Chapter 308 (1): “Let me be an arbiter of justice.” - Death Knight

Low, nightmarish laughter echoed through the banquet hall, and the place fell silent. Several members of the Tulip Families from the cruise ship were already quite familiar with the laughter. They all knew what lay hidden beneath the grey robe. They lowered their heads silently, mourning the future of their families.

They glanced at Auston instinctively. The Queen had already subdued most of the Tulip Families. Rather than them, the banquet tonight was thrown for the Lando family.

How arrogant of the Lando family to make supporting roles out of the Tulip Families. Was this the privilege of being the Queen’s lover? It made their fists clench with envy.

The Queen had the Death Knight as an ally, and the Lando family had the High Reverends of the Church of Nature and the Church of Moonlight. On paper, the Queen had already won with greater raw power.

There was no fun in witnessing a one-sided victory. The Tulip Families that had already surrendered found the development unsatisfactory. After their fall, they wished to see more people suffering. If Auston were the one person to suffer defeat, it would be a boring end without any twist. If the Queen lost, on the other hand, it would make for an entertaining show.

The diners had been kicked off their seats and reduced to mere spectators, fit for only the clean-up duty, or worse, reduced to being the meal to be consumed. In this case, what did they desire most?

The answer was simple: to see those who had driven them away from the table to be added to the menu.

Although the chance was slim, the Tulip Families still held hope for Auston, wanting to see what trump card he would play to turn the tables. Since the Death Knight had entered the stage, wouldn’t it make sense for the two High Reverends to summon the Nature Knight and the Moonlight Knight? Never mind if it was the logical development. Was it possible?

The probability wasn’t high, but it wasn’t zero. Even if it failed, at least it would be a good laugh.

Silvia stared at the Death Knight entering with the Queen blankly, then turned to the gleeful Tulip Families and her expressionless bastard husband. She tried to make sense of it... and failed.

Why was her son on the Queen’s side? What game was he playing? She instinctively invited Auston into a telepathic group chat and asked, “What’s going on? Did you have a fight with our son?”

Auston sighed, not knowing what he should say. He simply told Silvia to stay quiet, no matter what happened next. The situation was messy enough as it was, and it must not get messier.

“What nonsense is that? Can’t you just speak plainly?”

Silvia huffed. She had asked out of curiosity, but the bastard made it seem like her concern was unwanted. Yeah, yeah. They were both chosen knights, so a High Reverend like her was in no place to speak up. She had neither the power, the intelligence, nor the qualification to get involved in the advanced game, much less make herself heard.

It sounded like a self-aware judgment of herself, but it was in truth a warning to him. Auston was speechless. He could already foresee the beating he would receive tonight when they returned home.

In the past, Silvia always held back somewhat when beating him up, worried that she would actually break him. It wasn’t so much domestic violence as aggressive flirting. That wasn’t the case anymore. Now, she beat him up as hard as she could, with no romance whatsoever.

Silvia wasn’t concerned at all since she knew the influence she had. Not only was she not concerned about the Death Knight, but she would threaten the Darkness Knight without fear.

Filomina, on the other hand, wasn’t so calm. She didn’t know that she had been subdued by the Death Knight countless times, stripped of any defense and rendered helpless. Analysing the current situation, she scowled darkly. This banquet was a trap for the Lando family as well as the Church of Nature and the Church of Moonlight.

She took a deep breath and sent a chat request to Silvia. After adding Silvia as a friend, she asked bluntly, “The Death Knight is here. I’m afraid that we’re no match for him. Where’s Wayne? He’s the Nature Knight, and only a knight can rival another knight.”

“Ah, you don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“...”

Right, even I, his mother, only learned the truth recently. You’re one of his lovers, less rare than his mother and master. Of course you won’t be among the first to know.

“Say something, Mother!”

“I’m saying that Wayne is already here. Don’t you know?”

Filomina didn’t respond. She had looked but hadn’t found her jerk boyfriend in disguise. She couldn’t say that, though, or her mother-in-law would mistakenly assume that Filomina and Wayne weren’t close enough.

After a brief consideration, she responded that she had seen him.

With Silvia’s assurance, Filomina felt much more at ease. She continued to search the banquet hall out of her peripheral vision, trying to find her jerk.

Soon, her gaze landed on the black-robed woman. Her instinct told her that the woman was a formidable opponent.

Unfazed, Silvia observed Filomina with a smile, enjoying the pleasure brought by information discrepancy. She had never noticed that the High Reverend of the Church of Moonlight was only shrewd and capable in appearance. In reality, she was rather slow and not very clever. She didn’t even know who she had been sleeping with.

Silvia’s joy was short-lived, though. Her judgment of Filomina ended up as a blow to herself. Yes, Filomina didn’t know that she had been sleeping with the Death Knight, but Silvia had also been humiliated by the Darkness Knight for years without knowing who he was.

“Bastard, I’ll deal with you when we get home!”

“Who are you talking to, Mother?”

“Nothing. Just remember to punish Wayne afterwards.”

Silvia quickly covered up her slip of the tongue. Perhaps due to their shared circumstances, she felt an inexplicable affection for Filomina. In the past, she had thought the old woman a total bitch because of her severe, difficult personality, but now, she found the old girl obedient and sensible, barely good enough to be her daughter-in-law.

She approved. Once they were home, she would scold her son and tell him not to hurt such a good girl.

Huh? Her daughter-in-law was several years older than her? Ha, there was an older one! Now

that

was an age gap!

The members of the Tulip Families observed the three representatives of the Lando family. Auston had maintained his poker face, projecting a shrewd, fierce image. As for Silvia and Filomina...

Honestly, they didn’t understand the two women. Silvia, especially, was smiling. Why was she smiling when she was facing certain death? Was there yet a chance to turn things around?

If you manage to turn the tables, I’ll eat the wine glass/fork/plate!

xN

Queen Sophelia had been observing the Lando family as well. She couldn’t read Auston’s expressionless face, so she just nodded at Douglas.

Douglas narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. “Welcome to the banquet, ladies and gentlemen. Everyone present is a member of the Tulip Families, making you the backbone of the royal family, the pillars of the nation, and Her Majesty’s most trusted subordinates. Please allow me to thank all of you for your contribution to the country on behalf of the Windsor royal family...”

Douglas went on and on. He was pontificating too much nonsense as a mere mouthpiece for Queen Sophelia. Why would a baron posture like this? What gave him the right?

Just as everyone was wondering, Douglas bowed slightly before straightening up, transforming right before their eyes. He looked more dignified and confident now; the image he projected was completely different.

“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I’m Douglas Arthur George Windsor, the Queen’s husband.”

“...” xN

The banquet hall fell silent for a moment, followed by an uproar of disbelief. Prince Douglas, who had supposedly died of illness, was still alive!

All along, everyone had doubted the Prince Consort’s death because of how meaningless it seemed. While it seemed like the man was gone, he could very well still be alive.

Without opening the coffin, no one could say for sure if Schrödinger's Prince Consort was dead.

Now, Douglas had returned and completed the task of subduing the Tulip Families, reestablishing his authority as the Prince Consort with the Queen’s permission.

Auston was slightly surprised, then he came to a realization. No wonder a mere baron had affected the Queen’s attitude toward him. She hadn’t distanced herself from him because of power, but to avoid suspicion. He sighed in relief, glancing at Silvia.

See? The Queen has a husband. He’s never been dead. Stop believing in Wayne’s nonsense about the Princess being my illegitimate daughter or me visiting the Queen’s bedchamer at night. They are all rumors fabricated by troublemakers. Don’t be fooled.

But she was your girlfriend, wasn’t she?

Silvia countered.

Auston didn’t respond. He raised his wine glass and saluted the Queen and her husband. It was wonderful that the Prince Consort was still alive. He could finally clear his name. Rumors about him being responsible for Douglas’s death had been circulating in the high society of Londan. When he explained, he was accused of covering up the truth; when he stayed silent, it was considered an admission of guilt. He had been suffering because of it.

Sophelia saw the smile in Auston’s eyes. She raised her glass in response. She knew what Auston was happy about. She had heard those rumors as well, but unable to explain, she had allowed him to suffer the accusations.

They had a silent exchange.

Why are you two making eyes at each other? I’m not dead yet!

Douglas narrowed his eyes, suppressing his displeasure. When he was ‘dead’, his wife had been flirting with Auston. Now that he was alive again, his wife was still making eyes at Auston. Hadn’t he returned for nothing then?

He sneered inwardly.

Flirt as much as you can now. You two don’t have a lot of time for that.

Mr. ex-husband, you’re still alive?

Wayne couldn’t be more disappointed. It was now confirmed that Auston and the Queen were innocent. Auston had never broken into Buckingham Palace at night and humiliated the sovereign. The rumors were only rumors.

The Queen wasn’t a widow, and she wasn’t a widow with a sex life. Wayne lost his source of fun.

Still, even though the Queen wasn’t a widow, she could still have a colorful private life. The Free Mage Alliance’s famous maxims made it very clear: “Faith makes one steadfast, religion makes one blind, and wives are better when they belong to others.”

The fact that the Prince Consort was still alive made the Queen more attractive. However, as an advocate for true love, Wayne found the Queen less attractive now. Even spreading rumors about her felt dull.

It was no fun. Why didn’t the Prince Consort die for real?

Scritch!!

The Death Knight sat down on his grey chair dispiritedly with a harsh drag, reeling in the cloak of Death energy and presenting himself as a skeleton in armor. He picked up the glass of milk on the table and gulped it down in one go for the calcium.

The moment the milk entered his mouth, the Death energy evaporated all of it. No calcium went into his body.

“So Baron Kilmer is Prince Douglas. No wonder he speaks so loudly. Right, you are the only one in this room qualified to do so aside from the Queen.” Wayne shook his head. “Those rumors about the head of the Lando family being the Queen’s lover, the two of them killing the Prince Consort together, and them discussing national affairs every night were all disproven today. Congratulations, Prince Consort, you have cleared your name.”

Which side is the Death Knight on? Is he the Queen’s ally? Why is he clowning them so hard?

Members of the Tulip Families thought with curiosity, but they didn’t dare to voice the questions. They pretended not to hear anything.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The smart ones were already trying to get on Douglas’s good side, offering him sincere congratulations. With the Prince Consort back, justice returned, and Windsor would be at peace.

With the prince’s support and the loyalty of the Tulip Families, Windsor would surely win this war and capture the mustached guy of Prussia, taking him to Londan and parading him before the Queen for her entertainment.

The failed artist would know how to put on a show.

While everyone expressed their loyalty, Auston also tried to say a few words. He knew what Douglas was thinking as a fellow man, and he lowered his pride in an attempt to ease their relationship.

Please listen to my advice, Prince Consort. Quit while you’re ahead, or the Death Knight will make things spiral out of control.

Douglas ignored Auston completely. He quieted the crowd by raising his hand and started introducing the two important allies of the royal family.

“This is the Goddess of Death’s agent in the human world, creator of the underground catacombs, and knight who walks the mortal realm on behalf of the goddess...”

Douglas had come prepared. He rattled off a long string of titles and said, “The Death Knight’s reputation reaches all of the Chosen Land, so he doesn’t need more of my introduction. However, I must highlight that Sir Knight is an ally of the Queen, representing the alliance between the Church of Death and the Windsor royal family.”

Members of the Tulip Families clapped until their faces were flushed with excitement, makingthe banquet seem like a fan meeting, and they were the Goddess of Death’s most devout followers.

They all played their roles well, praising the Death Knight’s greatness so much that the Death Knight didn’t react at all. His posture remained indifferent no matter how many praises were thrown his way.

Boring. This isn’t as exciting as gossiping about the Queen and Auston.

In the crowd, Silvia clapped enthusiastically as she heard everyone praise the Death Knight. Keep going. She loved to hear it. Yes, her son was as excellent as they said he was.

Filomina rolled her eyes hard, suspecting Silvia of being a spy from the Church of Death. At the end of the day, they were High Reverends of churches of the Life Alliance, each following their respective faith. They shouldn’t be singing the Death Knight’s praises. Nature, especially, was mortal enemies with Death. Why was the High Reverend of the Church of Death applauding?

Filomina would never do it. The Death Knight wasn’t hearing a single word of praise from her.