Lord Hako's Plans

While the general went to fetch the so-called Master Versei, Elio ordered one of the maids to go fetch Queen Mareen.

Mareen had heard that Elio was in the meeting with the officials, then, thinking it would take long, she went to the library.

Reading had been her favorite hobby, and one could only imagine how sad and bored she felt all these years, locked in the dungeon and without even the least of her favorites, The Incredible Deeds of the Gods, to read.

Being a fan of reading himself, not to mention an author in his previous life, Elio didn't want to disturb her, which is why he had purchased chicken nuggets and why he had been entertaining the maids so as to allow his queen to take her time in the library and satiate her years-old hunger for books.

But now...

Now with that bastard Versei insulting her, he had no choice but to send for her.

He was going to make Versei kneel and beg her for forgiveness. To see what the bastard's reaction would be after realizing that his life was in the hands of Queen Mareen whom he had called... a bastard spawn from a low-born whore?

'Geez! How can someone say that about another person?' thought Elio, still fuming in anger at Versei's audacity.

General Maldor arrived first, Master Versei trailing behind him. For some reason, the chubby, bald-headed man with large lips and an enormous nose, was smiling.

Perhaps he thought King Elio had summoned him for a private talk as a way to try and court him for his support.

After all, he was the son-in-law of Lord Hako. Anyone would want him on his side.

Elio was surprised to notice that the man was wearing a gown different from what he had been wearing back in the meeting.

He had not paid attention to it before, but now Elio could see how expensive the fabric was, the best quality silk produced only in the Golden City.

Not to mention, the man had countless gemstones around his wrists, around his fingers, around his neck and in his thick blond beard that covered his entire cheeks.

He was a walking fortune.

Elio's lips curled into a devious smile. There was nothing as satisfying as taking revenge on an enemy who believed himself to be superior and invincible.

This brought back Elio's appetite. He reached for his McLonald's bucket, fished a nugget and chewed on it as he waited for the man to reach him.

"You sent for me, My King," Versei said, putting a deliberate stress on the two last words as if he disapproved of Elio being the king.

Elio chewed for a while before saying, "That I did. I heard you have a good eye for spotting brides who will make great queens. Mind giving me a few names so that I can at least have a chance to choose?"

The man's face beamed. "You flatter me, My King! But I indeed happen to know a few elegant ladies."

"Go on then! Tell me about those ladies..."

Just then, Elio saw Mareen entering the chamber. The grin on his face widened as he immediately launched his first attack against Versei.

"Oh! Never mind," he said, gesturing for Mareen to come and stand beside him. "I think it's inappropriate to talk about other ladies in the presence of my Queen."

Versei blinked twice, the beam on his face extinguished.

Elio pretended not to notice the man's reaction and instead smiled at him before rubbing where he knew it was going to hurt the most.

"She's a fine lady, isn't she? Don't you think she will make a great queen?"

Versei feigned a smile, almost as if he was happy to hear what Elio had just said.

"Of course, My King. A fine lady, indeed! She's the last direct descendant of King Kard. His flesh and blood. She will no doubt be a great queen."

Mareen had never liked Master Versei. She was sure the other side felt the same. She bent into Elio's ear as if to complain that she didn't want the false flattery from Versei, but Elio shoved a chicken nugget in her mouth.

Versei had just given him an opportunity to strike. He didn't want to dilly dally any more.

"That's funny..." said Elio, pausing to swallow and assume his authoritative demeanour as he gazed into Versei's eyes.

"That's really funny coming from you since I've heard a different version where you said she isn't a fine lady. You called her something along the lines of... It's just too vulgar for me to remember. Surely, you don't mind repeating it, do you?"

Versei instinctively glanced at general Maldor. He knew no one else would have told the King what he had said about Mareen. It had to be general Maldor.

He silently cursed, swearing he would make the general's life a living hell for that betrayal.

He would sell him and his daughter to Monol slave merchants. And he would fuck the general's wife in front of him and kill her before that.

He could picture how the whole revenge would go.

Now, all he had to do was find a way out of this pickle the foolish general had placed him into. Which, in his mind, wasn't going to be so difficult. Not at all.

It was his word against the general's. Who would the king believe?

Even if the King didn't believe him, what then would he do to him? To Lord Hako's son-in-law? Nothing!

This island existed on his mercy. If this foolish King dared anger him, he would teach him who was the boss. He would unleash his might and perhaps claim the throne for himself.

After all, wasn't this what Lord Hako wanted when he sent his Blue Monsters to ravage the island?

Of course, that's not how Lord Hako wanted things to unfold. He wanted his Blue Monsters to force everyone out of the island so that he could make it his second Golden City.

Since he wanted this to gradually happen, he would get a little angry if Versei sped it up.

However, Master Versei would rather have his father-in-law angry at him instead of this weakling Elio disrespecting him.

Although, he doubted Lord Hako would get angry. After all, this self proclaimed Son of Niemoth had found a way to kill the Blue Monsters. If Versei didn't find a way to stop him now, all their plans would be in jeopardy.

That's why he looked Elio in the eye and said, "I can't believe you called me here to accuse me something as insignificant as that." This time, he didn't even bother addressing Elio as My King.

He instead turned around and started walking toward the door. His business here was finished.