Chapter 354 Identity
Orpheus did not answer nor speak. He could only wait for the elder to tell him what was going on. He couldn't figure out how they were deceived because the Justice of Light conducted the investigation personally, so how could they have been deceived? Out of nowhere, the king heard Lady Elvira cursing and getting angry over something he didn't know.
"Rigel Maverick Ginehart. He is the person you are looking for." She dropped the bomb which stopped the king. Time seemed to have slowed down because of those words.
That name continued to echo inside the king's head before he managed to snap out of it. 'How could that young man be the person they were looking for?' He asked himself because the Justice of Light already confirmed that he was not the World Breaker.
"H-How?" He even stuttered as he asked that simple question. The young man that he was fond of turned out to be an enemy, it was impossible. "It's impossible because the holy knight already confirmed that he was not the enemy, so how could he be the World Breaker?"
"I wish I was wrong too but that is the truth. I saw him with my own eyes because he was the person who interrogated me. He is not who he seems to be!" Elvira became indignant because the king did not believe her.
"Please calm down Lady Elvira. It's not that I don't believe you. I just couldn't jump into conclusions. I already offended Duke Ulysses Ginehart for letting the Justice of Light investigate his son. Even though the duke isn't favored right now, he still controls the West." The king immediately pacified the woman who was about to go hysterical.
Even though he was the king, he still needed to be careful of whatever he did. The four ducal households hold power that could threaten his rule. The duke of the east and the west were known to be friends and if he pushed it a bit further with Duke Ginehart, he was sure that Duke Blackwell would back his friend.
The duke of the north has remained neutral for a long time now that he would only come to the capital when summoned. He did not fancy the thought of supporting people and just kept to himself. The duke of the south was narcissistic. She would rather focus on making money than come and play power with them.
Elvira calmed down and took several deep breaths to calm herself. The king did not talk at that interval and waited for the woman to calm down. This also gave him the time to think about what the woman revealed to him. He'll need proof that Duke Ginehart's son was indeed the World Breaker. Solid evidence would make their claim solid.
Several names immediately came to mind while he was thinking of who he should ask to investigate the matter. Crown Prince Renzo and his advisor Lindon Ginehart would be the most suited people to do the investigation. He'll need to talk with them and he'll need to seek the holy knight once more.
"How do you plan to handle this matter then?" Elvira asked after she managed to gather thoughts and started to think rationally.
"I already have people in mind who will be willing to investigate the matter in my stead. Since I cannot make a move, I will use them." A small smile graced the king's mouth while saying those words. "They would gladly accept this request."
"Then you should be careful. We don't even know what that man is thinking right now. I'm sure that he already knew that I escaped but he hasn't done anything yet. I'm afraid that they are planning something more sinister." The woman's voice trembled and her eyes dropped down as she looked at her lap.
The king could see that she was trembling. The strongest woman she ever knew was not shaking just because of one man and they weren't even sure if he was really the enemy. He had his doubts but he couldn't just brush off the words of the elder.
"Regarding the past you were talking about a while ago? What was it about?" He asked when he remembered the woman's first statement.
The woman's shaking stopped when she heard the king's question. The unpleasant flashbacks started once again. She whimpered as the face of that child appeared on her memory. That bloody night was a scene that she would remember every time she would go to bed once again.
"He is a person that should have died in the past but he managed to survive and now he has returned to the world where all of his tragedies began." The woman mumbled but the king still heard all of it loud and clear.
He did not give any comment regarding the things she said and waited for her to continue. That information wasn't enough to quench his curiosity. He felt that something far deeper happened. It was not just a simple fight nor misunderstanding because of the woman's reaction.
Elvira raised her head and looked the king straight in the eye. "We killed all of his family members just to preserve the royal family's power. We charged them as traitorous and conspirators but all of it was just made up because they were loyal to the crown. It was a complete massacre and blood bath."
The king was shaken to the core as he stared and listened to Lady Elvira. The hand that was placed on the chair's armrest clenched. He froze and didn't know what he should do or how he should act. It was his ancestors who created the mess and now they were suddenly involved.
"He's out for revenge and I believe that he won't stop unless this kingdom is destroyed. This is the reason why I made the decision to escape and return. I already accepted my fate and yet when I heard that he was targeting the royal family too, I made this decision." Elvira was still looking at him because she wanted him to feel the fear that she was feeling.
"That is unfortunate but it already happened in the past," the king said. If this was the truth then the more that he needed to be prudent.
"It is but that man's heart has long been tainted black," Elvira muttered. She retracted her gaze and returned to staring at her lap.
This action made the king uncomfortable. He still had his fists clenched when he called for the guard once again. The crown prince and his advisor were immediately summoned and they came in record time. Renzo pushed open the door but what he saw halted his steps.
His gaze started to keep switching from the king and the visitor that was sitting with him. He got out from his stupefied reaction when he felt a nudge behind him. He coughed first before he walked towards his father.
"Is there a problem, father? And, who is this person?" He asked those questions after observing the woman first.
"Take a seat first." The king gestured for the other empty seats inside the receiving area of his study. Renzo and Lindon took their seats.
The room fell into an awkward silence after the two of them sat down. Both of them became alert of whatever the king was about to say. Their bodies were stiff and their backs were straight. The king couldn't help but laugh because of what the two of them were doing.
"I have no problem with the two of you. In fact, you are here to help Lady Elvira with an important investigation." He pointed at the silent woman. Now this answered both of the crown prince's questions.
Both Renzo and Lindon took a second look at the woman. They were informed that she disappeared, thus the reason why the king allowed the Justice of Light to establish themselves in the kingdom. Yet, she was there and sitting calmly in front of them.