Chapter 309 (2): I Choose Auston—He’s the One with Popular Support

Shocked, Filomina raised her hand to save Auston, but before she could do anything, Silvia pushed her hand down.

What are you doing? He’s your husband! How heartless are you?

Filomina’s eyes widened, unable to understand what Silvia was doing, but she soon did.

“See?” Wayne withdrew his sword and questioned loudly. “Mr. Auston is not only loyal and devoted, but also courageous and shrewd. With Shadow Nightmare at his throat, his expression doesn’t even change. Who among you can do the same?”

Your mother

, Auston thought.

As the Death Knight continued his act, the members of the Tulip Families came to realize that something was wrong. Looking at the Death Knight and Auston again, they couldn’t help but suspect that the two were true allies.

“I am the Goddess of Death’s knight in the human world, representing the interests of the Church of Death. I work with only the Crown, and I don’t care who is wearing the crown. Today, though...”

Wayne bowed to Auston with his sword in hand. “I choose Auston. He’s the one with popular support!”

(Ő⌓Ő)x2

This child is going above and beyond,

Silvia thought.

Filomina was stunned.

Who am I? Where am I? Am I going to be a princess consort?

The declaration was followed by a few seconds of silence, and then the banquet hall erupted into action. The Tulip Families couldn’t believe it. They scrambled back, away from the center of the venue. All of them tried to put their old friends in front of them, worried that they would run away faster than themselves.

“Death Knight!!” Sophelia’s eyes widened in surprise. She had vaguely sensed a problem halfway through the Death Knight’s speech. Even so, when the truth came to light, she still couldn’t stop her heart from racing in fright. The Death Knight supported Auston’s rebellion? When did they become allies? When Auston was the liaison?

That couldn’t be right. If Auston had such a powerful ally, why had he lowered his pride, and why was his expression so dark?

Blink if you’re being threatened, Auston.

“Please don’t talk nonsense, Sir Knight.” Auston hissed through gritted teeth with wide eyes. He nearly died of anger, which would let the Death Knight take over as the family head. Making him king? How dare he say that? Was Auston fit for the throne? Did he have a suitable heir?

What, Wayne? Windsor would collapse under Lando II’s rule.

“Mr. Auston, I’m not speaking nonsense. You don’t know how powerful you are.” Wayne waved his hand in a grand gesture. “I’m not the only one supporting you as king. The Holy Maiden of the Church of Darkness agrees with me...”

He continued with his frightening, treacherous speech: Douglas had uprooted the competent generals and gone after the nation’s most loyal subjects, while Sophelia turned a blind eye and allowed him to run rampant. Today, the Death Knight and the Holy Maiden of the Church of Darkness were raising the banner of revolution, leading the charge to overthrow the despicable couple under Auston’s leadership.

The declaration was so terrifying that the members of the Tulip Families paled in fear. They had guessed that Auston had trump cards that could turn the tables, but weren’t the two cards too powerful? He had stolen the Queen’s allies and left her with nothing. What a complete reversal.

What about the Holy Maiden of the Church of Darkness? Was the Death Knight talking nonsense, or did she actually support Auston? As everyone turned to look at her, Anastasia, who hadn’t spoken until now, slowly rose from her chair and went up to bow at Auston under the Queen’s and Prince Consort’s incredulous gazes.

“Anastasia, Holy Maiden of the Church of Darkness, hereby offers you my sincerest respect. In my personal capacity, I support you to become Windsor’s new master,” Anastasia said calmly.

Though her voice wasn’t loud, her words had steel and left no ambiguity.

Scalp tingling, Auston hastily said, “Lady Holy Maiden, why are you going along with the Death Knight’s antics? You should know that there can be no personal capacity with you. Your every word and action represent the Church of Darkness.”

“Even if His Holiness the Pope learns of this, he will give you his full support,” she said in the same tone.

Of course, if the Church of Darkness didn’t support the Darkness Knight, who would? The Life Alliance?

Oh, right. The Life Alliance had sent two of its High Reverends to support him long ago. The Church of Nature, especially, was eager to lead the charge so that their High Reverend would become queen. The Church of Moonlight was second in line. Their High Reverend would be a princess consort for now, and queen in the future.

In short, Auston becoming king would benefit everyone.

Silvia hissed. The others might not realize it, but based on Anastasia’s determined tone, she suspected that Anastasia had already learned of the Darkness Knight’s identity. After some deduction, she realized that another old woman had become her son’s lover, following the old hag that was her master.

Goodness, the family is going to have many descendants!

Filomina lowered her head in bewilderment, mumbling about the princess consort and the queen. A closer look would reveal her widening grin.

The Death Knight represented the Church of Death, while the Holy Maiden represented the Church of Darkness. With Silvia representing the Church of Nature and Filomina representing the Church of Moonlight, what basis did Sophelia have to remain queen? All four churches had joined hands. She would make more sense as a maid!

Where was the Prince hiding? Come out already!

Douglas gaped, rooted to the spot. Turning around, he confirmed that his allies had indeed switched to Auston’s side. He couldn’t understand how things had unfolded like this. Shouldn’t there be no place for Auston in Londan? Why did everyone choose Auston?

Douglas couldn’t figure it out. He didn’t understand. Seeing Auston gaining the support of four churches, a deep jealousy blazed in his eyes. He was the Prince Consort and had every right to be prideful, but at this moment, he could do nothing but envy Auston.

A black thread spread from Douglas’s cheek, too faint to detect. The pain shook his body and contorted his face. To others, it seemed like he was simply overtaken by a burning rage.

“Auston, is this your trump card?” Sophelia stood up, shaking her head gently with some disappointment on her face. “I thought you were the only one who wouldn’t betray me, yet you have made so many preparations to betray me.”

“Your Majesty, I once swore loyalty to you, and the oath remains valid. The Death Knight and Darkness’s Holy Maiden are acting on their own volition. It has nothing to do with me personally.” Auston explained himself calmly.

He had never considered rebelling,

never

.

“There’s no point in saying that now, Auston,” Wayne shouted. “The strong pursue strength, and the strong will remain strong. Being king suits your powerful status. If you don’t believe me, ask these members of the Tulip Families. Aren’t you the one with popular support?”

The Tulip Families shook their heads immediately.

“The Boswell family only supports the Crown. We will defend the Crown’s honor to the death!”

“Long live the Crown!”

“Cavendish as well.”

“Well said!”

The bunch of opportunistic fence-sitters didn’t even know how to spell ‘loyalty’. While declaring their determination to defend the Crown’s honor, they remained where they stood, never specifying which Crown they were talking about.

Facing Sophelia’s withering stare, the members of the Tulip Families lowered their heads, lamenting their dilemma.

Given their past oaths, they would rather serve Queen Sophelia if they had to choose, but once they became part of the menu, they could no longer make their own decisions. They didn’t have the power to.

What else could they do besides expressing loyalty to their future king? Charge and test how sharp Shadow Nightmare was? Don’t be ridiculous. The sword would exterminate them with a swing, not even leaving ashes behind.

“Shut up, Death Knight!” Auston was practically snarling.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“...”

Sophelia continued to shake her head. Regardless of Auston’s intentions, he had been put on the spot by the four churches. Now, whether he wanted to become king didn’t matter. It was no longer his decision to make.

She decisively severed their past bond. As she rubbed the ring on her hand, dark rifts tore open, and four legendary mages formed a protective circle around her. They were the three Vice Ministers of Magic, Yvette, Alnwick, and Charlee, joined by Hermann, captain of the Order of Holy Light, stationed at Windsor Castle.

The furious Douglas was also in their protective circle. Although his performance disappointed Sophelia greatly, his actions against Auston had revealed a hidden threat. At some point, the Lando family’s influence had strengthened to the point where the royal family could no longer shake their foundation.

Four churches had explicitly demonstrated their support for the Lando family, and the Church of Sun would most likely join them. What about the Church of Heavenly Father? Were they also ready take their side?

Sophelia glanced at Auston. “Your allies are too powerful. Believe me when I say that they do not deserve your trust. Power is only power when it’s in your hands. If they betrayed me today, they may betray you tomorrow.”

Auston smiled bitterly. That would usually be the case, but the situation in his family was a little complicated. Wayne alone was five chosen knights in one, plus a reincarnated angel and a knight of an ancient god. The churches were genuinely in support of the Lando family.

Moreover, the Queen mistakenly believed that Auston was in control when he wouldn’t be the one to decide the Lando family’s future.

The four legendary mages tensely confronted their enemies. Alnwick and Charlee, the two Francan mages, were already coming up with ways to retreat, too afraid to face the Death Knight. Their fidgeting hands made it clear that they would bow to the Death Knight as soon as he charged.

Hermann was unfamiliar with Auston, but as he took in the incredible force on the Lando family’s side, a drop of cold sweat fell from his forehead. Yvette, on the other hand, gaped at Auston, unable to believe that he would rebel.

“Your Majesty, outnumbered as we are, why don’t we surrender? Mr. Auston is loyal and devoted, so he won’t make things difficult for you, given your shared past.” Wayne swung Shadow Nightmare, urging her to surrender.

“Death Knight, this is the headquarters of the Windsor Ministry of Magic, and I am the Minister of Magic. This is my territory.” Sophelia narrowed her eyes, rubbing her ring.

“Agh—”

Suddenly, Douglas howled in pain, clutching his head like he was going mad. It wasn’t surprising for the defeated to howl, and Wayne hadn’t paid him much attention until a powerful hellish energy radiated from Douglas.

Douglas quickly grew bigger, transforming drastically in the blink of an eye. The pale skin, large crimson mouth, carapace mask that covered half of his face, and six eerie golden eyes were distinctively hellish.

A demon familiar!

Wayne shook his head. How terrible it was to be the Queen’s husband. Even the Prince Consort turned into a vessel for a demon to descend into the human world. What about the Queen? Was she a succubus?

“Douglas, you—”

The turn of events was beyond everyone’s expectations. Sophelia looked at her significantly different husband in shock, not understanding what had happened to him.

A demon’s desires could be used, but one must not let a demon use their desires. She had told her husband that.

The moment their eyes met, she detected a powerful malice from him. Shocked, she hurriedly activated the teleportation magic in her ring.

Whoosh!

Douglas dashed past the dazed Alnwick and grasped Sophelia’s face with a splayed hand, leaving a crimson afterimage in his wake. The moment she teleported away, he vanished with her.

“Chase them!”