Translator: CinderTL
The Royal Palace's inner hall was brightly lit by candlelight, its velvet carpet absorbing all footsteps.
Rodney XVIII personally led Yuriko through the corridor into a private reception room.
Servants served hot tea and fruit. The brothers sat down, exchanged a few pleasantries about their travels and the war, and the atmosphere remained cordial.
But Yuriko clearly had no interest in small talk. Before finishing his tea, he set down his cup, his expression darkening, and his tone suddenly turned resentful.
"My dear brother, there's something I must report to you."
Rodney looked up, his expression calm. "Speak."
Yuriko took a deep breath, his voice barely concealing his anger. "Paul Grayman's men... they're utterly disrespectful! They show no regard for me, a prince of the realm!"
Seeing that Rodney remained unmoved, he continued, his words growing increasingly rapid.
"While at Windbreath Fortress, I planned a grand event—a banquet to invite the surrendered Orc commanders to drink an oath of alliance. I wanted to prove to everyone that humans and Orcs could coexist peacefully, that hatred could be overcome, and that the Royal Family was the architect of this peace."
His voice carried a hint of idealistic fervor, which quickly turned to anger. "But just as the banquet was about to begin, Grayman's men suddenly burst in! They claimed that 'troublemakers' among the prisoners were about to riot and had to be dealt with immediately!"
Yuriko slammed his fist on the armrest, his eyes blazing with fury. "But how did they do it? Without rhyme or reason, right before my eyes, they slaughtered every single Orc commander who had already laid down their weapons, removed their armor, and arrived in formal attire for the banquet! Not one was spared!"
His voice trembled as if the scene were still unfolding before him. "Blood splattered across the carpet, wine glasses were overturned, and those men didn't even have a chance to plead their case... before bullets and bayonets claimed their lives. And I stood there, powerless. They didn't even bother to consult me. They barged in, committed the massacre, and then walked away as if nothing had happened!"
He glared at Rodney, his voice low and strained. "This wasn't about suppressing a rebellion... it was about slapping my face! Slapping the Royal Family in the face!"
Silence fell over the hall.
Rodney XVIII listened quietly, his face betraying no immediate emotion. He slowly set down his teacup, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight.
The king's expression remained calm, but a complex storm churned in his eyes.
He was, of course, displeased, even enraged. Yuriko was his younger brother, a symbol of the Royal Family. For him to be so blatantly disregarded and forcibly dragged away for execution during a formal banquet hosted by a prince was not only a humiliation for Yuriko but also a direct challenge to the king's authority.
"They... didn't even announce themselves?" he finally spoke, his voice low and grave.
"No!" Yuriko replied immediately, his eyes still blazing with fury. "They stormed in like they were invading an enemy camp! Not a word, just straight to the attack! I didn't even have a chance to stop them!"
Rodney closed his eyes and gently massaged his temples.
He understood his brother's anger. If he had been in Yuriko's place, he would have felt utterly humiliated.
But in truth, he already knew about this incident.
Several days earlier, he had received a report from the front lines, jointly signed by Harrison and Paul.
The report detailed the intelligence gathered before the banquet: Orc prisoners had secretly conspired to sow chaos within the city and incite a riot among the other captives. The Imperial Army had intercepted this information in advance and immediately taken defensive measures.
"The situation was urgent," the report stated. "If we had waited for approval through the chain of command, unforeseen consequences might have arisen."
Harrison, a trusted general and unwavering loyalist, had signed the report. Even Paul Grayman, the usually cautious and measured Marquis, had personally signed it, effectively taking full political responsibility for the operation.
His handwriting was steady and forceful, yet carried a subtle weight. Rodney knew Paul wasn't shirking responsibility but rather saying: "I understand this will anger the Royal Family, but I had no choice."
Rodney opened his eyes, looking at his agitated younger brother, his heart a mix of emotions.
Emotionally, he wanted to punish Paul's men. They had been too aggressive, too disrespectful to act so brazenly in front of a prince.
Yet rationally, he knew that allowing the riot to succeed would have been a true disaster.
He spoke slowly, his voice calm but tinged with weariness. "Yuriko, I understand your anger. This matter... was handled poorly, indeed."
"But if they truly had evidence of a riot plot, and their actions were intended to protect you and the local residents... their motives might not have been malicious."
Yuriko was about to argue further when Rodney raised a hand to stop him. "I will investigate this matter," the king said calmly. "But until then, I ask you to remain calm."
He neither took sides nor condemned anyone.
Yuriko's anger remained unsoothed by the king's reassurance. He glared at his brother, a flicker of hurt and resentment suddenly flashing in his eyes. His voice softened, but grew heavier.
"Brother... you're not just being misled by those generals. Even Catherine—our sister—has completely become a Grayman."
Rodney frowned slightly, but didn't interrupt.
Yuriko took a deep breath, his voice laced with the pain of betrayal. "I told her about this. I thought she would stand with us, after all, she's also a daughter of the Rodney Family. But do you know what she said?"
He let out a cold laugh and shook his head. "She said those soldiers did the right thing. If they hadn't acted decisively then, you might already be dead!"
He mimicked Catherine's calm tone, his eyes burning with fury. "With just those few dismissive words, she crushed all my anger, all my dignity. She didn't even ask how I felt, didn't say a single word of comfort, not even 'You've been wronged!'"
Yuriko's voice trembled slightly. "She was once my sister... but in that moment, I felt she was merely Paul's wife. Her heart had completely turned toward Alden Town, toward the Grayman Family."
The candlelight in the hall flickered gently, casting complex shadows across Yuriko's face—a mixture of anger, disappointment, and an indescribable loneliness.
He had believed that at least among those of royal blood, there would be an unspoken alliance, a bond that needed no words. But now Catherine had sided with the enemy.
Rodney listened in silence, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. He didn't respond immediately. He knew Catherine's character—rational, resolute, and always prioritizing the greater good. After marrying Paul, she had retained her royal status, but her fate was now inextricably linked to her husband's.
In truth, Yuriko's complaint wasn't just about Catherine. It was a fear of isolation—Catherine was, after all, only a distant cousin. But even his own brother hadn't immediately condemned the Graymans.
In the entire Royal Family, it seemed he was the only one speaking out for "dignity."
He was ostensibly criticizing Catherine, but in reality, he was also criticizing Rodney XVIII.
(End of the Chapter)
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