Chapter 216 (2/2)
x.x.xxX
As they stepped into the throne room, Stella smirked as the NIKMESH hide hanging on the wall seemed to shudder in fear . META was glowing on Joseph's forehead, as if proclaiming owners.h.i.+p . A middle-aged man was standing before the throne, glancing at them with partially disguised disgust and uncertainty . This had to be Carlos .
Joseph had left his battle gear in his room, so he was only wearing his white orichalc.u.m crown and a solid black monocrystalline cloth . It was tailored so well; Stella decided the rune MAKING must have filled in for Joseph's lack of skill . Perhaps, these runes weren't such a bad thing, they made him look better .
Noting the looks of confusion and indecision on people's faces, as soon as Joseph sat on the throne, she stepped up in front of him and stated in a clear voice, ”KNEEL before your king . ”
She made the demand only stretch as far as the room, but everyone listening from other rooms had to respond as well . She watched as Carlos, and several around him, tried to resist, but their bodies didn't pause in the motion of kneeling .
”Rise,” said Joseph, and she moved back to just behind his right elbow .
Everyone stood, looking around as if to confirm that they weren't the only ones affected .
”I am told that we have a serious issue to discuss and it wasn't suitable to be brought unto the council . ”
Carlos stepped forward, determination in his eyes, as those around him remained back, with cautious looks on their faces . It was obvious from their body language that they didn't know just yet if they fully believed the allegations being brought forth at the moment .
”You may speak, Carlos,” said Joseph, setting his gaze on the man .
Stella studied the man that dared to decry her Joseph, and noted with some satisfaction, that his thick dark hair had been forcibly regrown with magic . He carried himself well, as a former mage of the Western Kingdom would . She didn't remember anything special about his magic, that made him stand out from the other mages that agreed to come with them when they fled north from the coming army . His etiquette seemed well trained, and he was leaning heavily on it as he stepped forward to speak .
”Lord Joseph, due to your continuous irresponsible behavior, I am forced to declare that you are not fit as the king, and thus I am compelled to act to prevent further harm to the kingdom . ” He smiled sadly, as if he is truly sorry to come before them with this c.r.a.p .
If Joseph hadn't grabbed her hand, she would have stabbed him right then . The specific cuts she would have made flashed through her mind, in order to make his death as painful as possible . Without glancing in her direction, she could tell that he heard that through their enhanced mind link, and tried to quell her spike of anger so as not to distract him from the matter at hand . How she hated politics!
”Is that all? Surely, you need to list specifics for such a serious charge? Call witnesses and such . ”
The man gaped at him, and gave a half-hearted laugh, as if he couldn't believe Joseph didn't understand .
”What need have we of witnesses? Twice the kingdom has been viciously attacked with hundreds or thousands dead, while you were too busy to attend to us . ”
Stella glared at Carlos, knowing how deeply those words hurt Joseph . Squeezing his hand, she fought her urge to cut out this man's tongue .
”Our king knows the name of every person harmed in this kingdom, and he brought everyone of them back!” growled Stella . How dare this insufferable man say such hurtful things!
”Yet, he wasn't here to prevent the damage! Only showing up to resurrect and repair after the fact . Trauma has happened, and he can't take that away! He acts as if it never happened, and everyone should bow to him, because he reversed things . He barely implements laws, without thinking about the ramifications of them, before running off again . We are told of all these G.o.ds that are coming for us, yet I wonder if they are only attacking us, to get to him? Maybe if he leaves, our kingdom would be spared their vengeance?”
His voice had risen by the end, and many in the crowd were nodding as if he had made valid points .
”Is that all?”
Carlos shook his head in disbelief . ”Is that all?! You keep a woman with you, and haven't named her your wife, or even a consort, contributing the degeneracy of the youth . You are clearly inexperienced and not suitable to lead so many people . You have wantonly brought beings from another realm into ours, to satisfy your own ego, when we already struggle with sufficient resources . You brought in a duke from the central kingdom, and elevated him to a council position immediately without consulting anyone else . ”
”Is that all?”
Stella was impressed that Joseph was able to keep all of the emotions that were swirling through his mind out of his voice . She kept her face frozen, to prevent her killing gaze from activating . Joseph wanted to do this his way, so she would let him . Until her gave her the go ahead, she would wait .
The crowd was murmuring amongst itself, trying to figure out if what Carlos claimed, were really worth overthrowing him . She could see that there were some who were thinking it was, but they were mostly those from the Western Kingdom . Those from elsewhere, were not as convinced .
”What more do you want me to list? Is that not enough to prove you are unfit as king?”
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