[Back at Cassian’s palace...]
Athillia’s explanation of her action sent a contemplative signal to the king in the throne hall, weighing the decision.
Receiving no response, she collapsed to her knees, lowering herself in a deep bow. Callis and Sir Ashburne were startled at the sudden display.
"I beg Your Majesty for rcy not to wage war! I cannot allow such devastation to fall upon the people! Even Lady Raychard has declared and still forbids any attack against Barges!" she pleaded.
King Kyden turned to Kyren. "Did Anna truly state this?"
"She did, and she was adamant," the grand duke replied, "No war shall be initiated, and she warned that, should Your Majesty disagree, she will co to the palace herself and invoke her authority to stop it."
The throne hall fell into heavy silence. Anna’s stand had drawn a line too clear to ignore, one that demanded their obedience.
Far from offended, King Kyden allowed a small smile to surface.
"It seems Anna is already thinking like an empress," he said. "If she has declared as such, then so be it. There will be no war against Barges, considering the threat has also ceased. Cassian is a nation that upholds justice. We shall not punish those who never sought to fight us, least of all those forced into it."
Athillia’s heart lifted at his words. Even Callis exhaled in relief, a smile breaking across his face at the king’s wise decision to heed Anna’s order. At the king’s gesture, the Bargesian princess rose to her feet.
"You are most benevolent! Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you!" Athillia exclaid, her voice breaking with gratitude.
"It is not I, but Anna’s compassion and fairness that spared your people," the king corrected gently. Then his tone grew firr and resolute. "Nevertheless, be reminded. Should Barges attempt to retaliate, we shall respond."
The other n agreed to this. Only the Marquess of Roland was sowhat reluctant. Nevertheless, he did not oppose it. After all, it was the Great Khasif’s order.
"We stand with you, Your Majesty," Gabriel said. "We have always been the ones who do not strike first, but we will answer when aggression is laid upon us."
King Kyden nodded.
"rcy does not an weakness. The people of Cassian deserve protection. So, I will do whatever is required to safeguard them. That is also why I do not hesitate to execute the Knights of Abinair as a lesson," he said.
Kyren’s eyes widened in anticipation.
"So, they are finally receiving their punishnt?" he asked.
"Yes. The execution shall take place early in the morning, publicly in the plaza. Let this be a lesson that not a single life of Cassian should be persecuted. Though the main victim was a Dracorian, the punishnt and suffering that Sir Noah Brooks and the humiliation tarnishing the Knights of Gerhard shouldn’t be taken lightly," said the king.
Kyren smiled with quiet satisfaction. Kiev would be pleased when he heard of this.
anwhile, Athillia and Sir Ashburne couldn’t help but notice the relief and contentnt etched on both the grand duke’s and Callis’s faces. Clearly, they were satisfied with the judgnt.
Though they didn’t fully understand what had transpired, the ntion of a knight by na and the gravity it carried for the dignity of Gerhard’s Knighthood hinted that sothing significant had occurred.
Since the matter was settled, they decided there was no need to pry further. Ti would eventually reveal it to them.
"Wouldn’t this raise concern about Dracor’s response, Your Majesty?" Aaron interjected thoughtfully. "We will condemn their subjects. Surely word will reach the King of Dracor."
"Even if it does," King Kyden replied firmly, "the evidence is irrefutable. The Count of Abinair cannot deny the cris committed by his n, nor defend them. Justice must be served. If the King of Dracor wishes to contest it, let him face directly."
"As much as I share your conviction, Your Majesty," said the Duke of Sanad, who was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, "Lord Aaron has a point. This could stir discontent within Dracor. Their kingdom has focused on agriculture and refrained from hostility toward us, despite both kingdoms’ opposing views on sovereignty. If we strike at their n, will this not risk shattering the fragile peace of the continent? We have only just erged from war with the Barges. To provoke another conflict now would be reckless."
The weight of his words gave pause to the throne hall.
Athillia suddenly spoke, drawing all eyes upon her. "We have the Great Khasif with us. Do we not trust in her power?"
"Lady Raychard is with child," Matthew answered swiftly, voicing what Kyren himself had been holding back. "She cannot be involved in war."
"I am not suggesting she take to the battlefield," Athillia countered wisely. "But I believe she has the ability to overco it if the situation grows dire. The prophecy speaks of it that Lord Kyren will raise and guide her to her rightful place, uniting the kingdoms under one banner. Now that her true identity has been revealed, I believe the event is already unfolding."
The king leaned forward, curiosity sharpening his gaze. "What prophecy are you talking about, Princess Athillia?"
The Bargesian princess hesitated, realising she had spoken without Kyren’s permission. She turned her light brown eyes towards the grand duke. He t her gaze with an encouraging smile.
"You did not err in saying that," Kyren assured her. "It is ti they know. This concerns your lineage. Do speak."
The heads of the Pillar Families exchanged puzzled glances. Even the king studied her intently. Had Kyren not already introduced this teenager as the Princess of Barges? Was there more to her than that? And what was the prophecy all about?
Athillia exhaled slowly and nodded. Then, with quiet resolve, she said, "The prophecy says, ’He, one of the most honourable n, will bring forth the great direct descendant of the Ro’an Empire, thus uniting the entire continent.’"
Matthew’s eyes widened in shock. In two swift strides, he was before her, grasping her shoulders. "Where did you hear this? Tell !"
Callis made to intervene, but Kyren stopped her with a raised hand.
"Let him be. He has the right to know," said the grand duke.
"But... what if..." the derian Princess faltered, her throat tight with unease.
"I am here," Kyren said calmly. "He will not harm her."
Callis’s unease lingered, though she could not deny he spoke the truth. anwhile, Sir Ashburne, equally troubled, masked his concern beneath a calm exterior.
They had anticipated that Matthew, the Marquess of Roland, would react strongly. Yet this would be more shocking than the initial revelation.
Athillia’s eyes shimred with unshed tears as she looked into her uncle’s trembling gaze.
"Who told you of this?" he demanded again. "Who? Who?"
His grip shook, his gaze searing with anguish and a frantic need for answers.
"So... you know of it too," Athillia whispered, her voice heavy with sorrow.
The Marquess’s thoughts ran wild at the reaction. How could this young princess possibly know the very words his father had repeated countless tis before departing for Engarth with the admiral to rescue Empress Regina?
Athillia’s fingers slipped beneath her neckline, drawing forth a locket. When the Marquess of Roland’s eyes beheld it, his jaw fell in shock. He staggered back a step, disbelief etched across his face.
Matthew imdiately recognised the item hanging from the Bargesian Princess’s neck. A rush of old longing and grief crashed over him like a storm.
"M–my father’s badge!" he stamred.
Gasps rippled through the hall. How did the Marquess of Roland’s father’s keepsake co into the possession of Athillia, the Bargesian Princess?
With deliberate care, Athillia unclasped the chain, ca forward and placed the locket into Matthew’s trembling hands.
The Marquess’s eyes glistened. The weight of sorrow and shock was written across his face as he held the relic—a son still grieving the father he had loved and lost.
Athillia understood the gaze too well. The ache of separation from her mother still pierced deep wounds within her heart.
Matthew’s gaze lifted to her again. His lips no longer ford words, but his eyes burned with a thousand unspoken questions.
Athillia drew a slow breath, her lips parting as she spoke the truth.
"Aram is my grandfather... which makes you, my uncle."
"What??"
The throne hall erupted in gasps of disbelief.
"Grand Duke, is this true?" King Kyden asked, astonished.
"Yes," Kyren confird steadily. "It is the truth. She is Lord Aram Silas’s granddaughter."
"It can’t be..." Matthew’s voice ca out hoarse, like a whisper dragged from his chest. "They said he died... that Lord Emir severed his limbs while the other traitorous lords held him down!"
"He didn’t die!" Athillia’s eyes shone fiercely. "Yes, he was tortured, but he survived. Grandmother rescued him after those lords abandoned him."
"So Lord Silas married your grandmother?" the king asked.
Athillia gave a slight nod.
"Grandmother was one of the tending ladies forced to the frontlines, sent to treat the wounded during the Great War. When she found him, he was severely injured and at death’s door. He kept calling a na in his unconsciousness. She pitied him and couldn’t let him die, so she hid him and brought him ho."
"What na did he call?" asked Benjamin, leaning forward in curiosity.
"Mattin..."
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