Waves of Betrayal 2

That morning. Weithia felt a breeze on the back of her neck, her habit of daydreaming could never be abandoned. Trevor even scolded her just because of that. The King walked not far from where she was being treated, behind him were military officials, royal advisors and several ministers following his every step.His figure a like a masterpiece of art carved by Michaelangelo. "It feels like when we look at a painting. But fail to know what it means. Everyone has their own view of art." he said softly.A nurse also looked towards the group. Their distance was only separated by a small garden. On the other side of the building there was a meeting room that the King would enter. The man seemed unaware that Weithia had been watching from afar. While letting a doctor and nurse treat his wounds."But is there something that can't be fully understood for a monarchy to walk." The nurse expressed her thoughts."It's like he's untouched by anyone." Said her fellow nurse. "He's twenty-four years old, there's no sign of a Queen ascending."On the other side of the room, the servants vaguely joined in discussing the King "It seems like today's meeting is more lively huh. In front I see a lot of carriages lined up, twice as many as usual.""We shouldn't be talking about this, if we get caught we could get punished. Moreover..." the girls flirtatiously glanced at Weithia who was topless – while a nurse wrapped a bandage around his chest.""His Knight is here."They chuckled praising the young man's handsomeness. Then he immediately looked away. His eyes looked back at the hallway that Adam had just passed. He felt a little down when he was not allowed to watch the meeting. Because His Majesty himself asked him not to come.His head was so dizzy, after being hit repeatedly on a hard surface by Anthony, he was no longer surprised. He was really battered that time, until all his friends in Haven started gossiping about him. Let alone in Haven, the servants or fellow soldiers in the palace were talking about him and Anthony. Many of them did not know the root of the problem, so unpleasant gossip arose.But it was true, they were not entirely wrong. He realized that he had done something bad. Not a single smile had ever appeared on his lips since that night. But what always haunted his mind was the fact that His Majesty himself did not want to meet him.Doing forbidden things with a woman, but who knows who. Weithia couldn't remember clearly. Suddenly everything was blurry. The last thing he remembered was watching the people partying in the town. After that, a woman invited him to go to the edge of the forest.'Her hands are cold. So cold like ice.' He remembered that the woman's hands were very cold. He lowered his head and walked away tiredly after thanking the doctor and nurse. His feet wanted to turn around and follow the King. But he couldn't disobey the man's words. He decided to return to his room, he had no enthusiasm for training. There were no orders to follow at that time.His steps stopped when Layla, Princess Carmellia's maid walked towards him. "Sir Weithia. I, on behalf of the Princess, convey my apologies. About the rumors that spread between you and her."Weithia shook his head quickly, "No. No. I should be the one apologizing. I am ready to accept any punishment, for defaming the Princess.""Don't worry, everyone who is talking doesn't know what really happened. It's just that the Princess seems to be the main topic of conversation in the palace. Even so, everything will pass by itself.""Is that so? She's not angry?""No. The Princess tried not to interfere too deeply in this matter. The King has also apologized directly for the strange accusations.""Is that so? Thank God she doesn't hate me.""That's all I wanted to say. The Princess is currently attending a meeting with His Majesty. Aren't you coming?""No. His Majesty asked me not to attend.""Alright, I'll excuse myself then."Trevor opened the door for the King, in the room there were already many government officials present. Not a single empty chair was seen."Your Majesty King Adam Everardus." Trevor's loud voice echoed throughout the room. Everyone there quickly bowed respectfully. A stiff expression was visible on the man's face. His brows furrowed and his thin lips closed tightly.Ackerley sat not far from the King, while Trevor stood below the stairs from the King's throne. After greetings were said, Ackerley spoke to open the session. It seemed that they all understood what had happened, although not completely but in general. Through word of mouth.Adam tapped his index finger lightly while observing each person present in the room. He did not say a word after the Royal Advisor finished until the atmosphere turned tense. All eyes were on him. His premonition did not make him very comfortable.If he finally found the worst that could happen. He was ready. After the King had a little chat about all the documents he got at Jaquet's residence, his mind only focused on the thing that had been his nightmare every night."Good morning, Sirs." His voice sounded strange, foreign and so cold."I called you all because I wanted to talk about the series of mysterious deaths that happened in Wilhelmia some time ago. Including me who almost died few days ago."The atmosphere became chaotic"Their target apparently me. A bad assumption cannot be created from the start.""But let me make this brief... I want to ask, is there one of you who betrayed the Kingdom? If so, please come forward before I pull you myself."The sweat of the nobles present in the room flowed thinly on their foreheads, while regulating their irregular heartbeats. They looked at each other. "Is there anyone who betrayed?" they whispered."No one? If you admit it, I will reduce your punishment." Adam's eyes looked down at his people. "Or do you want your friends to say it? They will be called here soon."They looked at each other. Shaking their heads. Bowing. Making the King wait."Is there anyone who doesn't understand the language I'm speaking? Or suddenly all of your ears can't hear?"No one answered either. Adam clicked his tongue in annoyance and roughly took the paper that Ackerley had handed over. "Ulric Tybalt! Frandel Gaunt! Rufl Barda!"The three names made the atmosphere turn noisy and chaotic. All heads turned to the man they knew well. Shocked and in disbelief at what had just happened. When the middle-aged man stepped forward with trembling hands and weak knees. Kneeling under the King's throne."Forgive me, Your Majesty." he said hoarsely. One of them sobbed."I haven't said your mistakes but you've already admitted them? Good. I heard that Mr. Ulric is a subordinate of General Trevor by volunteering as an educator at Haven. You, Frandel Gaunt. Are quite close to my Royal Advisor. And Mr. Rufl, you have been a follower of this Kingdom since the time of King Alexander, therefore you know him well. Is that right?""Is everything I just said the truth?" Adam repeated his words once more.The three men nodded. "I give you a chance to speak.""E-everything you said is true.""I beg your forgiveness, I beg your mercy, Your Majesty.""I-I didn't do anything! Your Majesty." Rulf said in defense."Really? What if I have proof?" Adam sighed and looked at Trevor. "Bring them all here."The door opened and seven men entered, escorted by armored soldiers, one of whom was Anthony. "For those of you who don't know what happened. These prisoners of the Kingdom will tell us everything now before all of us.""Minister Jaquet!? Why was he arrested?""What did he do?""Who are those people?""Minister Jaquet...""Is he a traitor to the Kingdom?""It turns out my suspicions were right all this time.""Yes, that man is like a lone wolf who doesn't want to associate with us.""All honorable gentlemen. Before that, I would like to convey that the Wilhelmian military obtained dozens of complete files and documents related to Wilhelmia, my parents, and myself at Minister Jaquet's residence." Adam said briefly. The attendees of the trial whispered to each other and discussed the men who were suspects. A total of ten men lined up and knelt under Adam's feet. Not a single word of rejection came out of their mouths. Realizing the mistakes they had made. Now the King knew everything. They had lost badly.Ackerley immediately opened the questions to the suspects. Starting with Minister Jaquet who was asked why he had detailed information about the Kingdom in his house."I was ordered by my lord to make my residence his headquarters.""Then where did all that information come from?""We collected it for years. From various parties, the Wilhelmians involved were only the five of us. The rest are from other countries."Ackerley glanced at the King who was listening. "Mention all the roles you received."Jaquet answered him tremblingly, "I only received orders from him. As His Majesty said earlier. Everything is true. Francilius is also my subordinate who carries out all field cases.""So it turns out that it is true that you were the ones who killed the woman and the noble?""Yes sir.""The reason?""I received orders from him sir, he wanted to terrorize the Wilhelmian people so that we could more freely obtain information. We broke into the Kingdom's archives, joined Haven. We were ordered to obtain as much information as possible.""Since when has this been going on?""Three years ago, sir.""How did you kill those two people?""We gave them the poison of the night shadow flower.""Why those two people? Is there a special reason? Did the nobleman find out about your plan so you killed him?"I don't know, sir. I don't know!" he raised his voice, suddenly Anthony threw a kick in the man's stomach making him groan in pain.The King gave a cold stare to all the humans standing in the room. Princess Carmellia sat on one of the chairs, as ordered. In the end, the man also wanted to know the real intention of the girl's arrival here, which was her action in the name of transparency."Forgive me, Your Majesty. My wife and child are innocent. Please release them.""Sir Jaquet. What about the rumor of witches spreading widely in Wilhelmia? Is that also part of your gang's actions?""No, sir. I didn't get any orders to spread those mystical rumors. We were only asked to kill someone so that the condition of the Wilhelmian people would not be conducive.""So you think the people created the rumor?" Ackerley and Adam stared at each other."I'm not sure how to answer that. I think because of their mysterious deaths there was no trace of wounds.""Then what about the missing tongue and the absence of a single drop of blood in their bodies? That news managed to terrorize Wilhelmia.""So who spread the rumor about the witches!?"Jaquet shook his head. "Maybe it's only the people's talk, assumption.""Don't lie anymore, I know very well that Francilius changed the information from Doctor Louis before giving it to me. Sir Ackerley made a big mistake by trusting Francilius."Adam shook his head weakly. "So for the past three years you have betrayed me? How much wealth did he give you that made your loyalty to me fade. I, on behalf of myself, am truly disappointed.""Forgive me, Your Majesty."Ackerley now turned to the five strange men. "Mr. Jaquet can you tell us who these four men are?" he paused and glanced at Carmellia. Fear dominated his face, his slender hands clenched. Blood felt like it was flowing so quickly throughout his body."They... were just my orders, Your Majesty.""Is that so? If you lie I will sentence your family to death.""That rule does not exist in Wilhelmia's law, Your Majesty." his voice was a little more challenging. Adam's hand was raised when Anthony was about to hit the man once again."Sir. This is the Absolute Monarchy, don't care too much about the law. Law? I created it." He said no less arrogantly. "As the highest government in this country, I am free to do anything. But what is the reality, goodness and morals keep the Kingdom safe even though it makes me difficult. On the other hand, people say, with goodness the throne will be safe and sound.""Unlike me, I don't need to do good to maintain the position of the throne. Because Adam Everardus is the throne itself. Adam is the Absolute Monarchy. So don't waste my time just to get information from you.""Tell me who those men are. If you cooperate, your family will be free."Sweat poured down the man's face, his lips dry and pale. His eyes kept glancing secretly at Carmellia. His knees felt so tired that they could no longer support him."Still don't want to open your mouth? Look around you, can you interpret the look implied in those eyes? Please make them wait longer." "They are Grisshamians, Your Majesty."Adam's eyes widened, "What did you say!?""I am not lying. They are from Grissham"For the second time, the atmosphere became chaotic, after hearing the word Grissham. Moreover, among them was the Daugther of the Grissham Kindom. The hardest day Carmellia had ever gone through. As much as possible, she maintained her composure and honor. If this was what her parents had planned from the start, making her alone come to Willhelmia. As a shield, bait or whatever. There is no turning back.What was initially just an escape from the sad condition of his family had to face this newly revealed reality.No mouth could stop gossiping, even in the courtroom. The King just had not run out of patience. He saw the condition of the Princess at that time, his attention was still focused on the ten men.Ackerley and Trevor took turns looking at each other. "Grissham?" he whispered. The Royal Advisor just shook his head."What does Grissham have to do with this problem?" Adam's words made the room silent again.Carmellia did not speak up to defend her country. This incident was completely beyond the girl's control. She did know very well that Grissham and Willhelmia were in a tense situation, was this the reason.Her eyes caught the figure of a man she had seen in her house. Long before Carmellia went to the Northern Kingdom."I ask again, what does Grissham have to do with this problem, are you in cahoots with that country?"Jaquet said weakly, "You already know the answer, Your Majesty."Adam was silent, his hands gripping the chair handle tightly. His breath was ragged as he took turns glancing at Trevor and Ackerley who also knew what the King was thinking. He was silent for a moment, the faces of the high-ranking officials also looked anxious and worried. Guessing what Adam would say.Most of them were new ranks that Adam had appointed himself. Only a few had survived since his father's time. So they might not know the answer the King would say.Adam swallowed his saliva, his eyebrows furrowed. He looked at the ten suspects one by one. "King Anderson? Do you work for him? In a dark organization called... Blackwood?""Yes, Your Majesty."The atmosphere was chaotic again for the umpteenth time, this time more out of control. The high-ranking government and military officials who were present in the room could not believe what Adam had said.The girl's eyes widened, her breath stopped when her father's name was mentioned. All eyes were on her, glances filled with hatred. Fear took over her body, her fingers felt stiff and cold. The King now cast his gaze on him.His throat felt like it was choking when he wanted to say something. Until Adam tried to control the situation back to being conducive."Gentlemen, please calm down. Let's listen to Minister Jaquet's testimony until the end. And since the Princess of Grissham is here, we can also get information from her. Please control yourselves. We don't know the real truth yet.""Your Majesty, how long do you want to run away from the problem. Concrete evidence has been found, they have testified in front of all of us. Why are you still defending the Princess?""Calm down, Sir." Trevor said, afraid that the King would lose his patience."If you speak so confidently, replace me in this chair. And give an order." The man immediately fell silent. "I understand your concerns, Minister Jaquet, who I consider to be the leader of a rebellion in Wilhelmia, do you swear that your Master is King Anderson of Grissham.""Yes.""Are you standing on an organization called Blackwood which is also led and formed by King Anderson?""Correct.""What is spreading the lie about witches, your doing?""No, Your Majesty.""You have stolen all the illegal information from the Kingdom and have been doing it for three years?""Yes, Your Majesty." The corners of Jaquet's eyes began to shed tears. His gaze only stared at the cold marble floor of the hall. His companions on his left and right also held back the fear that surged when they knew that their lives would soon end."Did your family interfere with this matter?""No! No, Your Majesty.""Is your residence the only Blackwood base in Wilhelmia?""Yes, Your Majesty. There are none left.""Are there only five Wilhelmians who betrayed, if there are any left. Tell me now.""No, Your Majesty. Only us.""What are these five Grissham people doing in my country?""They came on the orders of King Anderson. To help us get information.""Did anyone escape? Because my soldiers saw a man running away towards the forest on the border. Alone."Jaquet shook his head slowly, "No, Your Majesty. J-just us.""Is there anything I still don't know?""No, Your Majesty. That's all I do and know."Adam took a deep breath, glancing at Ackerley who was busy with his quill. With sheets of paper filled with detailed notes.Adam lowered his voice. "What is the reason you betrayed me? Am I not good enough as a leader?"Jaquet didn't answer, his seed was bitten and bleeding thinly.Trevor and Ackerley stared at each other in shock. While Adam just nodded."Last question.""...Is this the same organization that killed my parents? King Anderson who did it?"Jaquet looked at his colleagues for a moment, then when his eyes met Adam's blue beads he answered, "Yes."Ackerley put his hand over his mouth immediately. Staring in horror at Trevor and the King alternately. His hands were shaking unable to write anymore. Adam didn't need to ask any more questions to clarify the statement. The room was not conducive again, the audience never expected to get such a shocking fact that day.After dozens of years buried in time, like a surprise that shot like an arrow in the summer. The King maintained his composure, even though his face was clearly red because of the blood flowing profusely throughout his body. "...Very well. According to Article 8 of Wilhelmian law. A traitor to the Kingdom will be punished by death. By any means. Without exception. I will not kill your families, but they are no longer of this nation, they will be immediately exiled and will never set foot in Wilhelmia again.""For, the ten men in front of me will inevitably receive punishment. You are no longer Wilhelmians and your positions are dishonorably discharged. The rest, I hand you over to the executioner." The soldiers escorted the men out of the courtroom again.The sun was getting higher, its rays were scorching and hot. Adam hoped that there would be no storms and ocean waves that will drown Willhelmia.