Lord Armando had a dark look on his face as he was standing stoically in the throne room, placing one hand above the throne where his daughter sat while his other was on the hilt of the sword fastened to his belt. In front of him was a nephew of his who was known for his frivolity. He had dashed into the throne room where a regular court meeting was being held while looking haggardly.

"Lord uncle! I bring you terrible news!" His nephew, Raymundo, said as he knelt in front of the throne

"Such indignity is not befitting of a Gissario." Armando scolded "Have you been taught nothing? Spending too much time in a place of carnal pleasure might have eroded your mind, nephew."

Raymundo only gritted his teeth as he heard his uncle openly mocking him.

"Forgive me, uncle, but this is a most terrible news!" He said with an utmost urgent tone

"Then get on with it! If you're just wasting time, I'd think a few days under house arrest might set you straight." Armando said with a chilly voice

"It is that bastard Bernardo! He has betrayed us!"

Hearing this, Armando couldn't help but slightly furrowing his brows. Queen Esmeralda couldn't help but be shocked by this piece of news. She couldn't believe that the loyal Bernardo would turn his back on the family.

"This can't be true..." Esmeralda said

"But it is!" Raymundo exclaimed "He escaped with a Valamen bitch and they should be heading to Siesia by now! I told you not to trust a bastard!"

When the people in the throne room heard this news, they began murmuring and whispering with each other. Some were nodding their heads that such was to be expected from a bastard-born. However, hearing this news, no one dared to mutter anything too loudly as they were weary of Lord Armando who only stood still in deep thought.

"What was that about running away with a Valamen girl?" Armando finally said as he looked at Raymundo with piercing eyes

"It... it is as you heard, Lord Uncle." Raymundo swallowed his spit in nervousness

Armando slowly walked towards his kneeling nephew with an intimidating aura around him though his face showed little expression.

"He escaped with a Valamen girl... and he... killed some of my guards..." Raymundo was visibly shaking as his voice quieted down until he became almost mute in fear of his uncle who was now looking down on him

"Why was he with a Valamen girl...?" Armando asked calmly "If I'm not remembering things wrongly, and trust me I'm not, I ordered for all the Valamen men to be executed and the women and children placed under arrest and heavy guard. Why then, did your dear brother manage to find one and escape...?"

"It's... It's not what you think-..."

"Silence!" Armando slapped his nephew harshly to silence him "I was being rhetorical! Of course I know what you and your degenerate friends have been up to!"

Raymundo didn't retort and only fell silent.

"This all is caused by your ineptness." Armando said as he looked at his nephew while he crouched to lower his gaze to him "I've heard of your raping and capturing of the Valamen women and selling off the children to the pagans and moslems... you disgust me!"

Armando spat on the ground next to Raymundo.

"You are a failure of a Gissario and a disgusting thorn in the sight of my plans for a new Provaria. I hope you may reflect on your sins in the house of God." Armando motioned for guards to take him away "Bring him to La Catedral de Santo Francessco. By the power vested in me as Regent of the Queen, I strip you of your titles and inheritance and place them under the name of your wife until your son comes of age."

"No uncle! You're mistaken! NO!!!" Raymundo shouted and struggled as he was dragged out of the throne room

The room fell silent as Raymundo was dragged out. Armando now faced the people who were there. Most of them lowered their heads in fear.

"It is a sad thing, the choices made by my dear nephew Bernardo. Though owing to his chivalry, it is to be expected. It is of no matter. Only one man can not possibly change the outcome of what is to happen. By the grace of God, we would have the support of the Latin Empire as soon as our envoys reach them."

"We will usher Provaria into a new age!" Armando continued with ambition in his eyes "Our fleets will return soon and God willing, the Rumasilians will accept our offer of armistice. In the next months we will start to organise our campaign to end the farce of the Valamen kings! I will personally have my grandson be dragged to the court of Valencei and try him before God and Queen."

Esmeralda's expression darkened on the throne as she lowered her head at the thought of her son being put through such trials. She cursed at how useless she felt in front of her father and how much of a coward she was in not defending her son. She silently prayed for the safety of her sons.

Noticing the change of expression on his daughter's face, Armando added to his speech as a form of comfort.

"...But we shall show the world that the Gissario are no barbarians. We are not as savage as to stain our hands with the blood of a monarch. I pray to the saints and the Spirit of the Lord that my grandson may see the good in what is to come and return to his senses and formally renounce his claims to the throne. He will be treated with dignity and honor..." Armando said

The people in the throne room clapped to show their agreement with Lord Armando's notions, their sincerity though varied.

"Long live the Queen-...!" As Armando was speaking, the room was once again interrupted when a group of soldiers with battered armor and fatigued figures rushed into the room looking hurried "What is it now..."

"Forgive us, Lord Regent!" The soldiers quickly kneeled while trying to catch their breaths "Our port is blockaded!! Our home fleet has been destroyed!"

Hearing this, audible gasps were heard among the courtiers in the room with some of the nobles having their mouths agape.

"What?! How?! Who would do such a thing?!" Armando was clearly shocked at the news along with the Queen. He quickly demanded an explanation.

"It was the Aerlish fleet, Your Excellency!" The soldier said which further shocked everyone, with some of the noble ladies even becoming weak in their feet "They were led by none other than the Blood Prince Himself! I saw his flagship there with my own eyes! There's no mistaking the White Eagle!"

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Armando's expression faltered for a split second but he quickly regained his composure. He did not expect the home fleet to be so utterly eradicated. He cursed the failure in his heart. He quickly wracked his brain to make some plans. He looked to one of his guards and told him to summon the generals who were currently in Valencei.

Just as the soldier he sent was making his way out of the room, another group of soldiers came in. Armando was dumbstruck at what more terrible news would await him today. He felt himself wavering a little.

"Your Excellency!" One of the soldiers said with urgency "Our scouts report that King Esteban has returned and is at the head of a large army. They mostly fly Rumasilian flags and some Aerlish ones as well... They most probably landed weeks ago from the northern coasts."

Armando cursed the situation in his heart. His grandson had conspired with the accursed Rumasilians. The coward! The rest of the people in the throne room began audibly discussing the news. Armando was greatly disturbed at the news but his face remained calm. He asked, "How many men are heading here? It's obvious my grandson is looking to take back the capital."

"Your Excellency... We counted forty thousand soldiers..." The soldier said nervously

Armando's face could no longer hide his shock as his eyes widened and his mouth was slightly agape. Some of the noble ladies fainted in the room as they could no longer hold their shock and fear. It took the Lord Regent almost a whole minute to regain his composure.

"This is..." Armando began to speak as he walked back to his spot next to his daughter's throne "Where did the scouts last spot this army?"

"Near the Monasterio del Casadios!" The soldier answered

"That's only a day's ride away from here!!" A nobleman exclaimed from the crowd

"Why have we only known this today?!" Another courtier inquired

"Our intelligence network has been compromised! We're done for!!"

The room soon started to panic as the nobles started to frantically run around and head to the door to exit the throne room. The situation was in total chaos as the guards were confused at what to do. Armando looked like he was contemplating something as he sat on one of the arms of the throne. Finally after a minute of thinking, Armando lifted his head and looked towards the guards to the door and nodded.

The guards were big, strong-looking burly men with helms that masked their face. As the nobles were about to reach the door, they crossed their halberds together and subsequently blocked the exit to the throne room. Suffice to say, most of the nobles were surprised at this scene. All of a sudden, the remaining soldiers all drew their weapons and pointed them towards the nobles in the room.

"Indignant cowards the lot of you." Armando said coldly as he remained at his position while crossing his arm

"You are insane, old man!" A nobleman said as he pointed towards the old Armando "You're going to kill us all! You still cling and pretend to power when clearly we are done for!"

"I concur! You've lost your mind!" Another lady chimed in

"Have I now?" Armando said coldly as he stood up and walked towards the two men slowly "Tell me, what difference would it make if all of you were to escape now?"

His gaze was as menacing as ever as the room grew tense and most of the commotion died down, but some noblemen still had resentful looks on their faces. They were about to open their moves to retort before they were cut off by Armando.

"You fools! Do you really think King Esteban will spare any of you? For all he cares, you are traitors who betrayed the Kingdom and will most definitely hang you all and strip your families of their titles... Now tell me again, what do you all intend to do?"

"We intend to..." The nobleman started before his voice became mute at the sight of Armando's glare as he lowered his gaze "...nothing, Your Excellency."

"That's what I thought." Armando said as he smiled coldly and patted the shoulder of the noble

He then blew a sigh as he walked calmly towards the exit followed by his daughter. He then looked at one of the soldiers "Give the order to the city garrison to prepare to guard the city. And send someone to get me my armour. I intend to first meet with my grandson."

As Armando was about to make his way to the exit, he suddenly stopped and looked at the noblemen who had defied him earlier. One of them was none other than Jacobo de Siervodios whom he had intended to marry off his daughter to. He pieced together the information and had concluded that the Siervodios family was finished as their main source of wealth was the trade and tariffs from the colonies which were now under obvious scrutiny.

Armando then pointed towards the nobles who showed their disdain to him one by one. He then uttered an order with a voice so cold, it could freeze time. "Kill them and hang them at the front of their houses. Strip their families of their wealth and kill the men who resist. Send their children to the church orphanages. I care not what happens to their womenfolk. See that this order is carried out immediately."

As he gave out his order, the soldiers moved to immediately carry it out. The nobles who were sentenced to death were crying out in terror before they were murdered. Armando did not give a single shred of concern as he exited the throne room along with Esmeralda quickly followed by the surviving nobles.

The nobles finally realised that they had lost almost all their powers. The Gissario had total control of the remaining military of Valencei as well as the underground criminal organisations. They realised that their fates had all been decided either by the hand of the Lord Regent or by the arrival of the Rumasilian army. It was truly the most terrible time in their life.

A dark age was facing the house of Gissario, but the Provarian Branch of the Valamen are going to retake what is rightfully theirs.

***

"Ingkon Jesus do donganku molo ingkon mate ahu! ( Only Christ is my companion, when it comes for me to die! )" Thousands of soldiers sang as they marched towards the city of Valencei "Holan mudar ni Tuhanku, golomonku di na lao! ( Only on the blood of God do I put my faith and trust! )"

It was Valamar who led the Rumasilian soldiers in song as he rode beside his pregnant wife. The Florentinian, Aerlish, and Provarian soldiers in the army only marched quietly alongside their Rumasilian allies. A good portion of the Rumasilians even managed to sing in accompaniment only found in the best of choires. Cassandra immersed herself in the Rumasilian 'choir' which was different from the church choirs in Florentia. The voices were strong and deep, unlike the ethereal chorals of the Latin-Branch Church. However, she was most immersed in the voice of her dearly beloved. She decided to later on ask him to teach her some more Almarian hymns after the campaign.

"Ndang mabiar ahu disi! ( God does not abandon me! )" They continue to sang "Tuhan Jesus donganki! ( For He keeps me company!), sai ihuthononku Jesus, oloanku nama i! ( I will follow Christ forever, for I greatly trust His name!)"

King Esteban was riding at the forefront along his fellow kings, King Valasaire and King John. He too was greatly calmed by the song the Rumasilians sang which had a mellow tune. They were very close to the fields near Valencei as he recognised the villages they passed. Some villagers were fearful at the return of the King while some villagers were singing in merriment and joy. He couldn't help but get mixed feelings from this scene.

Esteban's mind floated to the thoughts of his mother in times like this.

"Do you miss her?" Miguel all of a sudden asked his brother

"Who?" Esteban asked pretending not to know

"Of course I'm talking about mama!" Miguel said annoyed

"Whether I miss her or not, it still does not change the fact that she is an accomplice to our downfall. She is the figurehead on behalf of whom grandfather is ruling Provaria." Esteban said before he said coldly "She will be punished accordingly."

Miguel couldn't help but feel uneasy at his brother's resolve and wanted to plead for their mother's sake but ultimately he kept his feelings in his heart. He then continued to look forward.

"We're almost there." Miguel said

"I know." Esteban replied straightforwardly before he stopped his horse in his tracks abruptly

"Is there a problem?" King Valasaire said as he in turn stopped followed by King John

Esteban did not reply immediately as he pulled out his telescope. Soon the others shifted their gaze to where Esteban was looking. They noticed a group of horsemen heading their way holding a flag of truce.

"Grandfather..." Esteban muttered in low growl as he saw the man leading the horsemen