CH 206

Chapter 206: Something Ominous

Using the covers of the night, Rode sneakily snuck out the palace grounds and awaited for the person in the agreed upon designated place. The paths he’d taken became frequently familiar. He was used to this. He’d done this for several decades became secondhand nature and boy was he good. 

Rode soon heard sounds of footsteps and he swiftly turned his body around. It was a servant belonging to the count. He stood there prim and proper to receive the gathered information.

“You’re quite late today,” Rode clicked his tongue. 

The servant shrugged. “I took precaution and walked a path around. Made me late. You brought the information, right?”

Rode nodded, pulling out a patch of paper. It detailed everything he knew, heard, and saw with his two eyes inside the corridors of the palace. 

The servant lit up, swiftly snatching it and putting it in his pocket. He dropped a lump of fat cash in Rode’s hand in exchange there after.

“Then… be careful on your way ba—” 

But before he could utter his last word, a group of armed guards jumped out from the dark bush. Rode realized the situation turned awry and made haste for an escape. But he was too late. Someone stood in the middle and blocked his path of escape. Rode’s face quickly paled the moment he saw the face of the man.

“Grand Chamberlain…”

Basil was always smiling, always wearing a friendly smile similar to a friendly neighbor, but he looked like an envoy straight from h*ll at this moment. Basil coldly swiped the paper from the servant’s hand and checked the writing, his fearsome gaze turning to Rode right away.

Rode gave up every notion of excuses he concocted and dropped his head low. He was captured, caught in the act of handing sensitive inside information to an outsider. There was no means of escape. He was guilty and he knew how heavy the punishment for committing such crime. 

Slap!

Basil smacked Rode’s face with his fist and Rode fell to the ground, rolling.

“How dare you sell His and Her Majesty’s private information while working under me?! You think you can get away with this?!”

“P-please forgive me… I apologize for what I’ve done!” Rode lowered his head and groveled to the ground. 

Basil was barely able to hold back his pent up anger. If he had his way, he’d cut the traitor’s head off. 

“Bring this man to the king and arrest Count Clovis right away!” Basil roared lowly. 

The place Count Clovis was taken to in the midst of the beautiful howling night was a prison placed underground of the palace. The count was familiar to this place. It was designed for those who dared to betray the royal family. He realized something was amiss.

To be brought in this depraved location, Count Clovis guessed that they had learned of something, but he could not figure out what it was. He pondered over it time and time again, but he had not an idea of what could have gone wrong. He lived a quiet and secluded life away from the king’s eyes. He made sure to keep his ambition of usurping the king at bay, too.

What went wrong?

Finally, the king appeared. His expression was cold and made of steel. There was not a single shred of emotion inside it. The count realized he was doomed. Something ominous happened.

“Your Majesty… what is all this? Why did you bring me to this place?”

Count Clovis had not a clue how it came to this. Still, he needed to play his part well and deny any wrongdoing. This was the only way he can leave this cold place without being convicted of crimes.

Igor slow at the prepared chair. He did so calmly and ever so slowly. Count Clovis watched with nervous eyes. It seemed like the king did know the effect it would cause to the public eyes once they hear of news that the king arrested and threw Count Clovis in prison.

The count hid his fears and locked it away as the king locked his gaze onto him. 

“If you are perhaps trying to frame me of a crime, it would be best not to. Did you forget, Your Majesty? The promise made after the tragedy that occurred in Arundell?”