Chapter 65: Unexpected Surprise

ALARIC'S POV

All the preparations have been done. It was time to begin the party.

The stage was covered by curtains that blocked the back. I took Amadeus behind the stage to prepare for the beginning of the party.

"Father!" He exclaimed excitedly. "I'm ready!" He exclaimed after changing his outfit.

A well-crafted red cape and a black jacket with golden designs on the front. The gold glittered in the faint light that peeked through the curtains.

"Let's go, my son," I said before walking past him.

A servant had already gone before us and set up the stage for us. It would be time to cut his cake first and begin the party.

"Ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention, please!" Sylas' voice came through from the stage.

"His majesty, Alaric Von Leonard and his highness, Prince Amadeus Von Leonard, will be coming onto the stage!"

The claps of all the guests could be heard. It was time for us to enter.

First, I walked out onto the stage as Amadeus followed behind me. The clapping continued as we entered and waved back at everyone. All the smiles of nobility

I shoved Amadeus to move in front. He shyly moves in front of me and smiles at the crowd in front of him. A crowd whose worth would make up the entire world's riches.

"Ahem, Ladies and gentlemen," I cleared my throat. "I'd first like to thank everyone for attending my son's sixteenth birthday! It is an honour to have you all here!"

The crowd claps once more, with less power this time.

"Now, I would like to call up my wife on the stage," I said while smiling and looking at her.

Serena smiles and looks down before handing her glass of wine to Feronia. She quickly walked up onto the stage and stood beside me.

"Now that I have my entire family together, we may start the party with cake!"

The sounds of trumpets start to play as I announce the start. Amadeus grabs hold of the knife and waits for the people to stop singing him happy birthday.

Everyone sang happy birthday in sync, sometimes swaying out of rhythm but staying in sync.

My eyes were glued on Artorius who suspected nothing. He has not found out who the six spies are. He's clueless!

Just before Amadeus begins cutting the cake, Serena and I grab hold of his hands and help him. The knife slices through the cake once and then once more, cutting it into a triangle before he picks it up.

The orchestra of trumpets stopped and the sound of applause filled the room as I took a bite of the cake. Serena takes the bite second and is delighted by it.

Amadeus tried to take a bite on his own but we both noticed it. We took the cake from his hand and fed him instead.

"Mmph! S-stop!" His voice is muffled by the cake. "T-too much!"

Laughter echoes around the room as Amadeus tries to chew down the piece of cake. I wiped the frosting onto a handkerchief and looked around the ballroom.

"Now, let me get started with a special event that would take place today," I said out loud, making sure everyone in the room heard it.

Gossip spread through the crowd that stood before me. This was the first time I had made such a bold move.

Staff came and cleared the stage from the cake that stood before us. It was taken behind the stage and to the kitchen, where it would be cut and given during dinner.

"Now, as most of you know," I said. "I'm becoming really old and my ability to work has deteriorated with age."

The crowd of nobles raised an eyebrow as I continued to speak about my health.

"With a heavy heart, I am here to announce, in front of everyone," I glanced at Serena. "I will step down from the throne and let Amadeus, the heir, take the throne."

Serena's face turned pale and her eyes widened. Audible gasps went around the room as I said those words out loud.

ARTORIUS' POV

I-impossible…

So he is giving the throne to Amadeus afterall

Everyone in the crowd began to whisper to each other about what Alaric just said. No emperor or king has ever abdicated the throne so far. This is the first in the world's history.

Staff entered the stage, carrying a throne made of gold on a red cushion. They placed it behind Amadeus who looked at his father with shock.

"Amadeus has already agreed to take the throne," Alaric said as he looked at us. "I wanted to keep it a surprise, similar to a birthday gift."

Amadeus might've agreed but he isn't ready. He's reluctant to sit down on the throne and start the ceremony.

He looked at his father with fear and anxiety. Eyes full of dread and horror. Alaric's stern gaze is what made the frightened prince sit down on the throne and not make a sound.

Bishops and servants step out from behind the curtains. Lady Serena took a few steps back and stayed far from her family.

The bishops and servants line up behind the young prince before the bishops step forward and surround him.

"What is happening…" Amelia asked me, terrified and puzzled.

"So this was his plan after all?" I muttered back in telepathy. "This is why security is so tight."

Speaking of which, I haven't noticed Vincent anywhere. I looked around, trying to spot his familiar face but to no avail. He was nowhere to be seen.

I looked at the stage once more and noticed that the young guard was also missing. This made no sense.

My eyes made their way back to the stage where the coronation was taking place. The bishops read out the oath that he would have to take. An oath for life.

"To serve the empire, to serve its people and to be a beacon of hope in the times of darkness. The duty of an emperor shall lay upon your shoulders as soon as you pledge the oath of death."

Amadeus seemed distressed, though his face said otherwise. The boy was keeping up a stoic face very well for the situation he's been thrown into.

"Prince Amadeus Von Leonard," The bishop with red robes says. "You shall now be known as Emperor Amadeus Von Leonard. Your title shall be his majesty from here on out."

The duality of Alaric and Amadeus was seen in broad daylight here. While Alaric's face showed pride and joy, Amadeus looked rightfully scared of what was happening. It was hardly noticeable from the distance but his face was like an open book.

"Behold! The rightful heir to the throne!" The bishop shouts out. "Emperor Amadeus Von Leonard!"

The Emperor's crown hovered above his head as Alaric, now dressed in a purple robe crowned him emperor. Alaric gently placed the crown on Amadeus' head. A crown made of a thousand gems. It rested on his head and marked him the new emperor.

Bishops around him come forth with his staff and robe. He nervously looks at the bishop and grabs hold of the staff.

"Long live the emperor!" The bishop shouts out.

"Long live the emperor!" This time the crowd cries out. "Long Live the emperor! Long live the emperor!"

The chants continued for much longer than expected. Alaric's smirk widened as the crowd in the room chanted "Long live the emperor," again and again.

"Where is Vincent?" I asked Felix when it stopped.

Felix stood right next to me, face full of fear and dread. "I'm not sure," He said, "He was going to the restroom and hasn't returned yet."

At last, Amadeus stood up from his throne and a crimson robe with fur was placed on his shoulder. The same crimson robe that belonged to his father.

He looked at the crowd with a stoic face, head held up high. He was going to do his first speech as emperor, right in front of everyone's eyes.

"I, Amadeus, swear to everyone present in this room, that from here on out my life will be devoted to the duty of the emperor, whether my life is long or short. From here on out, I will forsake all my other interests for the greater good of the empire."

VINCENT'S POV

The night sky was dark as the clouds denied the moon's light from reaching the ground. The only way I could notice him was from the sound of his footsteps and his figure swiftly moving around me, trying to strike me down.

His name is Zenith. A renowned royal guard who was a prodigy at the age of only twelve. His skills are far beyond mine. I'm in a really bad spot.

The only issue in this fight is the difference in skill and the sword I'm using. I'm using Warrior's Ballad, Artorius' sword. Artorius knew someone would recognize the handle and become skeptical.

I continued to parry his quick and powerful attacks. There was no way I could last another minute.

Suddenly, he speeds up and disappears from my view. His footsteps couldn't be heard either. I lost him.

In the split second, I had to spare, I turned around and saw a dark figure dashing towards me. I blocked with my sword and our swords collided, making a loud crashing sound.

"Stop this!" I exclaimed. "Why are you attacking me!?"

He was not interested in making treaties. He was out for blood.

Zenith's attacks did not stop. He continued to barrage me with powerful strikes, one after the other. Each getting stronger and stronger.

I parry his attacks and take steps back, trying to not get killed. He's too powerful for me.

"Stop this, Zenith! I'm innocent!" I shouted out in desperation.

"Innocent?" He finally speaks up. "Attempting to overthrow his majesty is seen as innocent?"

Zenith is a soldier known to take orders and complete them with maximum efficiency. He only takes orders from his higher-ups and especially Alaric. There is no way to make him negotiate with me.

Suddenly he stopped attacking again and disappeared. I frantically looked around my surroundings, seeing nothing but the lights of the city outside the castle walls and complete darkness.

"Zenith! Can you not!?" I shouted out one last time.

He doesn't answer.

Forget it. He won't listen to me.

So far I've been on the defense, trying to solve this with negotiations. But Alaric sent such a stubborn person to be the assassin, it's annoying.

I got into a fool's guard, trying to make him think I'm tired. He took the bait and went in for the strike.

His blade slides across to my crossguard and gets stuck. This was my time to strike.

When I went in for a kick, I expected to hit him. Little did I know how quick his reflexes are.

By some miracle, he dodges and becomes absent from my view. I couldn't hear his footsteps again. He's too quick.

I had no choice but to use mana. Artorius told me to avoid using it as much as possible, but there's no way I can locate him so easily.

But, even with the help of mana, I couldn't locate him. He concealed his mana core. There's no way to locate him now.

As I lost hope of finding him, I heard rapid footsteps coming from my right. Without thinking twice, I jumped backwards to dodge whatever was coming towards me.

Zenith was trying to stab through me at full speed, trying to end the fight. But I managed to survive this time.

He's lost his temper as well it seems. His fighting style changed and became more complex from what he had in the beginning.

His footwork was difficult to see in the dark, the only way I could see his figure was from his sword that reflected the moonlight and castle lights.

If only there was more light, maybe this fight wouldn't be so one-sided.

There's no way Artorius is going to find me as well. I never told him what I was doing and it might be too late by the time he notices I'm missing.

Zenith and I traded blows at each other, but neither of us got even close to hitting each other. It's a battle of stamina, something I don't have enough of.

At this rate, I'll be killed.

The sound of our swords clashing continued to pierce my ears. But the longer it goes on, the more I realise that my sword won't be able to stand up to his. Warrior's Ballad is growing dull and cracking the longer this fight goes on.

"Enough with you," I groaned out. "Let's end it!" I sneered at him.

ARTORIUS' POV

Vincent has vanished from the party. He was completely absent. No one had seen him before and after the coronation.

Felix, Alexander and I spent at least ten minutes looking for him, but to no avail, he was gone. Amelia tried as well but failed to do so.

That must mean he's already engaging in battle.

"Amelia, can you stay with Kathlyn after dinner?" I asked her in a panic.

"Of course," She replied. "But why? Where would you head?"

"Outside, I know where Vincent can be,"

The first meal was being served as I sat down, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I began fidgeting with my hands and making quick movements to the slightest sounds.

"Artorius," Kathlyn's voice called out. "Are you feeling well?"

I whipped my head around and smiled at her anxiously. "W-why yes!" I answered. "Everything's fine!"

"Your face seemed pale," Kathlyn smiled awkwardly. "We can leave if your feeling unwell,"

I softly chuckle. "It's fine~ There's nothing wrong,"

The servants began giving us our meal as I turned back around. It was an appetizer. This will be a long dinner.

What made things worse is that Astrid was at the table right next to mine. He was eyeballing me the entire time too. I made quick glances to look at him. Each time I looked at him, he was staring back at me with his hands crossed.

I couldn't tell what he was planning, but if it involves Kathlyn, I need to stay alert.

I turned to my left and saw Alexander eating away at his meal. He seemed distressed too. None of us was enjoying the party.

"Stay here and make deals," I whispered to Alexander. "I know where Vincent is,"

His eyes widened as he gulped down the soup. "W-what? Where?" He said out loud.

I place my finger on his lip. "Quiet!" I whispered again. "Just do as I say, I'm saving him soon,"