**At that ominous moment, silence fell over the grand hall... Anticipating eyes, hearts burning with different expectations.**
Some awaited Arthur eagerly, hoping to see light returned to his eyes. Others watched for his entrance, praying to find remnants of fear and weakness on his face, reassured by the disappearance of his threat. And among them were those gripped by anxiety, simply wishing to see him safe, whatever the consequences.
The tension peaked when the doors opened, and the guard "Faris" entered, followed by Arthur and Laila. His steps were steady, betraying no confusion, only overwhelming presence. He wore elegant attire befitting princes, his eyes dark black as if they'd swallowed the night itself, yet his face... his face shone with a mysterious calm like the moon at its fullest.
Kristina's gaze froze - she had imagined him entering fearfully and shyly, not with this arrogant confidence. Elena stared at him in astonishment, she and her daughters, especially Isabel who muttered to herself: *(Is this really Arthur? The weak, scrawny one? He's changed... changed so much. Even those dark circles under his eyes have completely disappeared...)* Luna too felt this transformation, the kind that usually precedes the birth of something different... and perhaps dangerous.
As for Elena, she saw in him a gift from heaven... an irreplaceable opportunity. She thought to herself: *(This is the moment of upheaval... Kristina has long controlled the palace through her sons and their heir candidacy. But if I win Arthur over... I'll possess what she doesn't. At least we have a common enemy.)*
Then came a booming, loud laugh: "Ah, you've changed so much, my boy!" It was Vlad, Arthur's father, laughing admiringly.
Arthur replied calmly: "Yes, my lord." Vlad smiled cunningly: "My lord? Why not call me father?" Time seemed to stop. The words froze on Arthur's tongue. If he spoke the truth, his head might roll immediately.
But he answered with soft cunning: "Because I don't deserve that honor... A great man like you, feared by all... It's shameful for a weak boy to call you father." He said it with a faint smile.
Victoria sighed in relief as she watched him, as if a mountain had been lifted from her chest. *"My worry was misplaced - it seems he's finally matured..."*
Vlad laughed again: "I didn't know you possessed such intelligence at this age!" Arthur responded confidently: "Is it strange for the son of a great man to have such wit?" Everyone laughed, even Vlad couldn't help himself, turning to Asta: "What do you think of your little brother? Isn't he more amusing than before?"
Asta answered with a quiet smile: "Absolutely... It seems my coming days will be full of excitement. I only hope he doesn't change."
But this pleasant atmosphere was suddenly cut by an angry voice: "When will the trial begin?! We didn't come to play with him, but to punish him for his disgraceful actions!" It was Kristina's voice, sharp as a sword.
Victoria's expression changed as she shouted at her: "Watch your words... final warning!" Even Kristina felt that fiery aura exploding from Victoria, despite the distance between them.
Victoria continued with deadly calm: "Begin, Lord Sebastian. Let's end this farce."
Head servant Sebastian stepped forward with measured steps: "We've received a complaint from Lady Victoria... accusing you, Kristina, of pushing your eldest son to attack Arthur from behind out of hatred and jealousy, causing injuries and even threatening his life. You also destroyed a palace wall during this, behavior both inappropriate and unjustified."
Then he turned to Arthur: "Now, what is your response to these accusations?"
A heavy silence filled the hall. Everyone waited while Vlad observed him with skin-piercing eyes: *(Show me if you've truly changed...)*
Kristina smiled maliciously, looking triumphantly at Elena and Victoria. Meanwhile, Victoria appeared... calm. Strangely calm. Even Elena didn't understand, thinking: *(Her son might be imprisoned, exiled, or executed... yet she looks like she's sipping tea in the garden!)*
But suddenly, loud laughter erupted. Arthur's laughter. Continuous, escalating laughter unfit for a trial setting.
Sebastian shouted: "What insolence is this?!" But Vlad stopped him: "Arthur... what amuses you?"
The laughter stopped abruptly, seriousness appearing on the boy's face as he said coldly: "You accuse me of attacking him from behind... of destroying the wall... of heinous acts..." Then he added sarcastically: "Didn't you call me worthless trash? Weak and unable to use mana?" He paused, then cast a piercing look: "How could a boy without mana ambush a trained fighter?! Do you know how much energy a mana strike requires? Wouldn't it have been detected immediately?" Another pause before staring directly at Kristina: "Either you're lying... or your son is weaker than trash! How could an eleven-year-old who hasn't even trained to lift a stone defeat a family heir candidate?! And you... filed a complaint against a small child! Now that's truly shameful!"
A terrible silence dominated the hall as everyone stared in shock at Arthur's eloquence and audacity. Even Laila's mouth hung open in surprise while Elena burst out laughing: "What's your response now, Kristina? You've become a laughingstock!"
But Vlad stopped her with a firm gesture: "Enough. Kristina... your response?"
She nearly swallowed her tongue before finding an escape: "Even if his words hold truth... he broke the law attempting to kill a family heir candidate. The law is above all!"
Vlad nodded: "True. The law spares none... not even Arthur."
Kristina's smile began returning as she triumphantly eyed Elena, as if saying: *(The outcome favors me).*
Then Vlad said calmly: "Arthur... did you truly intend to kill your brother?"
Arthur raised his gaze and answered unhesitatingly: "Yes."
Kristina shrieked: "You see? I told you!"
But Vlad looked at Fern: "Did your brother try to kill you?"
Fern answered quietly: "Yes... he ambushed me from behind."
Vlad raised an eyebrow: "You use mana. How didn't you sense him?" Then added: "A frontal attack I'd understand, but from behind? Are you that weak?"
When Kristina tried responding, Vlad roared: "Silence! He has a mouth to speak for himself!"
Fern stammered, sweat pouring down his forehead: "I was... training to strengthen my senses without mana... my brother exploited that."
Vlad replied coldly: "Is that your answer...?"
Arthur thought silently: *(Things seem at an impasse... no matter. I hold my trump card, to be played when they've exhausted theirs.)* He looked at Vlad and said steadily: "How could I attack my brother when I hadn't left my room for five months? Does it make sense that immediately upon exiting, I'd think of killing him? Had I truly wanted him dead, wouldn't I have watched him for days to avoid suspicion, then killed him secretly?"
He paused, scanning everyone sharply: "But fine, this seems unimportant... Let me ask you: Do you know why I tried killing Fern?"
At that moment, Fern began visibly sweating, lowering his head. Vlad looked at him: "Answer me, Fern... what caused this incident?"
Fern responded quickly, trying to evade: "He's just fabricating lies! Look at him - he lacks even a clear defense!"
Vlad sat on his throne, patience clearly wearing thin. He sighed: "Arthur... do you regret trying to kill your brother?"
Laila, standing behind Fern, looked sad, feeling responsible for this situation. Arthur answered calmly: "Yes, I regret it."
Laila felt shocked, as if Arthur's words carried hidden betrayal. Sorrow seeped into her eyes like an unexpected stab wound.
Elena muttered while watching him: *"I don't blame him... he's still a young boy placed under pressure even adults couldn't withstand."*
Kristina laughed mockingly: "Didn't I tell you? He tried killing my son! He must be severely punished... or exiled!"
Before she finished speaking, Victoria's expression transformed completely. She looked at Kristina with quiet rage: "Last warning... choose your next words carefully."
Vlad then told Arthur: "You seem to have more to say... speak."
Arthur clenched his fist tightly, extreme anger showing. Suddenly, an overwhelming aura exploded from him, filling the entire hall as he shouted:
"Yes, I regret... I regret not killing him! Had Laila not saved him, his head would be smashed against the wall! How dare trash like him harass my knight? How dare he ask her to sleep in his room? He even said obscenities unfit for repetition!"
Everyone was stunned, expressions changing as if hearing a crime proclaimed publicly.
Arthur continued: "Do you think I'd forgive him just for being the family head's son? That this grants him rights to act as he pleases? No... I'll never forgive him!" He glared at Fern: "You escaped today, but remember - next time, no one will save you from my grasp!"
Silence dominated the hall...
Vlad said quietly: "Did he truly say those words?"
Arthur answered unflinchingly: "Yes... you can ask her yourself."
Vlad turned to Laila: "Is this true? Did my son say this to you?"
Laila answered confidently: "Yes... repeatedly, and I'll add more: the only reason he's alive is because I wanted no trouble for my young lord. Had Arthur not been present, he'd have learned what happens."
All eyes turned to Fern and his mother with disgust and contempt.
Elena said disdainfully: "These are your qualified family leaders? We're truly crumbling."
Luna added sharply: "He's trash. I've also heard he sleeps with numerous girls at night... and his mother knows."
Vlad asked Sebastian: "You knew and didn't inform me?"
Sebastian began sweating: "My lord... I was compelled. The lady threatened... said my family would suffer if I spoke."
Arthur looked contemptuously at Fern and Kristina: "If I'm called trash, these two are worse. I care not for them, nor consider them family. They're my enemies... don't summon me to your events or feasts... consider me dead." He turned to leave.
But Vlad grabbed his right arm, unaware the injury wasn't just his hand but his entire bandaged arm beneath clothes.
Arthur cried: "Ah! Release me!"
Vlad said surprised: "They said only your hand was injured..."
Arthur replied angrily: "It matters not... I'll heal alone. Leave me be."
Victoria approached Arthur, her furious gaze unlike anything he'd seen from her before. Arthur thought: *What did I do to anger her so?*
His sleeve tore, revealing bandages covering his entire arm. Vlad was shocked, but Victoria... released a terrifying aura cracking walls, its pressure making breathing difficult even for the strongest present.
Vlad shouted trying to calm her, but she ignored him. Gently yet furiously holding Arthur's hand, she said: "How dare trash like him risk crippling you? Have you grown tired of life, hurling yourself into hell?"
Releasing Arthur, she turned to Fern, drawing her sword swiftly to behead him.
Vlad intervened quickly, but Victoria's aura was too overwhelming. Even Elena, Luna, Isabel, and Kristina's sons couldn't breathe.
Victoria screamed: "For my son... I'll kill anyone, even over trivial reasons!"
Vlad unleashed his own aura, the hall beginning to collapse under their clashing powers.
Then... Arthur shouted: "Mother! Stop!"
She froze... stunned. Trembling, she asked: "Did you... call me mother?"
Her face filled with happiness, anger transforming into a rare smile unseen for years. Even Vlad, despite the shock, couldn't believe his wife nearly destroyed him for their son.
Arthur said quietly: "Mother... don't do this. I'll repay debts myself. I won't be called a child hiding behind his mother. I'm a man who'll reclaim what's mine alone."
Victoria calmed immediately, stepping back while Arthur thought: *Had I not said 'mother', all would've been lost... What terrifying power. Lucky she's on my side... as an enemy, I'd be dead already.*
As Victoria's aura dissipated, everyone breathed easier. Luna, Elena, Isabel and Fern panted heavily - but unlike them, Arthur didn't. None noticed due to fear, but someone observed secretly.
Thus everyone stood again, Kristina and Fern terrified by the horrific scene.
Elena thought: *"Good I never made her my enemy - my end would've been terrible. I always thought Kristina the palace's most dangerous, unaware true danger hid behind this mother overjoyed by a single word. What a truly astonishing woman."*
After calm returned, Arthur requested Vlad's permission to leave.
Vlad asked: "Don't you want those behind these false accusations punished?"
Arthur replied: "You decide their deserved punishment."
Vlad nodded: "Very well, I shall."
As Arthur prepared to exit with Laila, young Isabel caught his attention - breathtakingly beautiful with silky black hair and sky-blue eyes.
He stopped, observing her, then asked Laila: "Do you see what I see? Is she real or my imagination?"
Laila replied: "What's wrong? Did the lady's aura affect your mind?"
Arthur: "Truly, she's so beautiful - I only now noticed after things calmed."
He stared unblinkingly at Isabel. Everyone noticed, even Elena.
Vlad asked: "Is there a problem with your little sister?"
Arthur: "Is she truly real?"
Vlad: "What do you mean?"
Arthur approached Isabel: "My lady, may I touch your cheek?"
His expression was cheerfully fascinated, as if seeing treasure.
Elena laughed: "How could she refuse when you look at her like that?"
Arthur neared Isabel: "Little lady, may I touch you briefly?"
Isabel replied: "Why would I allow that?"
Arthur: "Please, just a small touch. Don't be so cruel to your big brother."
Vlad laughed: "Moments ago a lion devouring all before him, now defeated by a little girl."
Arthur: "How could I not be? A beauty like her? She truly resembles an angel."
Isabel blushed intensely from his words.
Elena encouraged: "Let your brother touch you briefly."
Shyly, Isabel consented: "Alright, briefly."
Arthur gently touched her cheek, smiling spontaneously - a smile so beautiful even his mother thought: *"I've never seen my son smile like this."*
Laila smiled happily seeing Arthur's joy.
As he touched Isabel's cheek: "Truly real. But why so beautiful?"
Elena: "Of course she's real. Did you think her a doll?"
Arthur: "Naturally, she's extremely beautiful." Turning to Isabel: "Well, you're my little sister. If you ever need anything, come to me. Whether sad, wanting to play, stroll, or anything - I'll help however I can." Standing, he added: "I may not be a brother to boast of or strong, but I promise to stand by you when needed."
Elena rejoiced internally: *"My daughter's beauty has solved everything. I'll build good relations with him - my trump card I'll never lose."*
Before exiting, Arthur told Asta: "You've greatly disappointed me. I expected a wonderful gift, but received pathetic trash. My mistake for expecting much from you."
Everyone was confused by this cryptic remark.
Asta replied: "Don't worry brother, this couldn't be your gift. It wouldn't be fun sending it now. I'll deliver it at the proper time - guaranteed to satisfy you."
Arthur: "Very well, that's the least I expect. I eagerly await your gift."
Reaching the doors, Arthur turned: "This seems our farewell, as it's my last gathering with you all. As I said, don't summon me to joys or sorrows - I won't attend. Thus lives he who knows his worth." To Isabel: "I eagerly await your visit - at least you're this family's sole virtue."
Thus Arthur and Laila departed, leaving everyone with mixed emotions. But one crucial matter remained - Kristina and her son's punishment. Vlad turned to them and said...