Chapter 40: 040 Palace coercion (Part 2)_1
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Relishing the gazes of everyone present, Cain Sudor felt a bit light-headed.
Especially the clear, bright gaze of miss Vera, it made Cain’s face turn red excitedly, shaking all over.
The heir of the Sudor family suddenly thought that if he were to ask for a dance from Miss Vera again at this time, perhaps he wouldn’t be gently rejected like before, right?
He felt like a hero.
However, the way Colin looked at him was like staring at an idiot.
Unexpectedly, it was this guy who was playing the role of the “scapegoat”.
All the nobles present showed excitement when they saw Knight Cain stepping forward to question Marquis Charles.
Only one person was an exception.
It was Cain’s sister, Cynthia Sudor, who was referred to by Colin as a madwoman.
Her gaze to her brother was full of terror!
Why?
Why has this banquet, supposed to raise the fame of the Sudor family, turned into what it is now?
If it were possible, she now just wants to seal her brother’s mouth and lock him in the basement, never to be released.
Cynthia knew extremely well that Marquis Charles might indeed have provoked the anger of others, but he was after all the first heir to the Duke St. Hilde’s family.
What was her mere Viscount heir brother’s qualification to question him?
No, her brother, although stupid, was not someone who had this level of courage.
Otherwise, when Cynthia was leading the army to retake Ice Rock City, he wouldn’t continue to hide in Fallen Eagle City.
At this thought, she suddenly turned to look at Count Uman.
It seemed to be this kind uncle who had just whispered something quietly in her brother’s ear that caused Cain to act impulsively.
A chill ran through her heart, Cynthia suddenly felt that the future of the Sudor family seemed to be shrouded in darkness.
“Knight Cain, you’re right!” Marquis Charles still didn’t take the other party’s offense seriously.
He took a deep breath and asked with a sincere expression: “Then, how do you think I should be punished to atone for my previous mistakes?”
Cain didn’t expect the Marquis Charles to be so “easygoing”. Seeing that the Marquis was in such a humble manner, waiting for his own “judgment”, Cain was shaking even more.
However, after his excitement, Cain felt a bit at a loss.
He opened his mouth but didn’t dare to reveal what the punishment for Charles Marquis should be.
Stealthily, Cain looked back at his uncle – Count Uman, with a pleading gaze.
However, Count Uman just bowed his head at this moment, as if completely oblivious to the outside world’s changes.
Cain’s heart sank.
But when he wanted to back down, he saw Vera’s gaze again.
From Cain’s perspective, that was a gaze filled with encouragement, admiration, and even worship!
Thus, Knight Cain regained his strength again!
Even his youthful acne glowed.
For a moment, he felt like a hero.
“His nobility!” Cain’s shrill voice echoed in the hall, “As a punishment, you should relinquish the nobility of the Marquis! ”
“Woosh—”
People were suddenly stunned.
Even the usually superbly performing Marquis Charles didn’t know how to react for a moment.
At this point, Colin was looking at Cain with sympathy.
It was as if he was looking at a mentally challenged person.
At this moment, Cynthia’s face was full of despair.
She did not know whether Marquis Charles’ position could be kept, but it seems that the Viscount’s position of the Sudor family was about to be lost.
The noble title of Marquis Charles was nominal and represents his eligibility as the first heir in line to the Duke St. Hilde.
It even represents the face of Duke St. Hilde!
Asking Marquis Charles to surrender his title was not just a punishment to Charles, but also a direct attack on the face of Duke St. Hilde!
It was forcing the Lord of North Territory to admit their wrong!
It was a coup!
The music finally stopped.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was suffocatingly stagnant.
All eyes in the audience were on Marquis Charles and Knight Cain.
Knight Cain was initially enjoying the spotlight, but now, he felt a tingling sensation.
Cold sweat dripped down.
Once again, Cain sought the gaze of the goddess in his heart – Vera.
But Vera was no longer looking at him.
Instead, she was looking at her brother, Marquis Charles, with a look of concern.
Cain’s face turned pale in an instant, as if he had finally realized the stupidity of his actions.
The complexion of Marquis Charles across from him was also unsightly.
He too was unsure of how to react.
He could not, nor dared to agree to a demand such as relinquishing his nobility.
This has now become more than just a personal matter of honor and disgrace.
It involved his father’s dignity and even the prestige of the St. Hilde family.
The proud lord of the North Territory, when did it become the turn of such lower nobles to dictate terms on his succession issues?
Marquis Charles didn’t look at the uneasy Cain anymore. This foolish one was nothing more than a gun being pushed out.
His gaze passed over Cain and slowly scanned the entire room.
However, he did not see a single friendly or supportive look.
At this point, he too gradually became aware that this whole commotion might have been premeditated.
Not only was it targeted at him, but also at his father.
Then he can’t back down even more so!
Backing down would mean total annihilation!
So, Marquis Charles took a few steps forward. He crossed Cain and directly faced the various nobles in the hall, his expression serious: “If there’s anyone else who thinks I should give up my title, please step forward!”
He did not wish to deal with the puppet Cain, but rather wanted to force the real instigator behind the scenes to come forward.
Also, he did not believe that the St. Hilde family, which had ruled the North Territory for thousands of years, would face an immediate danger of disintegration due to a single defeat?
The whole room fell silent.
Thousand years of accumulated authority of the St. Hilde family was not a simple matter in the North Territory.
So, the banquet once again plunged into awkwardness.
After a while, a voice finally broke the deadlock.
“Hehe, sorry about that, Lord Marquis! Cain is still young and naive. If he has offended in any way, I hope that the Marquis can forgive him.”
The one who stood up was Count Uman.
But, he didn’t continue to target Marquis Charles, but instead tried to clear
Cain’s name.
He also gave Marquis Charles a step down.
Colin was suddenly a bit puzzled. Was Count Uman truly loyal to Duke St. Hilde and had not participated in the conspiracy against Marquis Charles?
But very soon, the next sentence of Count Uman dispelled Colin’s previous thought:
“Lord Marquis Garcia, what do you think, how should Marquis Charles be punished for the mistakes he has made before?”
Upon hearing this, Marquis Garcia seemed to be awakened from his previous casual observation.
Under the scrutinizing gaze of everyone, he slowly rose from his seat and walked to the front of the stage, standing shoulder to shoulder with Marquis Charles.
Marquis Charles could only incline his body slightly, taking a half step back, giving up the center stage.
Against Knight Cain, Count Uman, or any other noble present, Marquis Charles would not back down.
Except for Marquis Garcia.
Because, the commander of the Dark Cavalry truly had the power to overturn the table!
Marquis Charles was now unsure whether his foster uncle wanted to overturn the table or not?
Was this whole situation caused by the northern nobles who were dissatisfied with him, or was it secretly planned by Marquis Garcia? If it was the former, Charles was not too worried.
If it was the latter…
“Charles.” Marquis Garcia finally spoke.
“Uncle.” Marquis Charles bent his head slightly, anxiously awaiting judgment.
“What will you offer to atone for the lives of two hundred thousand northern warriors?”
Boom!
Marquis Charles felt like he had been struck by thunder.
He stood frozen, dumbfounded.
What could he possibly offer to atone for?
Marquis Charles looked up in shock, staring at his own uncle in disbelief.
It was as if he was really getting to know him for the first time.
Watching this scene from afar, a phrase flashed through Colin’s mind.
The true intentions revealed at the end of the road!