He was about to stand up, but Saisheer stopped the impulsive young King with a look, "Please remain calm, Your Majesty," the elderly man said in a low voice.
Aleph had no choice but to sit back down, feeling discontent.
Laval looked in that direction, then looked at the owner on the throne, and asked, "Your Majesty, may I hear this explanation?"
Aleph nodded, indicating he was free to proceed.
"Sir, although I don't know who you are," Laval faced that direction, "could you describe this young lady's appearance to me in detail?"
The voice didn't hesitate and immediately described Hilveld's appearance. Though she later changed to silver hair, she was not disguised at all before that.
As soon as Laval heard, he realized he had found the right person.
He turned around and gave the Overlord of the Istania People a meaningful glance, "Your Majesty, is it true what he said?"
"On that day, Kashan Palace was in chaos, with many people coming and going, and there were people from the Holy Temple and Alchemy Association. I didn't pay attention to everyone's appearance," Aleph answered blandly, "It might be true, or it might be a mistake, or maybe just two very similar-looking people."
"Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty," Laval continued, "So, those people did not end up staying at Kashan Palace?"
"Indeed."
Laval looked once more in that direction. But this time, there was no voice responding; few knew where the Seven Seas Travel Group went after leaving Quistack.
Lord Earl looked around the hall, understanding he could no longer gain more here. He gave a deep look at the person on the throne before speaking:
"Your Majesty, I have got the answers I wanted, requesting permission to leave—"
Aleph wanted to keep him, but couldn't find a suitable reason for a moment, as he wasn't his subject. Moreover, given the strength comparison between the Colin Kingdom and Istania, he couldn't forcibly command him to stay.
He could only silently nod.
Watching Lord Earl turn to leave, the temperature inside Kashan Palace seemed to suddenly drop by several degrees.
The young King of Sand's expression cooled, showing a resemblance to Barbaltan. Aleph looked towards one corner of the hall, the direction where the voice came from earlier.
The voice's owner likely realized he could no longer hide, and straightforwardly separated from the crowd, emerging. Aleph watched those leading figures, actually having already recognized their identity from the sound earlier, still the nobles who consistently opposed him and his father.
In fact, he should have cleared out these cowardly and weak individuals during that battle, but hesitated in the moment, not wanting Istania People to shed more blood—yet didn't anticipate now, they would wield their blades towards the life-saving benefactor of Istania People.
"I hope you remember, Istania People detest traitors."
Aleph stared at these individuals, and spoke coldly.
But these nobles showed no fear, as if giving a speech, addressing their fellow comrades in the hall, "Your Majesty, what we are doing now, you've done before too, do you want to deny your father's, your grandfather's achievements?"
"Your grandfather once said, Istania People and Colin People were one, only when the two countries unite, can Istania People have a bright future. And Count Laval also helped us in that battle, should Istania People be ungrateful?"
Upon hearing this, all the ministers in the hall changed in expression. They naturally understood the subtext of these few—Royal House of Penelope once relied on the Colin People to ascend, and why couldn't others do the same?
Aleph also erupted in anger, but when he was about to act, Saisheer reached over to hold him back. The young King of Sand looked at the calm gaze of the elder minister and immediately regained his clarity.
These people being so arrogant, must have Colin People backing them, if he really acted, it would mean standing against the Colin People. These individuals are intentionally provoking him to cause him to lose the support of the Colin side.
But for this throne, should he sell out his own brothers? Aleph clenched his teeth, unable to help but wonder, if his father was in this position, how would he act?
Just as he was silent, outside Kashan Palace came the sound of 'swish swish' footfalls.
Within moments, rows of guards, fully armored, appeared outside the main hall, seeing this scene left everyone pale, thinking these individuals were so arrogant they intended to seize power.
But with a glance, those haughty nobles also looked stunned. And next moment, Rupert Princess, donned in battle attire, emerged from the guards, hand on her longsword, looked at those people, coldly commanded:
"Take down these traitors!"
"Wait, wait—"
Before those nobles could grasp what was happening, the guards loudly acknowledged and rushed forward, twisting their arms behind their backs and pinning them to the ground.
These pampered nobles couldn't withstand this treatment, producing pig-like howls, losing their earlier decorum. However, they clearly didn't surrender, crying tearfully and accusing the Princess of breaking the rules, hoping deep down that the Colin People could deter this Princess.