Bab 8: The Blood of Ethos
The greeting was received with furrowed brows.
Among the Elites and Elders behind the King and Queen; an elder named Meng Fu flick his fingers sublimely. As he flicked, a wind bullet rushed over and struck Prince Archilles forehead; knocking the Young Lord down.
Queen Elara came over to support Prince Archilles, "You brat, don't you ever learn? You know very well that Elder Meng will never grow tired of punishing you for your prideful charades." Queen Elara said caringly.
King Cedric tapped the shoulders of Elder Meng Fu and smiled, "Elder, you're being harsh this time around. The kid had just returned home from his conquest. Let him off."
Elder Meng Fu replied, "Your Majesty, the Young Lords impudence towards the Lordship of the kingdom shall never be encouraged. I have long taken the responsibility of nurturing him as my disciple; as such, I will never let such disrespect be done unpunished."
"And what conquest are you talking about? When did short raids become conquest? Steelport and Ironfort were both kingdoms having internal disputes. Have I aged a hundred years already that you could praise those as conquests?"
"You have even chosen to attack during the night! When everyone is asleep! Haha Don't let your luck get over your head!"
Elder Meng Fu continued to belittle Prince Archilles.
All of a sudden, Neebo's voice from behind interrupted the master and disciple reunion that they were having.
"That's what I was saying! Haha Elder, you are truly an enlightened one! Compared to that Elder Bai, you most definitely possess a deeper understanding to everything! This cowardly Prince has been prancing around talking proudly about the dogshit he had been doing; and I just couldn't take it!" Neebo ranted along.
Prince Archilles company was staggered while kneeling, the level of audacity and shamelessness of this brat truly exceeds their expectations. Most of them felt furious at the disrespect Neebo had done. If Prince Archilles was doing something disrespectful towards the King and Queen, what more, for a mere captive to interrupt a conversation of those in authority.
"The kid is done this time around. Elder Meng Fu hates disrespectful people the most."
"I just couldn't see a way through this predicament he placed himself into. Tsk"
"What a waste of a punching bag for our Young Lord. Tsk tsk"
Prince Archilles commanders concern and disgust rustled in whispers.
Leia, along with the rest of the captives felt greatly embarrassed by Neebo's interruption.
Leia thought, 'can he not keep his mouth shut?'
Neebo continued, "How about this esteemed Elder, let me have a go at him and discipline him for everyone to see. I will tell you abou..."
Before he could finish, he was slapped by an invisible force that blasted him 5 meters away.
Neebo felt wronged. He was just taking the opportunity to report the things Prince Archilles had done to Ironfort; He wanted justice for his family. The elder that knocked Prince Archilles and the Rulers of Hazel Grove seem to be honest and good-natured folks.
Neebo was already badly bruised from the beating he received yesterday. His body was looking very damaged. If not for his Identity as a Prince of a kingdom, he would be mistaken as a badly beaten tramp. Neebo crappily rose back to his feet but he felt a bit dizzy from the slap; his knees gave up, leaving him kneeling, unable to stand up.
Neebo gritted his teeth and lifted his head towards Elder Meng Fu, "Disgusting hypocrites!"
"How amusing. What is this? Why is he here in the presence of the King and Queen?" Elder Meng Fu inquired.
"That is the 7th Prince of Ironfort, Prince Neebo. He has become my personal slave." Prince Archilles said as he rose to his feat and found his bearing.
The Kind and Queen felt amused by this revelation, they took a deep look at Neebo and although Neebo was a bit foulmouthed; still, they felt sympathy for Neebo. Queen Elara came closer to the kneeling Neebo, "Young Prince, in behalf of our kingdom; we apologize for what our sin did to you. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering you have gone through…"
"Mother, Neebo has already become my personal slave!" Prince Archilles raged from the side.
Queen Elara rejected, she looked at her King and pleaded, "This kid has suffered enough already, Hazel Grove does not tolerate such cruelty especially towards royalty."
"No! That kind of demeanor will only breed weak minded people! I shall not allow compassion towards other royals! I will not tolerate such weakness!" Prince Archilles debated.
"Silence! Let King Cedric decide the faith of this unruly monkey." Elder Meng Fu suggested.
The inner ward was left with unnerving silence as the crowd awaits the decision of King Cedric.
King Cedric's gaze deeply into the battered Neebo. The youngest prince of his kingdom; tortured and treated like a toy. He felt pity.
"Father!" Prince Archilles pleaded.
Neebo couldn't take it anymore, "My faith is not for you to decide! I am not a toy! Release me and let me carry out justice for my family!" He was a proud Prince, All the memories of the day Prince Archilles executed his family came rushing in.
He crawled and grab hold of King Cedric's leg, "I am the 7th Prince of Ironfort! Son of Ironfort's King Greyson and Queen Naja! I beg of you, release me! My mother is the youngest daughter of the Supreme Ruler; His Majesty, Emperor Nero of the Great Kingdom of Ethos! Release me and I promise, only your spoiled son shall be punished for killing my mother!" his fury was mixed with hope; that these Rulers would recognize his agony.
The crowd was shock by the bloodline Neebo was carrying; He was indeed of Royal bloodline. He is the grandchild of the Supreme Ruler of the land, Emperor Nero.
If what Neebo just claimed was the truth, Prince Archilles killing the youngest daughter of the Supreme Ruler; then Hazel Grove is in extreme danger. Retaliation from the Great Kingdom of Ethos should be underway.
Queen Elara covered her mouth in shock. Elder Meng Fu kept a calm demeanor. Elder Bai was a little bit perturbed. If he could act godlike towards smaller kingdoms, against the Kingdom of Ethos; He was just an ant. The Supreme Ruler himself was a peak Foundation Establishment stage expert; for sure, he'd be surrounded by experts as well.
Prince Archilles knew of the Royal bloodlines. He knew who Queen Naja was; but because of his rage at the time, He felt like beheading her as a present to Neebo.
Leia and the other captives were also given a big fright. Neebo had all the right to be boastful and prideful, he was not just a Royalty from a subsidiary kingdom; Neebo is a true Royal of the land.
Lila felt unsettled, she feared that Neebo would abuse her even more. If Neebo found out about her complete surrender to Prince Archilles, and how she had dreamt to become Prince Archilles personal maid servant; Neebo would definitely torture her to her death.
King Cedric shut his eyes and pay no heed to the uproar created by Neebo. He felt the breeze and the sound of nature around them. His decision will create a huge change for Hazel Grove; He must decide whether to plead for his son's actions or to stand proudly behind Prince Archilles and support him in his conquest.
"Father, are you going to keep lowering your head against the oppression that Nero had done to our family? Remember what he did to my sister Ophelia? Or have you already forgotten about her?" Prince Archilles revolted.
King Cedric's eyes opened; his furious eyes betrayed the calmness of his face. He had a determined look towards Neebo.
This gaze took away all Neebo's hope away. He knew then that Hazel Grove wanted this conflict all along. They were about to face Ethos in an all-out war.
"I am the 76th Ruler of the Jungles of Ember, King Cedric of Hazel Grove! And I sentence you, the 7th Prince of Ironfort; Prince Neebo, to a life of slavery! You shall live the rest of your life within the confines of Hazel Groves Nefarious Sanctuary! And you shall never to set foot outside the Sanctuary in your life ever again!" King Cedric proclaimed.
After which, King Cedric followed by Elder Meng Fu went inside the Amber Palace with serious demeanor; ready to plan their next actions.
This decision implied that Hazel Grove would now be in a state of war against the Great Kingdom of Ethos. Everyone felt unsure; for some commanders, they have already saw this coming. The long oppression of Emperor Nero against the Rulers of Hazel Grove had long gone overdue. For some, this had been the moment they have been waiting for while others felt nervous and uneasy.
Queen Elara stayed for while longer and had a serious look towards the struggling Neebo and ordered, "Take him away! But make sure to leave him enough provisions that would last him for at least a year." Her compassion betrayed her, deep inside her; she wanted peace above anything else. But what can she do now? Now that her son had made the greatest crime in the entire Land.
The King's Guard's step forward and lifted Neebo up.
"This is all I could do for you, young Prince." Queen Elara said as Neebo was carried away by her men.
Prince Archilles smirked and blocked the King's Guard's path, he took a mocking look towards the down and defeated Neebo, "I will see you at the Sanctuary, my brilliant slave." Then he spat a mouthful of saliva towards Neebo's face.
Hadiah
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