The hall remained still after the king's declaration.A single sentence — "There will be no signing… until we understand what is happening."was enough to tip the balance of the entire kingdom.
The Safinan delegation stepped back, watching the scene with heavy concern.The implicated nobles exchanged glances, their faces pale, as if the ground had been pulled from beneath them.As for Darius's men… they began moving slowly along the edges of the hall, as though preparing for something unspoken.
Gray noticed them first. He moved closer to Ken and whispered:
"His men are grouping up… if things collapse, they'll try to force him out."
Ken didn't shift his gaze toward them. He only said:
"Don't let them move an inch."
Gray slipped toward a guard position near the wall, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Marvin stepped toward the king with a second box, larger and heavier than the first.
He set it before the throne and said:
"Your Majesty… this file contains a full timeline of all financial movements from the start of the First Crisis… up to the Seventh."
The king raised his eyes, his voice faint:
"The seventh as well?"
Marvin nodded without hesitation:
"Yes, Your Majesty… and Prince Darius knew about it seventy-two hours before it happened."
Quiet gasps spread.Words dissolved into silent shock.
Darius clenched his jaw and said steadily:
"That is untrue."
Ken stepped forward slightly, murmuring without lowering his eyes:
"And this time, you won't hide behind your words."
Lord Montefra moved forward with hesitant steps until he stood before the king.His voice was weak, but every word fell like a stone:
"Your Majesty… we have a written confession. Prince Darius's men threatened us… forced us to pass the Maritime Trade Act."
Darius slammed the floor with his foot:
"Liar! You benefited more than I ever did!"
Then he turned to the king:
"Father… all of them are traitors!"
The king didn't answer.One look from him was enough for Darius to understand that trust was no longer whole.
The king struck his staff against the floor.
"As of this moment… every economic institution under Prince Darius's name is placed under royal seizure."
A noble cried out in panic:
"No! Our companies will collapse!"
Ken stepped through the crowd, his voice firm:
"They will collapse because you built them on coercion… not on work."
Darius moved toward the king, step by step.
"Father… if you let Ken investigate, he will drag half the kingdom down with him.We will become a target for other nations.I am the only reason you remained on the throne."
Ken stood between them:
"If you're the only thing keeping the kingdom standing… then you're its greatest threat."
Darius looked at him—not with anger…but with a clear intent to kill.
Elaine… the Testimony No One Expected
From the middle of the hall, a hesitant voice rose:
"Your Majesty…"
Elaine stood there, hands trembling, yet she stepped forward with resolve.
"My father… has been under Darius's direct threat for a year."
The hall shook.
Ken turned toward her with genuine surprise.Darius looked at her slowly, his voice low and dangerous:
"Elaine… do not speak nonsense."
She raised her head:
"No. I understand now.And I know you weren't saving the kingdom… you were stealing it. Stealing all of us."
That single sentence stirred layers of chaos among the nobles.
The king inhaled slowly, as if the order itself weighed heavily on his chest:
"From this moment…Prince Darius is placed under royal house arrest.And every noble involved with him will face immediate investigation."
Darius's men took a full step forward.The royal guards raised their blades.Gray tightened his grip on his sword.
The hall suffocated under a crushing silence.
Ken stepped forward once, looking straight into his brother's eyes:
"Your fall has begun… brother."
And the temperature in the hall dropped—as if everyone understood:
There was no return.No reconciliation.No truce between the princes ever again.
End of Chapter.