540 The Solemn Queen (1/2)

Kritonia raised his head, only to see Natasha standing straight intimidatingly against the light, making everyone forget her gender and her beauty.

He narrowed his eyes. Even though he did not release any pressure actively, he was still giving off an oppressive air having been a legendary knight for hundreds of years. Duke James, who was protecting Natasha, couldn't help but move his eyes away, but Natasha looked back at him without wavering.

After ten seconds, Kritonia said in a low voice, ”That's an excellent decision, Your Majesty. I agree that anyone that violates the basic order of the nobles shall be punished, but I hope that Your Majesty will allow me to take care of York in person. I do not want him to embarrass the family on the gallows.”

”That's understandable.” Natasha looked gentler, but the exhaustion no less than that of after a fierce battle with a radiant knight of her level rose in her body. ”Also, I would like the shift change of legendary knights to be advanced. I hope that Winston can take your shift as soon as possible, so that I can be familiarized with both of you the two excellencies sooner.”

Kritonia understood that it was her conditions of the deal. Also, he knew that Natasha wouldn't trust him for the time being after such an incident. He nodded and said, ”I'll swap with Winston and watch over the colonies in the alternate dimensions after I escort you back to the Nekso Palace. I will live up to your trust, Your Majesty.”

”You are a legendary hero who founded the kingdom, Your Excellency. I'm confident in you.” Natasha encouraged and reassured him. ”I'll leave Duke York to you. His heir will be your decision.”

Kritonia pressed his chest with his left hand and bowed deeply, ”Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I'll escort you back to the Nekso Palace first.”

Now that the Heart of Time had come, the poisons in Camil, Russell and the rest of them were soon relieved. Kritonia also 'successfully' found evidence from 'Primous', proving that he was the 'Cursed Angel', who ranked fifth among the night watchers.

After she returned to the Nekso Palace, Natasha spoke to James and his partners, ”Duke James, would you please invite Duke Solefen to come? Also, block the message and convene the Parliament of Nobles an hour later. Duke Russell, please watch over Count Barady in case he runs off and check to see if York is really dead.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.” Duke James and the rest of them answered sincerely. A distinguished knight was always admirable, especially one who stayed to resist the enemy when she could've run away.

......

Inside the Parliament of Nobles in the Nekso Palace.

Count Barady walked in with Duke Russell gloomily. He merely nodded at the nobles who greeted him warmly, his usual manner gone.

”Russell, can you tell me why Her Majesty is summoning the nobles? As I recall, the one-month mourning period is not over yet. Is she breaking her promise?” Count Barady spoke to Duke Russell.

He knew that Natasha was going to James' private garden, and that the Duke and Grunwell would take action. Therefore, he had a bad feeling when he was informed that Natasha was convening a meeting of the nobles. However, Duke Russell, a level-eight radiant knight, had come to his house to invite him and was keeping him company. He couldn't even run even if he wanted to hide or escape, and so he had to come in fear.

He kept telling himself that it was fine. He merely fermented the hatred in David's heart and introduced Grunwell to him. He never asked him to kill Her Majesty. He couldn't be blamed for introducing two people to meet each other in a private dinner, right?

Seeing that Duke Rex's eyes moved over, Russell understood that he had fulfilled his responsibility and therefore returned to his seat with a smile.

”Why did you come with Russell? Do you know why the queen convened a meeting? This is in violation of the one-month promise.” Rex had a bad feeling, too, as if something horrible had happened.

Count Barady shook his head. ”I have no idea. Where is York?”

Duke Rex frowned. ”I didn't see him. Isn't he always the earliest? Did something happen to him? In that case, His Excellency Kritonia's fury will burn everything.”

Duke York had always come early to the meetings in the Parliament of Nobles to visit 'Heart of Time' first.

Realizing that York did not come, Count Barady looked even more awful, but he also had a plan to save himself.

Since it was a temporary meeting, many nobles who were not in Rentato failed to come. Only two thirds of the members were present.

Sensing that Natasha had arrived, Rex left his seat and walked to the dais up ahead, knocking the mallet.

After the knock, the hall fell quiet.

”Welcome Her Majesty.” Rex turned around, his black cape floating.

Natasha walked in slowly in a black long dress, followed by Camil and a team of knights.

The moment they entered the hall, the knights split and 'guarded' the seats in the ground hall.

The one in the lead was a calm gold-haired man. Count Barady recognized that it was John, the knight that Queen Natasha brought from Aalto. The others were the Violent Knights from Aalto and the new knights who pledged loyalty to the queen. More than fifteen of them were grand knights. Plus Camil, they were much stronger than a medium knight group.

Not knowing what happened, the nobles whispered to each other. Everything suggested that something great was going to happen.

Also, they were shocked that the queen had earned the allegiance of so many grand knights and knights in only one month. The Sword of Truth's Knights had been adjusting under Natasha's command and were most trustworthy.

It meant that she already had the strength to defend her crown.

Natasha knocked the mallet, silencing the hall where hundreds of flies seemed to be humming.

Then, she looked around and declared 'furiously': ”This morning, I suffered an assassination attempt.”

”What?” The nobles exclaimed. It was a taboo to assassinate one's liege in the first place, not to mention killing the queen in no more than one month after she was crowned. That was challenging the order of the nobles.

Rex was stunned first. Recalling York's absence and Barady's absentmindedness as well as their hints, he immediately burst into fury and glared at Count Barady. Idiots! You can go to hell if your evidence has been found!

At this moment, Count Barady calmed down and turned a blind eye to Duke Rex's fury, considering how to minimize his punishment.

Natasha knocked the mallet again and said, ”The assassins were Count David and 'Cursed Angel', who ranks top the fifth among the night watchers. Duke James, Duke Russell and Count Henson can prove that. His Excellency Saint Sard can prove the identity of 'Cursed Angel'.”

The hall fell silent again. The nobles found it hard to understand why David, who always favored the Congress of Magic, conspired with the night watchers, but they soon realized that it was all because of desire!

”The night watchers dared to assassinate the queen? The Church is more and more outrageous!”