The dueling circle fell silent. The king's court, a gathering of the most powerful and cunning nobles in the Razakian Kingdom, held its collective breath. Liam's answer, delivered with a quiet, unyielding conviction, hung in the air like a sword on a thread. He had chosen his words carefully, weaving a tapestry of truth and veiled secrecy. He had not lied, not outright, but he had also not revealed the true nature of his power. He had given them a story they could understand and, more importantly, a story they could use.
The king, a man who had presided over a lifetime of deceit, saw more than a boy in front of him. In Liam's calm eyes, he saw a fire forged in sorrow and a strength that transcended mere physical prowess. He saw a weapon. His gaze, a sharp and piercing stare that had unnerved countless men, shifted from Liam to Vorian. The mask of false piety on Vorian's face did not waver, but Liam's Dragon's Gaze saw the raw fury simmering beneath. Vorian had expected Liam to crumble, to fall into his trap, to expose his own weaknesses in a public display of raw, unrefined power. But Liam had not. He had stood his ground, a silent, unyielding monument to his own will. Vorian had lost. And the loss had been public.
The king's eyes then landed on Prince Arthur, whose face was a mask of cold fury. Arthur's Aura, a cold, calculating force, pulsed with a silent promise of revenge. Humiliated and defeated, he would not forget.
The king sighed, a sound of profound weariness that carried across the hall. "You have shown us a power that is both terrifying and beautiful, young Lithian. A power born of great sorrow, and a place of even greater strength."
He gestured to a small, ornate wooden box. A Royal Decree. The crowd held its breath. A decree from the king was an unyielding document, capable of changing the fate of a kingdom in a single moment.
"I have heard much of the events of late," the king's frail voice boomed, carrying a weight of authority that belied his physical state. "Of a young lord who has brought great honor to his House. And of a warrior who has brought great shame to his family."
His gaze, sharp and piercing, landed on Vorian. "Lord Vorian, your plotting has defiled our court. You have brought shame upon your House, your King, and your family. For this, I have decided to strip you of your baronet title, and all your lands and holdings are now forfeit."
A collective gasp rippled through the hall. Vorian's composure crumbled, his eyes, a chilling reflection of pure, unadulterated fury, fixed on Liam. He had not expected the king to act so swiftly, so decisively. He had believed his brother to be a simpleton, a man who lacked the political cunning to outmaneuver him. He had believed his nephew to be a mere boy, a pawn in his game. He had lost. And the loss was public.
Liam watched his uncle's humiliation with a cold, detached sense of satisfaction. The man who had betrayed him, the man who had sought to destroy his family, was now a pauper. He had lost his power, his lands, his title. He was nothing. A shadow of his former self.
The king, a withered figure on his throne, sighed. "I have made my decision. Lord Vorian, you are to leave the capital at once. Your title and your lands are now forfeit. You are a man without a home, a man without a family, a man without a future. You are nothing."
Vorian, a silent, defeated figure, bowed. He turned and walked away, a ghost in a sea of light and whispers. Liam had won. He had secured his family's safety and brought his uncle's public downfall. He looked at his father, who nodded, a stoic and unyielding expression on his face. He had won the battle.
The king's gaze, sharp and piercing, landed on Liam. "Young Lithian, you have shown us a power that is both terrifying and beautiful. I will not forget this. Nor will I forget the man who taught you to wield it."
He gestured to the Royal Decree. "You have brought great honor to your House. And I have heard the rumors of a great warrior. A warrior who has brought great shame to his family. A warrior who has brought great shame to his King. I will not stand for it."
The king's gaze returned to Vorian, a flicker of something new in his eyes. "Lord Vorian, you have brought shame upon your House, your King, and your family. For this, I have decided to strip you of your baronet title, and all your lands and holdings are now forfeit. You will be sent to the borderlands to serve as a military commander. You will serve for the rest of your life. Your only hope of redemption will be through loyalty and unwavering service."
A cold wave of dread washed over Liam. The hall, which had been buzzing with whispers, fell silent. Vorian's face, a mask of false piety, crumbled. His eyes, a chilling reflection of pure, unadulterated fury, fixed on Liam. He had not expected this. He had not expected the king to act so swiftly, so decisively. He had not expected his own brother, a man who he had believed to be a simpleton, to be a man of such immense power. He had not expected his own nephew, a boy who he had believed to be a simpleton, to be a man of such immense power. He had lost. And the loss had been public.
Liam watched his uncle's humiliation with a cold, detached sense of satisfaction. The man who had betrayed him, the man who had murdered his family, was now a military commander. He had not lost his power. He had not lost his lands. He had not lost his title. He had not lost his future. He had simply been moved. He had been given a new purpose. A new purpose that would only serve to increase his power. He had been given a new battlefield. A new battlefield where he could plot and scheme to his heart's content.
The king's decree was not a punishment. It was a veiled threat. A warning to all the other nobles. A warning that he would not stand for any man who would bring shame to his family. A warning that he would not stand for any man who would bring shame to his King. A warning that he would not stand for any man who would bring shame to his kingdom.
Liam's heart sank. He had won the battle, but he had lost the war. His uncle was still a powerful man. A powerful man who would not rest until he had his revenge. A powerful man who would not rest until he had his revenge on his own family. A powerful man who would not rest until he had his revenge on his own King. A powerful man who would not rest until he had his revenge on his own kingdom.