Chapter 3: Sweeping Away (2)

Chapter 3: Sweeping Away (2)

It was as though every palace knight had emerged.

A middle-aged knight, ostensibly the eldest among a contingent of about ten, stepped forth, his voice echoing out toward Zion.

Knight Wolfent Beer, the man responsible for the Imperial Palace's defense.

His countenance was a tangled mess of bewilderment and fury.

"How could you... Why would you murder Alec?"

He remained skeptical until one of his fellow knights came forward with the report.

Prince Zion of Agnes, the master of this palace, was known for his delicate constitution.

Consequently, he couldn't even undertake physical training, let alone make attainments in 'Astral', the imperial family's ability.

It was utterly unbelievable that such a frail prince would have brutally ended a knight—a virtual weapon of war—with his bare hands.

Yet the severed neck of Knight Alec, who had been safeguarding the main entrance, laid on the ground, refuting his disbelief.

Although he still couldn't fathom that Prince Zion was the direct executor, he grudgingly acknowledged the prince's involvement.

"He was so sin-ridden that it would be odd if I hadn't killed him, right?"

Zion directed his words at Wolfent.

There was a noticeable shift in him.

Previously, Prince Zion couldn't even muster an appropriate response to Wolfent.

But now, not only was he speaking up, he was also meeting Wolfent's gaze.

The calm, languid look in Prince Zion's eyes stirred an intense sense of estrangement in Wolfent.

'What in the world...'

"And that applies to all of you as well."

Gradually, gradually.

Zion advanced towards the knights, his voice barely more than a murmur.

"If there are four death-deserving crimes among you, I have no qualms about carrying out the execution right here and now."

There was no palpable intensity or strength about him.

Yet, his approach evoked an ominous feeling in Wolfent.

'He knows we had a hand in last night's assault.'

Indeed, it would've been odd if he hadn't figured it out.

Though they assumed it wouldn't drastically change anything, it seemed they were mistaken.

For Prince Zion was now pointing the finger at them for their crime and plotting their demise.

As Wolfent looked at Zion with momentarily faltering eyes, a dark decree escaped his lips.

"...End the prince's life right here."

A second attempt to murder Prince Zion posed no issue, as they'd already conspired to do so from the start.

There was only an initial hesitation in having a palace knight directly partake in a prince's assassination.

But it was decidedly better than meeting their own ends.

The Imperial City would hardly be affected by the death of a disgraced prince.

Even if it were, the ones they pledged their allegiance to were sure to shield them.

With a metallic rasp, a handful of knights at the back, who concurred with Wolfent's judgement, began to unsheathe their swords.

"Prince Zion!"

Fredo's voice echoed urgently upon witnessing this development.

Yet in that moment, Zion, who was facing the knights, wore a smile.

As though he had been eagerly anticipating this event.

It was exhilarating.

Genuinely exhilarating.

How much time had passed?

Since he last confronted enemies with swords drawn, intent on his demise.

Once the world came under his dominion, all Zion saw were the backs of bowed heads prostrating before him.

And that's why Zion found pleasure in the present scenario.

"Let's add another crime to the list. Attempted assassination of the royal family."

In a muted voice, Zion's form dissolved into the flickering shadows, rematerializing before one of the knights with a brandished sword.

"What...!"

Perhaps the knight didn't anticipate he would be the first target?

Or did he fail to consider that the prince, having never acquired combat skills, could move with such speed?

Zion's hand, having shattered the mana-infused blade, pierced Wolfent's heart in an instant.

"How did you..."

A stunned whisper escaped the knight's lips.

The final scene that unfolded before Wolfent's eyes was that of a gleeful Prince Zion, a black star spiraling in his gaze.

Thud.

After casting a cursory glance at the collapsed Wolfent, Zion flexed his hand.

'This seems to be my limit.'

A slight tremble plagued his fingertips.

His remarkably frail physique was protesting even these minor exertions.

'I need to fortify myself.'

As he surveyed the vicinity, he found a plethora of eyes trained on him.

Unbeknownst to him, the palace knights and servants had amassed in front of the palace.

Their expressions indicated utter confusion at the unfolding situation.

"Your Highness, might you explain why you took these actions?"

One of the knights, who had not partaken in the previous night's assault and thus survived in obliviousness, inquired of Zion.

Zion's composed gaze met the knight's.

"Who is your liege?"

"Excuse me?"

"I don't repeat questions."

"...It's Prince Zion."

Entranced by Zion's whispery voice, the knight responded.

"The lord owes no explanation to his servant."

Such was Zion's stance, always.

"Neither explaining."

He had never justified his actions to anyone.

"Nor persuading."

He never sought to enlighten anyone.

"All that is your duty towards me."

It was incumbent upon those who stood before him.

"Those men committed transgressions and simply received their due punishments."

The knight, who had been tremblingly maintaining eye contact with Zion, gradually lowered his gaze.

"...Understood."

He was clueless about the current scenario and his course of action.

The aura of command.

The aura of command that he had never sensed from Prince Zion before now compelled the knight to bow.

Zion, having scrutinized the knight for a moment, surveyed the multitude of individuals gazing at him, their eyes brimming with an array of emotions.

'...Not yet.'

Locking eyes with a select few among them, Zion mulled over his thoughts and addressed the crowd.

"From this point forth, anyone who discloses palace affairs to outsiders will be answering with their life."

Was that proclamation a signal of sorts?

"We will heed your orders."

As if overpowered by Zion's aura, the knights and servants of the palace began to bow their heads in acknowledgment.

Zion, sauntering through the throng of bowing heads as if it was the norm, directed his steps towards the palace.

'It's merely a step, no...'

He had barely taken the initial step.

Zion's gaze wasn't fixated on the palace towards which he was headed, but something beyond it.

***

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