Free Web NovelChapter 88: A beautiful palace
I continued the scene while keeping the tone and progression you established.
"Liar!"
"Murderer!"
"Vagabond!"
"Scoundrel!"
The cries rolled across the Masaru compound like crashing waves.
Yuto stood in the center of it all.
Hands bound behind his back.
Face bruised.
Lip bleeding slightly.
Yet somehow he looked calmer than anyone present.
The crowd shouted.
The nobles sneered.
The guards glared.
Yuto simply watched.
His expression remained almost thoughtful as if he were observing rainfall rather than hatred directed at him.
Eventually he sighed.
The sound was not loud.
Yet somehow it cut through the noise.
"I’m not a liar."
The crowd grew louder.
"Liar!"
"Rat!"
"Murderer!"
Yuto continued speaking.
His voice never rose.
"I said I am a Paragon."
His eyes swept over the gathering.
"And a Menace."
The words detonated.
The compound erupted.
People screamed accusations.
Several nobles stood from their seats.
Even the guards exchanged alarmed looks.
The titles carried weight.
Enormous weight.
For an unknown peasant to casually declare such things was either supreme arrogance or complete insanity.
Naoto Masaru rose from his seat.
His expression had become terrifying.
Slowly he descended from the platform.
Each step echoed through the courtyard.
The crowd quieted.
By the time he reached Yuto the silence had become complete.
Naoto stopped directly before him.
For several seconds neither man spoke. freewebnσvel.cøm
Then suddenly—
GRAB.
Naoto seized Yuto by the collar and lifted him slightly off the ground.
Gasps erupted.
The old noble’s eyes burned with fury.
"Mind your words, boy."
His voice shook with restrained anger.
"Words have gravity."
The courtyard fell silent.
Everyone understood exactly what he meant.
Claims such as these were not jokes.
Titles carried responsibility.
Authority.
Recognition.
False claims could shake kingdoms.
Yuto looked directly into Naoto’s furious eyes.
His own expression remained calm.
Almost annoyingly calm.
Naoto’s grip tightened.
"Do you truly claim to be a Paragon Menace?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just one simple answer.
Yes.
The crowd exploded once more.
"Impossible!"
"He’s mad!"
"Kill him already!"
"Delusional fool!"
Naoto slowly released Yuto’s collar.
For a moment he merely stared.
Then something unexpected happened.
He smiled.
It was not a pleasant smile.
It was the smile of a man who believed he had finally won.
Naoto turned toward the crowd and raised a hand.
"Silence."
The compound immediately quieted.
Naoto spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear.
"Since the accused has made such a claim..."
His eyes returned to Yuto.
"...this matter is no longer solely the concern of House Masaru."
Murmurs spread.
Naoto continued.
"Claims regarding Paragons are matters of the Kingdom."
The murmurs became louder.
"Therefore this issue shall be brought before the throne itself."
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Naoto pointed toward Yuto.
"If he speaks the truth then the Kingdom shall recognize it."
His smile widened.
"But if he lies..."
He paused.
The entire courtyard held its breath.
"...then he shall be beheaded by the Palace itself."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
"Death to the liar!"
"Execute him!"
"Behead him!"
"Justice for Lord Teki!"
Naoto raised his hand once more.
"Prepare the carriages."
Servants scattered immediately.
The machinery of noble authority moved quickly.
Within minutes preparations were already underway.
Yuto merely smiled.
That smile unsettled more than one person.
How could a man facing execution remain so calm?
The guards retied his restraints more tightly.
This time they used reinforced bindings.
One guard even double checked the knots.
Another inspected them afterward.
No one wanted responsibility for losing him a second time.
As Yuto was escorted toward the waiting carriage he glanced around.
His eyes searched the crowd.
Eventually he found her.
Gina.
She stood near the rear of the gathering.
Fear filled her face.
Their eyes met.
Yuto smiled reassuringly.
Gina tried to return the smile.
Failed.
Then the crowd shifted.
Guards moved.
People crossed between them.
And suddenly she was gone from sight.
For the first time since his arrest, a small knot formed in Yuto’s chest.
Hopefully she would be alright.
The carriage doors closed.
Darkness filled the interior.
The journey began.
Hours passed.
The roads became smoother.
The sounds of the city faded.
Yuto shifted slightly.
Immediately pain shot through his shoulders.
The guards had tied his arms behind him at an unnatural angle.
His muscles burned.
His shoulders throbbed.
Pins and needles danced through his fingers.
Clearly comfort had not been among their concerns.
Still...
Compared to the Tower?
Compared to being chased through forests by monsters larger than buildings?
Compared to bleeding out beneath alien skies?
This was nothing.
Eventually Yuto began whistling.
The tune echoed through the carriage.
One guard glared at him.
"Stop that."
Yuto ignored him.
The whistling continued.
"Stop it."
Yuto tilted his head.
"Why?"
"Because prisoners don’t whistle on the way to their execution."
Yuto grinned.
"That sounds like an arbitrary rule."
The guards frowned.
The whistling resumed.
Finally one snapped.
"Enough!"
Yuto smirked.
"Bold words."
The guard blinked.
"You dare yell at a Paragon?"
The carriage erupted into laughter.
One guard nearly choked.
Another wiped tears from his eyes.
"A Paragon?"
The first guard snorted.
"You’re deranged."
"Probably hit his head escaping prison."
The laughter continued.
"Liar."
"Madman."
"Delusional peasant."
Yuto leaned back against the wooden wall.
"Interesting."
"What is?"
"That none of you have considered the possibility that I’m telling the truth."
More laughter.
"If you were a Paragon you wouldn’t be tied up in a cart."
Yuto grinned.
"Fair point."
The journey continued.
Eventually the carriage slowed.
Then stopped entirely.
The doors opened.
Light flooded inside.
"We’re here."
Yuto stepped down.
Then froze.
The Palace.
Even he had to admit it was magnificent.
Towering white stone walls stretched into the distance.
Golden accents reflected sunlight.
Massive pillars supported elegant structures.
Beautiful gardens surrounded carefully crafted pathways.
Yet despite the opulence there was restraint.
Nothing felt excessive.
Nothing felt oppressive.
It was not a palace screaming for admiration.
It was a palace quietly confident that admiration would come regardless.
Power without insecurity.
Authority without excess.
Yuto found himself impressed.
"So this is the Palace."
One guard shoved him forward.
"Move."
Naoto’s carriage arrived moments later.
The noble stepped out elegantly.
His expression remained unreadable.
He looked toward the gathered escort.
"Follow me."
The convoy began moving.
Servants.
Guards.
Witnesses.
Members of House Masaru.
Even portions of the crowd had followed.
The entire procession entered the Palace.
Yuto noticed something interesting.
Nobody stopped them.
Nobody questioned them.
Clearly Naoto possessed significant influence.
Eventually enormous doors opened.
Beyond them lay the throne room.
Yuto stepped inside.
His eyes widened slightly.
The room was beautiful.
Not gaudy.
Not overwhelming.
Beautiful.
Sunlight poured through stained glass windows.
Marble columns stretched toward impossibly high ceilings.
Banners hung proudly from the walls.
At the far end stood a throne.
Upon that throne sat an old man.
The King.
Yuto stared.
This was his first time seeing the ruler of the Kingdom.
The old man looked surprisingly ordinary.
No crown heavy with jewels.
No extravagant robes.
Just quiet dignity.
Yet somehow the room itself seemed to revolve around him.
The King’s eyes moved toward the entering crowd.
One eyebrow rose.
"What is all this commotion?"
His voice was calm.
Measured.
Naoto immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty."
The King regarded him patiently.
"Why have you brought a crowd into my palace?"
Naoto straightened.
"The matter concerns both nobility and the Kingdom itself."
The King’s expression sharpened slightly.
"Explain."
Naoto pointed toward Yuto.
"That man murdered my nephew, Teki Masaru."
Murmurs spread through the throne room.
Naoto continued.
"He now claims to be a Paragon Menace."
The King’s eyes shifted toward Yuto.
For several seconds he said nothing.
Instead he simply observed.
Looked.
Measured.
Examined.
Yuto bowed.
Not submissively.
Not arrogantly.
Simply with quiet dignity.
The King’s expression became thoughtful.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The young man before him was contradictory.
He could sense power.
Real power.
Far more than should be possible from an ordinary youth.
The boy’s posture spoke of confidence.
His composure suggested discipline.
His eyes lacked fear.
Yet...
His clothes were worn.
His appearance rough.
His features carried the unmistakable marks of poverty.
He possessed the aura of a peasant.
What sort of strange human was this?
Finally the King spoke.
"Is this true?"
Yuto looked up.
"Which part?"
"The death of Teki Masaru."
"Yes."
Gasps spread immediately.
The King remained expressionless.
"And the claim of being a Paragon Menace?"
"Also true."
The room became silent.
The King gestured slightly.
"Explain."
Yuto nodded.
"Teki harassed me."
Naoto frowned.
"He harassed Gina."
He pointed toward where she stood among the attendants.
Several eyes shifted toward her.
"He abused his position."
Yuto’s eyes hardened slightly.
"So in a fit of anger..."
He shrugged.
"I fought him."
The King listened carefully.
"And?"
Yuto’s expression remained completely neutral.
"And I killed him."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then Yuto added casually,
"To be honest, he didn’t put up much of a fight."
The throne room froze.
"It was rather disappointing."
The silence somehow became even heavier.
Several nobles looked horrified.
A servant dropped a tray.
One guard nearly choked.
Even the King’s eyebrows rose slightly.
Naoto exploded.
"YOU FILTHY ANIMAL!"
His voice shook the room.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Spittle flew from his mouth.
"You murder my nephew and then mock him before the throne?!"
His face had become red with fury.
"You insolent dog!"
"Murderer!"
"Peasant!"
"Vermin!"
