The King chose his words carefully before replying.
"Do not question me. Everything I do is for the good of this kingdom. You would do well to remember that."
The Queen lowered her gaze submissively, forcing herself to nod. "Of course, my King. I trust you completely."
Kyle watched as the Queen shifted her tone, her next words laced with false admiration.
"You’re so wise, always thinking ahead to protect us all. But… might I come with you tonight? Just to observe? I want to understand the lengths you go to for our people."
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The King’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "This isn’t a spectacle for you to witness. It’s not something a woman of your station should see."
"Please," she said with a pleading voice. "I want to support you. To stand by your side as I swore to when we married. I won’t ask questions, and I won’t react. I just want to see what’s happening."
The King’s gaze bore into hers for what felt like an eternity. He knew that he didn’t have much of an option if the Queen insisted, as that would only attract attention on what he was doing.
After him, the Queen was next in the Kingdom’s rulership, so he couldn’t explain why he won’t involve her in an important meeting.
’I’ll simply get rid of her if she tries anything funny.’
Then, finally, he nodded with a sigh. "Very well. But don’t question me no matter what you see. Do not speak unless spoken to. If you disobey, I will not hesitate to deal with you as I would any other traitor."
The Queen bowed her head, pretending to be scared. "Of course, my King. You have my word."
He rose from his chair, adjusting the cuffs of his robe. "We leave for the Great Hall shortly. Make yourself presentable and meet me there."
After the King exited the room, Kyle made sure that he was no more before pulling off the [Veil of Silence].
"You handled that well," he said quietly.
"I hate him. But I’ll do whatever it takes to bring him down," the Queen replied with determination.
"Stick to the plan. I’ll stay invisible and follow you to the Great Hall. If he reveals anything more during the ritual, I’ll hear it."
The Queen wiped her tears before taking a deep breath to steady herself. "And if we fail tonight?"
"We won’t. But if it comes to it, we’ll find another way. One step at a time."
The Queen nodded and rose to her feet. "Let’s go. We don’t have much time."
Kyle reactivated the [Veil of Silence] and his form vanished once more. Together, they left the chambers, with the Queen walking ahead with her head held high.
The Great Hall was far removed from the main corridors and the general activity of palace life, so they had to walk for a while before they reached.
It didn’t take too long for the Queen and an invisible Kyle to arrive and they spotted the King standing before the door.
Beside him stood his trusted aides:
The High Mage, a man with sharp, angular features.
The Commander of the Guard, a hulking figure with a weathered face and a scar running from his temple to his jaw, kept a firm hand on the hilt of his sword.
Finally, the Royal Alchemist stood apart. She watched the Queen with disinterest, her sharp gaze flickering briefly to the King before returning to the doorway.
The Queen stopped before the group, her carefully maintained composure disguising the tension in her every step.
"Your Majesty," the High Mage greeted with false courtesy. "What a… pleasant surprise to see you here."
"I invited her," the King cut him off sharply.
The three aides exchanged uneasy glances.
"Of course, Your Majesty," the High Mage said hastily, bowing his head. "We do not question your wisdom."
The King waved a dismissive hand. "Good. Begin the preparations."
The High Mage stepped forward, withdrawing a piece of glowing chalk from his robes. With practiced precision, he began inscribing intricate runic symbols across the surface of the heavy doors.
Kyle, who still remained invisible some steps behind the Queen observed the process closely.
’He’s activating a Runic Circle.’
Runic circles were very unique. Some came with templates, which required a series of matching runes to activate — and this was the case at that moment.
Kyle kept on watching as the High Mage finished up with his last stroke, before proceeding to channel his mana through it, prompting it to glow brightly and pulse with energy.
The complexity of the main runic circle fascinated him. He recognized it as a powerful warding spell, designed not only to keep outsiders away but also to trap whatever lay within.
With a low creak, the doors were opened widely, revealing the room beyond.
The Queen took a hesitant step forward, her composure slipping ever so slightly as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Kyle followed silently, his gaze hardening at the sight before him.
The Great Hall had been transformed into a grim tableau of suffering. Rows of people — men, women, and even a few children were bound to wooden stakes. Their arms and legs were restrained with iron cuffs and their mouths were gagged, muffling their desperate cries, and their eyes reflected a mix of fear, confusion, and despair. Your next read awaits at Freewebnovel
The Queen froze, her breath catching in her throat. Though she had steeled herself for the worst, the reality of the scene was far beyond what she had imagined.
"Do not react," the King reminded sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Remember your promise."
The Queen forced herself to nod, her trembling hands hidden within the folds of her gown.
’So they were right.’
Kyle’s eyes swept over the room, his expression impassive despite the turmoil building within him. He couldn’t afford to show emotion. Any slip-up could break his invisibility, and he needed to see this through to the end.
One of the King’s aides, the Royal Alchemist, stepped forward and addressed the Queen directly, her tone clinical and devoid of remorse.
"The barrier has protected this kingdom for decades," she began, gesturing toward the bound captives. "But such protection comes at a cost. The energy required to sustain it is immense, and this…"
She gestured again to the captives, her voice as cold as ice. "This… is the price we must pay. Their life force feeds the barrier, ensuring the safety of the kingdom."
The Queen’s face paled, but she said nothing.
"It is for the good of the people," the High Mage added, as though that justified the atrocity before them. "Without the barrier, the mana beasts would overrun us within days. This is a necessary sacrifice."
Kyle’s mind raced as he processed their words. The villagers’ anger over the barrier, the nobles’ stranglehold on power, the King’s secrecy... all of it was tied to this horrific ritual.
The King stepped forward, his voice calm but authoritative. "This is the reality of leadership, my Queen. Difficult choices must be made to ensure the survival of the many. You swore to stand by my side. Now, prove it."
The Queen’s gaze flickered to the bound captives, then back to the King. "Of course, my King," she said softly. "I understand."
Kyle observed everything intently, while forcing himself to remain still.
’I can’t let this continue,’ he thought.
The King’s attention shifted back to his aides. "Begin the ritual. We have no time to waste."
The High Mage raised his staff, the runes along its surface glowing brightly. The Alchemist began mixing a series of vials, their contents swirling with ominous colors. The Commander stepped forward, unsheathing his sword as though preparing to oversee the grim proceedings.
Kyle’s time to act was fast approaching. He took a silent step closer, his mind racing as he formulated his plan.
From what he could make out, everyone in the room was a late stage Advanced Mage. One was on his side, the other three were enemies.
It didn’t seem like a fair fight, but Kyle was grateful it wasn’t any worse. It was unexpected for the strongest powers in a Kingdom to only be an Advanced Mage, but he had to make do with it.
’One wrong move, and this could all go sideways,’ he thought. ’But I’ve seen enough. It’s time to end this.’