Chapter 708: Rite of Arms [1]

Chapter 708: Rite of Arms [1]

“Princess, might I remind you to exercise restraint with your words. Such language is most unbecoming of your station and quite beneath you.”

“…Oh, yeah. Sure.”

Aoife mumbled as she took a sip of her tea, visibly uncomfortable in the stiff outfit she’d been made to wear for her etiquette training. Ever since returning from the Academy, she had been forced to attend such lessons.

She didn’t really understand, though.

…It wasn’t like she was that bad. She did swear a couple of times, but those times were mostly in training.

What was wrong with swearing anyways?

Aoife sighed while taking another sip of her tea and looking past her butler.

“When is brother coming? He was supposed to be here ten minutes ago.”

“The Prince is presently occupied with important affairs and will arrive when his duties permit. In the meantime, I must ask that you focus on your posture. Your back is leaning forward quite unbecomingly. And… oh dear, Princess! Kindly uncross your legs at once. Such behavior is most improper!”

“Fine, fine.”

Aoife uncrossed her legs and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. After spending so much time at the Academy and around Kiera and Evelyn, she was beginning to realize just how absurd many of the things she’d been forced to practice truly were.

Even the way her butler spoke…

Who even spoke like that?

‘Just endure for now. When I get the chance to leave this place, I’ll—’

BOOM!

A sudden explosion thundered outside the palace, rattling the entire building. The tremor sent tea spilling from the cup in her hands, while several items on the table clattered to the floor.

“What happened!?”

Aoife rose abruptly, a growing sense of unease settling in her chest as the heavy clank of armor echoed just beyond her door, guards hurrying past, moving toward the source of the explosion.

“Princess! Please remain here! The guards will handle every—Princess!”

As if she’d listen to her butler.

Moving away from the table, she rushed for the door and opened it.

Clank!

Glancing quickly to her left and right, she broke into a run, heading toward the source of the noise. It led her straight to the palace entrance, and the moment she arrived, her steps faltered, and her breath caught in her throat.

“W-what…”

Staring at the gaping hole in the direction of where the entrance was, alongside the guards on the ground, her mind froze for a split second.

What happened? What’s going on?

“…An attack?”

“It seems like it.”

Just then, a warm voice filled her ears, prompting Aoife to turn her head. It was there that she saw a sickly pale figure standing next to her, his gaze similarly looking towards the entrance.

“Brother!”

Aoife’s eyes lit up upon seeing her brother.

However, just before she could move towards him, he stopped her.

“Calm down, Aoife. There are more pressing matters to handle. You stay here, I’ll go and check up on Father.”

“But—”

“Just listen to me for once.”

Hearing her brother’s words, Aoife bit her lips. In the end, alternating her gaze between him and her, she lowered her head and nodded.

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Gael finally smiled as he turned his attention towards the chaos.

Eventually, he snapped his finger.

“You lot.”

Despite his frail, sickly frame, he carried an undeniable air of authority. One so strong it made everyone instinctively straighten their posture.

Nodding toward several figures, he gestured with his head before moving deeper into the palace.

“Come with me. I’ll be needing your assistance.”

The figures followed right behind him as the only thing Aoife could do was stare at their parting backs before quietly pursing her lips.

In the end, she took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

‘It’s time to grow up, Aoife. Can’t always be ignoring other people’s words…’

Aoife knew from everyone that she was a busybody and never listened. If someone told her to do something, she’d usually do the opposite.

This time, however, she decided to listen.

She was no longer at the Academy.

“It’s time to grow up.” She mumbled, staring towards her brother’s fading figure. “It’s time to grow up…”

***

Tensions ran high in the Central Meeting room, every eye fixed on the youngest figure seated at the table. Despite the intense scrutiny, he remained poised, his back straight and his expression calm.

He wore formal attire, one that accentuated his eye-catching appearance, and deep-hazel eyes.

Despite being so young, he didn’t lose out in terms of presence compared to many people in the room.

In fact…

He was almost overwhelming to the eyes of some.

Something about his gaze. Those deep hazel eyes of his… There was something hidden within that that caused a certain sense of unease.

“…This is not a war that we started.”

His words shattered the silence within the room.

“We are simply responding to the forces that attempted to attack and assassinate the head of the family. In fact, the reason he is not present today is precisely because of that attempt. He’s currently at the Household, recovering from the injuries he sustained.”

Pausing, Julien looked around, his eyes squinting slightly as his gaze paused on several individuals.

“…We’ve lost quite a lot of—”

“Bullshit!”

Bang!

A fist slammed against the table as a large man with a bald head stood up, the veins protruding from the top of his head as he glared at Julien.

“Do you truly believe we don’t see through this? It was all premeditated! You deliberately baited us with your so-called struggles! How else do you explain the speed and precision of your response? And the Viscount… injured? I call bullshit! There’s no way he’s hurt. You knew from the very beginning that this was—”

“And…?”

It was Julien’s turn to cut the man’s words, his hazel eyes fixed on him as his lips gently pulled up into a thin smile.

“Let’s say that we did bait you… What does that have to do with anything? You are the ones who attacked. We never attacked. By rule, the moment you attack, we have every right to retaliate. And that’s what we did.”

“But that’s…”

“That’s what?”

Julien cocked his head.

“We only wished to remain low-profile. The last time we drew attention, several Baronies turned on us. Since then, we chose to grow quietly, without standing out… but who would’ve thought the surrounding Houses would become so greedy for our territory?”

Julien’s gaze swept the entire room as he spoke.

There was visible contempt in his gaze as he looked around.

“We stand out, and people attack us. We don’t stand out; people attack us. And now…? You’re telling me that trying to lay low is baiting?”

Julien turned his gaze towards Orson.

“What are we supposed to do? The family Head joined Central because of all the benefits that it would provide us, but we’ve yet to receive any benefits from Central. In fact, we only incurred losses by joining. Not only do we pay a monthly fee to stay, but we were somehow got attacked by several of its members? Now… for what reason should we stay?”

The tension in the room reached an all-time high in that moment.

What began as an interrogation had quickly shifted. Now, the question hanging in the air was this: what reason was there for the Evenus Household to remain in Central at all?

Seeing the sudden shift, a certain person in the room smiled.

‘So not only the father, but even the son…’

Marquiss Wilshire adjusted his glasses and turned his attention towards Orson, who slowly turned his attention towards him.

The Marquiss merely offered up a smile before leaning back on his chair.

In the end, tapping his finger against the table, the Marquiss opened his mouth.

“From the sound of it, it does seem you’ve been wronged. However, do keep in mind. The primary reason the allied noble houses haven’t retaliated is that you’re part of Central. Membership in Central comes with its own set of indirect protections and privileges.”

“Is that so…?”

Julien raised his brow, fixing his attention on the Marquis.

“So you’re saying that only those of Central will attack me, but those outside won’t because that would make all of Central against them?”

The Marquis merely smiled.

But that smile said it all.

“I see.”

Julien smiled back, his deep hazel eyes bearing down on the Marquis. For a brief moment, the room turned completely silent, all eyes fixed on the two figures.

Orson watched from the sidelines, his thoughts unknown.

But then—

“I guess that means we’re done here.”

Julien looked around.

“Since I’m part of Central, and only members of Central can engage in conflict with one another, things should be settled, shouldn’t they? I simply retaliated against an attack, and since those I struck back against are also from Central, there shouldn’t be an issue.”

Julien pressed his hands against the table and got ready to leave.

But right as he did, the Marquis spoke again.

“Not quite.”

“Hm?”

Julien paused while staring at the Marquis.

“We handle conflicts a bit differently here in Central. When disputes arise between member Houses and no resolution can be reached through negotiation, we initiate what’s known as the Rite of Arms. It’s a formal duel between chosen representatives from each side.”

Instantly, murmurs and whispers filled the place.

It had been a very long time since the last ‘Rite of Arms’ had taken place, and as such, it was naturally a big deal.

“Each party places something at stake, and the victor claims it all. This not only helps prevent unnecessary bloodshed but also serves as a display of the finest combat prowess each House has to offer. So…”

The Marquis paused, his smile growing further.

“…What do you say?”

The voices and whispers in the room fell in that moment, all eyes focused on Julien, who quietly closed his eyes.

‘So this is what they were after in this meeting.’

Julien was quite ignorant about these matters. He was also surprised by Orson’s lack of words throughout the entire interaction.

Very clearly, it was their fault.

If they wanted to do a Rite of Arms, they should’ve done it before the situation had spiraled like this. The fact that they only presented it now told him all that he needed to know.

At the same time, Julien understood that things weren’t so simple.

‘I do think that Orson has the ability to stop all of this, but I have a feeling there’s more to it than I’m seeing. Could there be some sort of internal conflict within Central? Is it possible that Orson doesn’t have full control of it, but only partially? I’m sure Delilah alone was enough to make everyone in the room submit, but it wouldn’t do him any good if he ruled everyone by fear.’

Julien turned his head and looked at Orson.

He was staring back at him, his face showing no sign of emotion.

But it was also then that Julien understood.

‘He’s trying to use me in order to put everyone in their places so that he won’t have to do it himself.’

He had quite a lot of confidence in me.

And well…

“Alright.”

I nodded while looking at the Marquis.

“I accept this rite.”

It wouldn’t be bad to have my father-in-law owe me one.

“No… The Evenus Household accepts.”