The Varta Empire was in turmoil after the disastrous banquet. Rumors spread like wildfire, and the whispers echoing through the palace corridors matched the chaos the failed event had caused. The guests who had fallen ill were slowly recovering, but the honor of the imperial family had been severely tarnished. Worst of all was the incident involving Princess Lysandra, who now found herself at the center of accusations.
The emperor, seated on his throne, surveyed the scene with a cold, expressionless gaze. His eyes were filled with disappointment. The grand hall's doors creaked open in the midst of an oppressive silence, and Princess Lysandra was escorted before him. She walked forward, head held high, her eyes burning with defiance. But her heart pounded furiously, knowing that the outcome of this audience could be fatal. The shame of the banquet's failure weighed heavily on her shoulders.
The emperor regarded her for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Lysandra..." he began, his deep voice reverberating through the vast hall. "You stand accused of being responsible for the misfortune that befell our guests during the banquet. They were all struck by unbearable pain, and many are still unable to rise. What have you to say in your defense?"
Lysandra straightened her posture and, mustering all the dignity she could, answered in a firm, almost icy tone:
"Your Majesty, I swear I had no part in this! It was a malicious scheme, a deliberate attempt to humiliate me and tarnish my reputation!"
The emperor's gaze remained unwavering, his skepticism evident.
"It seems you attempt to defend yourself with mere words, but the facts speak for themselves. You were the one who oversaw the reception, were you not? And yet, everyone fell ill after consuming the grapes served at your banquet."
Lysandra, overwhelmed by the accusations, responded quickly:
"The grapes were flawless! There was nothing wrong with them. Someone must have poisoned them after I approved everything!"
The emperor remained silent, studying his daughter with a steely glare. He awaited a more convincing explanation. The accusations were grave, and he could not afford to dismiss such matters without a thorough investigation.
"You claim you were framed? Then how do you explain that all evidence points directly to you?" the emperor asked.
Lysandra bit her lip, her mind racing for an escape. She knew that the shadow of Kael, who had persistently challenged her since his arrival, loomed over her. She turned toward the throne once more, ready to plead her case.
"It's Kael Draven! He seeks to destroy everything I've accomplished and ruin my name! He's the only one capable of causing such turmoil within the empire!"
The emperor, usually a man of few words, shifted slightly on his throne.
"It seems you are letting your emotions cloud your judgment, my dear daughter. We shall see where the truth lies. The investigation will continue, but for now, you will answer for your actions."
Suddenly, the grand hall doors burst open, drawing the attention of everyone present. All eyes turned toward the unexpected arrival of a man they least expected to see at that moment.
The heavy doors of the audience chamber burst open, drawing all eyes. A familiar figure strode in with an unhurried gait, yet every step he took cast a chilling silence over the room.
Kael Draven.
His white hair fell in slight disarray, and his crimson eyes gleamed with a careless glint. That ever-mocking, indifferent demeanor — the one that Lysandra despised so much — was plain on his face. Behind him, several imperial knights, witnesses to the ongoing investigation, followed in solemn silence.
"Your Majesty." Kael offered a slight bow, though his sly grin betrayed his utter lack of respect for the formality. "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
Lysandra clenched her fists, her blood boiling at the mere sight of him.
"You!" she spat, her voice trembling with rage. "This is your doing, isn't it? You couldn't stand to see me succeed, so you sabotaged everything!"
Kael laughed, a light, mocking chuckle that echoed through the hall.
"Me? Why on earth would I need such petty schemes to unsettle you? You're already doing a splendid job of that on your own."
Lysandra's face flushed crimson, but the emperor struck his fist against the arm of his throne, commanding silence.
"Kael Draven, do you have anything to contribute to this matter?"
Kael raised his hands in a gesture of feigned innocence, though the mischievous glint in his eyes remained.
"Well, to be perfectly honest, I was merely curious to see how far these accusations against me would go. But, you see, after a little investigation of my own, I stumbled upon a much more amusing truth."
With a snap of his fingers, one of the knights stepped forward, holding a silver tray covered with a fine cloth. When the veil was lifted, a collection of grapes was revealed — perfectly arranged, yet some appeared slightly dull and bruised.
"These are the very grapes served at the banquet," Kael said, crossing his arms with a knowing smile. "And after a meticulous examination, we found an interesting little secret. A subtle dose of laxative, mixed with a light poison. Nothing deadly, of course, but certainly enough to… well, let's just say it ensured a rather urgent parade to the latrines."
A wave of shocked murmurs rippled through the chamber.
"And you believe this was Lysandra's doing?" the emperor asked, his gaze sharp.
Kael approached the throne, casually twirling a grape between his fingers.
"Not exactly." He paused, savoring the tension that hung in the air. "You see, the grapes were carefully tampered with after their arrival in the kitchens. And who, might I ask, would have had access to them but…"
He turned dramatically, his eyes sweeping over the assembled nobles, before resting on the other princes and princesses. Their faces instantly paled.
"Lysandra's ever-loving siblings."
A heavy silence descended upon the hall.
"That's ridiculous!" one of the princes burst out, his panic barely concealed. "Why would we do something like that?"
Kael shrugged, his expression one of false sympathy.
"Perhaps to humiliate Lysandra and weaken her standing in the emperor's eyes. Or perhaps simply for the sheer joy of causing chaos." His grin widened. "After all, this wouldn't be the first time you've indulged in such games, would it?"
The emperor's stern gaze locked onto the accused siblings, his displeasure palpable.
"If these accusations prove true, you will answer for them personally."
Kael, visibly pleased, gave a small bow.
"I am certain Your Majesty will deliver justice."
But as he prepared to step back, he added with a wicked smile:
"And I'm sure Lysandra will be particularly delighted to see just how much her own family supports her."
Lysandra, still seething, shot Kael a murderous glare. Yet, deep down, she knew that, in his own twisted way, he had just saved her from a far worse fate.
The emperor fixed his children with a long, piercing stare. His severe gaze seemed to cut through their very souls, and the tension in the audience chamber was palpable.
"So, this is how you conduct yourselves?" he said in a deep, commanding voice. "Instead of upholding the honor of the imperial family, you scheme like jealous children?"
None of the princes or princesses dared to meet his eyes. Some murmured half-hearted apologies, while others tried to justify their actions. But the emperor's patience had worn thin.
"Silence!" he thundered.
The room fell instantly quiet. Kael, still wearing his signature smirk, crossed his arms, watching the scene unfold like a satisfied spectator.
"Your behavior is unworthy of your status." The emperor rose from his throne, his crimson cape billowing behind him. "I did not raise heirs only for them to stoop to such disgraceful conduct."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the chamber.
"As punishment for your immature and shameful actions, you will all be sent to the imperial library."
"What?!" one of the princes exclaimed. "The library? But Father—"
"Silence!" the emperor interrupted sharply. "For the next three months, you will study treaties on politics, etiquette, and imperial history. You will learn what it truly means to serve the empire with dignity."
The princes and princesses paled, their faces twisted in dread. The imperial library was not merely a place of knowledge — it was a gilded prison, where the monotony of endless study and suffocating rules prevailed. For them, this punishment was far worse than exile.
"And I forbid you from leaving until your tutor deems your behavior worthy of your rank."
Lysandra, though relieved to have escaped direct blame, couldn't help but feel a surge of petty satisfaction. But when her eyes met Kael's amused gaze, her anger flared once more.
"Your Majesty," Kael interjected with an exaggerated bow. "I'm certain this experience will be most enlightening for them."
"Do not think yourself untouchable, Kael Draven." The emperor's glare hardened. "Your arrogance has never served you well, and today is no exception."
Kael simply shrugged, his smirk unwavering.
"I would never dare question Your Majesty's wisdom."
The emperor turned away, signaling his guards to escort the disgraced princes and princesses to their fate. Lysandra, still seething, clenched her fists as resentment burned within her.
"Kael Draven…" she muttered through gritted teeth. "You will pay for this."
But Kael, ever composed, merely gave a slight, mocking bow, savoring every moment of his victory.
The system opened before Kael:
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: "Avenge the Princess."]
[Reward Obtained: Skill - Perception]
[Effect: Allows you to check the target's information.]
A shiver ran through Kael as a crimson glow flooded his eyes. A familiar warmth intensified in his gaze, tinting his iris a deep, piercing red. He could almost feel the power of his new ability.
A dark, satisfied smile slowly spread across his lips.