Baron Davy, it seemed, had not prepared any toxin- or curse-resistant items in advance, nor had he carried any potion capable of dispelling the "Kiss of Weakness." Under
Honestly speaking, even an archmage of the Continental Magic Parliament might not possess magical equipment or potions capable of resisting or dispelling a ninth-tier "Kiss of Weakness," let alone some nobleman.
A layer of golden dragon scales surfaced on Duke James's skin, and the oppressive aura of the apex predator radiated from him. His right foot stamped down on Baron Davy's abdomen, slightly suppressing the "Kiss of Weakness" and restoring his ability to speak: "Tell me — why did you do this?"
The moment the specially crafted glass vial containing "nectar" rolled free from his belt, Baron Davy knew that every part of his scheme had been exposed. Assassinating a lord was an unforgivable crime among the nobility. There was no hope left for him. And so he burst into wild, crazed laughter: "Why did I do this? It's all because of you!"
"We ordered you to assassinate Her Majesty the Queen?" Duke James roared in fury, like a great dragon bellowing.
Baron Davy drew two deep breaths of air: "What a sweet fragrance of flowers — intoxicating as hope itself. From the moment I was born, you kept telling me that Crown Prince Patrick was in poor health, might not live much longer, and certainly would never produce an heir. The one who would inevitably ascend to the throne was me."
"So I never stopped honing myself, raising my knightly rank, demanding the highest moral conduct of myself at every moment, constantly drawing closer to you, to the Magic Parliament, never allowing even the slightest blemish to mar my future ascension to the throne and my rule over all of Holm. Perhaps I might even, through my resonance with the '
"My entire life seemed to exist for the sake of that throne — and then you abruptly abandoned me and chose this莫名其妙 queen! How long has she even lived in Holm? Did she ever make even the tiniest effort toward the throne? I won't accept it — I won't accept it! I will take back what is mine!"
Hearing Baron Davy's frenzied confession, James's expression turned slightly awkward. Selecting Davy to cultivate had only ever been a contingency plan — what he valued was Davy's identity and his proclivity toward the Magic Parliament. Once the far more suitable Queen Natasha came along, they had naturally discarded him without hesitation. That his craving for the throne had reached such a degree of madness was entirely unforeseen — just as no one could have expected that a dog raised from a puppy would suddenly turn and bite its own master.
However, as a veteran noble, Duke James's embarrassment lasted only a few seconds before evaporating entirely. In a low, irritated voice he said: "So you colluded with members of the Dark Council to assassinate Her Majesty and the rest of us? I understand. In the end, he must have failed to kill you for some reason, and then you cooperated with him to frame Gwil — ranked fifth among the Night Watch, the 'Curse Angel.' The Church, in order to pacify the pro-Parliament nobles and those currently maintaining neutrality, and to prevent those sympathetic to them from breaking away and tearing the kingdom apart, would inevitably choose you as king."
Baron Davy blinked, then erupted into wild laughter once more, as though he had heard the greatest joke in the world. Duke James and Lucian both couldn't help but frown.
He looked at Duke James before him, laughing so hard he could barely breathe:
"You actually believed that?"
"Whatever he said, you just believed it — how can you be so naive?"
"You think that if you, a Golden Knight, ended up dead, I — a mere Great Knight — could have survived? Who would buy that?"
"He wasn't the 'Venom Demon'?" Lucian recalled the false clues "Pylimas" had deliberately planted earlier and spoke in a level voice.
At the same time, Lucian produced a crystal ball and began divining Afreus's whereabouts.
Under the influence of the "Kiss of Weakness," Baron Davy's laughter gradually sapped his remaining strength. In a weak yet smug voice he said: "If he really were as neurotic and deranged as the 'Venom Demon,' how could he have come to execute this mission? How could he have devised a scheme against several rational powerhouses like you? The 'Venom Demon' is a madman — but I am not mad!"
"He deliberately imitated the 'Venom Demon,' neurotically blurting out the plan and its purpose — that was to mislead you, to make you genuinely suspect the Dark Council."
"Your
The crystal ball turned pitch-black, and star after star of destiny surfaced within it, preventing Lucian from diverting his attention to ask questions. But Duke James pressed urgently: "Who exactly is he?"
Baron Davy curled his lips: "You still haven't figured it out? I practically spelled it out for you!"
There was truly no reasoning with this madman. Duke James stamped his foot down harder, cutting off Baron Davy's words:
"Who is he?"
Baron Davy let out a crazed, snickering laugh: "Didn't he say it himself? Frame Gwil — ranked fifth among the Night Watch, the 'Curse Angel.' You think he was just talking nonsense? He was first clearing himself from suspicion. He is Gwil, the 'Curse Angel' — a ninth-tier Golden Knight who shares the same Demon Lord bloodline as the 'Venom Demon'!"
"Gwil — Night Watch!" Duke James stared at Gwil, who stood there like a stone statue, the veins on his forehead throbbing. So it was the Night Watch!
After having brazenly murdered a baron sympathetic to the Parliament, they had actually dared to target the great nobles themselves!