Chapter 28

' What the hell just happened?' was the question on everyone's mind.

The noblemen were still in shock, none of them could move. Everyone needed time to internalise what had happened today. They watched their dear friend get dragged away like a common criminal.

A moment ago they felt like the most powerful people in the Kingdom but now they felt like mere servants. It felt like a distant memory.

The King had certainly showed them their place. He indeed reminded them who was the ruler of the Kingdom. Harry the announcer watched the noblemen's faces. They were too frozen to move .

The king had already left 15 mins ago and they were still standing there, rooted to the ground .

" Kindly you are required to leave the throne room" he announced when he noticed they won't leave on their own.

They started leaving one by one. None spoke to the other. They all wondered how the King knew about their districts. The illegal deals they made behind closed doors. Was the King aware of everything? Was he buying time to deal with all of them at once? Were they next? Based on what happened today, the King seemed to know a lot more than he let on. Someone was bound to be next on the chopping board but none of them wanted to be it.

Those with a guilty conscience rushed home to hide their accounting books while others destroyed them. They thought destroying the evidence will keep them safe. No evidence no charges . Although it gave them a sense of relief, they were still stressed out. They were right to feel stressed out, for a man who doesn't say much, he seemed to know a lot more.

The King was a secretive man. No one could tell how much he knows. He has been known to wait months before he punishes people , so whatever was happening was only the beginning.

Harry reported to the King after the noblemen and women left. He explained the situation and how they behaved. While he explained the King kept chuckling. He wondered why the King could chuckle at such a serious issue . The King dismissed him immediately after.

Lord Stanley was present when Harry spoke to the King.

" They looked shaken up" he said while he scratched his chin softly.

" They should. They keep forgetting I am the King of this Kingdom and not them. Me!!" the King's voice hardened.

He was still angry at the noblemen. What he did was barely a scratch on the surface. He will punish everyone who was in the wrong , regardless of who they were. He didn't care for the consequences like they didn't care when they stole from his people.

A knock was heard on the door.

" Come in"

A young knight walked in with a letter in his hand.

" Your highness" he bowed his head " Sir Stanley an informant sent this letter for you" he announced and handed the letter to Sir Stanley before he left .

Sir Stanley opened the letter and after reading it he started laughing.

" What's so funny?" Asked the King.

" This is hilarious. The crooked noblemen rushed to their homes and destroyed their accounting books. They didn't even notice they were destroying copies"

" I wonder how such foolish people were able to steal from me" the King grumbled.

" You placed too much trust in them, thinking they were trustworthy. However they failed and broke your trust. At least now ,you know the kind of people you are dealing with. Error is human. None of what is happening is your fault"

" Yes, we learned a few things today. They are crooks and untrustworthy. Did they really think destroying the evidence will save them. Unbelievable.. "

" They believe so. Foolish men. Did they think you organised this proceeding just to punish one person " Sir Stanley laughed out loud.

While the court was in session the King dispatched his spies in every district to take the original accounting books while they left copies behind. Since the noblemen were anxious to get rid of the evidence, they didn't take the time to check the books they were destroying. This was the King's plan, making them so anxious that they became careless.

Some accounting books from the nearby districts were already in the King's possession while the rest were on their way to the castle. The King can be swift and merciless when he wants to. The last time he was like this was when he ordered a nobleman to be beheaded.

He didn't want to result to that . However he will not let his people suffer anymore. Not by the hands of greedy and unworthy men.

*******

The next day.....

Court was about to begin. All the noblemen were present. No one in there right mind would fail to attend today's session. They were terrified but they tried not to show it. Having destroyed the evidence connecting them to the same crimes as their friend, they felt more at ease and confident..

At this moment everyone wondered what Sir Melvin's punishment will be. The King was a hard, unforgiving and cruel man, they should expect anything. From mutilation to beheading, anything could happen.

The King's arrival was announced and everyone knelt in respect. The king walked in confidently and sat on his throne, with the same girl following him. No one spoke a word as they had more important things to think about. The servant girl was not important today . Additionally they didn't want to anger the King more than they have.

" Bring in the prisoner" the King announced.

Authors note:

Hello, I'm sorry this chapter is short. So im going to use it as a filler chapter. Things are about to get interesting. Stay tuned for the next chapter next week .

Love you 💜🖤💙