In the royal palace, the king sat on his broad throne, still worn out by the turmoil of the previous night.A messenger in a gray uniform entered and bowed deeply.
Messenger:"Your Majesty… a report has arrived from General Adrafal."
He quickly handed over the scroll. The king broke the royal seal with a slightly tense hand and began reading in a low voice:
King:"'The borders of the kingdom have been closed… with an order that no one is allowed to enter or leave… no matter who they are… by command of the king.'"
The king tapped the armrest lightly—his expression a mix of stern relief and decisive resolve.
King:"Good… at least no one will flee the kingdom."
The messenger bowed and left—but the calm lasted only a moment.The door opened again, and another messenger entered, this one visibly shaken and tense.
Second Messenger:"Your Majesty… according to the reports, the Sixteen Families… were not prepared to move. They may need three to five days before they arrive in the capital."
The king's eyebrows shot upward in anger, a spark returning to his eyes.
King:"Five days?!! They know how important this court is!"
He turned sharply toward the advisor beside him.The advisor responded calmly, cautiously:
Advisor:"Your Majesty… as you know, the kingdom is vast… and the territories of the families are far apart. And also—"
He hesitated before adding gently:
Advisor:"You rushed the date of the court. It is impossible to open a royal court without the full attendance of the Sixteen Families… nor without the influential nobles."
Then, in an almost whispering tone:
Advisor:"And holding the court without them… may be seen as an insult."
The king closed his eyes for a moment, then said harshly:
King:"Then… how long must it be delayed?"
Advisor:"I cannot give an exact date, Your Majesty…But we must wait until all the important figures arrive."
The king remained silent for several seconds, then waved his hand.
King:"Very well… postpone it."
The advisor bowed and left quietly.
In Prince Ken's Wing .A young knight entered and bowed quickly.
Knight:"Your Highness… the royal court has been delayed several days."
Ken smiled—a short, sharp smile.
Ken:"I see… thank you."
Once the knight left, Ken turned toward Marvin, who was sorting the files piled across the desk.
Ken:"Marvin… we now have an extra three to five days."
Marvin looked up, worry clearly visible in his eyes.
Marvin:"Is that… good? Or bad?"
Ken:"Very good. Use every day.We need to organize the files, double-check everything, and close any loophole they might try to exploit."
Then, with a colder edge:
Ken:"We will not give them a chance to escape."
Marvin:"Yes, Your Highness… I'll begin right away."
Gray wandered through the capital streets, visibly bored, trying to clear his mind.He eventually stopped before the grand building of the Royal Bank.
Upon entering, he froze.
The hall was nearly empty.No clerks, no customers, not even the usual scratching of pens.The desks looked untouched since morning.
He placed his hands on the counter and called out:
Gray:"Hello?Anyone here?"
No answer.
He called again… then a third time.
A female clerk rushed out at last, fixing her hair, slightly out of breath.
Clerk:"I'm so sorry, sir! We had some internal work… how may I assist you?"
Gray:"I want to send money to my family outside the capital."
She gave a polite smile—one carrying a great deal of embarrassment behind it.
Clerk:"Sir… the bank is temporarily closed.It's under inspection and audit as of this morning.And… as you know, the borders are closed.No bank carriages can enter or leave."
Gray pressed a hand to his forehead in frustration.
Gray:"Ah… right. I completely forgot."
Clerk:"Our apologies, truly, but we cannot send any funds outside the capital at this time."
He thanked her and left, muttering:
Gray:"Damn it… even the bank is caught in this chaos."
In the Main Royal Hall
The king sat on his throne while the First Prince, Adrian, stood before him, bowed.
Adrian:"Your Majesty… during the last banquet, many nobles were arrested.The number is close to three hundred nobles… out of seventy-five families."
He took a deep breath before continuing:
Adrian:"In other words… we've apprehended nearly half the nobles.What is to be done with them?Should we judge them one by one?Or wait for the court?"
The king wiped his forehead, exhausted.
King:"Keep them in their cells.Do not tell anyone anything…until the royal court.Then… we release the innocent,and hold the guilty accountable."
Adrian:"Understood, Your Majesty… may I take my leave?"
But before he turned, the king called:
King:"Adrian… wait."
Adrian straightened immediately.
Adrian:"Yes, Your Majesty?"
Silence stretched… then the king dropped his formal tone.For a moment, he looked more like a father than a monarch.
King — in a weary, fatherly voice:"Setting the formalities aside…My son… what happened to your marriage arrangement?"
Adrian froze.
A silence longer than all the military reports followed.
Adrian:"…In truth…I don't know."
The king gave him a mildly annoyed look.
King:"You're twenty-nine.Your brother Leon is already engaged…and you are still…"
Adrian remained silent, eyes lowered.
The king released a deep, heavy sigh.
King:"Ahhh…You may go."
Adrian bowed and walked away slowly,while the king pressed a hand to his head—feeling a new weight added to the many he already bore.