"You are like a cracked vassal now. No matter how graceful and strong it is, it would not be able to hold water anymore.
You should be thankful that the nobles and I have enough respect for you to not punish you severely for lying and deceiving others.
Have you ever thought how Leo would be able to handle his status as a commoner after being announced as war hero and the head commander of the knights.
Would he be able to take orders from a knight who used to be his junior and run errands for him.
It was all because of your greed to secure your position that you have done such a big felony yet you are trying to shrug off its responsibility.
I must say William, i am disappointed with you." looking at the changing faces of the nobles and William's children, George gloated in his heart.
That's right! That was how you should be treated. With a look of suspicion and wariness, no one would be able to forget that you are just a greedy man.
No matter how qualified you are or how much wisdom you hold, if you would fall in their eyes and lose the trust they have in you, you would not be able to stand up high and mighty like you used to in the past.
They would beg me to take you off from your position and then I would slowly devour everything that you have closer to your heart.
Your countdown has already started.
Pinching the space between his eyebrows, George tried to hide the evil smirk forming on his face.
"William, as a brother it would be my advice that you do not persist anymore and accept the decision.
It would be your journey to repentance. And as far as it is about duchy, your daughters are already old enough to get married. Your son in law can take the position back for you.
I would not accept any further arguments from both sides and would conclude the trial here. Do any of you have any objections?" in a grave and authoritative voice, he announced as he passed a cold glance to everyone.
Those who were still having doubts bowed their heads hurriedly when they felt the penetrating gave over them.
William, taken aback by the last words, looked at his family with worried eyes.
He had thought that they all had forgiven him. Was he wrong all this time?
Though William was a strong man when it comes to handling the matters of brain, he was still weak when it comes to family and after the death of his wife, he always felt that he was not good enough for handling them and was not able to fill the void created by losing their mother.
"Your majesty, I have a question?" Leo, who was silent all this time, stood up and looked at George with a grim look on his face.
Thinking that he was worried about his position, a smug look formed on the face of George. He wanted to see Leo begging him to hold his position only to know that he could never have it in the end.
A look of excitement was getting difficult to hide, therefore George took a deep breath after closing his eyes that was easily misunderstood as exhaustion and pain from handling the matters of his family so crucially.
"If it is about your post, then I apologize but a commoner could not be the commandant. But you do not need to worry, I will arrange a post that would be according to your skills.
Since you are innocent in this whole matter, I will try my best to serve you justice without breaking any law of the empire." 'Hmm, should I make him an errand boy or the one who handles the kitchen with the chef to feel the knights.
No! A cage would be better!' George could already see how an arrogant and cold man like Leo was running around to fetch water for the knights. He could not explain how good it felt, as if he had finally found relief from years old wounds.
"No! That is not what I am concerned about, your majesty. I wanted to know which son in law would get the position of the duke.
Would it be the first son in law or the eldest one who will marry the first daughter of the duke?" taken aback by the sudden question, George replied honestly.
"Since there is no law about eldest son in law taking the title, it would be the first son in law. But isn't it too early to discuss it?
William has still not lost the title yet you are already thinking of snatching it!?
If I did not know any better, I would have thought that you were with him all this time so that you can covet his title!" he admonished and many nobles nodded.
They were shocked when he asked about inheriting the title suddenly. As if he was waiting for the demise of the family so that he could be the new leader.
Many looked at him with eyes full of disgust and disdain.
If anyone would have been at his place, they would have felt embarrassment and shame when each eye looked at him with doubt.
As if they were telling him that he was a greedy person. They were admonishing him and criticizing him.
"You can interpret it anyway my lord. But you were the one who said that it is your final decision that you are taking away the title of archduke from lord William only to pass it down to his son in law. I only wanted to confirm if I had the authority to request it.
Now that you have affirmed, I am at ease.
With due respect, i Leonardo, as the first son in law of lord William, i request you to pass the title to me."
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