Bloodlines and Betrayal

An usher handed a sword to the King. As the King drew it, both he and Shin knelt, the weight of the moment pressing down on them like a tangible force.

Laverna's heart pounded, her teeth threatening to elongate as uncertainty gripped her. Was he going to attack? Was this an elaborate trick? No. The King's posture lacked hostility, his movements deliberate and measured.

She forced herself to listen as the King spoke, his voice steady and commanding. Each word settled over her like a weight, too surreal to fully grasp. He was declaring that all of the Lichtensteins' lands would be given to them, as if bestowing a mere trinket. Confusion clouded her expression as the Queen met her gaze and nodded.

Relief and horror warred within her, a whirlwind of emotions she struggled to suppress. The Lichtensteins' home was nothing but ash and rubble now—a ruined monument to the suffering they had caused and the retribution they had earned.

A burned ruin, its legacy steeped in pain and corruption. What did this title even mean for them? Was it a reward, a burden, or a carefully placed snare?

Shin's heart pounded just as fast as hers, but his emotions were laced with something sharper, wariness, doubt. This was too much, too sudden, like being handed a blade with no guarantee it wasn't poisoned. Even with the truth spell active, his instincts screamed at him not to trust so easily. Deception was an art, and words, no matter how honest, could still be used as weapons.

They had come expecting judgment, perhaps even imprisonment. Cold, unyielding chains would have made more sense than this. Yet instead, they had been rewarded beyond reason, as if fate itself had decided to upend their understanding of justice and consequence.

The King tapped the sword on Shin and Laverna's shoulders. "I, King Tristan XIII, in sound mind and body, decree that from this day forth, Shin Soma and Laverna, for your bravery and resilience in the face of danger and adversity, you are now Knights of the Kingdom. As such, you are also Nobles of the Land. You will bear the title of 'Count' as the Lichtensteins once did. All that they owned, including their lands, now belongs to you. You may do with it as you see fit. The Crown will assist you in settling."

Gasps erupted around them. An elder councilman stepped forward, his face flush with indignation. "Your Majesty, this is highly irregular. Granting such titles without a thorough council review sets a dangerous precedent—"

King Tristan didn't say a word. He simply turned and fixed the man with a cold, piercing stare. Silence fell like a blade. The elder paled and backed away, lowering his eyes.

The King returned his gaze to Shin and Laverna, expression unreadable. That silent assertion of power said more than any speech could.

Laverna barely kept her jaw from dropping. A noble? A knight? After all she had endured, after clawing her way out of the abyss, could she truly belong in such a world? Her hands curled into fists, not in anger but in sheer disbelief. She had been a slave, an assassin, a shadow. And now, she was nobility?

Shin's heart raced, but the thrill of recognition was overshadowed by deep-seated suspicion. This was an honor of the highest regard, yet the reasoning behind it was a tangled enigma. Why had the King given them so much? What unseen forces moved beneath the surface of this grand gesture?

The truth spell ensured honesty, but honesty did not always mean clarity. Truth could be twisted, reshaped by omission, by the careful crafting of words left unsaid. What pieces of this puzzle were still missing?

His fingers twitched, the weight of the orb at his side grounding him, an anchor against the storm raging in his mind. The gift of land, of title, of nobility—it was all too much, too fast. And too dangerous.

'Maybe killing bad people has its perks,' she mused bitterly, biting her tongue to keep the words from slipping out. But was it truly a reward, or a noose disguised as a crown?

The King sheathed his sword and handed it back to the usher, his movements slow, deliberate. Before anyone could protest, he lifted his chin and commanded, "Everyone, except my Queen, Davis, Shin, and Laverna, leave the room." The weight of his voice was final, brooking no argument.

The noble scribes left reluctantly, some shooting venomous glares at Shin and Laverna. They had spent their lives striving for power, yet these two had gained everything by ending the Lichtensteins.

Even in death, the Count's family had left behind resentment. Laverna forced herself to remain silent as the others left, leaving only the three of them, the Queen, and the Guild Master.

Once the doors shut, the King turned to Shin and smiled. Shin, confused, remained tense. "I never knew you had grown into such a fine man, young Prince."

The King bowed his head.

Shin's breath hitched. The King knew who he was. He looked to Laverna, then back at the King, searching for an explanation. "You have chosen well, young Prince," the King continued. "I—"

Shin's heart pounded violently, frustration, confusion, and anger swirling inside him. He released Laverna's hand and stood, his gaze shifting to Master Davis. The old man remained calm, nodding as if this revelation was expected.

"Wait, wait, wait," Shin said, voice sharp. "You know who I am? You know about my royal bloodline?"

The room darkened as the shadows shifted. Laverna stared at Shin, her thoughts in disarray. Prince? Shin is a Prince? What the hell was going on?

Shin pulled his hand away, and she felt the absence of his warmth. The familiar chill of shadows wrapped around her. But what scared her more was the look in his eyes.

King Tristan nodded. "Of course! You're Murasabe's son. An ally of our Kingdom. Your father must be busy; otherwise, he would have visited. How is that old friend of mine?"

Shin's heart clenched. His fists curled, claws piercing his palms, blood dripping onto the floor. He fought to keep his emotions in check, but his voice came out heavy, somber.

"He's dead."

The room fell silent. The Queen covered her mouth, her eyes welling with sorrow. Davis lowered his gaze, already knowing the truth. The King… the King looked like someone had just struck him in the gut. He staggered slightly, catching himself against his throne.

"What?" the King whispered, his voice hoarse. "No… That can't be… Murasabe was… he was one of the strongest warriors I had ever known."

Shin swallowed the lump in his throat. "Strength… means nothing against betrayal."

The King's hands curled into fists, his knuckles white. "Tell me everything."

Taking a slow, measured breath, Shin began to speak, his voice carrying the weight of years spent in shadows. The words felt foreign even as he uttered them, raw and unrelenting.

And for the first time, King Tristan listened to a truth he had never expected, a truth that would shake the foundations of all he had believed.