Tiefeike. Wimbledon sat on the throne, a ruby scepter in his hand, overlooking the ministers in the hall.
"This is the feeling I want," he thought, "not squatting in Gold穗 City, haggling with those merchants over trivial interests."
He tapped the scepter, the pure gold handle making a crisp sound against the smooth marble floor. Seeing everyone's attention focused on him, he nodded, "Begin."
"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report." The first to speak was Sir Weimar, nicknamed "Steelheart Knight," responsible for the defense of the royal city.
"Speak."
"Can the witch hunt be temporarily stopped? Your Majesty, this hunt has grown increasingly large recently. Yesterday, I heard that some women from commoner families were arrested and abused in the dungeons, and one died in prison. It was later proven that they were not witches. Now the entire outer city is in a state of panic. If this continues, I fear there will be a mass exodus of refugees."
Tiefeike frowned. The witch hunt was something he had ordered. The truth behind Wimbledon III's death remains unknown, but he has always doubted that his father committed suicide, especially the strange smile before his death, which made him feel uneasy. His father wore the highest quality God's Stone of Retribution on his hand, and the church confirmed that the stone had not been tampered with or failed. However, none of this proves that witches were not involved.
When it comes to strangeness, no one is better at it than those妖女.
He turned his gaze to Langley, the executor of the search operation, and also a henchman he had cultivated. The latter immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, that was just an accident. I have severely punished the relevant personnel," he counted on his fingers, "the warden, the jailer, and the guards have all been sentenced to ten lashes and twenty-five silver wolves."
"One person died, and three were subjected to cruel torture. The villains get a few lashes and a fine?" Sir Weimar said coldly, "Moreover, who gave you the right to judge? Is it Prime Minister Wick or Minister of Justice Pylau?"
"Your Majesty! In times of crisis, I must act extraordinarily," Langley knelt on one knee and pleaded, "Ignoring some minor setbacks, the search operation has been very successful. We have captured at least fifteen witches lurking in the royal city and are currently torturing them. Soon we will know if they are conspiring anything with your father—no, I mean, if they are plotting anything."
Tiefeike glared at him. This idiot almost blurted out his intentions. Although most of the ministers standing in the hall can guess the real purpose of his actions, the official story must be that Grand Prince Goron killed the king. This cannot be overturned.
"Fifteen witches?" The Steelheart Knight sneered, "Very good. So the capital has become a stronghold for witches. A few years ago, the church only captured six members of the Common Assistance Society in the kingdom's eastern forest during a围猎. It seems your lackeys are even stronger than the church's inquisitors."
"You...!"
"Enough!" Langley is an idiot, and Langley's subordinates are also a bunch of idiots, Tiefeike thought angrily. If he didn't have no one to use at the beginning of his reign, he wouldn't want to promote such fools at all. Even if they want to take credit, they can't make up numbers like this. I'm afraid most of these fifteen people are the same as those unlucky commoner women. He didn't want the church to get involved, but now there is no other way. "Go to the church and ask Priest Fely to confirm the identities of these fifteen people. Stop all torture. After that, every person you catch must be verified by the priest! If I hear that your people can't control their subordinates, I will throw you into the royal capital's moat to feed the fish!"
"Uh, yes, Your Majesty."
"Go immediately!"
After letting Langley roll out of the hall, Tiefeike turned to the Minister of Finance, "If any of them have been wronged, together with the previous three, issue two gold dragons in compensation. For the one who died in prison, give it to their family." He paused, "Add one more."
"As you wish." The Minister of Finance nodded.
"Your Majesty is merciful." Sir Weimar also saluted.
"Next topic." Tiefeike exhaled a breath of turbid air, and when the ministers below were silent, he said, "Since no one has a new topic, I will speak." He looked at the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sir Brunt "Umbrella," "The recall order has been issued for more than a month, but no one has returned to the capital. Tell me, what is the situation now?"
Sir Brunt came from the Felynn family and has been in this position for thirty years. His hair is gray, his face is old, and he has one foot in the coffin. He cleared his throat, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your third sister, Garcia. Wimbledon, there is still no news. Your fourth brother, Roland. Wimbledon, has replied. In the letter, he said that after the Devil Moon ends and his people are safe, he will consider returning to the capital. But..."
"But what?"
"He addressed you as Your Highness on the envelope, not Your Majesty or King."
Tiefeike couldn't help but sneer. Still as ignorant as before, my hopeless brother. He thought, if you intend to come back, then honor me as king, and I can give you a good place to live as a prince. If you don't come back, then prepare for a desperate struggle as soon as possible. Look at what you have done, indecisive and wavering, wanting to come back but unwilling to give in? What good is gaining a quick tongue?
"Let him be," Tiefeike waved his hand, "What about the fifth sister?"
"Your Majesty, she... is gone."
"What? What do you mean gone?"
"She first agreed to the envoy I sent, but a week later, the princess disappeared from the palace, along with her butler and two maids. I arranged for people to search, but there is still no trace of her."
What is this result? One or two, are they so unwilling to believe me! Tiefeike felt like his heart was blocked. He had great expectations for his sister, hoping that she could assist him. After all, Tilly had been extraordinarily clever since she was a child, even more dazzling than himself. The only place she lost to him was that she was a girl.
Tiefeike was very relieved of her. Judging from his father's arrangement, he did not intend to let Tilly get involved in this turmoil. The territory given to her was Silverlight City, not far from the capital. The trade was ordinary, and there was no soil for raising soldiers. Unexpectedly, the fifth sister ran away?
Is this the choice of a smart person?
"Since she ran away, let the former lord continue to be responsible for managing Silverlight City. The search must also continue. I can't let a member of the royal family fall into the hands of the common people." He gritted his teeth and suppressed his annoyed emotions. "So, now only the third sister refuses to obey?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Since she is so stubborn, then I have no choice but to take some tough measures." Tiefeike looked at Prime Minister Marquis Wick, issuing a war order requires the approval of the king and the prime minister. He is my biggest supporter, so there should be no problem, "I plan to let Duke Joey of the Southern Border send troops to force Garcia to abandon Byswater Port and escort her back to the capital."
Marquis Wick responded as expected, "This matter should not be delayed. Please issue the war order as soon as possible, and let the Minister of Foreign Affairs be responsible for its delivery."
Tiefeike nodded with satisfaction and was about to ask the scribe to draft the document when urgent hoofbeats suddenly sounded outside the hall. After a commotion, a knight wearing a blue striped cloak pushed open the door and strode into the hall.
Tiefeike recognized him, the famous "Gale Knight" Neman. Moore. He went straight to the center of the hall, knelt on one knee and said, "Your Majesty, I have just received news from the south." He gasped, his voice anxious, "Your sister, Garcia. Wimbledon defeated Duke Joey. Cole of the Southern Border five days ago and occupied Eagle City! Moreover... she declared herself Queen of Byswater, and the lords have responded one after another. The entire southern border has become independent!"
Welcome all friends to visit and read, the latest, fastest, and most popular serialized works are all available at the original!