Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18. Surrounding the Duke’s Manor
At this moment, inside an airtight room, candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows across the middle-aged man’s uncertain expression.
He stared at the young man kneeling on the floor, his voice filled with suppressed anger.
“What exactly were you thinking?”
“You actually dared to assassinate a prince?”
“Do you think the Royal Family are all blind?”
The young man lowered his head, his forehead pressed against the cold floor, remaining silent the entire time.
“Speak! Why did you do this?”
The middle-aged man suddenly kicked over the short stool beside him. The wooden stool toppled to the ground with a harsh crash.
“Was it the Second Prince who ordered you?”
The young man merely shook his head. His lips were tightly pressed together, as though he had already decided to let the secret rot in his stomach.
The middle-aged man raised his hand. His fingertips trembled slightly with rage, and he was about to strike down—but the hand stopped midway.
He stared at the stubborn profile of the young man’s face. In the end, he sighed and withdrew his hand.
“For the next while, you will stay obediently within the family estate. You are not allowed to step even half a step outside the manor. Do you understand?”
The young man still said nothing.
The middle-aged man snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, turned around, and strode out of the room. The door slammed shut behind him with a loud BANG, sealing away the deathly silence inside.
Meanwhile, the tense atmosphere in the Royal Capital had not diminished in the slightest.
Commoners and free nobles only needed to raise their heads to see the Two-Headed Wyvern Riders circling in the sky. Their silver armor glimmered beneath the sunlight, yet carried a chilling aura of slaughter—clearly, the mastermind behind William’s assassination had still not been found.
Suddenly, the riders circling in the sky all turned at once. Like a torrent of silver, they dove straight toward Duke Lane’s manor.
Soon, a large number of knights from the First Legion completely surrounded the Lane manor. The roars of the wyverns shook the surrounding houses, causing the window frames to buzz and rattle.
The Acting Head of the Lane Family, Aier Lane, hurried out of the manor gates with the core members of the family. His expression was grim as he looked at the leading figure—Prince Koren.
“Your Highness Prince Koren, what is the meaning of this?”
“Leading troops to surround a duke’s manor—are you not afraid that His Majesty will blame you?”
Prince Koren sat atop the wyvern’s back, looking down at him from above. Suddenly, he burst into laughter.
“Rest assured, Duke Aier. His Majesty naturally knows.”
He paused, and his gaze suddenly turned sharp.
“Moreover, the intelligence about surrounding this place was personally delivered by His Majesty.”
“Do you think that if you had not cleaned up the traces a little too ‘thoroughly,’ thereby exposing a flaw, I would have needed to go through this trouble?”
Aier Lane’s face instantly turned deathly pale. His lips moved slightly, but not a single word came out.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze. The hot breath of the two-headed wyverns sprayed against the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
Prince Koren’s gaze swept across the panicked faces of the Lane Family like a tangible force.
“His Majesty has issued an order. The Lane Family is to cooperate with the investigation.”
“Especially regarding the assassin who attempted to kill His Highness the Fourth Prince a few days ago. You would do well to show some sincerity.”
At the same time, William received a message from the Shadow Guard ordering him to head to the Lane manor immediately. At the end of the message, an additional line had been added.
“The duke’s family possesses considerable wealth. Do not miss this opportunity.”
After reading it, William could not hide the smile at the corner of his mouth.
His royal father was openly handing him a knife.
He quickly changed into a set of casual clothes suitable for travel and instructed Knight Tos to prepare the carriage and guards. Then he headed straight for the Lane manor.
The carriage left the palace and passed through the streets under martial control. Before long, it arrived near the Lane manor.
Through the carriage window, William could see the tense scene at the manor gates.
Prince Koren’s wyvern riders were still lined up in formation, while the members of the Lane Family stood grimly guarding the inside of the gate. The two sides remained locked in a standoff, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.
Seeing this, Knight Tos moved to help William out of the carriage, but William raised a hand to stop him.
“Wait.”
William looked out the window, his gaze calm.
“Now is not the right time.”
Tos froze for a moment before quickly understanding.
At this moment, the two sides were already on the verge of conflict. If they appeared rashly, it would only cause the Lane Family to focus their hostility on His Highness.
The carriage remained parked in the shadows of a street corner. William leaned against the soft cushion, lightly tapping his fingers on his knee as calculations already began forming in his mind.
As an old duke family, the Lane Family must have accumulated considerable wealth. Since they had now been targeted by the Emperor, it was inevitable that they would suffer heavy losses.
The question was how he should ask—so that it appeared reasonable while still allowing him to gain enough benefits.
Should he request land?
Or shares in merchant guilds?
Or simply demand a batch of cultivation resources?
Just as he was considering this, a sudden commotion erupted at the manor gates.
Prince Koren waved his hand, and several knights stepped forward, seemingly preparing to force their way into the manor to conduct a search.
Although the Lane Family was unwilling, they continued retreating under the oppressive pressure of the wyvern riders. It was clear they were already at the end of their strength.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of William’s lips as he said to Tos, “Alright. It is time for us to go over.”
The carriage slowly moved toward the manor gates and stopped amid the silent gazes of everyone present.
William pushed open the carriage door and stepped down calmly, his eyes sweeping across both sides of the confrontation.
“Prince Koren, Marquis Aier.”
He nodded slightly. His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.
“It seems I have arrived at just the right moment.”
When Prince Koren saw him, a trace of amusement flashed in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Aier Lane’s expression completely darkened—the thing he feared most had finally happened.
The appearance of this Fourth Prince at such a moment was clearly not to mediate the conflict.
William looked at Aier Lane’s tense face and understood immediately.
The opportunity his royal father had given him would not be wasted.
The wealth within this Lane manor had to leave something behind to compensate him for the “fright” he had suffered.
William looked at the pale-faced Marquis Aier with a faint, teasing smile in his voice.
“Marquis Aier, may I ask where your son is at the moment?”
“I would like to have a chat with him.”
“Since the founding of the Kroll Kingdom, no duke family has ever dared to attempt to assassinate a prince. It seems Duke Lane finds the royal throne rather appealing and wishes to experience it for himself?”
He paused deliberately, drawing out the tone of his words.
“In that case, when my royal father returns, I shall mention it to him on your behalf…”
“Your Highness the Fourth Prince!”
Marquis Aier abruptly interrupted him, his voice trembling.
“You must not speak such nonsense! Our Lane Family has always been loyal to the kingdom and to His Majesty. We harbor absolutely no disloyal intentions!”