Chapter 168. Selena’s Counterattack, Condemnation from the Various Kingdoms
When Selena returned to the banquet hall, there was not the slightest sign of anything amiss on her face. She even gave a faint smile to the noblewoman seated beside her, as though the clash in the corridor had never happened at all.
But William, seated at her side, could clearly sense the slight tremor in her fingertips. That was anger being suppressed with all her strength.
He turned his head, his gaze falling on the tense line of her jaw, asking the question without a word.
Selena met his eyes. After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally gave a slight shake of her head. She raised her wineglass and took a sip, hiding the emotion in her eyes.
The banquet slowly came to an end amid the lingering music. The nobles gradually took their leave, and the air was left with the mingled scent of champagne and perfume.
William bowed to Feir IV in farewell. The king smiled and inclined his head, his gaze passing between William and Selena with unmistakable meaning.
Following the servant through a winding corridor, the two of them were led to a separate palace.
The place was lavishly furnished, and outside the windows lay a carefully trimmed garden. It looked peaceful, yet everything about it carried the feeling of surveillance. William could even sense the presence of Hidden Sentries on the roof.
Only after they stepped into the inner hall and the servant withdrew did William look at Selena again.
“What happened?”
With her back to him, Selena gazed into the night beyond the window. After a moment of silence, she still shook her head.
“Nothing.”
She did not want William to become involved in Kadiya’s royal infighting too early, especially before she had fully grasped the situation of her Maternal Clan.
Seeing that she was unwilling to speak, William did not press her any further. He merely shrugged.
“As you wish. But remember this: here, no one is more trustworthy than I am.”
Selena turned around and looked at him, but said nothing in reply. She only told him to rest early, then turned and walked toward the bedroom in the side hall.
The door closed softly, separating them into two different spaces.
William walked to the window and pushed it open a crack. The night wind blew in, carrying the fragrance of the flowers from the garden, yet it could not disperse the tension in the air.
He knew Selena was hiding something from him, perhaps something connected to that note, but he was in no hurry. Sooner or later, she would tell him.
Over the next week, Kadiya’s council chamber practically became William’s personal ground.
As promised, he tested the Aptitudes of the members of Kadiya’s Royal Family. His eyes swept over one nervous or expectant face after another, and the results of those tests often made Feir IV grin from ear to ear.
After all, discovering several youths with hidden Domain Aptitude among them was unquestionably tremendous news for Kadiya.
At first, Feir IV was not entirely at ease. In secret, he had people prepare Contract Scrolls and Truth Potions, intending to use the pressure of encirclement from the various kingdoms to force William into drinking the Truth Potion and signing a contract.
William rejected it all on the spot, his tone unyielding.
“Your Majesty, I am the Crown Prince of Kroll. I represent Kroll’s dignity. Testing Aptitudes is already a gesture of sincerity in our cooperation. If such methods are used, it would be far beneath the bearing of a royal house.”
“If Your Majesty finds this inappropriate, then we can leave the Kadiya Kingdom immediately.”
His attitude was firm, and he did not yield a single step.
Feir IV had originally intended to drag things out, but he could not withstand the urging of the Royal Family members and the nobles.
After three days of deadlock, Feir IV ultimately compromised and withdrew those underhanded measures.
William had plenty of patience anyway. What he wanted was for Kadiya to become thoroughly dependent on him. The longer it dragged on, the higher the other side’s sunk cost would become.
During this period, he rarely saw Selena.
She always left early and returned late. Sometimes she came back covered in dust from the road, and sometimes weariness was hidden in her eyes. When he asked, she only said that she was dealing with matters concerning her Maternal Clan and refused to say more.
William did not press her. He simply had the Shadow Guard keep a closer watch on her movements. They discovered that she often went to the slums of the Royal Capital and to several abandoned strongholds, apparently contacting her old subordinates.
That evening, just after William finished the day’s testing, Selena happened to return, with a bit of dirt clinging to the hem of her dress.
When she saw William, she froze for a moment before quickly regaining her calm.
“You finished early today?”
“Yes. The last child’s Aptitude was average.”
William looked at her.
“Any progress with your matter?”
Selena avoided his gaze and walked over to the table to pour herself a glass of water.
“Soon.”
After a pause, she added, “Don’t worry. I won’t cause trouble for you.”
William smiled.
“What do you mean, cause trouble for me? You’re my Second Prince’s Wife.”
Selena silently nodded.
“I’m going to rest.”
With that, she turned and left.
Meanwhile, because of Kroll II’s deliberate efforts to spread the news, word that William was screening the Aptitudes of members of the Royal Family inside the Kadiya Royal Palace hit the surrounding kingdoms like a boulder crashing into a lake, stirring up monstrous waves.
“Kadiya is joining hands with Kroll to openly challenge the balance of the Eastern Continent.”
“Kadiya is a fool. As long as the encirclement continued, that William Kroll would have been ours to squeeze as we pleased. So why...?”
“Why is it not the Dragon Kingdom that William Kroll is visiting?”
The king of the Dwarf Kingdom reacted the most violently. That very day, he ordered thirteen elite Legions to mobilize toward the border shared with Kadiya. Their banners blotted out the sky, and their killing intent surged like a storm.
The Lizardfolk Kingdom followed close behind. War drums thundered from the depths of the swamps as armored Legions marched through the muddy land and gathered at the northern border.
They had long-standing grudges with Kadiya and absolutely would not allow this old rival to rise with Kroll’s support.
Letters of condemnation from the various kingdoms flew toward the Kadiya Royal Capital like snowflakes, their wording sharp and their threats unmistakable.
But inside the Kadiya Royal Palace, Feir IV seemed utterly deaf to it all.
As he looked over the Aptitude lists William submitted every day, each densely filled with the names of talented youths who had previously been overlooked, the smile at his lips never faded.
“Transmit my orders. The Royal First, Second, Third, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Legions are to depart for the border immediately and coordinate with the local nobles’ defenses.”
After a pause, he added, “Transfer the noble Legions of the Northern Frontier southward and hold the outer line of the Royal Territory’s border.”
The inner Attendant bowed to receive the order and quickly withdrew.
Feir IV rubbed the list in his hand, his eyes shining.
William’s ability to identify Aptitude at a glance was practically a treasure tailor-made for the kingdom. The more he looked, the more tempted he became, until a thought rose uncontrollably in his mind.
If only he could keep William in Kadiya...