Chapter 167. The Deal Is Struck
The convoy entered the Royal Palace, passed through courtyard after courtyard, and finally came to a stop before the Throne Hall.
William helped Selena down from the carriage. Third Prince Frey stepped aside to lead the way, and the group headed toward the magnificent hall ahead.
The hall was already buzzing with voices. Kadiya’s nobles and members of the Royal Family had all gathered there. Beneath the fragrance of perfume and the shimmer of fine clothing, however, their gazes kept drifting toward the entrance.
Most of them had already heard the rumors about Selena. In their eyes as they looked toward the doors were curiosity, contempt, and, above all, scrutiny.
What kind of storm would this woman, who had once killed her own blood kin with her own hands, now return pregnant with Kroll’s bloodline to stir up?
Only a few elderly nobles from Selena’s Maternal Clan sat among the guests, their expressions complicated, yet they remained silent from beginning to end.
“Your Majesty, His Highness William and Princess Selena have arrived,” an Attendant announced loudly.
The hall instantly fell silent, and every gaze turned in unison toward the entrance.
As two Palace Knights pushed open the heavy wooden doors, three figures slowly stepped inside.
Frey walked at the front. William wore a dark formal suit, his posture tall and straight. Selena followed closely behind him. Her silver-white gown made her already cool expression seem even colder, and one hand remained protectively over her lower abdomen the entire time.
Frey stepped forward and bowed toward Feir IV on the throne.
“Royal Father, your son has escorted His Highness William here.”
Feir IV’s hair and beard were already white, yet his eyes remained sharp. He nodded, signaling for Frey to withdraw, then turned his gaze toward William and spoke in a resonant voice.
“William Kroll, welcome to the Kadiya Kingdom.”
William stepped forward and gave a flawless noble salute, his tone respectful but neither servile nor overbearing.
“Your Majesty, it is my honor to visit Kadiya. From all I have seen along the way, your kingdom is indeed most hospitable.”
It sounded like a polite courtesy, yet it was as sharp as a fine needle, lightly pricking certain people in the hall. The rebellion and the ambush that night had suddenly become footnotes to that so-called “hospitality.”
A glint flashed through Feir IV’s eyes, and then he burst into loud laughter.
“The Prince of Kroll jests well. Come, grant seats to the Prince and Princess.”
The maids hurried forward and led William and Selena to the empty seats prepared for them.
As they passed the Consorts who had once had grievances with Selena, several venomous gazes nearly seemed to pierce straight through her.
Selena acted as if she noticed nothing at all. She simply sat down in her seat, her fingertips lightly tapping the tabletop.
As William took his seat, his gaze swept quietly across the entire hall.
The nobles seated there all looked calm on the surface, yet most of them kept their hands around their wineglasses or leaned in to whisper to one another. Clearly, every one of them had their own thoughts.
Feir IV raised his goblet and looked around at the crowd.
“A toast to the marriage alliance between our two kingdoms, and also to... Selena’s return home.”
Amid the crisp clink of glasses, William and Selena both raised their cups. Yet their eyes passed over the crowd and met Feir IV’s on the throne from afar.
An invisible tension began to spread through the air.
The music in the dance hall gradually became lighter and brisker. Noble men and women entered the center in pairs, their gowns and tailcoats spinning elegant arcs beneath the lights.
Holding his wineglass, Feir IV shifted his gaze from the dance floor to William, a hint of amusement curling at the corner of his mouth.
“You are really that certain I’ll swallow this poisoned cheese you’ve offered me?”
William had just taken a sip of red wine. At those words, he set down his glass, met Feir IV’s eyes openly, and nodded.
“You will, Your Majesty.”
He paused, his tone calm yet filled with unquestionable certainty.
“This time, I will help Kadiya select youths with the highest Aptitudes. If Your Majesty wants the kingdom to grow stronger, this is the fastest path. You may take the Gold Legion of the Kroll Kingdom as a reference.”
Feir IV arched a brow, then suddenly threw back his head and laughed. His booming laughter echoed through the hall, drawing side glances from the dancing nobles and royals alike, and even their steps slowed.
“You brat, you speak better than your father ever did.”
When he had laughed enough, he pointed at William, and there was a bit more approval in his eyes.
“Fine. I’ll take this poisoned cheese.”
Then his tone shifted, taking on a deeper meaning.
“But since you’re here, stay a while longer. Kadiya’s autumn scenery is quite nice, and it will give Selena a chance to reconnect with her kin as well.”
William nodded. “That would be only proper.”
He knew full well that Feir IV’s suggestion to “stay a few more days” was merely an excuse to screen the members of the Royal Family and the children of certain nobles. But that was exactly what William wanted.
The longer they stayed, the more clearly he could gauge Kadiya’s real strength, and the more thoroughly the news that “Kroll and Kadiya had joined hands” would spread across the Eastern Continent, throwing the plans of the surrounding kingdoms into complete disarray.
The music in the dance floor remained soft and graceful. Selena sat at the side, absentmindedly tracing a finger across the tabletop. She looked as though she were watching the dancers, but in truth her ears remained fixed on the conversation near the throne.
When she heard Feir IV finally relent, the faintest curve flickered in her eyes. It seemed William’s move had, for the moment, landed firmly in place.
The noise and splendor of the dance floor continued. A maid dressed in a gray linen skirt kept her head lowered, and while pouring fruit juice, she silently slipped a folded note into Selena’s hand.
Then she bowed and withdrew, as though she had never appeared at all.
Selena held the note between her fingers, her expression unchanged. She merely said softly to William, “I’m going to get some air,” then rose from her seat.
William understood at once and nodded.
Selena walked to a secluded corner at the end of the corridor. There was only a single dim wall lamp there, casting weak light across the mottled stone walls.
She unfolded the note and scanned it quickly by the faint light. Her expression darkened at once. It said that several important manors belonging to her Maternal Clan within the Royal Capital had been seized, and half of their core members were now missing.
Her fingers tightened around the note. Dou Qi quietly began to circulate through her body, grinding the paper into fine powder that scattered into the air with the wind.
Just as she turned to leave, a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows and blocked her path.
The newcomer wore splendid noble attire. His face bore a faint resemblance to Selena’s, but his eyes were filled with venom.
“Selena, do you really think that just because of the bastard in your belly, you can lay claim to the throne? What a ridiculous dream.”
Selena lifted her eyes, a cold sneer curling at her lips.
“Fifth Brother, have you forgotten how to call me ‘Elder Sister’?”
“You’re not worthy.”
The man stepped forward, his tone icy.
“For the sake of that bastard, you actually killed my Sixth Sister back then. You should have known this day would come. As for your Maternal Clan, they were placed under His Majesty’s control long ago. Right now, you’re just a stray dog with nowhere to go.”
“And you still want to fight for the throne? What a joke.”
Selena’s hand slowly came to rest over her lower abdomen, and her eyes turned razor-sharp.
“Whether I’m a stray dog or not is not for trash like you, something that only knows how to bark from behind others, to judge.”
The Dou Qi inside her began to surge. The power she had been suppressing throughout her pregnancy now leaked out with a frightening pressure.
“Move.”
Startled by the ferocity in her eyes, the man instinctively took half a step back. But then he stiffened his neck again.
“You think His Majesty will really protect you? He only wants to use your child to keep Kroll in check. Once the child is born, you and your Maternal Clan can prepare to—”
“Shut up.”
Selena barked the words in a low voice. Her figure shifted, and in the next instant she was already right in front of him, her fingertips nearly touching his throat.
“If you dare say one more word, I won’t mind leaving Kadiya with one more prince’s corpse.”
The man’s face turned deathly pale. Looking into the undisguised killing intent in her eyes, he finally realized that the woman standing before him was still the same ruthless figure who had once clawed her way out from a mountain of corpses.
He swallowed hard and reluctantly stepped aside.
Selena gave a cold snort and strode away without another glance.