Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess-Chapter 115 - 114- True face(3)

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"What in the world is happening in the royal court? Is this an exhibition that you are bringing people from here and there, Sebastian?"

The chief advisor asked in a frustrated tone as he glared at the grey-haired man.

Although he didn’t know who was the soldier they brought along, seeing Aiden’s reaction the Chief Advisor knew that it was bad news.

Orwold Sigmund, the finance minister added, "We are having a discussion about our relation with Drenovar, and Sebastian, you no longer are a part of the council. So should we consider this disrespect against the King?"

Sebastian remained calm, throughout the warning and angered statements of the ministers. He could now tell that they, indeed, were brainwashed by a certain someone to sound so nonsensical.

"If it’s about my nation and the Lord I once served, then I am prepared to face any consequences of my actions, Sir Sigmund." The butler spoke, without a speck of hesitation.

Turning his attention toward the King, Sebastian relayed, "For the next ten minutes, I request everyone to listen to what I have to say before making any judgment."

Seeing him bowing his head, and going against his character, Cedric instantly agreed, "You have my permission."

Sebastian raised his head and started, ""Your Majesty, the cook who prepared your meal was not from Eryndor. In fact, he was a resident of White Wing Orphanage in Hener."

Aiden’s eyes widened as he looked at Sebastian in horror.

He made sure that no one found out about that bastard’s origin and where he came from...then how?!

Sebastian, while raising his left hand toward the first Prince, added, "And coincidentally, the orphanage where Sir Aiden has been brought up is also the White Wing Orphanage."

"What the hell are you trying to imply here?! That Prince Aiden conspired against his own father?!" The finance minister roared.

Turning towards the King, he said, "My Lord, this is enough. You can already tell that the man is trying to frame the First Prince." Turning his disdainful eyes toward Austin, he added, "And considering whom Sebastian serves, you can already tell who is behind it."

Austin smiled, and gave a nod as if saying, ’You got that right.’

"Sigmund, as I said, I have given him permission to talk so sit back down and let him say whatever he wants." Cedric retorted, his face showing displeasure which caused the Minister to turn stiff.

I-Is he really believing this?

Aiden clenched his fist....however, he didn’t react. He knew that he could still get out of this situation if he held back his emotions and let the man finish whatever he wanted to say.

Sebastian gave a thankful bow to the Supreme Authority before continuing, "Next, I would like to inform you all about the fact that Sir Aiden has been using his Shard to manipulate your mind and make you believe what he wants to. I only suspected this when Lord Corwon came to the Academy, asking to break the engagement with Young Master Aiden. However, after investigating a little, it turned out that whenever the first Prince conversed with his mother and the minister, he always used his Shard."

That caused many people to frown. Even Lord Corwon was taken aback by that statement.

It was true that when he heard from Aiden, he believed that making Valerie Aiden’s fiancée would be for everyone’s betterment. However, after meeting his daughter, he realized how foolish that decision was.

"If I may, my Lord, I would like to add that indeed, whenever around the first Prince, I could feel the use of magic. But because of my Shard’s ability to parry against any of such waves, I never got under its influence." Prime Minister Arthur added, "And that’s why it seems I am the only one who isn’t under his control."

Aiden raised his brows, "That’s...something I am hearing the first time. But let’s assume it’s true, then why isn’t father influenced?"

Sebastian was rendered speechless since he also didn’t have the answer to that.

Aiden thought that he finally had the upper hand, when suddenly,

"He was poisoned. And poisons affect one’s thinking capability. That’s why your Shard didn’t manipulate him." Austin’s clear voice resonated in the royal court.

Cedric’s eyes parted slightly, "Austin...you knew about it too?"

Austin nodded, "Why do you think the same mother who loved me so dearly, hates everything I do now? Because I changed? No, it was because someone brainwashed into her believing that I am worthless and someone who no longer needs his parents’ attention."

When he said that, Cedric was forced to think about those several occasions when he noticed his wife being too harsh on Austin. Her attention always remained on Aiden, and whenever Cedric even mentioned Austin, she changed the topic.

....that indeed wasn’t normal.

Aiden gritted his teeth. This was getting out of hand.

Turning the King he voiced, "You are th-"

"First Prince, I still have a few minutes left." Aiden was suddenly interrupted by Sebastian, as the butler smilingly reminded.

Aiden, while barely holding his anger, raised his hand, "Yes sure, go on."

Sebastian gave a thankful nod, before turning towards the current Imperial Legion Commander and Rudolph’s father, and said,

"Sir Edwin, if I am not wrong you have worked with Sir Harold’s ability?"

The tall knight stood up and said, "Yes, we worked together a few years ago. I know about his Shard’s ability." Turning towards the King, he added, "He was the chief of interrogation since his Shard didn’t allow anyone to lie."

"Thank you, Sir Edwin." Saying so, Sebastian turned towards the group behind him before nodding

Rudolph pushed the tattered soldier forward followed by Rhea and Harold as they presented the soldiers in the middle of the court.

Harold wordlessly summoned his Shard before pressing its tip against the ground and drawing a circle around the soldier.

"Now, tell me, soldier, what were you doing in the Academy?" Sebastian asked.

The soldier first remained silent, but the moment Rudolph summoned his Shard, he began speaking,

"S-Sir Aiden sent me...to check if Sir Austin has reached the academy."

Sebastian hummed before asking, "Were you alone in this?"

"I-I had one comrade...but since we failed to track Sir Austin after he left the capital, Sir Aiden killed my partner."

That aroused a few gasps from the audience, and the Queen had her eyes widened, too.

’Why are they framing my son like this?!’ She couldn’t understand why Sebastian and the others were hell-bent on making Aiden the wrong person here even though he always thinks for the betterment of the family.

And her husband....why is he silent even after hearing all this?

Sebastian hummed, before asking again, "So were you sent just because Sir Aiden was worried about his brother?" The butler added before Aiden could have interpreted his intention in another way.

"N-N-No...he didn’t want the second Prince to be anywhere else, but the a-academy or i-it would have affected his plan on letting Sir Austin get exiled."

"That’s such a blatant lie!" The chief advisor finally lost his cool, "Your Majesty, Sebastian is just making things up now and has brought the whole army to conspire against the-*SHLINK*"

A blade flew past the Minister, leaving a shallow cut on his cheek, before stabbing into the pillar beside him

Not only the minister, who was inches away from being stabbed just now, was startled, but even Aiden’s eyes widened when he realized whose Shard it was.

Every eye turned toward the King, whose eyes were devoid of any other emotion but anger, before they heard his voice, "I never gave you the permission to speak yet you keep interfering. Have you forgotten what I can do to those who don’t listen to my WORDS!"

With the loud roar of the King, the blades began flying around the throne, ready to exterminate the lives of those whom he found worthless.

Everyone turned silent.

This was the first time for many to see the King in such rage.

Maybe because he doesn’t go hunting or hasn’t been involved in a war for a long time, people have forgotten the strength Cedric holds.

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The Chief Advisor didn’t dare to utter a single syllable.

Amidst the growing silence, Cedric turned towards his second son before voicing, "Austin, step forward."

Austin did as he was told, before he heard the older one asking, "You were aware of all this? That your brother is keeping an eye on you and the fact that he regularly exchanges letters with the Prime Minister of Hener?"

They caused all the colors from Aiden’s face to disappear.

He exchanged letters with Hener....how does Cedric know about it?!

Austin was also amazed that his father was aware of such a thing.

With a nod, he responded, "I knew, father, but I didn’t tell you anything because I had no evidence."

Cedric narrowed his eyes, "I still can dismiss all this evidence and declare Aiden not guilty."

Austin shrugged, "I won’t care, in that case, since I have already told you that I don’t care about the throne and this family anymore."

Glancing in Aiden’s direction, Austin added, "I only took action because Aiden tried to touch something precious to me....my Val." When he said that, Valerie appeared beside him out of nowhere.

Lord Corwon was startled to find that his daughter was also here and was involved in all this.

Redirecting his gaze towards his father, Austin added, "And when he poisoned you, I felt that I need to do something or Eryndor will fall along with its King."

Cedric’s Shard disappeared, and the older one’s shoulders lost their strength.

Once again...he was reminded of the fact that he had failed his son.

And now, aware of Aiden’s true face, he realized that he was a complete failure as a father.

"Father." Amidst the growing silence, Aiden spoke up, "I have been blamed for many things, but none of the evidence holds authenticity."

Turning towards Austin, he spoke up, "Since it would be difficult to prove who is wrong and who is right, let’s settle this the old way."

With his eyes holding nothing but the intention to murder, Aiden spoke, "Through a battle."

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A/N:- Drop a comment.