Chapter 301: The Second Lionheart Alliance
Bosk Duchy, Strauburg, Hall of the Lion.
The Northern nobles gathered once again, seated on either side of an extravagant long table, their positions determined by rank and influence.
At the head of the table sat the initiator of this meeting, the honorary ruler of the Northern United Kingdom, and the current leader of the Bosk family—Grand Duke Leo Bosk.
Yet the atmosphere was heavy with tension, for this was no lighthearted feast of revelry and song. This meeting concerned the fate of the North and perhaps all of Anzeta, carrying even greater weight than the "Lionheart Alliance" that had taken place forty years prior.
Finally, Grand Duke Leo's voice, heavy as an iron bell, shattered the silence.
"Gentlemen, since no one wishes to speak first, allow me to be frank."
"The North has reached a moment of life and death. Our Skanya heritage, preserved for over a thousand years, now teeters on the brink of extinction. And the root cause of all this is that greedy red dragon and his vile kingdom!"
Grand Duke Leo's words struck like a hammer, each syllable reverberating heavily in the hearts of those present.
The hall erupted into murmurs. Expressions among the nobles varied, and whispers of doubt and apprehension filled the room.
Most had already guessed why Grand Duke Leo had summoned them, but they hadn't anticipated such a vehement tone, one that hinted at risking everything—perhaps even plunging the North into a grand war.
"Your Grace, aren't you overstating things?"
"Indeed."
"The red dragon hasn't stirred trouble for five years. We can continue to appease him and extend this fragile peace."
"Now might not be the best time."
"The Ember Kingdom is far too powerful and wealthy. We need better preparation."
After a brief discussion, voices urging restraint began to rise.
Grand Duke Leo slowly rose to his feet, his piercing gaze sweeping across every noble at the table. His robust, graying beard made him look like a cunning and seasoned old lion, exuding an oppressive authority that silenced the room.
Once the hall fell quiet again, he spoke, enunciating each word clearly:
"I know that some of you have taken the filthy gold of the Ember Kingdom, shamelessly becoming their agents to exploit the Skanya people—or worse, willingly serving as that red dragon's dogs."
He deliberately paused, his sharp gaze scanning the room like a blade, lingering on a select few.
Several nobles visibly froze, sweat beading on their brows.
At a subtle signal from Grand Duke Leo, fully armed soldiers rushed forward, seizing several unsuspecting nobles.
"Wait! Don't touch me! I'm a count!"
"Your Grace, it wasn't me!"
"We never cooperated with the Ember Kingdom!"
"This is slander! You've been misled by others!"
"It wasn't just us! The Arle family did it too! They're framing me!"
The nobles screamed, pleaded, and even tried to implicate others.
But under Grand Duke Leo's signal, the soldiers gagged their mouths and dragged them, struggling, out of the hall.
"Clang!"
Soon, the sound of a blade falling on the guillotine echoed from outside the hall.
In truth, these nobles weren't the ones most involved with the Ember Kingdom. Their ranks were middling at best, the highest being a count from the Duchy of Fano.
Grand Duke Leo's intentions were clear. To borrow a term from the Ember Kingdom's lexicon: he was "kill a chicken to scare the monkeys," sending a chilling warning to the remaining Northern nobles not to consort with the Ember Kingdom.
Nearly every duchy had supplied scapegoats, pushing the blame for any collaboration onto expendable targets. This preserved the reputations of the more powerful families while maintaining appearances. Leo had coordinated this in advance with the most influential dukes, who silently approved the purge.
This wasn't merely Leo's personal decision but the result of political maneuvering among various factions.
The hall fell into a deathly silence, so quiet that even a pin drop would echo.
Grand Duke Leo remained standing, his mere presence exuding authority. The deaths had reinforced his unspoken power, leaving smaller nobles trembling in their seats.
They were reminded why the man dubbed the "Lion of the North" had once singlehandedly subdued the duchies and restored Bosk to its place as the North's leader. Though Leo had remained dormant for years, his legacy as a ruler was unquestionable.
"As the ruler of the Northern United Kingdom, I feel great sorrow in having to eliminate these vermin."
"Let this be a lesson to you all."
Changing his tone, he continued: "Perhaps others have made similar mistakes, tempted by petty favors and forgetting the monumental risks. But remember, that is no noble—it is a greedy, bloodthirsty red dragon!"
"Do you all still remember the Lackman Family?"
"No matter their deeds, the Lackman Family was an integral part of Northern nobility. Their ancestors made significant contributions to the Northern United Kingdom centuries ago, and their noble status was undeniable."
"And where are they now? Extinguished by that red dragon!"
"The Ember Kingdom… I refuse to call it a kingdom. It is a 'monster,' filled with a terrifying, bloody ideology that will impose the harshest order on the world."
"That monster doesn't care about your noble bloodlines or pedigrees. It only cares about its own strength. For that, it will slaughter nobles, trample us beneath peasants, and turn us into fuel for its growth. That will be the nightmare of every Northern noble!"
"For years, no one has opposed the Ember Kingdom as consistently as I have. Ignoring danger doesn't solve problems. Passivity doesn't solve problems. Appeasement doesn't solve problems. What we need now are solutions. The longer we delay, the stronger the Ember Kingdom becomes, and the greater our peril."
"Do not let short-term gains blind you. The fate of the Lackman Family will be yours if you forget this! A thousand years of Northern rule will come to an end!"
By the end of his impassioned speech, Grand Duke Leo was nearly trembling, every strand of his beard and hair bristling with fury.
In the grandeur of the Hall of the Lion, whether out of fear or genuine inspiration, the nobles erupted into thunderous applause, echoing the historic scene of the "Lionheart Alliance" forty years prior.