novelzi Chapter 163 Scheming
Chapter 163 Scheming
queen elsa listened quietly to viscount austin's request and found that the terms for the east territory's proposal could be summarized into two conditions: one was to hand over vera, and the other was to allow troops to be stationed in silvermoon city.
agreeing to these conditions would mean the complete subjugation of the half-elf kingdom to the control of the east.
viscount austin's audacity in making such demands clearly stemmed from his confidence.
with the 100,000 troops backing him, he was certain queen elsa would have no choice but to comply. after all, silvermoon city had recently suffered a military coup, leaving it vulnerable. even if the silvermoon guard had remained intact, would they dare to face the overwhelming might of the east's forces alone?
though enraged, queen elsa maintained a composed demeanor. with feigned embarrassment, she replied:
"your excellency, perhaps you are unaware—miss vera was recently the target of an assassination attempt in the palace. although her life was saved after much effort, she remains seriously injured and unable to travel."
"is that so?" viscount austin responded with a smile, his expression suggesting he saw through her excuse. "no need to worry. marquis vincent has brought a healing mage along on this campaign. when they arrive in silvermoon city, miss vera will receive the finest treatment available."
"that is reassuring," queen elsa replied, forcing a smile.
"then, your majesty," viscount austin pressed, "do you have any objections to the marquis's proposal?"
it was clear he sought a definitive statement from her, leaving no room for evasion.
although fury simmered within her, queen elsa's exterior remained composed. she smiled and said, "i have no objections. marquis vincent's concern for the half-elf kingdom's welfare is deeply appreciated."
hearing this, the false smile on viscount austin's face gave way to a more genuine expression. "your majesty, you have made the right decision for the future of the half-elf kingdom."
the arrogant attitude of the other party made queen elsa lose all interest in continuing the conversation. rising gracefully, she smiled and said, "your excellency, the viscount must be quite weary after such a long journey. please, take some rest. i will host a banquet in your honor this evening."
"thank you, your majesty!" viscount austin replied, bowing slightly before taking his leave.
once he was gone, queen elsa dismissed the servants in the palace.
as soon as the room was clear, asmon emerged from behind the curtain.
"these easterners are insufferably arrogant," he said, striding over to the throne and seating himself on it without a hint of decorum. his tone dripped with mockery.
"there's little we can do," queen elsa replied, her voice tinged with bitterness. "for a small nation like ours, the half-elf kingdom has no choice but to bow before the empire's envoys."
"don't worry," asmon said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "that vincent is nothing more than a cunning scoundrel. just wait—boss will handle him soon enough."
---
"asmon, can i not attend the banquet tonight?"
vera asked as she helped the man straighten his collar.
at this time, asmon had changed into a standard black noble tuxedo. he hugged vera and kissed her soft red lips gently:
"yes, now you are a 'seriously injured person', of course you can't attend the banquet."
"okay." vera pursed her lips, seeming a little aggrieved, but then she asked in confusion, "but i have appeared in front of the half-elf nobles many times before. they must know that my injury is not serious, right?"
"silly, sometimes lying is not meant to make the other person believe it."
"what else could it be for?"
"in order to give each other a tacit excuse to step down."
the confusion in vera's eyes did not diminish.
"prince tupe?" viscount austin looked genuinely startled.
"isn't he miss vera's fiancé?"
"yes," luis confirmed.
"but why would he—"
before luis could reply, asmon appeared beside him, cutting in with a sly grin. "because he discovered that i was vera's first man."
"you are well informed viscount austin, you must know me" austin said with a ambitious smile.
"..." faced with asmon who suddenly appeared, viscount austin didn't know what to say for a moment.
he also knew that the cause of everything actually originated from the physical examination that took place in the queen's bedroom.
however, like everyone else, viscount austin felt that prince tupe's sudden murder was too strange.
now, hearing asmon personally admit his secret affair with vera, his doubts became even stronger.
"knight asmon, forgive me for being blunt, but i find it hard to believe that prince tupe killed people because he learned about the affair between you and vera. this reason... is too far-fetched."
asmon smiled and suddenly lowered his voice: "then do you want to know the real reason why tupe killed people?"
"what is it?" viscount austin leaned forward involuntarily and asked in a low voice.
"that's because..." asmon leaned close to viscount austin's ear and said, "tupe has received instructions from duke dressrosa to kill vera in the half-elf palace!"
"this...how is this possible..." viscount austin widened his eyes, a look of disbelief.
but looking at luis solemn expression and queen elsa's approving eyes beside him, viscount austin calmed down and thought about it carefully.
suddenly he realized that this might actually be true.
"so, duke dressrosa wanted to gain an excuse to invade the half-elf kingdom..."
"yes." asmon looked sad. "i really didn't want to see miss vera die, so i risked my life to save her."
"i see..." viscount austin finally felt that the whole thing could be explained.
but then he became confused again-why did asmon tell him all this?
as if seeing viscount austin's doubts, luis spoke, "your excellency, i tell you this because i hope you can understand that i have miss vera is not dead because asmon violated the will of duke dressrosa.
i'm worried..."
"are you worried that the duke dressrosa will vent his anger on you?" viscount austin felt that he finally understood luis plan.
"yes." luis nodded repeatedly.
after hesitating for a moment, he whispered again, "i wonder if you could give marquis vincent a message for me?"
"please go ahead."
luis gritted his teeth, as if he had finally made up his mind:
"my hartmann family want to pledge my loyalty to the pros family!"