King Hector POV

I was shocked yet confused, looking on what is traspiring. The son who was missing and unable to find is now here in the audience room, standing in front of the rat, Duke LeCrussant. He returned but something in him changed. His aura changed. Even his demeanor changed. What could have happened? Looking beyond his son is a pair of soldiers with unique armors. Both of them looks imposing and dangerous. My son neverspoke about them before. Could it be that they are my son's personal men? How does he sustain them? And... Why do I feel threatened just by being in their presence? It really looks like my son is really capable. So they must be the one who gathered the things my son gave me. Looking at my side, I saw my wife trying to hold back her tears. Alaine too have tears in her eyes. At least they are now relieved. Composing myself, I began to speak.

"It's good that you have returned, Prince Beale. We were informed that you were kidnapped by Duke LeCrussant which led an upheaval the whole kingdom. We tirelessly searched for you but sadly, we weren't able to find you. Tell us, Prince, where were you?"

Looking at me, my 12 year old son replied "I was 'escorted' by a knight of Duke LeCrussant to the bottomless pit. He was very kind to show me that marvelous site. Ain't that right, Duke LeCrussant?" Beale asked while looking once again to LeCrussant.

The duke was sweating all over now and his knees began to tremble. "I-I know o-of no such thing, Prince Beale!" he stated with a panicky voice.

Beale looked in a way a confused child who didn't understand what was taught to him while tilting his head and said. "Hmmmm... That is strange..." Then he began walking towards me, or to be exact, the throne then sat on his chair. He spoke once again. "But you, Duke LeCrussant gave the order to kill me after you summoned me to your quarters. That is because you asked me about... hmmm... what was that again... Ah! Giving up in the throne succession!"

That sentence plunged the audience room into an uproar. Nobles began to throw tirades on Duke LeCrussant who now looked like a pale sheet of cloth. And now, the trial begins...

Belial POV

I started to check on the statuses of everyone around the moment I entered the audience room. I inherited from Belial's blood the so called "All-seeing eye". It is a very handy upgrade of my eyes. I can now see in the dark. I can also detect false statements and deceit. I can also see a person's aura. Lastly is that I can see everyone's "Status" as long as I willed it. It was like seeing their statistics with just a look. When I looked earlier at Duke LeCrussant, what I saw was:

Name: Duke Frederic LeCrussant Level: 58 Titles: Duke of Acre, Agent of the Luxem Empire Job/s: Swordsman, Apprentice Magician, Merchant, Slave Master  Health : 670/670  Magicka : 630/630  Stamina : 43/110  Strength : 70  Intelligence : 315  Agility : 54  Dexterity : 42  Vitality : 117  Endurance : 110  Luck : 6 Active Skills:    Fire Magic : Lvl. 2  Slave Magic : Lvl 6  Dagger mastery : Lvl 4  Earth Magic : Lvl 1  One-Handed Swordsmanship : Lvl. 2  Espionage : Lvl 3

What a pitiful status board. Well, to a normal human, he would be quite on the stronger side. Also, I found out that he is a mole planted by the rival nation, the Luxum Empire. Well, I was expecting something of this degree but I never expected this. I also learned that he is a slave master. Slavery is not that accepted in Valois but nonetheless, a business that is not banned in this kingdom. But to think that a noble, a duke at that, is one of the persons who fascilitate such barbaric acts is kinda disgusting. Anyway, compared to mine, I would say that Duke LeCrussant is lacking. When I mean lacking, it's like "an ant against a blue whale" kind of lacking as my status menu looks like this:

Name: Prince Beale Maxime Thierry de Armagnac de Valois (King Belial) Level: 627 Titles: Second Prince of the Valois Kingdom, Prince of Armagnac, The Tyrant, The Damned, The Worthless, The Defiled, The Betrayed, The Unwanted, The Plague, The One who Defied Fate, The One who Challenged God, The Fallen, The Watcher, The King of the Unwanted, The Breaker of Fate, The Evil Incarnate, The Awakened, The Returner Job/s: Weapon Specialist, Master Warlock, Master Alchemist, Master Pyromancer, Master Conjurist, Master Assassin, Expert Illusionist, Seraph (Fallen)  Health : 1138700/1138700  Magicka: 1437590/1437590  Stamina : 384910/384910  Strength : 572630  Intelligence : 705740  Agility : 1620820  Dexterity : 1366400  Vitality : 1138500  Endurance : 384800  Luck : 1 Active Skills:    Fire Magic : Lvl. 45  Darkness Magic : Lvl 47 Weapon mastery : Lvl 46  Illusion magic : Lvl 38  Alchemy : Lvl. 45  Conjuration Magic : Lvl 45  Assassination : Lvl 45  Curse Magic : Lvl 45 Passive Skills:    All-Seeing Eye  Angel Transformation (Fallen) Demon Transformation Corruption Aura Death Aura (Un)Holy Aura Domination ??? ??? ???

If I show this to any human, their eyes would fall out of their eye sockets. Even the hero and the demon king isn't this overpowered but when I asked Liliana (Lilith) about my status earlier, she said that I am at my weakened form. I may have taken in the body and mind of the original Belial, it is still at its weakest form. There are even "???" in my status menu. I guess I need to do something to know what those unknowns are.

But enough about that. Back to our current situation. Duke LeCrussant is now paler than snow, listening and watching the hurls of insults and ridicule being thrown towards him.

"How dare you try to supplant the authority of the Royal Family! You, a duke, wanted Prince Beale to follow your commands?! Blasphemy!"

"You dare tried to undermine the power of the Prince! Such audacity!"

"Just because you are a relative, you dared to order the Second Prince around! What a scandal!"

"Wait... Duke LeCrussant called the Second Prince the day the Prince disappeared? Is it a coincidence or is it-"

Such a statement was a major revelation to all the nobles gathered in the hall. Soon, the room is filled with shouts of ridicule, disgust and scorn towards Duke LeCrussant. He was just standing there, unmoving. Clearly, he is thinking of a way to save himself from this predicament. He never expected me to return while he is reciting his grand scheme in front of everyone. It was then that Duke Chatilon, a duke from LeCrussant's faction stood up.

"Please, everyone. Let us not jump into conclusions. We are all in the edge and now that the Second Prince have returned, it is high time that we end this topic once and for all. There are many agendas that needs immediate remedy. Please, let us proceed in dealing with the more pressing issues."

Is this guy an idiot? Or just plain stupid? I am already in front of you and yet you think you can get away with this just like that? I stood up and faced the duke and said "Duke Chatilon, if my understanding is correct, you are saying that my safety is nothing compared to some issues, am I correct? You are also indirectly saying that I am lying? Am I right, sir Duke?"

Shuddering a bit, the duke replied "N-no, Your Highness. It is just that this is going nowhere and blatantly accusing a person who is-"

I abruptly stopped his speech by speaking again "I was taken in Duke LeCrussant's quarters. You want to know who made the call to hit me then bag me to be shipped and be thrown in the bottomless pit?" I asked in a chilly voice.

The duke was startled by what I am saying and said "Prince, yo-you just got out of a traumatizing experience. You are still confused to-"

"My mind is clearer than the clear waters of the lakewater at the palace gardens, Duke Chatilon." I answered plainly.

"Ye-yes, Prince. But the happenings that you experienced is traumatizing. Even if you are safe now-"

"No thanks to Duke LeCrussant. He was just standing there when I was bagged and -""HE LIES!!!" I was rudely interfered by a shout coming from Duke LeCrussant.

He then continues to yell. "My knights fought to the end and tried to take you back!!! You were bagged so you don't know what happened!!! Please don't lie Prince!!!"

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"But it was Ser Gregor, your knight, the one who fetched me from my room, that carried me out of the city and into the bottomless pit. I don't know what happened but when I woke up, he was carrying me on his shoulder. He also said that he can't do anything because you are holding his family hostage. And from all the hubris that you are going to speak of after my statement, I will ask this: What would Ser Gregor get if he kidnapped me on his own? Ransom? Without his family with him, how could he? Before you speak, try to tell a lie by aking it sound so believable that there can be doubt in your words." I then took out a truth stone, a stone used to determine the truth and lies of people suspected to be criminals. I don't need it because I have my "eye" but the people here don't know that and only I can use it. Showing the stone, I continued to talk. "Here is a truth stone. You all know what a truth stone is right? We members of the Royal Family often take some of this with us when we go out of our rooms. I think you nobles also have this with you. Now I will swear an oath at this stone. I swear all of what I have said is the truth with nothing embelished or make-belief!"

The crystal shined white, affirming that I am telling the truth. When the light faded out, I walked towards Duke LeCrussant. I stopped around ten paces before the duke and held my palm that had the stone open towards him. "It is your turn, Duke LeCrussant."

The duke was panicking. He was shaking with large beads of cold sweat forming in his forehead. His teeth were tittering and his knees were shaking. He was thoroughly unable to escape his predicament. He was boxed in all sides with nowhere to run to. Other than that, the room was wrapped in silence. Everyone was looking, waiting for what is to happen. A few moments have passed yet the duke still isn't moving. It was then that the entrance of the audience room opened and revealed a figure who just finished his chant.

A fireball hurled towards me with accurate precision. But even before the fireball arrived at five paces before me, it was cut down by Malek who then arrived in front of me with Liliana arriing besides me. I looked at the person who just arrived as he ran towards Duke LeCrussant. It was Prince Ignace. He then glared at me and shouted.

"YOU! YOU ARE TRYING TO HUMILIATE MY UNCLE!!! YOU ACCURSED BEING!!! EVERYONE!!!" He then turned towards the nobles. "THIS PERSON HAVE BEEN PUTTING SOME KIND OF POISON IN THE KING AND QUEEN'S MEALS EVERYDAY!!! AT FIRST I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT NOW I AM CERTAIN!!! THOSE WERE MIND-CONTROLLING POTIONS!!! HE IS TRYING TO CONTROL THE ROYAL COURT ALL ON HIS OWN!!! FEARING THAT I AM GOING TO BE A THORN IN HIS PATH, HE BULLIED ME AND HUMILIATES ME!!! AT HIS SUPPOSED 'KIDNAPPING', IT WAS HIM TRYING TO KILL MY UNCLE!!! SO WHEN HE FAILED, HE FLED AS HE RECEIVED GRAVE WOUNDS AND NEEDED HEALING!!! AND NOW HE IS BACK AND IS NOW RILING YOU ALL UP TO TRAMPLE ON MY UNCLE'S HONOR!!!" He vehemently shouted as if to appeal to the people inside the audience room.

A moment later, Duke Chatilon stood up and released his killing intent. He then pointed at me and spoke "SECOND PRINCE! HOW COULD YOU?! ARE YOU TRYING TO LIE TO EVERYONE, EVEN LYING THAT WHAT YOU ARE HOLDING UNTO IS A TRUTH STONE, JUST SO YOU COULD CONTROL EVERYONE IN THIS KINGDOM! BUT SINCE YOU ARE A PRINCE, PLEASE SURRENDER OR I WILL PUT YOU DOWN MYSELF!!!" Along with him, the people who were in LeCrussant's faction began to stand up and started releasing their own killing intent.

"YOU ALL!!! DO YOU TAKE US FOR STATUES AND BLATANTLY DECIDE THINGS ON OUR PRESENCE! PREPOSTEROUS!!!" The King, King Hector, released his dense cold aura and killing intent as he tried to suppress the nobles from acting.

Prince Ignace began to refute the king. "LORD FATHER! YOU ARE STILL IN HIS SPELL. I WILL SAVE YOU FROM YOUR PREDICAMENT AFTER WE DEAL WITH THIS TRAITOR!" He then yelled towards the knights stationed around the throne. "GUARDS, ROYAL KNIGHTS, ARREST THE SECOND PRINCE!"

Everything is in chaos. The audience room became a one-man show when Prince Ignace. The knights began to have second thoughts but in the end didn't move. Their king didn't order them. They were the king's knights, not Ignace. The first prince, seeing this, began to signal the nobles to arrest me. The nobles began to instruct their guards to capture and arrest me. A few moments later, a myriad of knights from LeCrussant's faction charged towards me. Malek and Liliana prepared themselves by moving in fornt of me tointercept the incoming knights. The king also tried to send his knights to neutralized the situation. I looked at the situation and laughed. Laughed while releasing my killing intent and bloodlust. Dark tendrils erupted from my shadow and fire snakes began to form around me. I then uttered a single word.

"KNEEL..."

Everyone, whether the king's knights or the noble's knights or the nobles themselves, were kneeled to where they were. I directed my intent and bloodlust not only towards LeCrussant faction but the others as well causing them to feel a choking sensation and heavy pressure. Everyone in the room were all gasping for breath and are now holding their throats, trying to breath for air.  I created runes in the air and it flew towards specific individuals, including theRoyal family, the king's guard and the nobles not included in LeCrussant's faction, causing them to be relieved of feeling my intent. Afterwards, I walked towards those nobles who are not members of LeCrussent's faction and asked them to gather themselves away from the guilty nobles. After the said nobles moved out, with the use of wind magic, I produced a strong gust of air that made the traitorous faction stumble and group themselves to one area. I lessened my intent and bloodlust and proceeded to approach them, stopping 5 paces away from their group.

"You say I lie, huh, Ignace?" I asked the kneeling prince.

"gaha... guu guuu... I-I... am..." coughing, Ignace tried to catch his breath.

I turned to Duke LeCrussant and asked "What about you, LeCrussant? Did I lie?"

"Yo-you... monster!" He said as he was holding on to his chest.

"I don't want to be told that by a slave magic user and a spy of the Luxum Empire."

This statement was like a bomb to all that inside the hall. Such a devastating statement would seal anyone's fate if proven. All the people, whatever the faction, moved away from LeCrussant. It was then that the king spoke.

"Beale, my son, is what you are saying true? Do you have evidence?"

I turned to the king and said "If you wanted to know whether I am saying the truth, Lord Father, I have a truth stone here." Showing him the stone in my hands "Or is it that my words carry no real weight around here?"

"That is not what I am implying, my son... But where is your evidence? It is needed for such a heavy allegation, I needed concrete and substantial evidence." stated the king.

I then looked beside the king and saw the queen and Alaine. I ushered Alaine to come. "Elder Sister, come."

Confused, Alaine asked "Why? I didn't have an idea that Du... that man is an agent of the Empire."

"Of course you don't. I just need your skill. I need you to use a mid-tier spell from the Light branch of magic called 'Reveal' to deal with the hidden mark on LeCrussant's hand and wrist." Then I turned and faced LeCrussant. "Duke LeCrussant... I, Prince Beale Maxime Thierry de Armagnac de Valois, Second Prince of the Kingdom of Valois, on the charge of Attempted Murder of a Royalty, Lying to the King, Heresy, Malicious Intent to the Crown and High Treason, I hereby declare that your title be forfeited, your lands and assets confiscated, your family will be converted to commoners and sentence you to death. Your mark will still be seen even if you are dead." I then turned towardsthe king. "Would that be right, Lord Father? That I pass down this verdict?"

"Yes... Although customs demand that We declare the verdict, We think it is fine. It is also to prepare you of your future role in this kingdom. The man who passes on the judgment, must swing the sword." the king sternly stated.

Everyone was shocked again by such declaration. After their initial shocked expressions, horror and dread sprouted in their hearts. An Luxum spy is within their kingdom and one that is in a really high position. Terror gripped the hearts of the nobles and knights. The king showed a grim expression. Of course they will feel that way. A royal duke from the branch family is suspected to be a spy. Alaine have arrived besides me and tried to cast a spell on LeCrussant. But before the spell was complete, LeCrussant looked up and yelled.

"HE-HE LIES!!! HE LIES HE LIES HE LIES HE LIEEEEESSSS!!!" LeCrussant yelled with a crazed expression. He then took Alaine's hand and pulled a knife. He then pressed the knife in Alaine's neck. "BEALE YOU FUCK!!! YOU MESSED UP ALL MY PLANS!!! I SHOULD HAVE BEEN KING!!! I SHOULD HAVE RULED THE KINGDOM!!! BUT BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU PIECE OF SHIT, EVERYTHING IS GONE! BUT I WILL STILL HAVE MY LAST LAUGH. PREPARE A GRIFFON. I WANT TO GET AWAY FROM HERE! AND YOU, BEALE, KILL YOURSELF! I WILL KILL HER IF YOU DON'T OBEY MY ORDERS!" he ordered while pressing the knife harder on Alaine's neck, causing it to bleed.

Panic began to consume everyone's heart. The king was unable to move, else the mad man LeCrussant might kill her. The nobles from LeCrussant's faction began to back off towards LeCrussant carrying Ignace with them. The knights are unable to move due to the severity of the situation. I, on the other hand, was watching the commotion with an uninterested face. Angered by my action, LeCrussant yelled again.

"YOU FUCK! CAN'T YOU UNDERTAND YOUR SITUATION?! KILL YOURSELF OR I WILL KILL HER?!" he said while yelling much louder. Alaine was in tears, both in pain and in fear on thinking what will happen to her.

But she found her courage and then steeled her heart. She looked at me and said "Do what you must Beale. I trust you. I am willing to sacrifice myself just to keep you, father, mother and the kingdom safe. Please do what you think is right. I will gladly die for my family and country. I love you, my dear little brother. More than anyone in the world. Sister is going now. Please protect father and mother. Please protect the realm. Goodbye." She then closed her eyes, held LeCrussant's wrist and tried to push the dagger further.

Princess Alaine POV

I was waiting for the blade to pierce my throat and kill me. I waited... and waited... and waited... and waited... It seems like time stopped and everything froze. But I still waited. I thought it was just a momentary lapse as a dying person is trying to keep herself to survive. But it is not. She just waited and waited. But she didn't die nor is she bleeding out. She just heard the a metal object's clanging as it fell and a loud beast-like howl. The grip on her body began to lessen and she could now free herself as the hand holding in to her let go. I then opened my eyes and saw an amazing scene in front of me.

My brother was standing there only now he was wearing a red armor with black and gold outlines. His breastplate were decorated with black rubies and a design of a golden dragon with seven heads in the middle of it. The same color and theme can be observed on his gauntlets and greaves. But what is really eye-catching is his golden spear with a black and red tip. It was then that I realized that there was a severed arm on my feet and with it, the knife used to be pressed in my throat. I looked back at my brother, my little brother who is holding a spear, as he walked passed me and said:

"You will not die today, dear sister. Not on my watch."

He continued to stride forward, spear on side, towards the traitorous nobles but I saw a glimpse of the Beale's face when he walked passed me. I was shocked for it was the first time I saw something like it.

Was that directed at me? For me?

I was baffled by it. It is rare for Beale to show his emotions.

But for the first time, I saw something genuine from Beale.

Something that is almost as rare as a legendary artifact.

What I saw...

was Beale's warm smile...