Chapter 61 The confrontation
The doors opened wide as Lucien stepped in, dressed in clean apparel.
Heads turned as they all looked at him with varying expressions on their faces—surprise, shock, disgust.
Lucien walked ahead, till he got to the centre of the stage, taking his seat.
“Oh c'mon,” he waved his hands. “I don't think I'm interrupting anything serious, am I?” His expression was laid back as he leaned into his seat.
“Just right on time,” Damien grunted. He had been addressing the council before Lucien interrupted rudely.
“Oh then, that's good. Shall we continue?” He snickered and watched Damien turn back to the elders.
“Now that His Majesty is here, we have to choose our next words carefully.” He said, the tone of his voice neatly fine-tuned to meet the sombre expression on his face.
“Let's not forget that as hard as he may seem, he can feel hurt.”
Lucien raised his brows in interest and amusement, stifling the smile that crept up his face. This was really going to be interesting.
“Oh, don't bother about me,” he waved his hands. “I'm just curious, that's all.”
Damien gestured to Lord Sloane before returning to the seat that had been assigned to him.
Lord Sloane stood up, taking over expertky. “It'sexpertly have you back, Your Majesty. You look well.”
Lucien grunted, an amused smile playing by his lips. “I would have it no other way.”
Sloane nodded and licked his lips noiselessly. “I'm sure, you've heard the ongoings happening in the kingdom.”
“You mean, asides the fact that someone is openly trying to take my throne and throw me out of my kingdom, yes I have.”
His response generated whispers from the crowd, with the elders talking solemnly to their partners.
Sloane nodded. “Then this makes it easier.” His voice was tight, the usual respect and reverence that usually held his voice when he spoke to Lucien disappearing.
“The attacks are back, Your Majesty. And not just in the city. Everywhere.”
Lucien raised a brow. “Why is this classified as a new occurrence?” His voice held annoyance. “Haven't we established Blackburn and his acts, or do we need to go over them again?” He glowered at the elders who looked away.
“Exactly why we should investigate. Blackburn is dead. There are no more perceived threats to Lady Isabella.” He looked around. “At least, that's what we were made to believe.”
Voices of support rose with him.
“And if I say no?” Lucien countered.
This time around, Damien answered, standing up as he walked to the front, a political expression plastered on his face.
“I'm afraid you don't have a choice, Your Majesty. The lady must be prosecuted.”
“Prosecuted?” Lucien scoffed, annoyance filling his heart. He'd been taking everything they had been saying with a pinch of salt, but now they were obviously going too far.
“You understand we are talking about my mate? The mother of the heir…”
“And yet, an obvious threat to this kingdom, this region and the realm at large.” Damien interrupted scornfully.
Lucien exhaled. He had to tackle this with all his wisdom. “What do you propose?”
Damien shrugged. “It's not me, Your Highness. That question has already been answered by the council before your arrival.”
“Oh really?” Lucien mocked. “I didn't know the Council were tjos fast in making decisions, especially one that involves me in my absence.”
Every one of them avoided his gaze, except Damien Hale.
“The decision, your Highness.” He pointed out, steering Lucien back to the conversation. “You want to know the decision or not?”
Lucien nodded, his face innocent. “Of course, I do want to hear the decision. It would be an honour.”
Damien sighed, ignoring the sarcasm in Lucien's voice as he spoke. “The Lady Isabella has been investigated before your return, and a decision has been taken. One that did not come nicely, considering how well you have led us.”
Lucien's heart missed a beat.
“The Lady Isabella will be put to death by being burned at the stake for causing pain and trouble to the region at large.”
Loud voices of approval and scattered applause followed Damien as he ended his speech.
Lucien couldn't believe the most ludicrous thing he'd just heard since he became an adult. Not even Damien planning to take the throne had come off as this.
They were planning of burning Isabella. A plan mainly reserved for witches or traitors of the kingdom.
“And this decision is unanimous?” He began, turning to the elders.
The brave ones like Sloane, Harlan and a few looked him in the eyes, daring him to do what he wanted.
Other weak ones looked away.
“And what if I say no?” He swallowed. He'd had an inkling of what to expect when he'd walked into this hall. He knew they were coming for the crown, but he had not expected that Hale would use Isabella.
She was an easy one in taking him out. He swore under his breath, cursing himself. He'd been too confident, that he'd forgotten to tie up loose ends.
“You can't say no, Your Majesty,” Damien responded, snapping Lucien out of his thoughts.
“And why is that?” His brows were raised and his hands clenched under his clothes.
Damien cleared his throat, looking back dramatically at the elders in the back. “Who wants to tell him?”
“Lord Hale?” Lucien growled impatiently. “I have no patience for games like this.”
“Neither do I, Your Majesty.” Damien retorted.
Both men remained in a stare-off position, until Damien broke it first, smiling as he looked away.
“Your first duty is to the kingdom, Your Majesty…”
“The kingdom first.” Lucien mimicked alongside him.
“And you think I don't know that?” He asked, crossly.
“You don't seem to be clear on that, Your Majesty.”
“Be very careful, Lord Hale. I would advise that you don't overstep.” Lucien grunted.
Damien raised his hands in mock defence. “I thought they said his Majesty was a wise man, who saw things objectively?” Damien goaded, turning back to the council.
“Why does he take this, as an attack on his persona and not for the good of the kingdom. People are dying every day, Your Majesty. Your people. The people you have sworn to love and protect.”
He paused, swallowing noisily. “Now, it's totally understandable that you are afraid of committing to that vision because the perpetrator is in your home, but might I remind you, Your Majesty that your allegiance is to the kingdom.”
Lucien shut his eyes. Beneath the table, his hands trembled, revealing the fear in his heart.
He'd truly underestimated Damien. The man was going to add treason and intent of danger to his charges. He would be accused of protecting Isabella.
He opened his eyes, the fear disappearing, revealing a pair of eyes that held nothing in them.
“These people,” he began. “The ones who claim to have been attacked by the Lady Isabella. Have there been any investigations?”
“Yes, there have.”
Lucien didn't miss the triumphant response in Damien's voice. “And?” He pressed.
“Can't tell you that, your Majesty.” He shook his head apologetically.
He nodded in understanding. “So, what can you tell me?”
Damien motioned to Lord Sloane. The small man stood up and walked up to Lucien.
“Can we talk privately, Your Majesty?” He glanced at the small room to the right used to hold private conversations.
“Why? You want to box me into a corner? How about you say what you want to the hearing of everybody?”
Lord Sloane sighed in frustration. “Your Majesty?” He pleaded.
The three men remained in silence before Lucien stood up gently. “Let's go.” He grunted.
The door had barely closed behind him when Lord Sloane spoke.
“This investigation is very crucial to the growth of the region, Your Majesty.”
“And?” Lucien asked, even though he knew where they were headed.
“You're too close. It may impede judgement.”
Lucien scoffed. “Nobody told me this, when I locked Isabella up some months ago.”
Lord Sloane swallowed. “These are very different scenarios, Your Majesty. This is a matter of life and death.”
“For Isabella of course,” Lucien said snidely.
“Your Majesty…” Lord Sloane objected.
“Can you give the king and me the room?” Damien said from the door.
“What?” Lord Sloane asked, genuinely shocked.
“I would love to have a private conversation with the king. Make him see reasons why.” He gave a convincing smile to the small elder as he opened the door, gesturing for Sloane to step out.
“Brave aren't you?” Lucien spoke the moment they were alone. “Coming for my mate and my kingdom in my own palace.”
Damien shrugged. “What can I say?” He smirked. “I also love good things, don't I?”
His smile turned cold as he walked close to Lucien. “It would be in your best interest to step down as part of the council.”
“Are you threatening me?” A shadow crossed Lucien's face.
“Nope.” Damien shrugged. “It's for both our best interests, or Isabella is killed. Faster than I would love…”
A huge blow landed on his jaw, causing blood to spurt out of his mouth.