Royal Palace of Aldenor – Throne Room
The echo of boots rang across the marble floor as General Steve Erkham advanced toward the center of the hall.
He knelt before the throne. His cloak was still stained with dust and dried blood.
"Your Majesty," he said in a deep voice. "The operation in the north has concluded."
He paused briefly.
"The Denisse family was captured by Douglas forces. They are under guard, awaiting trial for high treason... with no distinction between the main branch and the secondary branches."
King Felipe watched him in silence.
His gaze belonged to a man who had seen too many wars and knew that some victories could cost more than a defeat.
"Evidence?" he asked, barely moving his lips.
Erkham extended a sealed case.
"We found chests filled with Imperial gold. We also found documents bearing the emblem of the White Dragon. Direct orders to destabilize the north and provoke a civil war."
He paused.
"And names, my lord. Names of other houses involved."
A murmur swept through the court.
The king broke the seal and began to read.
His expression hardened with every line.
"They received land, honors, the protection of the Crown..." His voice trembled with restrained fury. "And this is how they repay us? Like rats selling their own home to the enemy!"
His fist struck the armrest of the throne with such force that the echo reverberated between the columns.
"Bring them before me!"
The guards dragged the prisoners into the center of the hall.
Craig Denisse, the younger heir, could barely remain standing. His face was covered in soot and tears.
"Your Majesty!" he cried, falling to his knees. "I didn't know anything! I swear! My father hid everything... By the time they took me out of the academy, it was already too late. I couldn't do anything!"
Felipe watched him with a calm that chilled the blood.
"We'll see if that's true."
He ordered the monks of the Temple of Sangus to be brought in.
The servants extinguished some of the torches. Soon, the hall was filled with the scent of sacred incense.
The monks entered in procession, dressed in red robes and black masks. One of them carried a small statue of the God of Truth.
They placed it in the center of the summoning circle and began chanting in the ancient language.
The runes on the floor lit up with a golden glow.
The air grew heavy, as if the entire hall were holding its breath.
"Begin the Unmask," the High Priest ordered.
The first to be interrogated was Lorenzo Denisse, the firstborn son of the traitorous duke.
The young man trembled as the glow enveloped his body.
The king spoke in a low voice, almost compassionate, but with an edge to every syllable.
"Tell me, Lorenzo... did you know about your father's atrocities?"
Lorenzo swallowed hard.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty... but I... I'm a victim. He forced me. I didn't want to..."
He didn't get to finish.
The golden glow turned red.
Lorenzo screamed.
His body convulsed as the runes burned beneath his feet.
One of the monks lowered his head.
"Sangus has rejected his answer."
Felipe did not look away.
"Then he lied."
No one answered.
There was no need.
The nobles present recoiled in horror.
The king kept his gaze fixed on Lorenzo.
"Then... there is nothing more to discuss."
For a moment, the hall fell silent.
Felipe slowly lowered his gaze to the documents he still held in his hands.
There were names.
Many names.
But one of them had remained etched in his mind.
One he never would have expected to find there.
Derek Sneider.
Kingdom Founding Hall
The Founding Hall remained silent.
It was one of the oldest places in the kingdom. The first pacts had been signed there, kings had been crowned there, and wars that had changed the fate of entire generations had been decided there.
Four men occupied the center of the hall.
Three remained standing.
One was on his knees.
Felipe Erkhan watched in silence.
Beside him stood Darian Bourlance, his arms crossed and his face hardened with anger.
Across from them, Laurence Douglas held his sword.
The blade rested against the neck of an old man.
Derek Sneider.
Felipe had known that man for decades.
They had shared meetings, wars, and difficult decisions. On more than one occasion, Felipe had trusted his advice when he was still a prince.
He had been one of the men Felipe relied on the most.
And now Laurence had a sword against his neck.
Darian finally broke the silence.
"Why did you betray us?"
Derek slowly raised his gaze.
He did not answer immediately.
His eyes met Felipe's.
"Because I tried to prevent them from destroying the kingdom."
Darian frowned.
"By betraying us?"
"I didn't want to see the kingdom destroyed in a pointless war."
His voice was tired.
"We can't compete with them. Not militarily or economically. Sooner or later, they will crush us."
Felipe clenched his teeth.
"And that's why you decided to sell us?"
Derek slowly shook his head.
"I didn't want to sell the kingdom."
He looked at the king.
"I wanted to save it."
Laurence remained motionless.
"Do you admit to the betrayal?"
Derek lowered his gaze toward the sword.
"Yes."
Laurence's expression did not change.
"Then there is nothing more to discuss."
Derek let out a sigh.
He knew perfectly well what that sword meant.
Asking a Douglas for mercy was useless.
The Douglases were not judges.
They were the kingdom's final sword.
Their duty had existed since the very founding of Carpathia.
Whenever a threat to the kingdom appeared, they eliminated it.
Regardless of who it was.
Regardless of how much power they possessed.
And if the king himself ever became a threat...
The Douglas sword would not stop either.
Derek closed his eyes.
"You found the evidence in Denisse territory, didn't you?"
"I found enough."
Laurence paused.
"Documents. Imperial gold. Communications. Names."
Derek smiled sadly.
"Then you already knew the answer before you came."
"Yes."
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Laurence lowered his sword slightly.
Not out of mercy.
But because he had known that man for far too long.
"Derek..."
The old man opened his eyes.
Laurence looked directly at him.
"Don't worry. I won't send you alone."
Derek immediately understood.
His expression changed.
"Laurence..."
"Your family will accompany you."
Felipe stepped forward.
"Laurence."
The duke did not answer.
"Enough blood has already been spilled," Felipe continued. "The Denisses have paid for their betrayal. You don't need to turn this into another massacre."
Laurence finally turned his gaze toward Felipe.
"The Denisses took part in the conspiracy."
His voice remained cold.
"So did Derek."
Felipe clenched his fists.
"But his family didn't."
Laurence looked at the old man kneeling before him.
Derek remained motionless. He did not beg. He did not try to justify his actions.
He simply waited.
"Weakening the kingdom at a time like this was an absurd decision," Felipe continued. "Even a fool knows that it only benefits the Empire."
Derek closed his eyes.
Laurence raised his sword slightly.
"Then there is nothing more to discuss."
"Yes, there is."
Laurence stopped.
Felipe held his gaze.
"Derek will die," Felipe said. "But I will not destroy House Sneider."
Laurence frowned.
"After what they did?"
"His children and grandchildren had no part in the conspiracy. We cannot condemn them for a crime they did not commit."
Laurence remained silent.
"A house that betrays the kingdom must pay the price," Felipe continued. "But executing them all will not make us stronger."
Laurence narrowed his eyes.
"And what do you want to do with them?"
"Punish them."
Felipe paused briefly.
"When the war begins, House Sneider will march to the front."
Silence fell over the hall.
"They will not take safe positions behind our lines. They will not protect their lands while others die for them. Their men will fight on the front lines alongside the rest of the army."
Laurence remained motionless.
Felipe stepped toward him.
"The kingdom will need every sword when the war comes. And they have a debt to pay."
Darian, who had remained silent until then, raised his gaze.
"A house that has betrayed us once can no longer have our trust."
Felipe nodded.
"Exactly."
He still didn't like the decision.
The kingdom needed soldiers. And a noble house that still possessed men capable of fighting could pay for its betrayal without being exterminated.
Felipe held Laurence's gaze.
"I'm not asking you to forgive them."
Laurence remained silent.
"I'm asking you to be fair."
Those words made Laurence look away.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Finally, Laurence nodded.
"Agreed."
Felipe slowly exhaled.
"Then do it."
Laurence turned his gaze toward Derek.
The old man was still kneeling.
Laurence approached him.
The tip of his sword rested against his neck.
Derek opened his eyes.
For the first time, his expression changed.
He slightly turned his head toward Felipe.
Their eyes met.
Derek did not say a word.
There was no need.
His eyes thanked him.
Felipe held his gaze and nodded once.
Derek closed his eyes.
He let out a slow, deep breath.
His family would live.
That was enough.
Laurence took a deep breath.
Then, with a single clean and precise movement, he brought down his sword.
Everything ended in an instant.
Derek's body fell to the floor of the Founding Hall.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Centuries ago, in that very place, the founders had established the oath that gave meaning to the existence of the Douglases:
protect the kingdom.
No matter who threatened it.
No matter how much it hurt.
And Laurence Douglas had just proven that oath had no exceptions.