Chapter 14: Meeting

Kael's night was restless as he mulled over his plan involving key figures. The first, of course, was the immediate threat—his so-called "stepsister." Next was Ash, the maid close to him, who he suspected was an assassin lurking in the dark, waiting to strike. Then there was his elder sister, who had just returned, and last but not least, Garrick, the so-called "Son of Destiny."

Regarding his sister, the upcoming meeting would be crucial. He needed to determine which of his siblings was responsible for the current schemes, compel his father to investigate, or, better yet, catch her red-handed.

As for Ash, he needed to uncover her master swiftly, though that task could be postponed. However, his elder sister was a growing headache. How strong was she? What was her true attitude towards him? And most importantly, why was she here?

As for Garrick, everything would fall into place as long as Kael adhered to his grand plan.

"Man, this is a big headache," Kael muttered with a sly smile, rising to his feet. If the illusion of the first trial was this challenging, how difficult would the second and third be? And most importantly, what would the Realm of War be like?

This early meeting, scheduled for eight in the morning, meant everyone would be present. Though Kael was running late, he wasn't in a rush. He had a feeling something significant would happen today, and he wanted to savor the moment.

Dressed in proper royal attire, Kael walked to the door and opened it.

Click.

The door swung open to reveal Ash and Garrick waiting outside. Kael raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"How do you feel, Ash?" he asked. Ash lowered her head, her mind flashing back to the horrific scene she'd witnessed. Her body trembled, and her eyes shrank in terror.

Yes, Ash was an assassin, accustomed to killing and unafraid of blood, but what she'd seen was beyond horrifying. Human body parts, broken and hacked into tiny pieces, burned to ashes—what kind of psycho would do such a thing?

Ash glanced up slightly at Kael's face and froze in shock.

"Wait... Is this my master? I mean, the crown prince? This guy?" she thought, bewildered. And she wasn't the only one.

"Crown Prince, have you seen yourself?" Garrick asked, equally stunned.

"Huh? What's wrong with you two?" Kael asked as he turned back into his room.

Looking into the mirror, Kael froze in disbelief.

"Who the hell is this handsome bastard?" he exclaimed, astonished by his reflection.

You couldn't blame him. Since returning from his bride kingdom, Kael had been too busy to notice his appearance. His usual mirror checks were brief, just enough to ensure his clothes were in order. And of course, there was no bathroom mirror in this era. But this transformation was too dramatic.

Kael's porcelain doll-like face was gone, replaced by a well-chiseled, godlike visage. His lean muscles had grown, his clothing stretched to accommodate his expanded frame. He'd grown taller too—reaching a staggering 194 cm, a full 7 cm increase from his previous 187 cm.

"Similar to my past self on Earth," Kael thought. "No wonder they were so shocked. And Ash... well, she's always been short, and Garrick was just slightly taller than me. Now we're the same height. This change is incredible. Could it be because I became a martial cultivator?"

Kael walked back out, trying to play it off.

"Cough… It's nothing. Darius just gave me some medicine… cough… for my liver. You get it, right?" he said. Ash and Garrick nodded, each lost in their thoughts.

"Good," Kael said, striding away, Garrick trailing closely behind.

Ash stared after them, her thoughts racing.

"The Crown Prince is dangerous now. Not only has his intelligence changed, but even his mentality and physical appearance. Was he warning me then by showing me that gruesome scene? Does he know I'm an assassin sent by my master? Or was that just a coincidence?" she wondered.

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At the Throne Room…

Kael and Garrick entered, greeted by a large assembly. On one side sat the families of the Williams; on the other, the ministers and aristocrats. And seated on the elevated thrones was the royal family.

The room fell into stunned silence as Kael walked in.

"Huh? Who let this imposter in?" "Guards! Guards!" multiple aristocrats shouted.

Even the guards outside the door heaved a sigh of relief. They'd almost failed to recognize the Crown Prince, but seeing Garrick by his side, they'd deduced his identity. On closer inspection, a faint resemblance could still be seen.

Inside the throne room, the king's booming voice silenced the commotion.

"Enough! Can't you recognize my son?" he declared. Still, even the king couldn't hide his shock.

"Is this really my son?" he thought as Kael approached the throne.

Kael ascended the steps, taking the seat to his father's right—a chair smaller than the king's but no less imposing. He surveyed the assembly with a calm expression, masking his own lingering astonishment over his transformation.

As he sat, Kael focused on his siblings, his gaze lingering on his sisters, searching for any sign of treachery. He also noted his elder sister's absence.

"I greet the king," Kael said, his voice steady. The king chuckled lightly, though his eyes betrayed his continued amazement.

Though Kael had seen himself sitting on the throne many times but this moment was different. He could feel the comforting aura of authority emanating from the seat, a palpable weight of power in the air.

Below, the atmosphere was tense. Ministers and aristocrats shifted uncomfortably, their unease clear. They could sense the growing presence of the Crown Prince—an aura of intelligence, authority, and danger that was impossible to ignore.

"He has changed so much," the king thought to himself, and he wasn't the only one who noticed. The prince and princesses, the ministers, the aristocrats, and even the family of Williams could see it too.

"Now that my son is here, we can officially begin," the king announced, drawing everyone's attention.

"The matter at hand concerns the death of my minister, William. According to the facts presented to us, he was killed by a drunkard near his house. However, his family disputes this claim, and I too find it hard to believe that a mere drunkard could have been responsible," the king said, his voice firm yet thoughtful.

"If anyone has anything to add, you may speak now," the king invited, granting permission to the gathered audience.

"If that is the case, who do you suggest was responsible?" a voice interrupted. Heads turned to see the second prince, the second son of the royal family, rise to his feet.

"Your Majesty, we believe it wasn't merely a drunkard," someone from the Williams family stepped forward, bowed, and began to speak. "We suspect the drunkard was used as a scapegoat."

Kael, the crown prince, observed the speaker closely and recognized him as William's son.

"It cannot be us, Your Majesty!"

"Why would we do such a thing?"

"For what reason, Your Majesty?"

Voices of aristocrats rang out in their defense, growing louder until the king raised a finger. Silence fell across the hall.

"If none of you is responsible, then who is?" the king demanded, his voice echoing through the chamber.

For a moment, no one spoke. Heads bowed, and eyes avoided the king's piercing gaze. Finally, a voice broke the silence.

"Well, someone higher than the ministers themselves," Kael said with a chuckle, causing the king to turn toward him sharply.

"What do you mean, Kael?" the king asked, his tone serious.

"It's simple, Father," Kael replied, his expression unreadable, a faint smile on his lips. "The royal family—or at least one of us—is responsible."

Gasps filled the room.

"Do you accuse your siblings of this treason?" the king asked, his face darkening.

"Accuse? No, Father. I am stating the truth: one of us did it," Kael said, his calm demeanor unshaken.

His words sent his siblings into an uproar.

"How dare you accuse your own blood of this!"

"What proof do you have, Kael?"

"Are you accusing us because you are guilty yourself?"

Insults and accusations flew from the other royal children, but Kael remained unmoved, watching them with an enigmatic smile.

"Enough!"

The second prince finally spoke, his voice calm in contrast to the chaos. "Brother, why would you say such a thing? What did you see? What evidence do you have?"

Kael's smile widened. "Good question. You are the most sensible among my siblings. The rest are just fools, running their mouths."

The second prince frowned slightly at the remark, but his siblings were livid.

"Kael, you've gone too far!"

"Are you insane?"

"If not for your position, you would be beneath my feet!"

The room descended into chaos again, with his siblings hurling insults at him. Meanwhile, the king observed silently, his expression unreadable. kael was the crown prince and soon enough he will become the king of this kingdom but how can he rule if he can't even take care of his siblings much more less the Eryndor kingdom.

Kael's aura suddenly shifted. His smile faded, replaced by a cold, commanding presence. A powerful martial aura filled the hall, silencing everyone as Garrick, Kael's trusted guard, stepped forward, his glare sharp.

The weight of the aura pressed down on the siblings, leaving them terrified. When Garrick finally withdrew it, they gasped in relief.

"If any of you dare to speak to me disrespectfully again," Kael said, his tone ice-cold, "you will face the same punishment as those who insult the throne. I may not be king yet, but I will be soon. Disrespecting me is disrespecting the crown, the throne, and the kingdom of Eryndor itself."

The siblings looked away, shame and fear written on their faces. The king's wives, though silent, felt the sting of Kael's authority. He had not directly implicated them, but his words left their hearts heavy.

Kael's demeanor softened, his smile returning as he turned back to the second prince. "Now, to answer your question, dear brother," he said lightly.

"I was assassinated."

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