Reinventing Magic: An Inventor's Tale-Chapter 45: The Tyrant King

Valoria, Royal Palace

Before the palace aide announced their summons, Kael felt a surge of anxiety clawing at his chest. The grand chamber of the palace, with its towering marble columns and intricate gold filigree, felt suffocating despite its splendor. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, a silent testament to the formidable ruler they were about to face.

Kael suddenly realized something—he had never asked his father what kind of man King Julius was. His curiosity was born not out of mere politeness but from necessity. He turned to his father, lowering his voice to a hushed whisper.

"Father, what kind of man is the king?"

Edgar hesitated, his sharp features hardening, though a flicker of unease passed through his usually stern gaze. He leaned in closer, his voice barely audible.

"A serpent in a crown. King Julius was never meant to rule. He poisoned his own father and murdered his brothers to seize the throne. A tyrant draped in finery, wearing a mask of indifference but driven by boundless ambition. He values power above all else."

Kael felt his stomach tighten, the weight of Edgar’s words sinking in. If this was the man who ruled the kingdom, then entrusting Project Golem to him was not only foolish—it was dangerous.

Kael’s mind raced with the implications. Leaning closer to his father, his voice a mere whisper, he said, "Father, I’ve decided. I will only show the king the holographic image of what happened five thousand years ago. Informing him about Project Golem is too dangerous."

Edgar considered this, his piercing blue eyes narrowing in thought. "You’re right, Kael. We must tread carefully. But what are your plans—"

Before the count could ask Kael about his next steps, a knock sounded on the heavy wooden doors beside them. Oswald stepped forward and opened them, revealing the chamberlain, his face unreadable.

"Count Valtieri, His Majesty will see you now."

---

The throne room was vast, its opulence a display of power rather than taste. Massive pillars lined the chamber, each carved with depictions of past rulers. At the far end of the hall, upon an elevated platform, sat King Julius Ardania. Draped in a royal robe embroidered with gold, he leaned on the armrest of his grand throne, his chin resting on one hand. His expression was one of utter boredom.

Around him, members of his council stood in observance, their eyes scrutinizing Kael and Edgar as they approached the throne.

"Count Valtieri," the king drawled, his voice carrying a lazy disinterest. "I received your report. Tell me, is what you’ve presented truly accurate?"

Edgar bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, it is. To provide full context, we have brought an artifact containing a holographic message—a record of a past calamity."

He withdrew a small crystalline orb and activated it. Immediately, the chamber dimmed as an ethereal projection illuminated the space before them. The scene unfolded—a sky torn apart by monstrous rifts, eldritch horrors spilling forth, cities burning, and humanity’s desperate struggle against the unknown.

Gasps rippled through the court, and for the first time, a flicker of emotion passed over Julius’s face—surprise. But it was brief, replaced almost immediately by an expression of calculating intrigue. freёnovelkiss-com

"Fascinating," the king murmured, his eyes glinting with interest. Then his gaze sharpened. "Where did you obtain this artifact?"

Kael stepped forward, his voice steady. "I found it within an ancient ruin, Your Majesty. A discovery made entirely by accident."

Julius leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "And where might this ruin be?"

"If I may be provided with a map, I can indicate the location."

The king clapped his hands once, and a servant hurried forward, unrolling a detailed map of the kingdom on a table before them. Kael studied it carefully before circling a spot deep within a desolated wasteland.

"When we arrived, the ruin was open, and I was able to go inside," Kael explained, "but the moment I exited, it sealed itself. We have been unable to enter since."

Julius’s gaze remained fixed on the map, a calculating smile playing at the corners of his lips. The chamber was thick with tension, the air crackling with unspoken threats and possibilities. He tapped his fingers against the throne’s armrest, his expression unreadable.

"So, you’re telling me that the ruin is now inaccessible?"

Kael’s forehead dampened with sweat under the weight of the king’s gaze. "No, Your Majesty. Though it is closed, I believe there is a way to open it. I just do not yet know how."

The king exhaled sharply through his nose. "I see. And was this the only artifact you recovered?"

Kael met the king’s gaze steadily. "Yes, Your Majesty. This was the only one. We came forward with it because the message contained within is too alarming to be ignored."

Julius smirked, leaning back on his throne. "And how do we know this footage is even real? Is there any way to verify it?"

One of the council members stepped forward, his expression skeptical. "Your Majesty, surely we cannot base decisions on something that cannot be validated."

Kael shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. There is no way to prove it beyond what we have shown."

The smirk on the king’s lips curled into something more sinister. "Then you have wasted my time."

His voice, once indifferent, now carried an edge of irritation. He gestured to one of the guards stationed nearby. "Escort them out."

As Kael and Edgar turned to leave, the king’s voice halted them. "Leave the artifact."

Kael hesitated, but under his father’s slight nod, he handed the crystalline orb to the waiting guard. As they exited the throne room, a single thought ran through Kael’s mind.

What a waste of time.

---

Back inside the throne room, Julius turned the artifact over in his hand, studying it with an unreadable expression. The weight of the crystalline orb seemed to carry the weight of their entire kingdom’s future. He felt the power it represented and the secrets it might unveil. After a moment, he turned to one of his advisors, his eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and cunning.

"Send a scouting party to investigate this ruin," he commanded, his voice echoing with authority. His lips curled into a malevolent smirk. "And have someone shadow their every move. I want to know everything they might be hiding. Leave no stone unturned."

His advisor bowed deeply, understanding the gravity of the king’s command. The tension in the room was palpable as the king’s words hung in the air, promising both discovery and danger.

As the advisor turned to leave, Julius reclined back on his throne, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. The game had begun, and he would stop at nothing to uncover every piece of the puzzle. His mind raced with possibilities, each more intoxicating than the last.

"Let the shadows do their work," Julius whispered to himself, his smirk widening. "For in the darkness, the true power is revealed."

The court watched in silent anticipation, knowing that under Julius’s rule, no secret would remain hidden for long. The kingdom was on the precipice of change, and the ripples of the king’s ambitions would soon be felt far and wide.

---

In the dimly lit halls of the palace, shadows danced across the cold stone walls. Edgar turned to Kael, his face unreadable, his eyes reflecting the flickering torchlight. "It was a mistake coming here," he said, his voice a low, steady murmur. "But you did well. Still, make no mistake—Julius is not a man to be taken lightly. We must prepare for what comes next."

Kael nodded, his mind already racing with plans. The echo of their footsteps seemed to grow louder in the silence, a reminder of the peril they faced.

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