Chapter 19 : Chapter 19
Chapter 19. The Price
“Loyal?”
William raised an eyebrow, and his gaze suddenly turned icy.
“Loyal enough to take my life?”
“If you dare to raise a blade against a prince today, will you persuade my royal father to move aside tomorrow so your Lane Family can see whether the throne is comfortable?”
The string of accusations struck like heavy hammers, leaving Marquis Aier nearly unable to breathe.
He looked at the coldness in William’s eyes, then glanced at Prince Koren beside him, who wore a faint, amused smile. In his heart, he knew that if he did not pay a painful price today, this matter would never end peacefully.
Marquis Aier closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, defeat filled his expression.
He gestured toward William and Prince Koren, inviting them inside, his voice hoarse.
“Your Highness the Prince, Your Highness Prince Koren, please come inside. Whatever we must discuss, let us speak within.”
Prince Koren patted William on the shoulder and stepped into the manor first.
William followed close behind. As he passed Marquis Aier, he did not stop. He merely said indifferently, “Marquis Aier, I hope your sincerity will match this so-called ‘loyalty.’”
Marquis Aier watched the two men’s backs as they walked away. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned pale. Yet in the end, he could only grit his teeth and follow them.
The courtyard inside the manor was magnificent and lavish, yet it carried an unmistakable noble aura.
William’s gaze swept across the carefully trimmed flowers and trees, and understanding dawned in his mind.
So wealthy.
After entering the reception hall, maids served tea, but no one had the mind to taste it.
Prince Koren went straight to the point.
“Aier, let us not waste words. The assassin who attempted to kill the Fourth Prince has already confessed and directly implicated your son.”
“His Majesty has ordered that the criminal be handed over. Offer your sincerity as well, and the punishment may be lightened.”
Marquis Aier’s face turned pale again. His lips trembled before he finally said weakly, “He… he has already been confined by me. As for sincerity…”
He clenched his teeth.
“One hundred thousand gold coins from the family treasury, five hundred monster pelts, and the mining rights to three medium-sized mineral veins. All… all will be offered to Your Highness. I only ask that Your Highness show mercy and spare the Lane Family this once.”
William picked up the teacup and gently blew away the floating tea leaves. A trace of mockery flashed in his eyes.
One hundred thousand gold coins and a few mines?
Did they think they could dismiss him like a beggar?
Prince Koren leisurely added fuel to the fire from the side.
“Aier, that sincerity seems rather light.”
“His Highness the Fourth Prince nearly lost his life here. You think such trivial things will settle the matter?”
A flash of despair passed through Marquis Aier’s eyes. He clenched his jaw as if making an extremely painful decision.
“There is also… twenty-five million gold coins. They… they will also be offered.”
Only then did William set down his teacup and slowly shake his head.
“It seems Marquis Aier truly has no sincerity.”
“In that case, there is no need to continue this discussion.”
He looked at Marquis Aier, his tone turning cold.
“As for your son, he will be handed over to be dealt with under Military Law. The law is merciless. No one can protect him.”
With that, he made a motion to stand.
Marquis Aier’s body swayed violently. His face turned as pale as paper as he hurried forward a step.
“Your Highness, name your price!”
“As long as the Lane Family can afford it, we will not refuse!”
William extended a single finger and lightly tapped the tabletop.
Marquis Aier froze. His voice trembled.
“O-One hundred million?”
William raised his eyebrows and immediately responded.
“Oh? You said it yourself.”
“In that case, one hundred million gold coins, plus three undeveloped mineral veins.”
The color drained completely from Marquis Aier’s face. His lips trembled.
“Your Highness, th-that amount is too large. I cannot decide such a matter. I must wait for the family head to return—”
“No need.”
William stood up directly and nodded to Prince Koren.
“Your Highness, I will leave the matters here to you.”
After saying that, he turned and prepared to leave with Knight Tos.
“Wait!”
Marquis Aier hurriedly shouted, his voice tinged with despair.
“I will give it! I will give it!”
William stopped and turned to look at him, his gaze sharp.
“I want it now.”
Marquis Aier’s face twisted as though he were wearing a mask of pain. He shut his eyes tightly for a moment. When he opened them again, numbness had replaced the agony.
“Alright… alright…”
Not long after, Marquis Aier hurried back with a thick stack of gold notes and three scrolls. Holding them with both hands, he presented them to William, his voice hoarse.
“Your Highness, these are gold notes worth one hundred million gold coins, along with three mineral vein contracts.”
William smiled and reached out to take them, only to find that Marquis Aier was gripping them tightly. The gold notes and contracts did not move at all.
The smile on William’s face faded, and his gaze instantly turned cold.
“Marquis Aier, what do you mean by this?”
“Have you changed your mind?”
Marquis Aier shuddered, as though all the strength had been drained from his body. At last, he loosened his grip.
The gold notes and contracts fell into William’s hands. The paper had slightly wrinkled from the force with which the other man had held them.
William roughly counted the gold notes and checked the contracts. After confirming everything was correct, he nodded with satisfaction.
“A wise man submits to circumstances.”
“Marquis Aier, I hope the Lane Family will remember today’s lesson.”
After speaking, he stored the gold notes and contracts inside his Spatial Ring and left.
As he walked out of the reception hall, sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice and spread across the floor, illuminating his steady footsteps.
One hundred million gold coins, along with three mineral veins of unknown potential.
At last, this “sincerity” was worthy of the fright he had suffered.
Prince Koren watched his departing figure, the corner of his mouth curling into an approving smile.
This boy understood restraint and opportunity even better than his royal father had at the same age.
Prince Koren turned his head toward the ashen-faced Marquis Aier and spoke slowly.
“Marquis Aier, Prince William’s account has been settled. Now it is time to settle ours.”
As he spoke, he took out a list he had prepared in advance and casually handed it over.
Marquis Aier’s trembling hands lifted the list. The more he read, the greener his face became. Finally, he slammed the paper onto the table and roared.
“Extortion!”
“This is naked extortion!”
“Rather than giving you all these ridiculous things, I might as well directly give you two hundred million gold coins!”
Prince Koren’s eyes lit up immediately.
“Marquis Aier, those are your own words.”
“Very well, we shall do as you say—two hundred million gold coins.”
His tone shifted casually.
“But I am not in a hurry to collect it. I know you cannot gather that much cash at once.”
“How about this—your family’s three major merchant houses will first be placed under the temporary management of the Royal Chamber of Commerce. Once you have gathered the money…”
“Your Highness Prince Koren!”
Marquis Aier abruptly interrupted him, despair filling his voice.
“If you strip everything from us like this, are you not afraid of becoming a laughingstock?”
Prince Koren stood up and looked down at him from above before slowly nodding.
“I think it is quite appropriate.”
Marquis Aier saw the unquestionable determination in his expression and realized further argument would be useless. In the end, it was as though all the strength had been drained from his body. He collapsed into the chair and spoke hoarsely.
“The gold notes for two hundred million gold coins… I will have someone deliver them shortly.”
Prince Koren burst into laughter and patted him on the shoulder.
“That is more like it.”
“It seems I was mistaken. The assassin probably is not here after all.”
He turned and left. When he reached the door, he looked back and tilted his chin slightly.
“Oh, and have the gold notes delivered to the Legion Headquarters before nightfall. Otherwise… you know the consequences.”
After saying that, he left with the knights, laughing loudly, leaving behind a room in disarray and Marquis Aier collapsed in his chair, his face ashen.
Outside the manor, the Two-Headed Wyvern Riders retreated like a receding tide. The sky returned to calm, yet the air still seemed to carry the lingering smoke of wealth and power colliding.