Chapter 265

Chapter Fifty-Two Threat?

Who could that be…

With such a fierce and unstoppable momentum, as if he were sweeping through the room.

The elder looked like a complete gentleman.

From his light gray vest and well-fitted long trousers to the people following him, he should be someone of high status in Ithenberg. Although I didn’t know him, there weren’t many people I recognized at the banquet anyway. So, whether someone was late or early didn’t matter to me.

I hadn’t finished my cake…

Yet, I subconsciously stood up from my seat.

There was no other reason; it was just from the reactions of the nobles in the venue that I sensed something unusual.

It seemed like they came with ill intent…

Immediately afterward, as if to confirm my suspicions, I suddenly spotted familiar faces among the people following the elder.

A middle-aged man with a bulky figure, wobbling as he walked. He had his nose broken by Victoria with a punch at my house, and was later thrown out by Reckt.

I remember he was the commander of the Iron Guard… What was his name again?

I forgot.

Today, he wasn’t wearing that gold-stitched, deformed chainmail, but instead, a genteel beige suit, which almost made me fail to recognize him if not for the bandage wrapped around his nose…

Clearly, Victoria hit harder than I did; she was the true “nose breaker.”

Wait, if he’s here…

I looked at the elderly gentleman walking ahead and had a guess who he might be.

“That’s Duke Lexis…” Sophia murmured.

As expected, just as I guessed.

He was the one mentioned by the fat commander before, the one Victoria’s mother dared not mention—the true supporter of the Iron Guard in Ithenberg, the one who drained the royal treasury, the current head of the Clive family.

Victoria would face a formidable enemy.

Thinking about this, my brows furrowed deeply.

The elderly gentleman led his people straight through the hall. The nobles blocking the way stepped aside voluntarily. He broke through the crowd and approached Victoria’s table, his face filled with warm smiles.

“Your Majesty, I believe you won’t blame me, right?”

The elderly gentleman repeated his previous question.

“No.”

I heard Victoria’s cold response. There was no particular emotion in her voice, as if the visitor was just an unimportant guest.

“Duke Lexis has a busy schedule, but taking time out shows his sincerity.”

“Mm, thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. Before coming, I was worried about displeasing you, so I didn’t dare rest even after entering the royal city. I rushed over, and the steeds were panting. Hearing you say this, I can finally relax.”

Duke Lexis’ words sounded pleasant. However, he maintained his posture without bowing when he saw Victoria. Not only him, but none of the people behind him bowed either. They stood upright, looking down at Victoria sitting at the table, with an air of arrogance.

“Duke Lexis. How can you stand so straight in front of Her Majesty?”

The old knight beside Victoria spoke, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Sir Reckmont, how did you come back too?”

Duke Lexis seemed to have just noticed the old knight, feigning surprise. His aged cheeks formed a more amiable smile.

“But you’re right; standing like this is a bit inappropriate.”

He pretended not to understand the old knight’s words and sat down directly across from Victoria.

“After running all day… I’m getting old! My whole body aches.”

“Hmph.”

The old knight sneered without a smile.

“My grandson was bullied like that, how could I not come back?”

“Oh! I just heard about this recently. It turns out it was that Alex boy… Such trivial matters don’t need to trouble you. A letter would suffice. You can rest assured, once I find where that little rascal is hiding—”

“Weren’t you the one who hid him?”

“How could I! No, no, that’s an exaggerated joke. Your Majesty, you must speak up for me. It’s just a petty quarrel between children, isn’t it?”

“Duke Lexis, did you come all the way today just to talk about these matters?” Victoria responded indifferently.

“Not at all, I came specially for Your Majesty’s birthday, full of sincere intentions…”

Duke Lexis gestured to the people behind him, and the fat commander took a small box from another person and placed it on the table.

During this process, the duke continued speaking: “I came with sincere intentions, but upon entering the city, I heard very bad news. I thought I would surprise Your Majesty, but it seems you surprised me first. Tell me, why would someone suddenly accuse me of being an accomplice to heretics?”

“Duke Lexis, are you asking me?”

“Why else?”

“Then you should ask the Holy Church. If you’re not in a hurry, the Holy Princess will return in a few days.”

“So, Your Majesty is not aware of this matter?”

“Just know a little.”

“Your Excellency, those are just rumors spreading from nowhere. You don’t need to pay attention to them,” the old knight said, squinting and pressing his arm on the table, leaning slightly forward, “After all, a straight person doesn’t fear any shadow.”

Upon hearing this, Duke Lexis pointed at the old knight and laughed.

“Haha! Sir Reckmont is right, I was indeed in a panic. I lost my composure.”

Not because he was labeled as an accomplice of heretics… Having such a big hat thrown on his head made him feel uneasy. But the innocent would be cleared, and I believe the church will give fair judgment…”

Duke Lexes spoke while opening the gift box on the table.

“Let’s not talk about past embarrassments. Her Majesty, take a look at the small gift I prepared for your birthday celebration…”

He pushed the gift box flat in front of Victoria with both hands, his lips curling up into a exaggerated and uncomfortable arc.

“It’s nothing much.”

哗——

The crowd stirred again.

Many covered their mouths, looking incredulous.

“What’s going on…”

Sophia asked in bewilderment beside me, and I gently shook my head.

“I don’t know.”

The position was far from Victoria, so I couldn’t see what was inside the box on the table, but the subtle expressions on the faces around me told me that whatever was inside definitely wasn’t a pleasant gift.

“…Sir Lexes, what do you mean by this?”

The old knight’s voice had changed, no longer the carefree and teasing tone he had before, but slightly serious.

“What do you mean? Sir Reckmont, your words sound strange. This is a gift for Her Majesty, which I have worked hard to prepare… Why are you all staring at me like this? Don’t you like it?”

“Like it?”

The old knight glanced at the contents inside the box, his face becoming even darker.

“I’m asking, what is the meaning behind giving this?”

Duke Lexes quickly replied, “Just what you think it means.”

The air inside the venue gradually became tense, people far away had already fallen silent, sitting or standing to watch the developments.

But why isn’t Victoria saying anything…

What exactly is in that box?

A slight sense of worry rose from the bottom of my heart. I took another bite of the cake, but the rich cream no longer had its previous delightful sweetness.

Over there, Duke Lexes continued speaking.

“I heard news from Fleresk that the Empress Dowager colluded with heretics, openly defaming Her Majesty during a sacred funeral ceremony. Although I deeply regret her passing… The late king died young, and I’ve always felt something was fishy about his death. It was just that I lacked evidence until now. It seems the truth has finally come to light… I suspect the Empress Dowager still has some connection with the remnants of the northern rebels, who have been plotting to change the royal lineage.”

“Her Majesty, I came here to tell you good news. The rebel family in the north has been completely annihilated by my ten thousand armored guards. Coincidentally, it coincides with your birthday, and I present to you the crest of the Rose family. There are no more living members of the Rose family in the north; their heads have rotted and stank on the city walls, their bodies exposed to the wilderness outside the city, almost eaten clean by crows—”

“Auntie! Grandma!”

Suddenly, a small girl burst out from the crowd, crying and rushing towards the old gentleman.

“What did you do to them—!”

In the next moment, a woman with a grief-stricken expression tightly held the little girl, preventing her impulsive behavior, though her eyes filled with hatred as she looked at the duke.

They all had the same beautiful golden hair like silk and sun-like radiant eyes as Victoria.

“Her Majesty! The Rose family is not a rebel faction! We signed a truce treaty, they are your kin! The people of the Clive family are executioners! They are beasts! Beasts!”

The woman’s cries were hoarse, mixed with the girl’s weak sobs.

“Mama…”

I don’t know if they are members of the royal family, but I know they are at least related by blood to Victoria and the Empress Dowager.

The old duke massacred Victoria’s mother’s family.

He buried the northern safe haven the Empress Dowager wanted to take Victoria to before her death.

How long has it been since the Empress Dowager passed away? How long does it take to kill people in the north and then rush back to the capital? Such lies are spoken grandly, but I have heard the Empress Dowager’s last words; I know that old man is talking nonsense! Saying he heard the Empress Dowager colluded with heretics, defaming Her Majesty… You probably killed everyone before this incident even happened!

From the very beginning, the old duke never intended for Victoria and her mother to live.

Damn…

I can’t eat this cake anymore.

I put down my knife and fork, turned to Sophia, and said, “I’ll go check,” then ran over.

“Have I startled everyone?”

Facing the gaze of the surrounding crowd, Duke Lexes remained composed, still smiling.

“I don’t quite understand your complicated rules, sometimes I might consider things improperly…”

“Duke Lexes.”

Victoria finally spoke, her voice as cold as ice.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Threaten? No, no, no, you are the queen, and I am your subject. What threat could there be? I am merely doing what a subject should do, wanting to alleviate your worries.”

“So, do I need to thank you for your kindness?”

“No, I dare not. It’s just that the armored guards stationed in the north fought the rebels for three whole days. Many of our brothers were injured or killed, and the armor and weapons need repair, which is a huge expense… Her Majesty, can you revoke the decree regarding the salaries of the armored guards?”

The duke spread his hands toward Victoria, his expression somewhat helpless.

“The armored guards are the strongest army in Estermber. If the emperor lets them starve, it may lead to some unpleasant consequences. Once the morale breaks, those young and strong soldiers acting recklessly are not something I can stop… Right, Your Majesty?”