Chapter 10: The Grand Exposure: A Web of Lies Unraveled

Kaito took Ameli, Lilia, and Princess Althea and followed the royal advisor in invisible mode to the palace hall. The other nobles were present. The nephew of the queen and the prince were accusing the princess of being a traitor who had run away to another nation with important documents of the royal family. The prince and the nephew had stopped her, but she had managed to escape. The queen was grinning.

As Kaito stood before the gathered nobles, his presence an enigma to those unfamiliar with him, the palace hall was tense with anticipation. Ameli, Lilia, and Princess Althea flanked him, their expressions a mix of determination and defiance. The royal advisor, who had unknowingly led them here, stepped back as the air around Kaito shimmered, and the invisibility spell lifted. Gasps echoed throughout the hall as the unexpected appearance of the princess sent a ripple of shock through the nobles.

The queen's nephew and the prince, who had been accusing Athea of treason, faltered mid-sentence, their faces turning pale. Yet, the queen herself remained composed, a slow, knowing grin spreading across her lips.

"Don't spout nonsense and lies about me!" Athea's voice rang out, strong and unwavering.

The entire hall fell silent. Nobles exchanged nervous glances, their curiosity piqued by this sudden confrontation. Before anyone could respond, the queen's expression twisted into one of fury. "Arrest the traitor and those who accompany her!" she shrieked, her voice laced with venom.

The doors burst open, and knights poured in, their armor gleaming under the grand chandeliers. Swords clanked as they raised their weapons, ready to seize Kaito and his companions. But before they could act, Kaito calmly raised a hand. A surge of magical energy pulsed through the air as he activated a spell—his modified Wind Wall.

A powerful gust erupted from beneath the knights, sending them soaring backward. They crashed into the walls, their weapons clattering to the floor as they struggled to regain their footing. The nobles gasped in astonishment, some even stumbling backward in fear.

Kaito lowered his hand, his eyes locked onto the queen. "Why so hasty?" he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "Shouldn't we first clear the truth and show it to the entire kingdom?"

The queen, her nephew, and the prince stiffened. Panic flickered in their eyes, but they quickly masked it with anger. "Are you saying that we are lying?!" the prince bellowed, his voice shaking slightly.

Kaito smirked. "Nova," he called, his voice steady. "Play the recording for the entire kingdom. And after that, broadcast what is happening here—live."

From within Kaito's coat, a small floating device emerged—Nova, his artificial intelligence creation. It hovered in the air, its core glowing faintly. "Understood," Nova replied in a mechanical yet elegant voice.

A large projection appeared in the air, visible to everyone in the hall. Across the kingdom, every magic screen in the capital flickered to life, displaying the same footage.

The recording began.

The queen's voice echoed through the chamber, dripping with cruelty. "I have taken care of that stupid princess so she can't disturb us."

A murmur spread through the crowd as the nobles turned to look at their ruler in disbelief. The recording continued.

The nephew sneered. "She should have simply accepted our marriage. I wanted to rip her apart and enjoy her once, but what can we do now?"

Disgusted gasps and horrified whispers filled the air. The queen's face turned ashen, her previous composure shattering like fragile glass. "L-Lies! Stop this now! You can't show this to the people! It's a lie!" she screamed, desperation lacing her words.

Kaito chuckled darkly. "A lie?" he mused. "It's your own recorded conversation. You plotted against the princess, and now the entire kingdom knows."

The hall fell into an eerie silence. The weight of the evidence was undeniable. The queen's own voice condemned her, and there was no escape.

Then, the sound of laughter broke the silence. The king, seated on his grand throne, was grinning widely, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He stood abruptly. "Guards! Arrest these traitors immediately!" he roared.

The very knights who had once been loyal to the queen hesitated. Then, as realization dawned upon them, they turned against the ones they had sworn to serve. The prince and the queen's nephew attempted to flee, but the knights seized them with practiced precision.

"Unhand me!" the prince screeched. "I am the rightful heir!"

"You are nothing but a disgrace!" the king spat. "You plotted against your own sister! You are no son of mine!"

The nobles watched in stunned silence as the scene unfolded. The once-powerful queen, now exposed and stripped of her authority, thrashed against the knights holding her in place. Her nephew trembled, his earlier arrogance replaced with terror.

Kaito took a step forward and handed a parchment to the king. "Here is a list of nobles who were involved in this conspiracy. They, too, must be dealt with accordingly."

The king scanned the list, his face darkening with every name he read. "So many traitors among us... I should have known." He turned to his knights. "Arrest them all. Strip them of their titles. The kingdom has no place for betrayers."

One by one, the corrupt nobles were taken away, their fates sealed by their own treachery. The remaining nobles, those who had stayed loyal, let out sighs of relief. Order had been restored, and justice had prevailed.

Althea turned to Kaito, gratitude shining in her eyes. "You... saved me. You saved the kingdom."

Kaito shrugged. "I just don't like seeing innocent people being framed."

Lilia and Ameli smiled beside him, relieved that the ordeal had ended without bloodshed. Nova, still hovering, reported, "The kingdom's response is overwhelmingly positive. The people are cheering for the princess's return and the removal of corrupt officials."