65: 65 A Tense Confrontation

65 A Tense Confrontation

Alen's POV 1

What?! I could hardly believe what I was seeing. According to the normal effects of the medication, Kral would remain unconscious for at least one night to fully recover. And yet, Delia was by his side, and she was not doing anything particularly special, but Prince Kral awakened from his state of frenzy.

I wasn't the only one taken aback. Wiliam and August had solemn expressions, a glint passing through their eyes, understanding why Kral had always chosen Delia to be his queen.

One might say, she truly lived up to the legendary White Wolf reputation. With her innate healing powers over werewolves, her ability to heal Kral was even more astonishing after they became mates.

"K-Kral, Your Highness?" One of the elders trembled, clearly shaken and somewhat disoriented by Kral's sudden return to sanity.

"It is indeed me."

Kral's sharp eyes scanned the faces of the crowd. His gaze seemed condescending, as if looking down from a higher place.

Delia, in her White Wolf state, had inexplicably fallen into a deep sleep. Kral raised himself up, his black boots stepping rhythmically within the temple, almost like treading on the hearts of the onlookers.

"Everyone," he said, carrying Delia in his arms, his voice deep and hoarse. "Let us continue our roundtable meeting."

He sat back down on the black high-backed chair. The golden and crimson pupils of his eyes carried an intimidating aura that swept through the crowd like a blizzard. His right hand slowly combed through Delia's pure white fur nestled against his chest, his face expressionless. However, the bloodstains of the warriors on the floor beneath him had not yet dried.

Amidst the chaotic temple, only Kral remained elevated.

The bewildered elders stood frozen in their spots, their faces filled with fear, resembling courtiers in the presence of a monarch.

"Elder William," Kral spoke calmly, disregarding the expressions of the others, a faint curl forming at the corner of his mouth. "I recall that you had a bet with my queen."

"Yes, Your Highness, I indeed made a bet with Delia," Elder William stepped forward from among the elders. He raised his somber gaze, directly meeting Kral's unsettling eyes.

"Your Highness, it is extremely rare for a she-wolf to shift into a White Wolf. And now, a werewolf who has never successfully transformed since birth has become the special White Wolf. Don't you find this incredibly strange? According to Delia's father, Alpha of the pack, Delia was a child who was suspected by her own people."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood that he was implying that Delia had been suspected of being the child of her mother and a human.

"Furthermore, we have a witch in our temple who is not of our kind. As Delia's personal attendant, who knows if she has employed any strange magic?" Elder August followed up with a deep, approving grunt.

"It pisses me off. How dare you slander me! I'm the greatest wizard of the future."

Elder August directed a targeted, enraged glare at Vivian, causing her young face to turn red. I quickly gripped her hand tightly, pulling her away from this confrontation.

"Elder William, if I remember correctly, when I was younger, you taught me about the historical legends of werewolves. You told me that the White Wolf is the embodiment of good fortune, a symbol of the Moon Goddess's blessing."

Kral idly teased a strand of Delia's white fur with his fingers, lifting her eyelids, his voice filled with melancholy. "Now, Delia can shift into the White Wolf. She is my mate, and she has passed the trials of the queen. I don't believe there is anything that contradicts the requirements of a queen."

"As for Vivian, there is indeed a reason for her presence here. However, before that, let me ask Elder William, have you ever heard of a woman named Bernice?"

Kral suddenly shifted his tone, his eyes narrowing.

While the others wore expressions of confusion, I observed Elder William's face darkening.

"Who is Bernice?" he asked.

"What do you mean, Your Highness?" someone inquired.

I could hear murmurs among the elders, and only a few individuals sensed that something was amiss, maintaining silence.

"General Bud," His Highness Kral called, putting an end to the discussion.

The grand doors of the temple swung open, revealing a tall and imposing warrior in armor. With a single hand, he removed his helmet, and beneath his chestnut hair, Bud's face came into everyone's view.

"Your Highness, I offer you my greetings," Bud bowed, surprising the elders with his presence, as Bud shouldn't have been there.

"Your Highness, what does this mean?" Elder August inquired, his face filled with a sense of anger, sensing that something had slipped from his control.

"Bud, report to your father about the results of your investigation," Kral turned slightly, his eyebrows raised as he locked eyes with Elder August.

"Yes, Your Highness." Bud took a few steps forward, positioning himself in the center of the temple, taking a small glass bottle and a broken arrow.

"Bernice is the stepsister of Delia, Orlban's stepdaughter. She admired Prince Kral but was despised in return. Consequently, she orchestrated an ambush on Your Highness' return journey, using a poisoned arrow laced with wolfsbane, plunging Your Highness into a life-threatening situation. Thankfully, Witch Vivian's intervention saved the prince's life."

Vivian heard her name and nodded, feeling proud, but unfortunately, not many people paid attention to her.

"This is the glass bottle containing the potion made from wolfsbane," Bud announced.

The crowd erupted into a flurry of voices, and the grand hall was filled with heated discussions. The young general raised the object in his hand with composure, capturing the attention of everyone.

"Wolfsbane, isn't it strictly regulated by the royal family now?"

"The royal family... Is someone planning harm against His Highness Kral?"

Occasionally, people glanced upwards, only to find His Highness Kral's calm face, while Elder William seemed to grow paler with each breath.

The layers of the mystery were about to be unveiled. With Kral's permission, the young general raised the short arrow high in front of everyone, presenting it as evidence.

"While apprehending Bernice and bringing her back to the palace under His Highness' orders, a group of black-clad individuals, wearing dark armor, attempted to seize Bernice from my grasp."

"During Bernice's interrogation, this arrow suddenly shot out, killing her in the prison cell."

The elders were clearly overwhelmed by the shocking news they had just received, but Bud showed no intention of stopping. He slightly parted his lips and uttered the words that Kral had been waiting for.

"This arrow and the glass bottle belong to Lancaster."

"Lancaster, according to the laws of the royal family, those who intend to harm the royal family shall be put to death." The solemn-faced general, as he uttered the final word, had a gaze filled with a deadly aura.

"Nonsense!" Elder William shouted in anger.

"Your Highness! This is all General Bud's one-sided account! Who can prove that these things belong to Lancaster?" The pale-faced elder roared like a roaring lion, completely disregarding his previous composed demeanor as an elder.

No one expected Bud, as the son of Elder August, to stand not with the elders but on the side of Prince Kral. His choice left the elders perplexed, unsure if it meant that Prince Kral's influence extended not only to the palace guards but also to the soldiers under Bud's command.

"What if I say it is true, Elder William? Do you intend to question me?" Kral's voice descended heavily, like the tolling of a closing bell, bringing an end to today's meeting.

As if being throttled by an invisible behemoth, William's facial muscles contorted and twitched. He breathed heavily, his eyes wide open, while the man on the throne merely raised his eyes, mocking him. No one came to his defense. The crime of attempting to murder Prince Kral had to be accounted for by someone.

It was all part of the Prince's plan, I suppose.

"Imprison Lancaster and my engagement ceremony with Delia will take place in three days."

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