The entire hall went silent as everyone was awaiting Garran, their breaths were held in anticipation for they knew that today, they were not going to leave the hall without anything to gossip about and the more ambitious ones had plans churning and wheeling in their minds. Plans of betrayal, of course.
"Drelgarde…the town was merely been disturbed by bandits and petty robbers. They attacked travellers by the border and raided them but I had the guards take care of that."
Garran's words stumbled out as though he didn't think this was a great issue to be deliberated at court.
"As I said before, Drelgarde is a fortress so…"
"I have realized my mistake, Minister Ryoto, I believe I would use your words of advice well even when I become the King."
Garran calmly stated, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and the hall turned heavy with silence.
They all understood that this was a subtle warning coming from someone who stood a higher chance of becoming the next King.
Minister Ryoto in particular felt the hidden message behind his words. After all, when one became a monarch, he had the power to dictate the life of his subjects and he understood it all.
But Minister Ryoto didn't flinch or show a subservient expression, rather he maintained the serious and unyielding expression on his face.
"I hope you all do not find me rude," Harran sighed, his tone was heavy with weariness." My father's sickness… is taking a toll on me."
The revelation enthralled the entire hall into silence, Minos had a frown on his face as he stared down at the mischievous Prince.
'That was not to be revealed. Well I guess it is time we change tactics.'
He thought, and soon his face smoothed over.
"The King is sick? Then the High Steward should have told us about this."
Earl Reggie observed, a subtle frown crowning his expression.
The Court seemed to agree with him as countless voices rose to support him.
"According to protocol, Court should be cancelled when the King is sick, so why didn't you do that?"
"Is that the reason the Prince came late?"
Murmurs arose in the hall, signifying the tide of discontent. Minos' eyes flashed dangerously.
'This would be hard…'
"I did not think that the Court had turned into a rogue market."
Minos thundered, his brown eyes glinted with a dangerous light and the hall quietened down–well except those who did not fear him.
"You can not blame them when their King is ill and they have not been told."
Earl Reggie rebutted, his expression was one of defiance.
The other nobles all looked at him with envy, for they all wished they had the same authority and power that he did.
"The Court would have been told if the King wanted you to be told."
Minos snapped as his eyes scanned through the court like a sharp blade.
The nobles already knew this truth, however, they merely wished to test the waters to probe for weakness.
Earl Reggie's eyes narrowed and he harrumphed.
"You don't expect us to blindly believe the person who didn't even tell us of the King's illness, do you? No one here believes you."
Earl Reggie retorted, his hands flailing round as though garnering support and truly, the masses all protested with him, under his cover of course.
All this time, Garran's mask of confusion hid the smiles of satisfaction within—things were going exactly how he wanted.
A crooked smile formed on Minos's countenance as he stared back at the insurgent Earl.
"The King knew this day would come but I bet he didn't know it would come this early." Minos stated as he scanned the room once more. Then he straightened, his tone cold and resolute.
"I am the High Steward of the Eldoria Kingdom. I have the power to make and unmake decisions on behalf of the King and you lot would have nothing to say about it."
His declaration boomed through the hall even though he said it in a low voice.
The Court quietened down, much more than before because this time, Earl Reggie had reluctantly shut up because they all knew what happened when Minos was pushed to a corner.
However, just then–
Furious shades amethyst burst out and spread in all directions of the glass hall.
"Does that mean that you have the power to prevent the King's heirs from seeing him?"
Garran thundered, his eyes were red in fury and his hands were balled in a fist.
The Court was gasped–not by his furious outburst but by the colour of his aura.
The Prince had broken through and the normal colours for those of his rank is purple and only those with talent or in depth understanding could gain the rarer colors and amethyst was one of them.
'It seems I made the right choice.'
Earl Reggie thought happily.
He turned to Minos and saw that he also had the same shocked expression on his face, however he did better than the rest and hid it.
"High Steward, you have gone too far. How can you not allow the heir to the throne see his ailing father? How can you be so cruel?"
Earl Reggie hit his cane hard on the ground in mock anger. That seemed to have helped the court rise from their stupor and they all looked ahead interestingly.
"I was refused the first day,my sister too was refused and now…"
"Perhaps," Minos interrupted smoothly, drawing a scroll from his cloak. "You should ask His Royal Majesty that."
Garran frowned slightly and walked up the stairs to take it.
As he read the contents, his eyes widened, disbelief rippling on his pale countenance.
"Happy now?"
Minos took the scroll from him and showed it to the hall.
On it was an order from the King with his own signet on it and for what the order said, they all read it.
After reading it, Reggie had a complicated expression. He couldn't fathom why the King would order no one to see him except the people written on the scroll. He could sense something going on but now was not the time for it.
"High Steward,you could have simply showed this to the Prince to prevent him from fretting, did you…"
"Earl Reggie, the King would surely hear about your concern when he returns. And as for you–Prince Garran,a King has a leash on his emotions since emotions are not used to rule kingdoms. You can be like your father, His Royal Majesty."
Minos stated as he stared at the Prince with a disappointed expression.
"The Court is adjourned."
Minos declared and leaving the Prince still rooted there, he left the hall. His nonchalant steps echoing on the silver floor.
Once he left, Garran stood rooted to the mural for some minutes,his cheeks burned red with shame and he also walked away with a tightened jaw.
The Court stared at his receding back and then bursts into murmurs.
They had truly learnt a lot and they couldn't wait to gossip about it in their next soiree or ball.
Earl Reggie stood at his bench with a cunning smile on his face.
"It seemed the soup is ready."
He murmured before walking out of the clamoring nobles.
Far away on the continent of Veyloris, a land steeped in eternal snow laid sprawled beside the ocean and far away on the Eastern sea, a massive causeway connected to a large island creeping with mountains could be seen. Smoke coiled skywards in blackened plumes.
At the heart of this island stood a magnificent Palace which was encircled by similar houses, though of short stature.
Inside the throne room of this magnificent edifice, a young man with obsidian black hair sat on a silver throne with his chin supported by his hands as though deep in thought. But he had a tranquil expression as though nothing could concern him in this world.
Just then,the doors to the throne room opened and a young man entered, bowing low before the throne.
"Your Highness, the ship is ready to sail."
For a minute or two, silence reigned in the hall and on the third minute,the man on the throne opened his frost silver eyes.