NOVGO.NET Chapter 273:The Noble And Wise King[Bonus Chap For All The Gifts]
Chapter 273: 273:The Noble And Wise King[Bonus Chap For All The Gifts]
“What do you mean by proof?” Ethan shouted and turned toward Mark. “The Royal Treasury guards themselves came and took the piles of gold.”
He looked directly at the King.
’What the fuck?’
How can the king be so shameless?
When he gave taxes,he even asked for receipts but the people refused saying that there wasn’t any system of giving receipts as proof
A thick vein bulged on his forehead but he decided to calm down.
“Isn’t that right, Your Majesty? This loyal follower has always catered to your wishes and even paid more taxes so the citizens could benefit.”
Mark’s expression stiffened. He looked strangely flustered and raised his voice.
“How would this old man know?”
“Do you think I keep track of every noble’s payments?”
“How would I know?”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Go and ask the person you paid to.”
“What?” Ethan’s eyes shook as he blinked in disbelief. “Do I need to find that person myself?”
“Yes,” Mark replied coldly. “Go and bring that bastard here. How could he not report it to me? If it’s true, then I will reward you.”
“Alright…” Ethan said slowly. He was genuinely about to turn and leave.
Just then, a calm voice echoed from outside the hall.
“I think we are discussing the wrong things here.”
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
A blond man walked in with a faint smile on his face.
“Your Highness!”
“The Third Prince!”
Everyone quickly bowed as Albert De Rudius, the Third Prince of Ruthiana, stepped inside. He walked forward and bowed respectfully to his father.
“Greetings, Father. I hope I have not interrupted the court.”
Mark snorted but did not stop him.
Albert then turned his gaze toward Ethan.
“Instead of arguing over these trivial matters,” Albert said calmly, “shouldn’t we ask why Lord Ethan did not take part in the war despite possessing such strength?”
Those words lit up the eyes of many nobles. They immediately turned toward Ethan, waiting for his response.
“It’s because I was weak,” Ethan answered honestly. “When the war began, I was only at the Intermediate Stage, and I had many small children.”
He clenched his jaw.
“Since I rose from being a commoner, I value my life. I was afraid.”
“Oh?” Albert smiled faintly, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.
“That means you rose from a mere Intermediate Stage to this level in just a few years,” he said. “And from what you said, you feared losing your life back then, but now you act so freely.”
Albert’s voice sharpened.
“So does that mean you no longer place Royal Authority in your eyes?”
“You are strong now,” he continued. “Strong enough to disregard everything. So you think you can defy us.”
Countless sharp gazes stabbed into Ethan. They were filled with mockery, resentment, and hatred. Many of them wished to see him fall on the spot.
Mark’s face darkened, and he shouted.
“Is that true?”
“Are you not taking me seriously anymore?”
Albert watched the scene with quiet amusement. He wanted to see how Ethan would escape.
Or whether he could escape at all.
Ethan slowly shook his head and gave a small bow.
“Of course not, Your Majesty. That was never my intention.”
“Then what is it?” Mark demanded.
“It’s because I believe in you,” Ethan replied calmly.
“Huh?”
“What?”
The entire hall was taken aback. No one expected such a response.
Mark frowned, his expression shifting.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“As I said, I believe in your benevolence.”
“From my days as a commoner, I always looked at you with reverence. Magnanimous, benevolent, and kind.”
“You are the epitome of righteousness, Your Majesty!”
The moment Ethan said this, a deafening silence spread through the entire hall.
Several nobles shook their heads and stared at Ethan in horror.
’What the fuck are you saying?’
’Do you even believe the words coming out of your own mouth?’
Then, slowly, their gazes shifted toward the King.
Sure enough, a huge smile had spread across Mark’s face, so wide it looked like it might tear his cheeks apart.
“Oh?” Mark said, clearly pleased. “Why did you stop? Carry on.”
“Cough!”
Ethan cleared his throat and continued, his voice steady.
“I mean to say that I believe in you. I know that the moment you hear how your people suffered under the tyranny of the Adventurer Guild, you will act immediately.”
“You might not know this, but when I was capturing those bandits, the people who were imprisoned kept saying something.”
He lifted his head slightly.
“They said, ’Our Majesty will avenge us.’”
“’Fear the wrath of our King!’”
“’For he is a righteous warrior whose might will sweep evil away.’”
“They believed that once the King learned of the Adventurer Guild’s crimes, those evildoers would be destroyed. That is why the Adventurer Guild blocked all messages.”
For a brief moment, Albert’s vision went dark.
’Who is he talking about?’
’What the hell is he even saying?’
Ethan then lowered himself and knelt on one knee before the throne.
“Your Majesty,” he said, his expression fearful and sorrowful, yet filled with expectation.
“As a righteous monarch who rules the hearts of the people, I beg you to act and stop the tyranny of the Adventurer Guild.”
“Because if you don’t…”
Mark leaned forward. “Then?”
“Then the people’s hearts will break,” Ethan replied calmly. “Their faith in you will shatter. All the reverence they hold for you will disappear.”
“Your image as a wise and good King will change into that of a foolish ruler who does not care for his people.”
“This devastating blow will be used by others to incite rebellion and sway the masses.”
“NO!” Albert shouted, unable to endure it any longer.
“Father, he is lying!”
“Don’t listen to him!”
“What… what did you say?” Mark stood up abruptly and pointed at his son, his face burning with rage.
His entire expression twisted.
“Do you mean to say that I am not a wise King?”
“Do you mean to say that I am not righteous?”
…
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