The Interrogation Begins
Deep beneath the Royal Palace, in the dungeon's most isolated chamber, the air was thick with the scent of blood and fear.
Solis Vermillion sat in a cold iron chair, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim candlelight. Before him, the leader of the assassins was restrained, his body battered and bleeding.
Julius Novachrono stood behind him, arms crossed, observing.
"Speak."
The assassin spat blood onto the floor.
"Kill me. I will not betray my employer."
Solis leaned forward, his expression unreadable.
"You misunderstand something."
A small flame flickered at his fingertip.
"Death is not your escape."
The assassin's eyes widened as the heat of the magic pressed closer. His bravado began to crack.
Julius sighed.
"Solis, we cannot torture prisoners."
The young king's gaze didn't waver.
"I don't need to. Fear will do the work for me."
He snapped his fingers, and the flames disappeared—but the message had been delivered.
The assassin swallowed hard.
"If I speak, they will kill me."
Solis smiled.
"Then tell me who 'they' are… and I will kill them first."
Silence.
Then—
"Duke Roswell. Marquis Eldrin. Count Gregor. They funded us."
Julius tensed at the names.
Solis only smirked.
"I suspected as much."
The assassin took a shaky breath.
"That's all I know. Please… spare me."
Solis stood up, stepping into the flickering torchlight.
"You made an attempt on my life. You don't deserve mercy."
Before the assassin could react—
A sword flashed.
A clean strike.
A lifeless body hit the floor.
Julius sighed again but did not stop him.
"This will cause more unrest."
Solis wiped his blade with a cloth.
"Good. Let them fear me."
The Nobles in Panic
News of the assassin's confession and execution spread like wildfire.
The noble council, gathered in secrecy, erupted into chaos.
"This is madness!" Duke Roswell hissed.
"He will come for us next," Marquis Eldrin muttered.
"We must act first!" Count Gregor declared.
But the room fell into silence as a messenger burst in, pale-faced.
"It's too late."
He handed them a sealed royal decree.
As the nobles read it, their faces turned ashen.
By Royal Command:
"Duke Roswell, Marquis Eldrin, and Count Gregor are charged with treason against the Crown. They are to be arrested immediately and brought to trial."
Suddenly—BOOM!
The doors of the hall were kicked open, and dozens of Royal Guard soldiers stormed in.
"By order of King Solis Vermillion, you are all under arrest!"
A Nation Watches
Across the kingdom, citizens watched as three of the most powerful nobles were dragged from their estates.
Some cheered.
Some whispered in fear.
But one thing was certain—Solis was no puppet king.
He was a ruler with absolute authority.
And the nobles were running out of options.
The Tyrant's Rule Continues…
As Solis sat upon his throne, the weight of the kingdom resting on his shoulders, he smirked.
"This is only the beginning."
The war between King and Nobility had truly begun.
End of Chapter 30