Throne of Magical Arcana - The Mutiny
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The Mutiny
Verdi did not act rashly, since Natasha still had a level four grand knight, two level two knights, two level one knights and more than twenty knight squires and around eighty soldiers to protect her.
Silvia took a few deep breaths and she gradually calmed down. “I appreciate your love toward me, Natasha, but unfortunately, I care more about my father. My father spent so many years trying to find a chance to go to the Magic Congress in order to live a peaceful life, and his wish is my wish.”
“So?” Natasha asked gently, “That’s why you wanted me to die?”
“I didn’t expect this!” Silvia suddenly lost control and her voice became sharp, “I didn’t know that their real purpose in gathering information about you was to actually kill you! But… but my father was killed by you, Natasha, and the only thing I care for now is my revenge.”
Lucien was shocked to learn that both Deroni and Silvia were sorcerers. When he thought about it, and after taking a careful look at Silvia’s height and figure, Lucien suddenly linked White Honey to Silvia.
“Silvia… White Honey… and Deroni… the master of the raven named Ashley…” Lucien murmured to himself in a very low voice.
“So you’ve been lying to me all this time? I don’t believe it.” Natasha’s voice became cold, “I killed your father because he wanted to kill all of us!”
“You think I’m really that happy with fine clothes, spacious houses, endless cuisine and the bright future of being a musician, Natasha? No! None of them can compete with the great satisfaction that I felt from learning a new spell, from a successful magic experiment, and from seeing the hope in my father’s eyes.” Silvia tried her best to stay calm, “You think I only want to be your nightingale in a gold cage?”
“Did I ever treat you like my pet?” Natasha questioned Silvia desperately.
Before Silvia managed to say anything, Verdi suddenly reached out his hand and wrapped Silvia’s waist with his arm. “Although I admit that you’re very outstanding as a woman, my dear cousin, do you think you can give Silvia the same love as that of a man?”
Natasha closed her eyes and a sad smile appeared on her face. “Silvia, I never knew before that you could be this persistent and firm. I thought that I should be always protecting you, and I was wrong. Maybe I was never… never in your heart.”
“You were, Natasha.” Silvia lowered her head, “But we’re like two intersecting lines. We were very close to each other, and now we are heading for totally different directions.”
“So you’re heading toward him? Is that what you’re doing?” asked Natasha. Then, she turned to Verdi and sneered, “You’re much more stupid than I thought, my cousin. You think Sard, the Saint Cardinal, would just crown you as the next grand duke after my death? Do you think he would just let you live a happy life after you colluded with Argent Horn and the Congress of Magic? That’s not going to happen… you’ll end up being tied to the gallows!”
Natasha decided to put her personal feeling aside first, in order to deal with this situation more wisely, which was a basic quality of a grand knight.
Since Verdi already showed his true intention, every confusion within Natasha’s mind was solved. The connection between the intelligence department and Argent Horn, the reason that Rosan Aaron could always escape the careful search of the Church… All those things were related to her cousin, Count Verdi.
Lucien also realized that it was Verdi who betrayed the grand duke family and the Church. Taking a closer look at the high-rank knights following Verdi, it did not take Lucien too much time to recognize Rosan Aaron, who was in a suit of knight armor. After all, Lucien was familiar with Rosan Aaron’s picture as a criminal wanted by the Church.
“How stern and just your words are, Natasha!” Verdi laughed, “I knew you’d think I was tempted by the demon, but do you think your father is really that honest and straightforward? It was because of my father’s death that he became the grand duke, and I’m not that stupid to believe my father’s death was just an accident! I should be the next grand duke, not you, Natasha.”
“Then wish your dream come true when you’re being burned to ashes.” Natasha held her head high.
“If you die tonight, Natasha, no one here will tell the grand duke and Sard what I did.” Verdi shrugged easily, “I’d be the biggest hero who provided the important information to Sard and Count Hayward and helped them stop Argent Horn’s horrible conspiracy. Unfortunately, while they are busy dealing with the heretics, they don’t know that the princess is facing this great trouble, ha!”
“Yeah… smart.” The corner of Natasha’s lips was slightly lifted. “Somehow the princess would just die here out of no reason. And no one would care afterwards.”
“No worries, my dear cousin.” Verdi waved his hand causally, “After you die, Mr. Rogerio, from the Congress of Magic, will come to wrap up everything. He will leave the clues which will all lead to the sorcerers, and the Congress of Magic will claim responsibility as well.”
“I see. You’re neither on the side of Argent Horn, nor that of the Congress. You just betrayed Argent Horn to please the Church.” Natasha’s eyes looked rather cold, “Impressive.”
“My plan went wrong several times, though.” Verdi lifted his right hand and pointed at Lucien. “This guy, Lucien Evans… he betrayed Argent Horn, or you’d be dead a long time ago.”
Lucien finally realized what was his big trouble predicted by Maskelyne. Because of Silvia’s betrayal, his Blessing and what he did to Argent Horn was no more a secret since long ago. The only reason that Lucien and Joel’s family stayed safe until now was because the enemies needed to focus on their bigger plan. However, it seemed that Argent Horn still did not know that Lucien was actually the “Professor”.
“Lucien, thank you for coming here tonight,” Verdi said to him with an evil smile. “So I don’t have to bother killing you later, after our plan is done. But don’t think you have bad luck, since your death would come to you sooner or later. ”
“I bet you’re very happy that you can kill two birds with one stone tonight.” Lucien put on a calm smile while facing that serious situation. “The poem and the manuscript… they were really good traps to get me, a person who desires power so much.”
Although Lucien was acting like he already gave up, he was trying to sense the gaps connecting the world of soul and the main world, which would be the best way to save them. Unfortunately, the gap through which he came back had disappeared completely with the collapse of the magic lock, and he sensed no more around the area.
“Your calmness is impressive. Unfortunately, your loyalty will not bring you anything but death.” Verdi lifted his chin a bit and looked at Lucien. Then, he turned to the knights on Natasha’s side, “What about you guys? The Hayne and Hill families, as well as the two gold knights in the fortress, they’re all taking a neutral standpoint right now. As long as I can kill the princess, I’ll be the next grand duke.”
All the knights, squires and soldiers standing behind Natasha were shocked, and not even the princess could believe her ears. She never expected that Verdi had actually gained acquiescence from the big families and the most powerful people in the duchy.
“Why would you guys still want to follow her? Why would you guys want to sacrifice your lives for a woman who likes women?” Verdi got more and more vicious. “Shame on her, because she betrayed our honored tradition and she can’t even continue her family’s bloodline! Do you really think she could bring you guys glory?”
Some people who were on Natasha’s side started to murmur at each other.
Natasha forced herself to raise her head. As a knight of pride, she could not flinch even a bit from this situation.
“I have two level five grand knights, one level four knight, three level three knights… and also a couple of hundred of knight squires,” Verdi threatened them. “You bend your knees toward me, or you die.”
After a short period of time, many soldiers and squires started to run toward Verdi’s side, and among them there was even a knight.
Tightly grabbing her lance, Natasha looked at them with an expressionless face. Sitting on the horse, her back was as straight as a longsword.
After a while, when she looked around, there were only less than ten people who were still with her, and a couple of horses without their riders.
There was a sad smile on Natasha’s face.
“Knight Wyon, why you’re still with me?” she asked.
Wyon was the level four knight, who had blond hair and blue eyes. He answered the princess solemnly, “I made my vow to serve you, Your Grace, and I’ll serve you until the last second of my life.”
Natasha nodded with great resolve, and then turned to Lucien.
“What about you, Lucien?”
“I’m on your side, Your Grace.” Lucien answered shortly but firmly.
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