51 A Forced Alliance (1/2)

Leopold learned about what happened after his squire woke him from his sleep. At first his squire's report was strange to him. His drowsy mind failed to connect the words, 'Princess Lucia' 'Attack' and 'Skall Wismar'. But then he realized that the situation was an emergency and that he needed to beat a Wismarine Prince tonight.

Leopold summoned Skall in the throne room. Behind both of them were their guards clad in full armor.

Leopold did not speak. He just examined Skall Wismar's face for half an hour.

”Scum” he finally voiced. Skall lifted his head and looked at him. ”Scum!” Leopold shouted as loud as he could. He started to throw things to the scum in front of him. Cups, glasses, quills and various things hit Skall.

Skall's guards defended him from the flying objects. ”Your Majesty I can explain!” Skall shouted from behind his guards.

Leopold stopped, not because he listened, but because he ran out of things to throw except his own crown.

”You don't have to explain bastard!” Leopold leaned forward and supported his weight by pressing his hands on the armchair of his throne. ”Do you have any idea what you've done?!”

Skall gestured for his guards to move behind him. The guards obeyed and Leopold could now see the bastardy face of the Wismarine Prince.

”I know what I did King Leopold. I know the consequences of my actions. But we don't have a choice. This will be better for both of us”

Leopold's heart almost stopped after hearing Skall. ”Better you say” he made a bitter smile. ”The other nations will condemn us. My Kingdom will face political backlash, economic and diplomatic sanctions, and possibly a war with the Vanadians!”

Leopold lowered his head and rubbed his forehead. ”And you know the worst part? The people, my people” he paused and pointed at himself ”will think that I tried to kill the sweetheart of their hero. Now, explain to me which part of that makes our situation better.”

Skall's responded to Leopold with a long silence. After a while he revealed ”Lucia Vanadis was the one who interrupted our plans Your Majesty. She was also the one who informed the garrison of Knightsend.”

Leopold was surprised by Skall's revelation. He never thought that Lucia Vanadis would be capable of doing that. For him, Lucia Vanadis is not a threat. She was just a foreign Princess in a foreign land.

”And you are sure about that?”

”We have evidence Your Majesty.”

”Still, that is not a reason for you to kill her, you idiot! If she's really as capable as you say, then I have made the wrong decision by choosing you. I should have kept my alliance with Vanadis.”

”Perhaps but now you have no choice but to continue your alliance with us” Skall said.

Leopold felt his face redden with anger ”Bastard” he stood up and approached Skall.

After seeing Leopold's abrupt reaction, Skall's guards unsheathed their swords. In response, Leopold's guards also drew their weapons and rushed to the King.

”Throw down your weapons!” Skall ordered to his guards ”He won't kill me”

Meanwhile, Leopold was unfazed by the tension. He hurried towards Skall and grabbed the idiot by the collar.

”I have no choice but to continue the alliance with you? I could kill you right now!” Leopold shouted to his face.

The Wismarine guards grunted after hearing Leopold's threat. Skall turned his face towards his guards.

”He wont!” Skall shouted. ”Lower your weapons already. He won't kill me. Don't add fuel to the tension you idiots!”

The Wismarine guards lowered their weapons while Leopold's guards surrounded them.

”Are you sure about that oh great and wise Skall Wismar?” Leopold then spitted to his face.

Skall wiped Leopold's saliva. ”I am Your Majesty. Because you need me”

”I need you? But you caused all of this!”