The Aether screens displayed both the Princes along with the choice that they had made for the Trial. Carlos had brought back an injured comrade while Eric had rescued an innocent civilian.
Given the performance of both the Princes Ocean didn’t even want to hear Carlos’s answer as it would turn out to be a big irony and it would make not only him but even his mother the Queen to beco a laughing stock. The pro-Eric faction was eager to see that though. It had beco their favorite pasti during the public events- to watch Katherine get humiliated.
"Which of Your Highnesses would like to answer first?" Ocean asked.
Eric glanced at Carlos who looked at the royal family box.
"Shall we go with Prince Eric first?" Ocean asked.
Eric nodded glancing at the old woman who stood beside him with a smile. Ocean handed him the Sound Resonance Crystal and Eric held it close to his mouth before he looked at everyone. The audience was watching at him eagerly including the royal family.
Eric cleared his throat standing straight as he opened his mouth, "This Trial was quite efficiently made, it tested us for all the qualities a King would need when they are out of the palace in a war. Fighting and protecting the kingdom and their people."
The audience listened and Ocean observed as Eric continued.
"I wasn’t scared because it was a new terrain or so monsters I never encountered before because I had faith in my skills and the teachings of my ntors." Eric’s eyes briefly landed on Ocean before going over to Fairisles’s viewing balcony.
"But there was a mont when I was scared," he admitted, his eyes eting with Drac.
"It was when I saw my friend... in that painful state." He spoke.
Drac lowered his head in guilt and Ocean glanced at him before looking back at Eric.
"I hadn’t thought that I would get to see sothing like that and I am a little offended by that even though it was all fake." Eric said looking at Ocean who said nothing.
"I really thought that I might lose my friend back there," he said.
Carlos frowned watching as Eric was evoking the emotions from the people.
"Then why not choose him instead?" Vonstein asked.
Eric gave a wry smile, "Because we as knights are in the service of the kingdom and the people. We protect those who need our protection. Though we never leave a comrade behind but, in case where an innocent life is at stake, we are ready to sacrifice our lives for that."
The audience was silent for a mont before the roar of cheers and claps erupted making so nobles to nearly fall off their seats.
"I chose this lady because she needed my help, my decision was made from the perspective of a knight and a King. In future, I would have the lives of my people in my hands and I cannot be selfish and choose my friends over those who need my help. After all, in a kingdom the most important and valuable ones are the people who make the kingdom." Eric answered.
The pro-Eric faction nobles who were acquainted with Eric smiled watching him and Ocean nodded trying not to show how pleased he was.
Kai grinned widely watching Eric while Rune chuckled and nodded in acknowledgent as he emphasized with Eric’s answer.
"That was really a noble answer that we could get, Your Highness." Ocean clapped and Eric nodded.
"Now, that we have Prince Eric’s answer, it is your turn Your Highness Carlos." Ocean said.
Eric handed the Sound Resonance Crystal to Carlos and Ocean gestured for the guards to escort the old woman to the seats.
"Long live our Prince." She bead at Eric before she left and he gave her a smile.
Carlos cleared his throat, fingers tightening around the Sound Resonance Crystal. He glanced at the royal family’s box again, visibly shaken now that Eric’s answer had filled the amphitheatre with roaring approval.
When he finally spoke, his voice was steady—but only because he forced it to be.
"This Trial..." Carlos began, "was... it was difficult. Extrely difficult. The monsters were unpredictable, and the terrain was... designed unfairly."
A few nobles frowned.
Ocean’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes narrowed a fraction.
Carlos continued quickly, tone growing hurried.
"I had to make many decisions under pressure. So strategic. So life-threatening. I-I led my n with everything I had."
Vonstein raised a brow.
Zach snorted with Oberon rolling his eyes.
"Everything he had, my ass." Zach spoke before he took a small sip of his wine.
"Don’t get drunk before watching their downfall, Lord Snake." Oberon said and Zach chuckled.
"Don’t worry, I’ll get drunk once the world knows how pathetic is the horse that they thought to be the most noble." He chuckled and Oberon glanced at him slightly impressed.
"You’re making poems."
Zach shrugged, "It rubs off if you’re acquainted with a playwright."
Both the n chuckled before they looked at the screens.
"And your choice, Your Highness?" Ocean asked Carlos.
Carlos swallowed, he could feel the pressure of every single eye on him. Usually he loved attention but this ti it felt judgental, he wasn’t used to this. He wasn’t used to being looked down upon.
"I chose to save my knight," he announced. "Because loyalty is important. As a future King, loyalty must be valued above all else. A loyal knight will follow you into war. A civilian... may run."
The amphitheatre quieted.
Not in admiration—
but in disbelief.
Carlos continued before the silence could settle.
"And besides, the knight I chose was severely injured. I couldn’t leave him! What type of Prince abandons soone who’s served him faithfully?"
A murmur went through the seats.
Soone in the commoner’s section hollered loudly.
"Says the one who ran with his tail tucked between his legs!"
The Viewing Orbs didn’t catch who shouted but the response was imdiate as the amphitheatre rumbled with the roaring laughter and cheers of agreent.
One by one several voices of mockery broke through the crowd and because of all the people shouting at once it was impossible to know who was shouting.
"We all just saw your knights resigning because of you!"
"If you beco our King we’re all dead!"
"Prince Eric saved all those Esrtia knights and still didn’t brag about it!"
"He even saved you!"
Carlos fumbled as the people unbashedly mocked him and Katherine looked like she was ready to massacre them all but she wasn’t as angry with the people as she was with her own son. She hadn’t ever been so humiliated in her life.
Ocean glanced around before he raised his hand and clapped once.
"Silence please." He spoke calmly.
In the next mont, the amphitheatre was dead silent. Carlos looked around, face red with embarassnt and so people holding their laughter.
"Please go on, Your Highness." Ocean spoke in a dry tone.
Carlos opened his mouth before closing it back, he didn’t want to continue but he could also see that Ocean wasn’t done here, he wanted Carlos to go on and get even more humiliated.
Carlos gritted his teeth and pressed on.
"This knight has risked his life for many tis. It would be cruel to leave him behind, even in a trial ant to test us. A King must reward loyalty. A King must show compassion to those closest to him. Otherwise—who would follow such a King?"
The nobles exchanged glances.
The pro-Eric faction bit back laughter.
The anti-Eric faction avoided looking at Katherine.
Queen Katherine sat rigid, hands clenched in her lap. Her eyes didn’t blink. Her face stayed composed—but her throat tightened visibly. Colette beside her also had an impassive look on her face as she knew she couldn’t expect any better from her brother.
"So yes," he said boldly, "I chose my knight. Because a King stands with those who serve him, and prioritizes strength over sentint."
Nothing happened for a second.
Then a noble in the back snorted followed b the sound of soone being unable to hold their laughter anymore and soon the entire amphitheatre was bursting into laughter again.
Katherine’s face beca red and then pale while Carlos kept his head low.
Roger covered his face with his hand and then glanced at Katherine.
"Is this how you raised your son?" He asked and she turned her gaze on him, holding back the urge to murder him right then and there.
Miri, who was in the sa box wasn’t laughing but she had an amusing smile on her face as she watched the show. She was proud of Eric.
Ocean let the people be for a few seconds before he raised his hand and the laughter slowly died down.
His mask tilted slightly toward Carlos.
"That is certainly... an answer, Your Highness," Ocean said, voice polite but icy beneath the surface. "One that reveals your priorities very clearly."
Carlos avoided looking at him and Ocean turned toward the crowd.
"Well then," he announced, "the first Trial evaluation is complete. The Princes have made their choices. And now," he raised a hand, the screens shimring to transition, "we shall begin the official scoring."
The amphitheatre erupted into whispers.
Carlos looked ashad.
Katherine looked ill.
Eric looked calm.
Ocean looked like he was holding back a sigh.
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