Chapter 267 - The Dreadful Day (Part 3)

Queen Mina was amazed that everything was happening according to what Vaughn and Zenia had told her. The only thing that did not match was the day of the Left Minister's formal visit. Zenia had predicted that it would happen after a week, but the Left Minister was already there after a few days from the time they discussed it.

King Tarendino was already preparing to make his appearance. The Left Minister and his supporters were not expecting the King to ever wake up. They would be surprised once they saw King Tarendino in the Main Hall.

"Ah, this pains me," Queen Mina blurted out.

She was calm and composed. There were no traces of anxiety or panic on her face. The Left Minister had a puzzled expression on his face, but it disappeared quickly.

'You're acting is good, Mina. Let's see how long you can keep the façade.'

Queen Mina asked the Left Minister, "What is your true purpose here, Left Minister. Be honest."

The Left Minister sneered, "We want to know the real condition of the King. If his health is deteriorating, we need to replace him as the King of Tissuria. We don't need a useless King."

"Judging from your tone, it looks like you already have someone in mind. Are you trying to revolt?"

Vaughn tried his best to hold back as he kept chanting his promise to Zenia. He wondered why it was taking her so long to get there.

'Did something happen to her on the way?'

Vaughn became restless and wanted to get out of the Main Hall, but he couldn't leave his mother alone. He took a deep breath and relaxed. His wife was not someone weak. She was the Junior Commander of the most formidable military unit in the whole Maecaea. 

People, other than the Left Minister's supporters started to gather in the Main Hall. The Left Minister was distracted for a moment. He already gave an instruction not to let anyone in, except his loyal supporters. 

'Forget it, in a little while everyone will know the truth. No one will want such kind of King.'

"Queen Mina, why are you getting upset? The people of Tissuria just want to see the King. You can lead us to his chambers if he's sleeping. We will be satisfied just to see him lying there."

The people began to murmur. The Left Minister seemed to confirm the rumors that the King had been sleeping, and no one knew if he would ever wake up. The rumors also stated that the King was only waiting for his death.

A familiar figure caught Vaughn's eyes, it was Zenia! He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw his wife. Zenia had finally arrived. They had agreed that she would be the one who to bring the evidence that they had gathered against the Left Minister.

Zenia joined Vaughn and slightly bowed her head. Vaughn noticed something different and knew right away what it was. He kept silent and just stood beside Zenia.

Queen Mina saw Zenia and knew that she should proceed to the next step in their plan.

"If you really want to see the King, I will ask him to prepare just to end this useless talk," Queen Mina declared and turned her head to the Head Steward of the Main Palace and ordered, "Send in the King!"

The Left Minister could not believe his ears. Even his supporters were surprised that Queen Mina made such an order.

"There's no way that the King will wake up, isn't it?" Everyone in the Left Minister's faction was asking the same question to each other.

In their last meeting, the Left Minister assured them that they would be able to take over Tissuria. What would happen to them if the King had arrived in the Main Hall?

"Did you bring the evidence?" Vaughn whispered to the Crown Princess by his side.

"Yes! Everything is here. Zenzen also told me to remind you not to act rashly. She will explain everything to you later." Zekiah answered in a whisper.

"Where is my wife?"

"She's with Big Brother."

"When did you come?"

"A while ago. That would be after you left."

"Is Ishelon using a super-fast way to travel like how you deliver your messages?"

Zekiah was beginning to get annoyed with Vaughn's incessant talks.

"Zenzen said she will explain everything to you later."

Zekiah shut up and watched the drama. Vaughn did not say anything anymore even though his curiosity was making him restless.

Everyone was murmuring and becoming impatient.

"Will the King comply?"

"Are they going to force him to walk?"

"If the King is no longer fit to rule, does that mean the Crown Prince will replace him already?"

"Are the Royal Doctors useless?"

"The King of Tissuria!" The Head Steward suddenly announced.

A majestic figure emerged, and the people bowed down to show their respect. King Tarendino seemed to look better than ever. He was a little thin, but his eyes seemed to sparkle with vitality. The one standing before them was the King that they used to know and love.

"Long live King Tarendino!" Someone shouted and everyone chanted the King's name.

The Left Minister turned pale. He was certain that victory would be in their hands.

"My people, your King will never abandon and leave you. As long as I'm here, nothing can make Tissuria fall to its ruins."

More and more people went inside the Main Hall. It was beginning to get chaotic. The Left Minister's supporters tried to leave the Main Hall, but the guards stopped them. When they looked at the soldiers surrounding the Main Hall, they discovered that they were no longer the guards of the Left Minister. They were not even the soldiers of Tissuria.

The Left Minister had no other choice but pay respect to the King. 

"My King, I am glad that you are well. If the Queen had said so earlier, we wouldn't insist on seeing you."

King Tarendino ignored the Left Minister and shouted, "Where's the evidence?"

Vaughn gathered the doc.u.ment from Zekiah and walked in front of the throne. He gave the evidence to the Head Steward, who handed it to the King. Queen Mina looked on as King Tarendino flipped the pages of the doc.u.ment. 

The evidence contained the details of the Left Minister's collaboration with King Odhran and the Dark Magic Lord in training the secret soldiers and keeping them safe from the prying eyes. There were reports regarding the embezzlement of funds that should be used in procuring the weapons and other needs of the Defense Department of Tissuria. The Left Minister took it upon his shoulder to handle the procurement.

The more King Tarendino read the uglier his face had become. He did not expect that the Left Minister had done so many unscrupulous deeds, including exchanging women of Tissuria for other kingdoms' favors. 

King Tarendion slammed the evidence on the floor and did not finish reading it.

"Left Minister, do you have any idea what I just read?"

The Left Minister was confident that Vaughn would never discover anything and would never get a chance to gather evidence that would implicate him. The tower in his secret base was secured. No one would be able to go there unless the Dark Magic Lord gave that person permission. That would mean deactivating the magic surrounding the tower.

"I really don't have an idea, Your Majesty."

"Head Steward, let my people know what it is."

The Head Steward picked up the doc.u.ment and read the content. The Left Minister turned as pale as ghost. The people of Tissuria gasped at the things they just heard.

The Left Minister rushed quickly to the Head Steward and snatched the doc.u.ment while shouting, "Stop it! Stop it! These are all lies!"

The Left Minister tore the doc.u.ment to pieces and began to laugh maniacally.

"Even if you tore that up, we still have plenty of copies in my palace," Vaughn declared confidently.

The Left Minister stopped laughing and looked at the people.

"You want this kind of King to govern you? He is the most despicable King that I've ever known. He is the youngest son of the former King, but he did everything to covet the throne from the Crown Prince at the time – my father! If someone should sit on that throne, it should be me. He killed his brothers to get the throne. He turned me into an orphan. He was so young, and yet he was already a cold-blooded killer. I have waited long for this moment to come and exact my revenge, ha-ha-ha."

King Tarendino did not expect that the Left Minister was actually his uncle. He knew that the Left Minister was only a few years older than him, but he did not suspect that he was related to him.

"That's enough!" An imposing voice roared from the audience.

Everyone turned their heads to the source of the voice and saw a majestic old man making his way to the center of the Main Hall where the Left Minister was standing.

Vaughn was surprised to see his great-grandfather.

'Did he come together with brothers-in-law?'

King Tarendino looked at Wolstan and tried to recall who the old man was. When he finally recognized the old man, he suddenly stood up and startled everyone.

"Grandfather! You're still alive?"

"You stinking brat, do you want me dead?"

"N-No! I am glad to see you again."

"Humph," Wolstan turned to the Left Minister and explained, "Your father had been stripped off his title at the time and was no longer the Crown Prince. He could not accept it and convinced his other brothers to revolt. It was bloody and ugly. If Taren did not kill him along with the others, many children of Tissuria had been orphaned. Your father was the vicious one."

"No, you're lying. I know my father would never lie to me when he told me that his youngest brother wanted to usurp the throne."

"What will I gain if I tell you a lie right now? I'm already old and just wanted to take a long rest. Your father is the real villain."

"No, he's not!"

The Left Minister took out a dagger from his sleeve and decided to end his life. Wolstan was taken by surprise that he was not able to move from his spot. A dagger flew from somewhere and the hilt hit the Left Minister's hand and made him lose his dagger.