Three days later, all nobles were summoned to the capital. Most of them were aware that Arthur had somehow been injured a few days ago, but none of them could clearly understand why he had summoned all the nobles to discuss that matter. The sudden gathering of so many high-ranking figures created unease among them, as such a meeting was rarely called without serious cause.
Inside a massive hall, all Grand Dukes, Dukes, Marquises, Counts, Viscounts, and Barons were seated. The hall itself was vast, with high ceilings supported by tall pillars, and long rows of seats arranged carefully according to rank. The closer the seat was to the center, the higher the authority it represented. Even the smallest detail reflected hierarchy and power.
Even though Arthur was the crown prince, he still needed a very strong reason to summon all the nobles from across the massive continent. Because of this, many of them were already dissatisfied, and all of them were staring directly at him, who stood calmly at the opposite end of the hall.
"You all must know that I was injured a few days ago, but someone leaked confidential information about my timings and route to an anti-throne organization."
"This is quite unfortunate news, but your highness surely doesn't suspect us of leaking any information, right?" a duke cautiously replied, choosing his words carefully.
"I don't suspect any of you, instead I'm sure that Count Kelthis is the traitor."
All eyes immediately shifted towards the count. The sudden accusation stunned him, and he was unable to believe the situation unfolding in front of him. His expression stiffened, and for a moment, he couldn't even react properly.
Right then, Hale entered the hall and bowed in front of the nobles. His movements were slightly rigid, clearly showing the pressure he was under.
"The crown prince is correct; I was a spy who worked for the count, and he ordered me to convey intel regarding the crown prince's hunt to a member of the Veil of Ashes, the secret organization that wants to eliminate the crown prince."
The hall became completely silent. The weight of the confession settled heavily over everyone present. Kelthis had a horrified expression after listening to Hale's words, his composure breaking rapidly.
"Your highness, I'm sorry to say this, but a mere knight's confession is not enough to prove Count Kelthis guilty of something as serious as treason," Grand Duke Valdrix spoke in a firm and steady voice, stepping in without hesitation.
Hearing his opinion, other smaller nobles also immediately started defending Kelthis. Their voices overlapped, some cautious, some bold, but all trying to support him.
Even though the nobles were afraid of Arthur, they clearly knew that because of their status, even he wouldn't be able to act recklessly toward them. Political battles were very different from normal battles, and influence mattered just as much as strength.
Even Count Kelthis realized that the other nobles were openly supporting him, and a sense of relief slowly appeared on his face, replacing his earlier fear.
'Hah, Arthur, you didn't expect this, did you? The fearsome prince getting openly defied. Your days are numbered… and that Hale… I will personally cut him and his family into pieces and feed them to the dogs.'
While the other nobles were still expressing their dissatisfaction, Arthur sent Kelthis a telepathic message.
Telepathic messages allowed people to communicate privately by sending their thoughts through mana directly into another person's mind, making it impossible for others nearby to hear anything.
'Kelthis, you must be happy seeing the other nobles defend you. But tell me, why did you betray the throne? To gain power? To elevate the status of your family? What if you wake up tomorrow and notice that your entire family has been poisoned by unknown hands? What would you do with your power then… all alone?'
Arthur's calm yet cruel words shook Kelthis deeply. His legs began trembling unconsciously, and his breathing became uneven.
He knew this wasn't a bluff. If Arthur wanted, he could have his family killed and place the blame on someone else without facing consequences. He had always known Arthur was dangerous, but this level of ruthlessness was beyond what he expected.
'Arthur! Don't you dare harm my family! They have nothing to do with this!'
'I don't care, Kelthis. Either confess right now or say goodbye to your wife and children. If you confess, I'm not that petty that I would harm them… but I'm not a very patient person either.'
Suddenly, Kelthis stood up. His face was covered in sweat, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
"I-I confess."
The room was once again filled with silence. Every noble present had an expression of pure disbelief, unable to process what had just happened.
"I considered the crown prince a threat to my power and wanted to eliminate him. This would allow all the nobles to rebel against the throne, so I leaked information about him to the organization…"
Most nobles now viewed Kelthis with clear hostility, as his actions had dragged all of them into suspicion. Some nobles also got afraid. Arthur carefully observed their reactions, forming a rough understanding of their possible involvement.
"You traitor! You deserve death by a thousand needles!" Grand Duke Valdrix exclaimed loudly, making sure to distance himself completely from any suspicion.
Following him, the other nobles who had previously supported Kelthis immediately changed their stance and began cursing him openly, trying to protect themselves.
Arthur slowly approached Kelthis and placed his hand on his head.
For a brief moment, confusion spread across the hall. No one understood what he was about to do.
He then began releasing mana directly into Kelthis's head.
DRIP DRIP
Blood began flowing out of his eyes and nose
Kelthis didn't even have time to react.
PAHHHHHHHH
Kelthis's head exploded under the overwhelming pressure of the mana, unable to withstand the sudden surge. Blood splattered across the hall, staining the floor and nearby nobles.
The hall was filled with shock.
Arthur's face was now covered in blood, yet his expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened. He no longer resembled a dignified crown prince, instead he looked like a terrifying monster.
He casually let Kelthis's headless body fall to the ground.
The scene horrified everyone present. Even Seraphina, who had been watching everything calmly until now, had a clear expression of shock and disbelief. Some nobles immediately turned away, unable to look at the body, while others started vomiting as they clearly hadn't witnessed such a scene ever.
"Weren't you all demanding death by a thousand needles? I won't sugarcoat it, this is a warning. I know that there are more traitors like him among you, but remember that I have far more resources than you can ever imagine. You will be caught, and don't expect your status to help you escape. A crime against me is equivalent to a crime against the empire. And such a crime only deserves death. Am I clear?"
"Y-Y-YES, YOUR HIGHNESS!"
All the nobles were now trembling in fear.