Royal Palace...
After all the mana beasts were finally subdued, the devastation they left behind painted a grim picture across the Clover Kingdom.
Several noble and royal family estates had suffered serious damage, with some members even injured in the chaos.
Fortunately, no children were harmed, but the attack had sent a chilling message to the kingdom's elite.
That very night,
All the Magic Knight captains, including the formidable Royal Knight Captain David Traven, along with the Wizard King Julius Novachrono and his assistant Marx, were urgently summoned to the Royal Palace.
Inside the great hall of the royal court, the captains stood in groups, their usual competitive tension replaced by mutual irritation and concern.
"Attacking our homes... our families…"
Nozel Silvia growled.
"In broad daylight and within the capital! This isn't just an insult—it's a declaration of war,"
Fugeleon Vermolion muttered darkly.
"Whoever it was… they knew exactly where to hit."
Added a Nozel with irritation visible on his face.
"It's a slap to our faces."
The atmosphere was tense, a volatile mix of frustration, suspicion, and barely contained anger.
Julius, ever calm, stood silently, his expression unreadable—
But Marx could sense the storm brewing beneath the surface.
And still, two notable figures had yet to arrive.
"And what about the Blue Rose Captain? She should be here."
Asked Dorothy, looking around to try to find Charlotte.
Just then, the massive court doors swung open with authority.
Ben strode in, his royal cloak flowing behind him, the symbol of the kingdom glowing faintly on his chest.
At his side walked Captain Charlotte, in her full Blue Rose uniform, her icy blue eyes scanning the room with razor-sharpness.
Trailing behind them was Harry, Ben's faithful butler.
The captains turned as one, falling silent.
"____"
Unbothered by the whispers, Ben walked with purpose to the front of the room, turning to face the gathered leaders.
Charlotte took her place beside him, standing straight and composed.
Then Ben finally spoke, his voice calm but commanding, filled with the authority of a ruler who had just fought beside his people:
"Tonight, we are not here as nobles or captains—we're here as defenders of this kingdom… and today, someone crossed a line."
His words echoed through the hall, drawing the full attention of everyone present.
Ben's eyes scanned the room.
The weight of the day's events clearly bore down on him.
First, the royal palace, and now every noble and royal household—
The message was deliberate.
A statement meant to mock his rule, to undermine his authority.
"This wasn't just an attack."
Ben finally said, voice low but heavy with restrained fury.
"It was a performance. A challenge. As if someone wants to paint this kingdom—and me—as weak."
Silence lingered like a storm cloud.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Then, Nozel Silva stepped forward, ever composed, his arms crossed behind his back.
"Your Majesty,"
He began, his voice clear and sharp.
"I've been considering the pattern of these attacks."
Ben nodded for him to continue.
Nod~
"They weren't just bold. They were calculated."
"Each location was hit when its most powerful defenders were absent. Not just random timing—precise timing. Whoever is behind this knew the movements of every noble house and every squad captain."
A quiet murmur rippled through the hall.
"And when the Magic Knights responded,"
Nozel continued,
"The enemies were just powerful enough to overwhelm standard squads. It's as if the attackers knew exactly how much force to send—just enough to sow panic and destruction… but not enough to prompt immediate retaliation."
Ben's expression darkened.
"____"
He leaned forward slightly on the edge of his throne.
"You're saying there's a leak."
He said flatly.
"Someone with knowledge of royal and Magic Knight movements."
Nozel's eyes narrowed.
"Or a spy with access to high-level intel. Perhaps someone… we've overlooked."
A tense silence followed.
"____"
"____"
Captains exchanged glances, some wary, others visibly unsettled.
Julius, arms folded and brow furrowed, looked lost in thought, while Charlotte subtly clenched her fists at her side.
Ben slowly sat back, his fingers steepled.
"Then this isn't just a rogue attack… It's a coordinated move by someone who wants to destabilise the kingdom from within."
His voice grew colder.
"Find the rat. Find the source. And next time, we're not going to wait to be attacked."
As Nozel finished, Fuegoleon stepped forward, his expression solemn but firm.
"I support Nozel's assessment."
He said, voice deep with conviction.
"This wasn't a random invasion—it was orchestrated. And we should treat it as an act of war against the very foundation of our kingdom."
Several captains nodded in agreement, murmurs rising as suspicion thickened in the air.
Julius, calm but sharp-eyed, turned his gaze to Harry,
Who stood quietly behind Ben and Charlotte?
"Harry,"
Julius asked,
"Before the attack began… did anyone unfamiliar enter the royal palace?"
Harry gave a brief nod.
Nod~
"____"
"There was one,"
He replied.
"A boy named Fred. He was brought in under heavy guard. He's the son of a traitor, but King Ben allowed him to stay temporarily in the guest chambers for observation."
A beat of silence passed as the captains absorbed the name.
"____"
"____"
Jack the Ripper tilted his head, his grin unusually restrained.
Grin~
"Then maybe we should start there,"
He said.
"If someone entered the palace right before the attack, I don't care how young or weak they are—it's worth investigating. He could've been a decoy… or worse, a pawn passing intel."
Some captains muttered in agreement, but Ben raised a hand, silencing the room.
"No."
He stood, his eyes hard.
"That boy doesn't have the strength or cunning to coordinate something like this. I've seen the fear in his eyes. He's lost, confused… desperate for answers."
Ben's voice was calm, but resolute.
"But,"
He added, turning to Harry,
"For protocol and safety, question him. Discreetly. If he's innocent, we'll know. If not…"
He let the silence finish the sentence.
Harry gave a nod and left the room immediately.
Nod~
After the room settled from Ben's declaration, he addressed the gathered captains again, his voice carrying the weight of leadership.
"All captains,"
Ben said,
"Conduct a full sweep of your squads, headquarters, and allied noble households. Leave no stone unturned. If there's a spy among us—as Nozel suspects—we will find them. I want complete reports within forty-eight hours."
The captains responded with firm nods, some already beginning to plan their internal reviews.
Nod~
Ben then turned to Harry again.
"Summon Fred. Now."
With a respectful bow, Harry vanished with a flash of magic.
Moments later, the heavy doors of the royal courtroom opened again.
Fred entered, flanked by two Royal Guards, his wrists bound in enchanted cuffs to prevent any reckless use of magic.
As he stepped into the room, the atmosphere changed.
The air was thick with pressure—
Raw, magical, and crushing.
Fred's eyes widened in horror.
Before him stood every Magic Knight Captain—
Legends of the Clover Kingdom—
Alongside the Wizard King Julius, the Royal Captain David Traven, and the King himself, Ben.
Each captain's gaze was sharp, piercing, and brimming with suspicion or contempt.
"____"
Fred gulped hard.
Gulp~
Sweat beaded at his temples.
His legs wobbled slightly, but he forced himself to walk forward.
He could feel it in his bones—
None of them was in a good mood.
The recent attacks had struck their homes, their families.
And now he, the son of a known traitor, stood at the centre of their suspicion.
Ben's voice echoed through the room, calm but cold.
"Fred. This kingdom was attacked today in broad daylight. Royal guards were outmanoeuvred. Noble homes were invaded. You were inside the palace at the time. So tell us—"
"Do you have anything to say for yourself before we begin questioning?"
All eyes were on him.
His throat was dry.
The weight of the room crushed his confidence like a glass underfoot.
Hearing Ben's question, Fred immediately stepped forward, his voice shaking but sincere.
"I swear—I did come here to confront you, Your Majesty, but I have nothing to do with this attack. I didn't plan it. I didn't know anything about it. I'm not involved!"
Some captains narrowed their eyes, unconvinced.
The sheer timing and his sudden appearance still made him a suspect in their eyes.
Then, Julius raised a hand calmly.
"Marx,"
He said.
"Read him."
The sharp-eyed assistant, Marx Francois, stepped forward.
With a glow of magic in his eyes, he activated his Communication Magic: Thought Probe.
A tense silence filled the court.
"____"
Fred flinched slightly as Marx's magic touched his mind, but he didn't resist.
A few moments passed.
Finally, Marx turned back to Julius and the others, his voice clear and authoritative:
"He's telling the truth. His thoughts are consistent. He knows nothing about the attack. No coordination, no involvement—just confusion and fear."
The tension in the courtroom loosened slightly.
Some captains sighed.
Others crossed their arms but said nothing.
Ben gave a single nod, his eyes still on Fred.
Nod~
"Very well. He is not our enemy today."
But Ben's tone made one thing very clear: The boy would still be watched.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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