Chapter 11

“Why, are you going to pin that on me too?”

The king’s voice, having lost all reason, burst forth like the sound of a howling beast. The elder of the Arrowwood Clan did not waver in the slightest and wore a faint smile.

“Normally at a time like this, one would say, ‘Do not demand proof from me, go and bring back the evidence.’ Yet Your Majesty is losing your composure, which is our Solinar’s most vital virtue.”

The king froze for a fraction of a second. His face paled, then flushed red once more. A heavy silence weighed down the audience chamber. The king slowly drew in a breath and refastened the disheveled crown upon his head. Yet it was water already spilled. For the agitation he had betrayed was already vividly engraved in everyone’s eyes…

…Even in the eyes of the prince seated beside him.

The king was uncommonly unable to rein in his emotions today. Toying with and rolling such a king in the palm of their hand, the elder of the Arrowwood Clan did not stop at merely seizing the initiative, but pressed the king and prince fiercely.

“How would it be if Your Majesty were to draw forth your memories before the spirits of the forest? If you are truly innocent, would that not be acceptable?”

“How is it that you people so persistently doubt and humiliate Us?”

There was a rebuttal from the king, but his voice had already lost its strength. He pressed his temples with a trembling hand and muttered.

“It is a reckless endeavor. The spirits of the forest do not like being dragged into human affairs. They will surely demand a price. Can Elder Owen take responsibility for his own proposal?”

Arkin’s breathing, which had been repressing its emotions the entire time, was gradually growing faster.

The elder of the Arrowwood Clan and that crowd were clearly enjoying this situation. They were acting just like wolves driving down their prey. Just how long must he allow himself to be dragged along by those who picked fights at every turn? Even if it was the method they desired, wouldn’t it be better to receive a definitive verification?

Yet what made Arkin hesitate was his father’s unfamiliar and unprecedented attitude. Why, just why? Suspicions he didn’t want to entertain were rearing their heads little by little.

“Hmph. If verifying the prophecy is difficult for the time being, very well. Then we shall wait and discuss other matters.”

Owen let out a sly smile and shouted toward the back.

“Bring him forth.”

At the arrowwood elder’s gesture, private soldiers of the council of elders appeared behind him, gripping a man by his arms. The king drew in a breath in shock.

“Where do you think this is that you bring such fellows inside?”

“Make him kneel!”

The man, dragged along limply by the private soldiers, dropped heavily to his knees. The moment he recognized the identity of the weakly slumping man, a chill ran down Arkin’s spine.

The fact that they had broached the subject of the prophecy might have merely been a preamble intended to unsettle the king and Arkin. The main point they were truly aiming for was precisely this.

“I hear that Prince Arkin sleeps only after burning incense to ward off nightmares every single night. It has been quite a long time, has it not?”

“Absurd!”

“There are rumors that this fellow introduces necromancia into the palace. This man appears to be the sole distribution channel bringing it in across the border. May we then banish this fellow? All the herbs in his possession shall be burned to ashes.”

This was the limit. He could endure this humiliation no longer.

Anger bubbled and boiled furiously within Arkin’s chest. Why of all times now? Why of all ways in such a manner? He could tell just how meticulously they had prepared. They were precisely piercing his weak point.

Necromancia. Without it, Arkin could not sleep soundly for even a single day. When the nightmares came, he would thrash about until dawn before finally waking with a scream. That herb was his sole salvation. Yet they must never, ever find out about it.

“Owen.”

The prince sprang up from his seat. The air in the audience chamber grew taut in an instant, and all gazes converged upon Arkin. Arkin’s eyes, glaring at the elder of the Arrowwood Clan, shot forth a piercing brilliance.

“Because this is where His Majesty the King resides, I did not step forward presumptuously, but from here on, I shall speak with you directly.”

Arkin stepped right up to the tip of the ill-tempered elder’s nose and looked into his eyes. He read the aged grudge contained within the elder’s gaze. Vigorously suppressing the impulse to strike that ugly face right then and there, he opened his mouth.

“As you all well know, the World Allied Training Tournament on Credo Island will soon commence. Once six months pass and I finish my training, I shall receive my second prophecy, and staking that upon the line, I shall wash away every single suspicion you have raised thus far.”

“What do you mean by staking the prophecy?”

“As soon as day breaks, I shall proceed to the Great Temple of Solinar and offer an oath of truth. If there is even a shred of falsehood in the prophecy I received, I shall forfeit the throne right then and there.”

Arkin turned his cold gaze upon him and the other elders. The elder, gripping his cane tightly, thrust out his chin as if confronting him, but did not raise any further objections.

The elders of each clan fell silent as if struck dumb. Feeling his father’s gaze stabbing into the back of his head, Arkin calmly surveyed the dumbfounded faces of the elders.

“Now, I have staked the throne just as you wished. As the prince of Solinar, I have always done my utmost and lived without a shred of shame. While I acknowledge that the sons of your eight clans are likewise talented individuals, I am confident that not a single one of them is prepared enough to defeat me. Am I wrong?”

Ahaha, ahahahahaha!

The elder of the Arrowwood Clan burst into nervous laughter. Laughing convulsively, he expelled a breath with a sharp ‘ha’ and gnashed his teeth.

“Very well, Your Majesty. You have made a formidable resolution. A truly grand resolution. Hah!”

Owen alternated between glaring at Arkin and the king with eyes that looked as though they were boiling over.

“I look forward to tomorrow’s events. Let us all head to the temple once day breaks. We shall witness Prince Arkin’s oath together and become the witnesses of a sacred contract.”

Leading the pack with Owen, the elders rose in a body and strode out of the audience chamber. Glaring at the backs of their heads until the very end, Arkin let out a long sigh the moment the doors closed shut. This should suffice for now, at least. It would be quiet for a while.

“Father, I apologize for causing you concern…”

Arkin, about to draw close to the king, was engulfed in confusion. The king was staring at Arkin with bloodshot eyes, his eyes welling with tears. With a trembling hand, he removed his crown and flung it down upon his lap.

“Why would you go to such lengths?”

“But Your Majesty, if it is not the truth, there is no problem at…”

A corner of Arkin’s heart sank heavily as he gazed at the king. His father was breaking out in cold sweat with a pale face. The king cried out as if coughing up blood.

“Without even consulting with Us, why would you arbitrarily choose to swear an oath at the temple? Do you not know that one must not make idle oaths at the temple? The power of an oath is mighty, Arkin. The gods remember all things!”

The gods remember all things…

Arkin’s face hardened. His father closing his eyes in agony and the terrifying silence enveloping them choked off his breath.

“I remember, Arkin. I remember it clearly.”

The king muttered as if dreaming.

“‘A precious baby born in the quiet forest becomes the master of the icy forest’—that was the prophecy you received when you were born.”

“I am well aware, Father.”

“Is that not so? Do you not know as well? Their idle nonsense is not worth paying heed to. They are ones who have perpetually coveted the throne. Men who would do anything if it meant casting down the Birch Clan! Impudent and malicious wretches!”

He hadn’t consumed a single drop of wine, yet his father rambled like a man thoroughly intoxicated. Because he was clutching the hem of his ceremonial robes and swaying as if about to collapse at any second, Arkin hurriedly supported the king and guided him toward his chambers. Inside the dim corridor, the king opened his mouth once more.

“My son, believe this. There is no problem whatsoever with the prophecy you received.”

“I know, Father.”

“Those nightmares as well. That you suffer from nightmares is merely the manifestation of a burden of pressure. I too was like that in my youth.”

“…Yes.”

“The herbs as well. Forget about things like necromancia. There must be other ways. That it is a prohibited medicinal herb is all utter nonsense as well. When those very people procure and use them all secretly beneath the table.”

Arkin cast his gaze downward. While that much was a troublesome matter, he had no other way.

Having spent the entire night awake, Arkin headed toward the Great Temple before the sun rose.