Alexander was not really surprised by Amenheraft's hostile remark.
In fact, he was already prepared for such a greeting when he had known Ptolomy was going to hold this party with nobles from both factions.
This was even something he himself had asked for.
Because Alexander wanted to at least see all the nobles on both sides and know who was who.
And perhaps even make a name for himself by winning some verbal bouts.
Hence, unconcerned about the rude greeting, it was only after he felt a man approach him that he broke away from his train of thought of wanting to kill Amenheraft's wife and children and brought his focus back to the party, only to find a pair of eyes drowning in hatred.
And facing this hostile reaction, Alexander reacted nonchalantly.
Because if someone had stolen Zanzan from him like he took Adhan from Amenheraft, he too would be quite pissed off.
Thus, as he faced the glaring eyes, and felt many curious eyes from all around land on him, he decided to respond to Amenheraft calling him a barbarian.
So first he politely greeted him, coolly saying, "It is customary in my land to first greet someone when meeting for the first time. So let me say that it is nice to finally meet you too, Your Grace." before sarcastically smirking, "And Your Lordship should be a bit mindful of his manner. Because if someone were to judge us just from the conversation right now, they might mistake who the actual 'barbarian' was here."
Alexander held back nothing in his barbed reply, and as the ballroom was stone silent at that time, it helped to carry his reply to all present ears.
"*Pooh*" And hearing this, when the Queen mother failed to hold her guffaw, and let out a short burst of laughter before quickly suppressing herself, the silent hall room also helped to take that sound clearly all around.
Which was quite humiliating for Amenheraft.
As for why the experienced Queen mother had failed to hold in her laughter, well it was because she knew Amenheraft was not the type to show his emotions so openly.
Usually, whenever she had met him, Amenheraft always would have a regal air around him, and speak in a deep, winded aristocratic way.
Hence, seeing now how he had broken etiquette so blatantly and spoken so crassly, the Queen Mother felt that the loss of his capital must have hurt him more than she had expected.
Thus, feeling amused at Alexander's witty remark and taking pleasure at Amenheraft's fall from grace, the regal woman failed to control herself for a moment and let out a laugh, before quickly endeavoring to reapply her cold, nonchalant facade.
But in attempting to do, she somehow made it worse for Amenheraft, as after her distinctive sound, a few more such short giggles, and smirks started to appear all around.
It seemed that laughter truly was contagious.
And though all of these tried to be equally silent and small so as to not laugh out loud and break the etiquette of opening laughing at a noble which was considered very rude, the short chortles actually produced a slight crescendo that seemed to make as if the entire ballroom was laughing at Amenheraft.
"Hahaha, good brat, good," While Pasha Farzah, who was standing just opposite to Alexander really did laugh as if the whole ballroom was laughing, holding nothing back,
And as for Alexander, after returning a light smile to the aged man who had heavily slapped him across the should, he, like the Queen Mother, went on to think that Amenheraft must be really, really salty about losing his capital.
And they were right in their conjecture, as what stung really him the most was not the fact that he had lost his capital, but more so how he lost it.
Amenheraft had everything under his control the entire time, everything in his palms on his hands, when suddenly, the next second it was not, sniped away by a thief.
And then before even he could understand what was going to he was forced to escape the city.
That day still haunted Amenheraft in his nightmares, and as a matter of fact, even now, he would many times wake up in the middle of the night with sweat all over his face having weird and fearful dreams about that very fateful morning.
So, when he saw the main culprit behind it all, Alexander, strutting around, wearing fine clothes, eating good food, and drinking the same sweet wine as him, the man, who also might have had a bit too much to drink was momentarily unable to control his rage and frustration, resulting in the imbroglio.
But as Amenheraft stood like a block of wood in front of Alexander with a red face, wishing to kill the man but having to hold himself off to honor the sacredness of the days following the Jtaama, it was the old Pasha of Ankuut had come to his king's rescue.
"*Cough*, *cough*, Manuk has told me you had quite the tongue youngster. Is that how you managed to deceive Ptolomy?"
"From a mere slave to a great Pasha! How else could it be?" The old man had a broken, cackling tone to his voice.
And here he said this to try and stoke the jealousy of other nobles, many of whom were indeed prejudiced against Alexander's peerage, envious of what an outsider had managed to do that they were not able to accomplish in generations.
And so when Vivizan insinuated that Alexander had Ptolomy manipulated him to get his position, it did tickle some hearts.
Now the accusations were not really false.
Alexander did a bit strong-arm the man to give a lot of concessions.
But these were old issues, that Alexander did not feel like rehashing, simply saying,
"How Adhan, Zanzan, and 10 billion ropals were split up is open knowledge"
"So what happened with me and His Majesty is clear to everybody with half a head."
"There is little point in trying to divide us using such weak attempts."
As Alexander coolly parried back the shot, the old man was still not done, snarking,
"Hmmp, profiting off pitting brothers against brothers. You all foreigners are despicable!" "Murderers who kill women and children in their homes. Burn them alive. Rape and plunder." "And if all that was not enough you brutes even steal from the gods."
"Even calling you barbarians would be being too gracious."
The old veteran politician really knew how to stir up a crowd as he very deftly weaved in all of Alexander's crimes along with his race.
To which Alexander returned with a breezy chuckle,
"Haha, all those crimes you mentioned were actually committed by the palace guards. Many of whom we already captured and punished."
"We even have survivors we rescued who can testify to that."
This story was old news, and Alexander recited it word for word.
But he also knew this excuse lacked much weight behind it.
So afterward he flashed his palms and in an understanding tone continued,
"But I get what the esteemed Pahsa of Ankuut is really trying to say."
"He is indirectly saying that it is I who am responsible for this civil war."
"That without me there would not be so many deaths and so much misery."
"But is that really true? Did I really cause all the destruction?
Here Alexander paused a bit to see the reaction of the court, and pleased with seeing everyone's eyes be on this exchange, he continued,
"No! I will say is not my fault."
"Because if you will remember when Lord Amenheraft defeated Agapios not once, but twice in one day, my and my soldiers only had one wish, and that was to leave Adhania and return to Thesos, our motherland."
"And that was the only thing we wanted to do," Alexander repeated to emphasize the point.
Before his tone turned a bit taunting,
"But when asked to be allowed to do so, your king, Amenheraft refused."
"And not only he refused, he even led the army against us."
"At a time when he had no reason to."
"At a time when his numbers doubled ours."
"Only for glory and heroics."
"And on the way, he then got fooled by the appearance of gold and silver in our camp."
"And landed himself in a trap."
"Foolish!"
"Imagine a king as rich as him getting tempted by the gold of some poor mercenaries."
"How foolish he is!"
Alexander loudly jeered, then turned his head around to ask the court,
"So ask yourself, who really is responsible for your condition."
"Who really let the situation go out of control?"
"With a king like him, is it any wonder you are in this mess?"
"Amenheraft called His Majesty an usurper when he greeted me."
"What usurper?"
"Who did His Majesty really usurp the throne from?"
"When we entered the city, we were only 1,500 horsemen."
"If your real king wanted he could have easily pushed us out."
"But the foolish kind did so such thing."
"Instead he fled."
"Like a coward. With his tail tucked between his tail."
"Along the Life Sea to his current den."
"And what was even worse about this shameful escape was that the craven man did not even take his two daughters with him, hoping we would kill them, the two saintesses, and then have a war with Pasha Farzah."
"So His Majesty Ptolomy did not usurp anything."
"Amenheraft simply left it empty."
Alexander very grandly declared.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m