you duke?”
Gerard with a fearless smile provokes the duke that is two times older than him. If someone not related to this were to see such spectacle, they will only think that Prince Gerard as a kid that tries to act like an adult.
But no one in that place holds such opinion toward the prince.
The Gerard now is showing a portion of his face as a ruler, as a king, eventhough it is still giving an inexperienced feel from it.
Toward this usurper who tries to steal the throne, he doesn’t have any reason to become timid. His sharp gaze is like those who are about to pa.s.s judgment to such sinners.
“So you say that I am an usurper of the throne? Isn’t that what you are you tricky b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Isn’t that you who try to fool this stupid king so you can steal the throne of your neighbor kingdom!?”
“Heh it is just as you say that what I do can be seen like that. In the context of starting a big change for the future of the two kingdoms, what I do and what you b.a.s.t.a.r.d doing is basically the same. We just adapt a different way in achieving it. But then again……”
“But then what? If you want to say something then say it out loud!”
“I believed that rather than the kingdom that you try to build, mine definitely will be overflowed with more smiles. I definitely won’t be wrong with that”
Gerard declares that with a champion smile.
The duke became speechless after hearing Gerard crazy declaration. He can’t let himself keep silent after hearing such stupid declaration according to him.
“Wha…… So what with the people smile! Does the kingdom need such useless thing!?”
“HAHAHA! You really are a masterpiece! The people smile is the kingdom smile itself. If the people can live happily with a carefree smile they will happily pay for their taxes which in turn will give life to the kingdom. A kingdom devoid of its people smile is nothing different than a jail. Are you planning to become a prison guard, Duke Conrad?”
“It is a common knowledge that those kinds of beautiful ideals will definitely be crushed under the reality known as war! If you want to dream do it while you sleep!”
“Beautiful ideal you say? Then so be it! The higher the walls that should be climbed prove that a challenge is worth doing. Anyway a.s.sessment for the kingdom we want to build won’t happen when we are still alive. That’s why I will keep on going the royal road that I believe! After that let the scholars a.s.sess me whether I am a wise king or a stupid king. But regrettably I will never know the result of that a.s.sessment!”
In the face of this debate where both side refuse to compromise even a bit, everyone present in that audience room can only hold their breath. But when everyone frozen stiff from the atmosphere, the knigh regain their awareness faster and quickly made their move.
The thing that this prince had said is indeed a too beautiful ideal. Eventhough the war was over a long time ago enough to make the younger generation of both kingdom to feel nothing from it, the fact that there are still enmity hidden deep within the heart of both kingdom people’s heart is also not something that can be ignored. And Gerard declares that he will bring smile to all the people in the two kingdoms with that condition looming in the background. That prince talks about such extremely impossible ideals without feeling ashamed.
But then again if there is a king that force its people to war and to plunder other kingdom wealth with the price of blood and a king that command their people to smile first, then to made themselves and in the same time the kingdom to become wealthy. If asked which king you want to believe then their answer is unanimously only one.
And like trying to demonstrate their decision, the knights move in front of the prince and the king to protect them. Those knight figures is indeed proves that Gerard had yet to take another step towards reaching the thing he wants to achieve.
“…… Talking anymore will be pointless eh. Elder brother, and also the dreamer prince who can’t see reality, I will defeat you all here once and for all. Then using your blood as my nourishment, I will take the throne and build the strongest kingdom ever!”
“Under this situation you said that you can still win?”
“Kukuku, prince, it seems that you had known beforehand that I will move. But you are still green after all”
The duke flicks his empty left hand. And with the sound it made, like appearing out of thin air, in the duke surrounding a man clad in black appears one after another.
The men clad in black then throw away the cloak that covers their body. Under that cloak is a knight that wears jet black full plate armor complete with a jet black one handed sword and shield.
But those knights movement seems too inorganic for it to be a human movement. It was too perfect. Gerard instinct tells him that those black armored knight is a very bad news. Four knights from the entire black armored knight shows a synchronized move to take position to protect the duke. Those perfect movements feel ominous to Gerard and the others.
“…… Duke, those bizarre knights…… are they human?”
“Hou, you are sharp, prince. These troops are something that is given to me from the one that is supporting my great cause. And with their power, I’ve planned to trample your kingdom to the ground”
“With only that many?”
“If you only judge them by only their looks, you will definitely regret it. In the previous wars, we can’t grab a hold victory because we are lacking the means to deal the finishing blow. So in the end, the war keep on persisting, trapping the two kingdoms in a swamp that slowly swallows them”
The black knights slowly disperse and start their offensive silently. They moved freely inside the audience room without anyone to stop them.
They jump from pillars to pillars, or use the walls to move.
They move fast and not just by running in the ground. That beast like swift movement made Gerard and the knights protecting him get bewildered by their bizarre movement. And that moment of bewilderment is proved to be fatal.
“AGH!!”
Four black knights suddenly attacked the group at the same time. One black knight’s attack manages to cut a knight flank. The wounded knight shows a pained expression in his face.
The other three black knights’ attacks are successfully repelled. Because the exchange happens too fast it was not clear who, but Gerard and King Bernard just barely manages to repel the black knight sword with their own.
“Just as you see this black knight is an expert in surprise attack and infiltration. We will just need to leave the battle front to the soldier while the black knights kill the enemy steadily from the back. In the end I will engulf their capital city in flames as the starting mark of my military rule!”
“To think that you would even use this kind of monster to fulfill your ambition…… This is might be one kind of royal road but…… I definitely hate it”
“That is because you are incompetent prince Gerard, and also elder brother. When I said that this black knights excels in surprise attack and infiltration did you know what I meant by that?”
With that word, the wise king opens his eyes wide in shock.
“Conrad, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
“Well then, let see how long the queen and the princesses can hold out! Oi prince, the woman that should be become yours might be turning into a corpse by now! HAHAHAHA”
Gerard can only keep his mouth shut hearing this shocking news. And duke Conrad who believe that he already win the fight laugh out loud while giving orders to the black knight.
“Kill all the other royalties! As the only true descendant of the royalties left after this, I will personally guide this kingdom into the right path! Then all of you a.s.sholes, while keeping that despair inside your heart, DIE!”
“Despair, eh?...... pu, kukuku…… HAHAHAHAHAHA! What a big joke that is!”
“Why is that prince? Starting to lose your sanity from fear? Be at ease, I will let you meet your beloved woman in the next world soon”
“No, I’m laughing at your ignorance”
Before the duke can understand the meaning of Gerard words, a flash of sword trajectory runs without a sound. That single slash was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with power that is seems like it also cuts open the dangerous heavy atmosphere that hang around in the audience room.
Just like that of a tornado, those swift and sharp tyrannical attacks blows roughly on the black knights and made them torn apart to pieces in a blink of an eye.
There is no blood spilling out from the cut. What lies there is just a wreckage of black clump of mess that already can’t be recognized as armor anymore.
“The Queen and the rest have Floria and the others protection. They will definitely be alright Prince Gerard”
“I see, thanks for the great work. You really are carrying out your words without fail eh Renya?”
The one that appears and trample down on top of the black clump mess is a youth with black hair and black pupil. His appearance is shabby. From the duke eyes he is just a mere lowly birth commoner but there is something in him that attracts other people attention. And in his hand, is a magnificent sword that’s not matched with his shabby attires.
“Y-You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, who the h.e.l.l are you!?...... To be able to slay my black knights in an instant like this…… and also that sword skill just now……”
“Duke, it was a bit earlier than what I had planned but this farce had finally ended. In order to this fight which will affect the two kingdoms future greatly, it is logical to think that not only you prepare an ace card”
To the duke that standing still in his place dumbfounded, Gerard without any negligence thrust his sword in front of the duke throat.
Even when his enemy sword is now just a few millimeters from his throat, the duke keeps on standing still. He is already surrounded by the knight from all four directions. And above it all, the figure of Renya who languidly hang down his sword scared him silly that he can’t even move a muscle.
He felt like that if he were to move even a muscle, he will instantly loop of his head then and there. That image is dominating the duke’s head right now.
“I know that you won’t stay still even after I managed to suppress the warring faction n.o.ble in Sirkaberia, weakened the warring faction n.o.ble in Rugartis, and even managed to dismantle your private army. So I was able to predict all of your movement until now. That powerful black knight force is out of my prediction but ---- I also had prepared myself for such unpredictable cases. Thank G.o.d that I don’t even need to use my last card because of that”
Hearing that word from Gerard, the duke finally realized that he has been dancing a top of Gerard palm all the time while believing that he can win from him.
Defeat.
With that word appeared in his head, the duke lose all strength inside him and falls into his knees.
Author note: I truly beg your forgiveness for not giving out any girl in this chapter.