First Move, Checkmate: How Will You Respond?

Early in the morning, the capital seemed somewhat chaotic, like a baby who had woken up too early and was whimpering softly.

One carriage after another lined up in neat rows and headed towards the Imperial Palace.

People opened the doors of their shops, only to see carriages speeding by, raising dust as they went.

Passersby also moved to the sides, and could only duck into shops to take a look, avoiding the carriages.

“What’s going on?”

“Don’t know…it looks like something big judging by this scene.”

Soon, the carriage that finally stopped in front of the castle gates was exceptionally luxurious.

Duke Rivierre gently got out of the carriage and looked around.

The mages had basically all arrived, but without exception, all the mages were staring at him with hostile eyes.

If looks could kill, Duke Rivierre would probably be riddled with holes.

The Duke’s reputation, after the volcano incident, had already fallen to the extreme in mage circles.

There were no rumors or slander, everyone had seen it with their own eyes.

No one took the initiative to greet the Duke, even the Beke aristocrats who were relatively close to him shook their heads helplessly.

He stood alone at the door, neither humble nor pushy.

After a while, the towering gates of the castle slowly opened, and a strong wind burst out from the castle, blowing the clothes of all the mages present to flutter loudly.

It was like a beast trying to swallow the pride of everyone present.

A knight escorted a dignified silver-haired man out.

The man looked less than thirty, still very young, dressed luxuriously with an extraordinary bearing.

Seeing this face, many recognized him, and all bowed.

The Duke, standing at the very front, also bent down and saluted respectfully to this man, one of the most honorable in the Empire.

“Your Highness, the Second Prince.”

The Second Prince nodded slightly to the Duke, and gestured for everyone to stop bowing.

“Since you are all here, please come in first.”

After getting permission, the mages entered one after another. When it was the Duke’s turn, he was stopped by the Second Prince.

He smiled at Duke Rivierre:

“Duke Rivierre, shall we go somewhere else to chat?”

Duke Rivierre looked at the Second Prince’s smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and responded:

“Your Highness, I do not wish to keep His Majesty waiting.”

The Second Prince shook his head and continued persuading Duke Rivierre:

“Father is getting old, and needs more rest.”

“Even if you go in now, you’ll have to wait for a while.”

“Besides, I do sincerely wish to converse with you.”

The Second Prince leaned in close to Duke Rivierre. Covering his mouth with one hand, he whispered in his ear:

“Perhaps I can help free you from your current predicament.”

Duke Rivierre listened expressionlessly to his words, not replying.

The Second Prince then relaxed and laughed.

Since the Duke didn’t respond, that naturally meant agreement.

He said to Duke Rivierre, “Duke, please come with me.”

Under the escort of the knights by his side, the two did not enter through the front gate, but went through a side path to a palace.

“This is my place, Duke. You can speak freely here.”

The Duke glanced at the guards around the Second Prince.

“These guards are naturally my own people.”

He waved his hand to signal his subordinates to bring a seat for Duke Rivierre.

The Duke sat down without hesitation, and the two looked at each other.

Hearing this, the Duke laughed and said, “Your Highness, isn’t it a bit inappropriate to be developing your own confidants so early?”

“His Majesty, your father, he isn’t dead yet.”

The Duke’s inquiry carried a chill that made the Second Prince shudder slightly.

He put on a helpless expression and smiled back:

“Duke, I don’t want to die mysteriously at any time.”

“Sitting in my position, to contend or not, is not for me to decide.”

The Duke fell silent and did not reply.

The atmosphere between the two dropped to freezing point for a while, both silently speechless.

The Second Prince took the initiative to break the awkward silence:

“Let’s not talk about this. Duke, the current situation does not bode well for you.”

“There are simply too many people pushing for your impeachment. His Majesty will most likely not be able to withstand the pressure.”

“Let me be frank, I wanted to talk to you about this.”

Before Duke Rivierre could respond, the Second Prince picked up his teacup and took a sip, then continued:

“I’ve heard your daughter the young lady will come of age in a year.”

Hearing this, the Duke slowly raised his head, his eyes cold and somewhat mocking.

“So what of it?”

The Second Prince put down his teacup and looked around at the guards, smiling elegantly.

“Duke insists on making me spell it out.”

“If I were to become betrothed to your daughter, then the Duke would gain kinship with the Imperial family. At that time, His Majesty would naturally have reason to protect you…”

Crack!

Before the Second Prince could finish, the teacup in his hand shattered instantly.

The knights panicked and drew their swords, pointing them at Duke Rivierre.

The Second Prince was unafraid. Rather, he clapped his hands to shake off the debris and looked calmly at Duke Rivierre, with some amusement in his eyes:

“Duke, this is the Imperial Palace.”

“You wouldn’t want your daughter’s future ruined by your rash actions, would you?”

Duke Rivierre stood up, and the powerful magical pressure that surrounded him dissipated instantly as he rose.

The Second Prince’s eyes flickered slightly in his smiling face, amazed inwardly. Such precise control of magic power.

Suddenly, Duke Rivierre asked, “Your Highness, how old are you this year?”

“Twenty-nine, what of it? For your daughter, I believe my age is suitable.”

“Is that so? Twenty-nine huh.”

Duke Rivierre murmured this number, as if comparing something.

Soon, he suddenly asked, “Your Highness, I’ve watched you grow up, but have you made any progress in these twenty odd years?”

The icy words stabbed into the Second Prince’s heart like daggers. He immediately felt stifled, as if a huge boulder was pressing down on his head, and his smile froze on his face.

“Admittedly, you are very smart, knowing how to utilize resources around you, and able to discern people’s hearts.”

“But you are not strong. The resources you can utilize merely reflect your advantage in lineage.”

Duke Rivierre didn’t state it outright, but the Second Prince understood.

The implication was that he relied on his father’s shelter.

Without this blood relation, you are nothing.

The Second Prince’s smile slowly disappeared, replaced by a cold and mocking expression.

“So what? I am a Prince. Other than me, who else is more suitable, more excellent?”

Suddenly, he froze, because he thought of someone.

Indeed there was.

Duke Rivierre also smiled and looked at him, with obvious contempt in his eyes.

“I suggest you say those words to the House Lord of Clayvin in person.”

The Second Prince slammed the table and stood up, waving his hand and yelling angrily,

“He was merely a Viscount! And he’s dead! Do you understand? He’s dead!”

The more the Second Prince spoke, the more agitated he became, and finally he even wanted to fiercely grab Duke Rivierre’s collar, point at his nose and loudly tell him the truth.

But he didn’t do that. As the Second Prince, he had to maintain proper etiquette. Even if not calm, he could not act like a wild beast. This was the last shred of dignity for a royal family member.

He took a deep breath, then said to Duke Rivierre:

“He has disappeared forever in that volcano. This is known to all.”

“Dead?”

Duke Rivierre seemed to have heard an enormous joke and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

He shook his head, looking at the Second Prince with pity in his eyes:

“In my eyes, your arrogance is not worth half his excellence.”

Having said that, Duke Rivierre left without looking back.

The Second Prince’s face was gloomy as he smoothed his silver hair. Taking a deep breath to calm himself,

“Let’s go, to the hall as well.”

“I look forward to seeing if he can remain so calm when accused by everyone.”

…

The palace hall was already filled with people. Knights in full armor and holding longswords stood guard around the perimeter.

Gwen stood near the imperial throne. As Captain of the Imperial Knights, she was tasked to protect the Emperor.

Kneeling at the very front was Duke Rivierre.

Seeing the Duke, Gwen’s expression was complicated.

She certainly knew what the highly ranked minister had experienced today.

It was definitely not pleasant.

But it had to be said, he loved his daughter very much.

Gwen quickly looked away, scanning the mages.

He wasn’t there.

No matter how she looked, she couldn’t find Victor.

“He…didn’t come back…”

Somehow, her heart felt a little sad.

Perhaps because Victor was someone she had known since childhood.

Suddenly, accompanied by the herald’s announcement, the Emperor sat on the throne surrounded by his subjects.

Aubrey Sol, the Eighth Emperor of the Carenthian Empire.

He already looked very old with a full head of white hair.

Although this Emperor was only sixty, not much older than Duke Rivierre.

Seeing the Emperor, all the mages knelt down on one knee, showing their utmost respect.

Emperor Aubrey gestured for everyone to stand.

Only Duke Rivierre remained kneeling in place.

The elderly king looked at Duke Rivierre, closed his eyes, and sighed.

He quietly watched the Duke and asked:

“Rivierre, when the volcano was about to erupt, did you stop the magic circle?”

“Yes.”

Duke Rivierre didn’t hesitate at all.

The Emperor asked again: “Rivierre, they say you wanted to kill all the mages, including the villagers below, to accompany your daughter in death. What do you have to say about this?”

“Your Majesty, I have no explanation.”

The Emperor looked at him silently, sighing heavily,

“Alas…”

He looked at Rivierre, his gaze full of reluctance.

Once, they were the best of friends, comrades.

Yet now, Rivierre still looked so young, while he was the first to embark on the journey of life and death.

He had wanted to protect his old comrades in his final years.

But Rivierre’s actions had impacted the imperial family’s credibility.

If he did not deal with it harshly… it would only chill others’ hearts.

“Rivierre, understand me, forgive me.”

He closed his eyes, ready to pass final judgment on Rivierre.

Suddenly, all the knights outside the doors drew their swords.

A towering fiery vortex rose out of nowhere outside the hall, attracting everyone’s gaze.

The intense heatwave made them unable to open their eyes. When the heat dissipated,

The mages slowly opened their eyes.

A figure emerged from the light.

Gwen stared over there, a gleam flashing in her eyes.

“Victor!?”

Victor appeared before everyone. His red-striped coat fluttered in the hot wind.

He looked towards the Emperor, did not kneel, but only bowed.

“Sorry, Your Majesty.”

“I’m late.”