Ketonia raised his head and saw Natasha standing against the light, her back straight and spine erect, radiating an authority that needed no anger — so imposing that one instinctively overlooked her gender and beauty.
His eyes narrowed slightly. Even without actively projecting his aura of majesty, the accumulated prestige of centuries as an Epic Knight filled him with an oppressive presence. Duke James, who was protecting Natasha at her side, couldn't help his eyes darting away from Ketonia's gaze. But Natasha met his stare with firm determination, without the slightest hint of wavering.
After more than ten seconds of silence, Ketonia spoke in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, your handling of this matter is excellent, and I fully agree. Anyone who dares violate the fundamental order of the nobility must receive severe punishment. But I would ask Your Majesty to let me deal with York personally. I do not want him to bring shame upon our family name from the gallows."
"That is an understandable wish." Natasha's expression softened slightly, and a weariness no less than what she would feel after battling a Sky Knight of equal rank rose within her. "Furthermore, I would like to move up the rotation of the Epic Knights. After all, I have just been crowned and need to become familiar with both of you. I hope Lord Ketonia can complete the handover with Lord Winston as soon as possible."
Ketonia understood this was the condition of the exchange. He also knew that after an incident like this, Natasha would certainly not trust him anytime soon. If she didn't take this step, he would even suspect she was hiding some other scheme. So he nodded and said: "After I escort Your Majesty back to Nexer Palace, I will exchange positions with Winston and take over guarding the extradimensional territories. I will not fail Your Majesty's trust."
"You are the Epic Hero who founded this kingdom, and I have full confidence in you," Natasha encouraged and reassured him. "The matter of Duke York is entrusted to you. You may decide the specific heir."
Ketonia pressed his left hand to his chest and bowed deeply. "Thank you for Your Majesty's trust. I will first escort you back to Nexer Palace."
With the arrival of the Hand of Time, the "Kiss of Powerlessness" afflicting Camille, Russell, and the others was quickly lifted. Moreover, Ketonia had also "successfully" found evidence on "Perimas," and through a bloodline comparison, conclusively proved that he was the Night Watch's fifth-ranked "Curse Angel."
After returning to Nexer Palace, Natasha instructed James and the others: "Duke James, please go invite Duke Solenfen here. At the same time, seal off all information. In one hour, I will convene a meeting of the Noble Parliament. Duke Russell, please guard against Count Baladi's escape and verify whether York is truly dead."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Duke James and the others answered with heartfelt sincerity. An outstanding knight always earns admiration, and Natasha had been the only one at that moment who possessed both the ability and even a sliver of hope to break through the Divine Arts Array's defenses and escape. Yet she had stayed to face the enemy head-on.
……
Nexer Palace, inside the Noble Parliament chamber.
Count Baladi walked in alongside Duke Russell, his face ashen. He offered only faint nods in response to the enthusiastic greetings of the pro-Church noble members, having entirely lost his former composure and elegance.
"Russell, can you tell me why Her Majesty is summoning the noble members?" Count Baladi said to Duke Russell, who had been walking beside him this entire time with a perpetual smile, looking like a golden-haired art youth. "I recall the one-month mourning period hasn't ended yet. Could she be going back on her promise?"
He knew that Natasha would be visiting James's private estate today. He also knew David and Gewiel would make their move. The moment he heard Natasha was convening the Noble Parliament, a terrible premonition arose in his heart. But with Duke Russell — an eighth-level Sky Knight — personally escorting him, never once stepping away, even if he wanted to injure himself to avoid the meeting or flee in a panic, he could do neither. He could only follow along with mounting dread.
He kept telling himself nothing would go wrong. He had only made subtle suggestions, guided the resentment building in David's heart, and introduced Gewiel to him. He had never directly instigated the assassination of the Queen. Surely he couldn't be held accountable just because two people he had happened to introduce at a private gathering turned out to be the culprits?
When Russell noticed Duke Rex's gaze shifting toward him, he understood his duty was done. He smiled, left Count Baladi's side, and returned to his own seat.
"How did you end up coming with Russell? Do you know why Her Majesty is calling this meeting? It goes against her one-month promise." Rex, too, had a growing sense of foreboding, as though something terrible had happened.
Count Baladi shook his head. "I don't know either. What about York?"
Duke Rex frowned. "Haven't seen him. Isn't he always the first to arrive? Could something have happened to him? If so, Lord Ketonia's wrath will burn everything to ash."
Whenever there was a Noble Parliament meeting, Duke York would always arrive early to first pay his respects to the "Heart of Time."
Hearing that York had not come, Count Baladi's expression worsened further — though he also now had a plan for self-preservation.
Because the meeting was called on short notice, many noble members who were not currently in Rentat and whose strength was not considerable had not been able to make it in time. Only about two-thirds had arrived.
Sensing that Natasha had arrived at the door, Duke Rex left his seat, walked to the raised platform at the front, picked up the wooden gavel, and struck it with a heavy blow.
After the sharp, crisp sound, the Parliament's great hall fell silent.
"Her Majesty the Queen." As Rex turned, his black cloak swept behind him.
Natasha entered wearing a black court gown, her purple hair loosely gathered, walking slowly through the great doors with Camille and a squad of knights following behind her.
The moment they entered the hall, the knights split to either side, "guarding" the seats of the circular chamber.
The leader was a composed blond man. Count Baladi recognized him as John, the vice-captain of the small knightly order that Queen Natasha had brought from Altor. The rest included Violet Knights from Altor, as well as Sword of Truth Knights, Judgment Knights, and Holy Cross Knights who had pledged their loyalty to the Queen during this period. Among them were a full fifteen Great Knights and more than fifty regular Knights. Together with Camille, this was far stronger than even a mid-sized knightly order.
The nobles, not understanding what was happening, began to whisper amongst themselves. This kind of display foretold the unrest to come.
At the same time, they were stunned. In less than a month, the Queen had secured the loyalty of so many Great Knights and Knights, extending her influence into the three major knightly orders. And the Sword of Truth Knight Order had always belonged exclusively to the royal family — it had also been the most cooperative with Natasha's recent minor adjustments, making its loyalty relatively reliable.
This meant she now possessed the foundational strength to secure her throne.
Crack. Natasha struck the gavel once, silencing the great hall that had been buzzing like a hundred flies.
Then she surveyed the hall with an expressionless face and spoke, her voice tinged with suppressed fury:
"This morning, I was the target of an assassination."
"What?!" The nobles erupted. The assassination of one's own sovereign was already a sacred taboo, and for it to happen less than a month after the Queen's coronation — this was nothing short of a direct challenge to the entire noble order!
Rex was momentarily stunned, but then he thought of York's absence, of Baladi's distracted state, of the hints threaded through their conversation, and a flame of fury ignited in his heart. He glared furiously at Count Baladi. You fool — I hope you at least have a plan to silence the witnesses! If evidence is found, then just go and die!
At this moment, Count Baladi had actually grown calm. He paid no attention to Duke Rex's glare, instead calculating how to minimize the charges against himself.
Natasha struck the gavel once more, then said: "Those who attempted to assassinate me were Count David and the Night Watch's fifth-ranked 'Curse Angel.' This can be attested to by Duke James, Duke Russell, and Count Haison. The identity of the 'Curse Angel' can be confirmed by Lord Saer de."
The hall fell silent once more. The nobles could not immediately understand how David, who was pro-Magic Parliament, could have become entangled with the Night Watch. But they quickly realized — desire drives men to ruin!
"The Night Watch actually dared to assassinate the Queen — the Church is growing more and more brazen!"