Free Web NovelChapter 8: Could We Speak in Private?
"Holy shit!!! How did he survive that?!"
Aurelion couldn’t contain his shock as the calm facade he always maintained cracked for a brief moment.
He could immediately feel the gazes of both his father and grandfather from beside him. Letting out an awkward cough, he quickly composed himself.
Cough!
"I apologise."
But as if competing with his surprise, a loud chuckle echoed from beside him. His grandfather was laughing again.
"That boy actually did it!" Solarius grinned as he slapped the armrest of his seat. "See, Solvere? If you had stopped me, we never would have witnessed this moment."
Even Solvere couldn’t hide his surprise.
"But how?"
He frowned, his widened eyes fixed on the bloodied boy below.
"The boy clearly didn’t use any mana and his physique is just as poor as the reports claimed. So how did he survive an attack that should have killed him instantly?"
He muttered, genuine confusion evident in his voice.
Aurelion shook his head.
For even Father to be this surprised... It truly is an achievement.
Ever since childhood, Aurelion had only ever seen three emotions on his father’s face. Anger, hostility and inferiority toward his grandfather, Solarius.
Even when Aurelion had formed his core.
Even when he had awakened not one but two legendary talents spoken of in the myths surrounding the Empire’s founding.
Even when he had reached the peak of Awakened Rank at the mere age of eighteen, with many claiming his potential surpassed that of anyone in recorded history.
This cold father of his had barely shown the slightest reaction.
And yet now...
He was showing such surprise toward someone known as the weakest noble.
Still, Aurelion felt neither envy nor inferiority toward the boy. He had long since learned how dangerous those emotions could be from watching his own father.
Instead, all he felt was amusement and excitement.
He could hear the chatter of the nobles seated below, their voices just as loud as when they had been cursing that same boy moments earlier.
"I always knew the bloodlines of the Duke and the Cardinal couldn’t possibly produce someone weak!"
"Heh! Weren’t you the one calling him a stain just a few minutes ago?!"
"What stain? When did I ever say that?" The dwarf scoffed. "I was calling him a star. Yes, a star! After all, what else could you call someone who resisted an attack from Sir Gerald at such a low rank?"
The exchange came from a particular giant noble and a dwarf. Aurelion had seen nothing but contempt on their faces earlier and yet now they were singing the praises of the very same boy.
There were others doing the same, but this pair had been the loudest before... and they were the loudest now as well.
A smile appeared on his face.
Nobles truly never change no matter the race.
Ignoring the nobles, Aurelion’s gaze drifted back toward his grandfather, who appeared to be preparing to descend and meet the boy personally.
"Can I come as well, Grandpa?"
Solarius looked at him for a moment before nodding. In response, Aurelion’s body floated downward alongside his grandfather, descending toward the crack in the floor where Gerald and the boy responsible for it still stood.
They landed soon enough as Solarius’s laughter echoed throughout the hall.
"Hahahaha! Ruinbringer boy, you have truly surprised me the third time in a single day."
He waved a hand casually.
The barrier surrounding them vanished instantly. At the same time, the boy’s injuries disappeared and the cracks in the floor faded away as though they had never existed.
Solarius had merely used Healing Magic on the boy. As for the floor, it had never truly been damaged in the first place.
The barrier had created a spatial domain separate from the physical plane, meaning all destruction had occurred within that isolated space. The moment the barrier disappeared, everything was restored to its original state.
Gerald stood some distance away, bowing grumpily. Solarius didn’t spare him a glance and instead turned his attention toward the nobles gathered within the hall.
"Since the boy, Zenith Von Ruinbringer, survived through the will of our Goddess, I hereby declare all previous accusations against him null and void."
His voice sharpened.
"Since the Goddess herself has delivered a verdict of innocence, this trial is concluded in favour of the boy. However, in accordance with his wishes, the matter shall be investigated thoroughly so that the true culprit may answer for his crimes." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Aurelion found his grandfather’s behaviour strange.
The man was many things, a perverse and cruel old bastard with strange hobbies among them, but he was not someone who would normally concern himself with matters like this.
That alone showed how much Zenith had managed to amuse him.
"I do not wish for such a verdict, Your Radiance!"
The voice came from Zenith. He had already dropped to one knee, wearing the expression of a devoted and compassionate believer.
"Although the Goddess has proven my innocence, I do not wish for the pervert who committed this crime to be prosecuted publicly like this."
A murmur spread throughout the hall.
"As much as I wish for the criminal to be punished, he is still a member of my family and I cannot allow the name of my house to be dragged through the mud any further than it already has because of me."
He spoke with dramatic sincerity.
"Instead, please allow me to find and punish the criminal myself."
Unknowingly, the smile on Aurelion’s face widened even further. As the Crown Prince, he had been immersed in politics since childhood and immediately understood the hidden meaning behind those words.
How much more interesting can you possibly get, Zenith?
He couldn’t help but wonder.
Still, he merely observed because this was not his place to interfere. His grandfather, rather than being offended by Zenith’s rejection of his goodwill, seemed even more delighted.
The old man’s smile widened further.
"Alright! You shall be in charge of the investigation. You are also permitted to keep the details of this trial hidden from the public and I personally bestow upon you the right to punish the criminal, no matter who opposes it given that you provide evidence of such crime."
A murmur swept through the hall once again, louder than before.
"The right to punish? Isn’t that far too much authority?"
"How could something like that be granted without the Church’s approval?"
"What are you talking about?"
One noble scoffed.
"Didn’t you see it for yourself? The Goddess herself saved him. He is probably closer to our Goddess than half the priests in the Empire. What approval does he need?"
"Still, I doubt the Church would agree to this."
The nobles immediately began chattering among themselves again.
Such authority was no small matter.
But Solarius merely raised a hand and the next moment, a burst of aura swept across the hall.
"Silence."
His voice was calm and yet the entire chamber froze.
"If anyone has a problem with my decision, they are more than welcome to come before me and express their concerns."
A cold smile formed on his face.
"I will be sure to hear them out."
He tilted his head slightly and the hall fell deadly silent once more.
"Your generosity knows no bounds, Your Radiance!" Zenith immediately lowered his head in gratitude as if the whisper had nothing to do with him.
"Now that the small matters are out of the way, let me ask you something." Solarius grinned. "What kind of favour do you want? After all, I did agree to grant one wish of yours." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Aurelion’s ears immediately perked up. So did those of the nobles seated across the lower levels.
Everyone was curious about what kind of wish would a boy who had miraculously survived an attack from an Exalted Rank Swordmaster ask for?
Wealth? Status? A powerful artifact? Or maybe becoming disciples of the Previous Emperor himself?
Yet Aurelion’s attention remained fixed on Zenith as he saw the faint smile on the boy’s face as he slowly raised his head to look at Solarius.
"Could we discuss that in private, Your Radiance?"
