The room grew tense.
Accusation had been thrown, and the king's attention now focused solely on Julian, who remained calm, his expression still unchanging.
The Duke of Ethwer, sensing that he had successfully placed the bait, stood tall, awaiting the response from the crown.
Before Julian could respond to the accusations, a voice suddenly cut through the tension. It was Prince Ivan, the king's grandson, who had been sitting quietly up until now.
Ivan stood confidently and offered a slight bow toward the king.
"Your Majesty," Ivan began, his voice calm and calculated, "if I may..."
The king nodded at his grandson, acknowledging his desire to speak. The room fell silent in anticipation, as Ivan was not known to speak out often in the court.
He was usually a reserved figure, but the current atmosphere seed to have stirred sothing within him.
Ivan's gaze turned to Julian, narrowing as he continued, "As Duke Julian and his commanders entered the courtroom, I couldn't help but notice sothing... strange. He did not spare a single glance at either the princesses or myself. Not even a simple bow of respect."
So of the nobles nodded; Julian's actions had clearly not gone unnoticed.
Ivan continued, his voice rising with each word, "This is not just an issue of greeting—it is a blatant disrespect for the royal bloodline. The blood that flows through our veins."
There was a slight murmur among the gathered nobles, many of whom had noticed the sa sight but had been too scared to speak up.
Ivan's eyes hardened as he turned his full attention to Julian. "So I must ask," he said, his tone growing colder, "what exactly does Duke Easvil seek? Does he wish to undermine the royal family? Does he wish to pretend as if we do not exist? I fail to see how this behavior is befitting of one who claims to be loyal to the Kingdom of Ares."
The room went completely silent, every eye fixed on Julian. The audacity of Ivan's words stunned everyone, as he had never been one to challenge anyone so openly.
As the king's grandson, he carried the privilege of royal blood, and his words held great influence in the court.
Now, all eyes were on Julian, waiting to see how he would respond to the challenge. Would he defend himself or remain silent?
anwhile,
Hallie watched with a glimr of pride in her eyes as her son stood and spoke so boldly. She had always known that Ivan had the potential for greatness, but seeing him stand up for himself was a completely different thing.
She couldn't help but smile, her gaze lingering on her son as he took a stand for the royal family.
Her eyes then shifted toward the Queen, who sat beside the King. The Queen, too, graced a similar smile. It was clear to Hallie that the Queen was just as pleased with Ivan's actions.
The crowd, of course, didn't miss the exchange between them. Whispers rippled through the hall as the nobles and courtiers observed the interaction.
The true dynamics of power were becoming clearer by the minute. This wasn't just a eting of dukes—it was a battle for influence within the royal family itself.
As Julian sat quietly, the tension in the room grew thicker. The silent contest between the royal family and the Duke of Easvil was unfolding before the eyes of every noble present.
This was the beginning of a much larger ga. A ga where alliances could shift in the blink of an eye and every action could tip the balance of power in the kingdom.
Then,
Julian stood.
The mont he did, the entire room fell into an eerie silence. His aura flared slightly, his presence commanding attention as he scanned the gathered nobles.
His gaze briefly flickered to Prince Ivan before he turned his focus to the crowd. The air seed to thicken as everyone awaited what he would say next.
"Everyone here is aware of the separation between my mother, Regina Easvil, and the royal family," Julian began, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
The words were unexpected, and the entire court froze in shock. Eyes widened, and whispers began to spread, but Julian remained still, his expression unreadable.
The crowd was stunned. What was the Duke of Easvil implying? Why would he bring up sothing so personal, sothing so delicate, in front of everyone?
It was well known that Regina, Julian's mother, had once been part of the royal family before her marriage to Duke Alden. But the idea that this separation—this fracture—had anything to do with the current tension in the court was a thought no one had dared to even think of till now.
The king as well, who had remained unusually calm, now shifted slightly in his throne. His eyes locked onto Julian, but he said nothing.
Julian continued, his voice clear and calm, "His Majesty the King has pardoned our family and has taken my mother back in."
The crowd was taken aback. This was information no one had expected to hear, least of all in the midst of a eting that was supposed to address the kingdom's issues.
To speak of the King's pardon in such a manner and to imply that the royal family had accepted Regina back was a bold declaration.
The murmurs started slowly but soon grew louder as the significance of Julian's words settled in. The royal family, especially the King, had never been one to show such benevolence.
Hallie stood up from her seat, her expression a mixture of surprise and frustration as she glared at Julian.
"Explain yourself, Duke Julian," Hallie demanded. "What is the aning of this?"
Her eyes briefly flickered toward her mother, the Queen, who sat still, her gaze fixed on Julian. The queen's expression was hard to read, but there was no mistaking the anger in her posture. She too rose, her voice sharp and commanding.
"Indeed, Duke Julian. You speak of matters that are not for public discussion. This is not the place for personal grievances or family matters."
She turned to her husband, the king, seeking so reaction from him.
For a brief mont, it seed as though the entire room was frozen. Even the royal family had been caught off guard by Julian's boldness. The King remained silent, though his eyes lingered on Julian for a long mont.
Julian's calm deanor didn't falter. He stood tall, eting Hallie's and the Queen's eyes without flinching.
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