Assimilate All Talents

Back in Crestel City, the reconstruction was mostly complete. The wreckage had all been cleared out, and many new buildings had risen in their place, some even grander than before.

The palace walls had also been fully repaired ahead of schedule, bringing a much-needed sense of security to the people of the city. Seeing everything return to how it once was helped the people move beyond the tragedy that had occurred, but there was still a sense of uneasiness lingering in the air.

They were worried, not only about the possibility of another attack but also about what the future had in store for them. The king was gone. Though in his final years his presence had been minimal, he was still their king. The prince was also gone, disappearing in the dungeon, leaving only one person left to inherit the throne.

Inside the palace, Princess Valerie stood beside the throne in the royal audience chamber. At the steps leading to the throne stood advisors and those closest to the princess, including Commander Zaman and, rather surprisingly, Lord Sigurd alongside Victor. At the sides of the grand chamber, members of the nobility and other prominent figures exchanged hushed whispers among themselves, while others waited in silence.

Valerie's thoughts were unreadable behind her distant gaze, which was fixated on the entrance. Soon, the grand doors of the chamber opened, causing the hall to fall silent as Duncan and the rest of his squad entered, escorting a middle-aged woman bound in mana-suppressing chains. Aron held the end of the chains and lightly pulled her toward the center of the chamber, before everyone.

The woman was none other than Gladys, the Duchess of the South.

Duncan reached the foot of the stairs leading to the throne and performed the royal knight's salute before speaking. "We present before Her Highness the leader of the rebellious faction, Duchess Gladys."

Whispers erupted throughout the audience as they murmured among themselves.

"I still can't believe the Duchess was the one behind all of it."

"Me neither. To think she was not only behind the rebel faction but also conspired with vampires…"

The quiet chatter was quickly silenced as the princess raised her hand.

With a single motion, Valerie commanded the room into silence. The lingering whispers died instantly as all attention turned toward her. Her expression remained impassive, her eyes locked onto the bound woman standing before her.

Duchess Gladys, despite her restraints, held her head high. Her dark, graying hair was neatly arranged, and her fine clothing, though disheveled by the journey and captivity, still exuded the dignity of her noble status.

"Duchess Gladys… you stand accused of organizing and leading the rebellious faction. Furthermore, you are charged with contacting and assisting the vampires in their coordinated attack on the capital." She took a step forward, her voice sharp and unwavering. "What do you have to say in your defense?"

For a moment, silence reigned. The tension in the chamber thickened, and all eyes remained on Gladys.

Then, she laughed.

It was not the bitter laugh of a defeated woman, nor was it manic laughter. It was hollow, yet sharp, cutting through the still air like a blade.

When the laughter faded, Gladys lifted her gaze to the princess, her once-refined features contorted with disdain.

"Crimes?" she repeated, her voice laced with venom. "The only crime I see before me is a stolen throne and an unworthy child standing next to it."

Her words sent a ripple of shock through the audience, the nobles erupting in a mixture of outrage and confusion.

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"How dare you say that of Her Highness!?"

"Such a crazy accusation!"

"She is the last heir of the king! The throne is hers by right!"

The outcry echoed through the grand chamber, but Gladys did not flinch. Instead, she lifted her chin, her eyes gleaming with something sharper than defiance, conviction. She allowed the noise to settle before speaking again, ensuring her next words would not be drowned out.

"Oh? Do you truly believe that?" She turned her gaze slowly, sweeping over the gathered nobles, her lips curling into a cold smirk. "How little you understand of your own kingdom's laws."

Valerie's expression remained unreadable, but a flicker of something passed through her eyes. She straightened, meeting Gladys's gaze head-on. "What are you implying?"

Gladys scoffed. "Implying? No, dear niece, I am stating a fact." She took a deliberate step forward, the mana-suppressing chains clinking with the movement. "You call me a traitor, but let me ask you this, who is the true usurper here?"

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room, but no one dared interrupt.

Gladys turned back to the nobles. "For those of you whose memories have grown dull over the years, let me remind you, I am Gladys Crestelia, the firstborn daughter of the 9th King Alric and older sister to the 10th King Bardon."

The room fell deathly silent.

Everyone knew of her lineage; it was no secret. But after being sent to govern the southern side of the kingdom, which was rather barren and less important than the west, north, and east, most had slowly forgotten about her over the years.

"You all act as if the crown was his by divine right," Gladys continued. "But Crestelia's laws and traditions are clear: the throne belongs to the eldest child of the royal line. That was never Bardon." Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "It was me."

A noble on the left scoffed, shaking his head. "What nonsense. His late Majesty was chosen by Alric—"

Gladys's eyes snapped toward him, her sharp voice cutting him off. "Exactly. Chosen, not rightful. My father cast me aside, sent me to the southern countryside to 'govern the region' while he placed my younger brother on the throne. He broke all precedents and traditions just because he favored my brother, even when he knew of his condition long before anyone here found out."

The murmurs returned, this time filled with hesitation. Everyone had believed that the king's Manaspill developed after he became king. But if what Gladys said was true, then it left many questioning why he would place someone with a terminal condition on the throne. Some of the older nobles exchanged looks, their expressions unreadable.

Valerie's hands curled into fists, but her voice remained calm. "And so? Do you think that excuses all your crimes? Am I to stand aside and let you take the crown after what you have done? Thirteen thousand men, women, and children are dead because of you."

Valerie stating the current tally of dead from the attack caused many to frown. It was a number too large to ignore, even for those who cared little for the average population. It was so high that everyone here knew someone who had died in the attack.

Gladys exhaled sharply through her nose, as if the very notion irritated her. "I worked with the vampires because I had to! Do none of you recall the state we were in because my brother was unable to stay awake for more than an hour? We had problems all over the country, but no one could make the decision to remove that crown from his damn head. I was trying to save this kingdom!"

"How?! By destroying it?!" Valerie had finally lost her patience with her aunt. It was ridiculous to justify the death and destruction she caused as some kind of aid to the kingdom.

Gladys let out a disappointed sigh at her niece's shallow viewpoint. "Oh, is that so? Then let me ask everyone here, how many died from the desert worm migration in Dunfel?"

At her question, a noble from the southeast couldn't help but answer. "3,500."

"And what about the bandits roaming the northern region, destroying entire towns and villages? How many died from that?"

This time, a lord from one of those destroyed towns spoke up. "At least 5,000…"

"And where was our army when that was happening? Oh right, they were twiddling their thumbs waiting for orders!" As she continued to speak, she could keenly see the expressions of those around her changing as she mentioned events they were well aware of. Without missing a beat, she followed up with her final argument. "And how many have died from the Frostaxe Clan's invasions? Last I heard, those numbers surpassed 16,000 this year! This all happened because one man couldn't get up from his bed! There is a point where we must say enough is enough!"

Nobles and other figures around the chamber now wore varied expressions. Some frowned in disagreement, others appeared unsure, while a scant few couldn't help but nod in agreement. The chamber grew loud as arguments broke out, with people voicing either support or opposition.

A loud bang then resounded throughout the chamber, drawing everyone's attention toward the source, Commander Zaman with his halberd leaving a visible crack in the ground. "Quiet!"

Princess Valerie gave him a nod of appreciation before turning back to Gladys.

"Do you think I can't see what you are doing? Stop using your talent skill, [Instigate], to cause a commotion."