Chapter 225: A Talk With Ignis
The aftermath of the attack was a lot less severe when one compared it to the attack on the capital.
This was mostly because the people of the South were battle maniacs, so there were few to no casualties.
Despite that, the people still recognized the efforts of most of the tournament candidates, especially the prince and the lady of the North.
Ironically, just a couple of months back, she had been known as a failure who didn’t even deserve to stand by the prince, and yet, here she was.
The irony wasn’t lost on anyone.
And just as Adrian planned, their perception of her had completely changed....well, for most from the other dukedoms anyway.
Those from the South, just like their Grand Duke, didn’t concern themselves with gossip.
All they cared about was whether or not one was strong, and Renelle had proved that she very much was.
In the days that followed the attack, life in the South had quickly gone back to normal...mostly.
The only disappointing news was the fact that the festival had been canceled, after all, the Grand Dukes had learnt exactly what they were standing against.
Each was determined not to feel as useless as they did in that fight.
Well, all except the Grand Duke of the East.
After that attack, it seems he had slipped into a permanent coma. What no one knew was the fact that the disconnected string had done damage to his soul, and it’d take a while to heal.
Fortunately, though, souls were just a mass of mana, and they could be regenerated, especially since humans could recover mana.
It would simply take time.
How much time, the healers weren’t certain.
Weeks at minimum. Months at worst.
In the interim, the East’s affairs were being quietly managed by Cassian’s father’s advisors.
The East was, in short, going to be in a mess.
And that was exactly what the cult master had aimed to achieve. He had intended to slowly weaken Avera until all resistance had been gotten rid of.
Unfortunately for him, Marion had decided that Adrian’s offer was worth his time more.
Besides, he had already completed his part of the deal with the cult master, so he might as well just jump ship now.
It’d be annoying having to deal with the corruption for a while, though, but in the quest for a proper body, that was an acceptable sacrifice.
Marion had made worse trades back in the dungeon.
Besides, his contract with Adrian stated that if the body provided was not satisfactory or one that could properly resist the corruption, then he’d have a right to the butler’s body.
"I truly wish you fail, Adrian," he muttered with a chuckle as he stood at the balcony of his room, overlooking the city.
His task right now was taking over this East and ensuring they were on Renelle’s side, which was quite easy given that every important member of the East was now his puppet.
"I wonder how this will unfold," he said as he leaned forward, the smile still on his face.
***
Meanwhile, in Ignis’s estate, the Grand Duke’s laugh was all that could be heard the moment one stepped inside.
He was currently in the meeting room with both Darius and Adrian sitting across him.
Seeing no change in their expression, his laughter slowly died down as he looked at the child before him, "Such jokes can be misunderstood for treason, child."
"It was not a joke, Grand Duke," Adrian responded without a change in his expression, "I’d like you to pledge your loyalty to my lady instead of the king."
A heavy pressure fell on both Adrian’s and Darius’s shoulders, making it harder for them to breathe.
Well, Darius anyway, but Adrian was currently being protected by Noctis’s aura, something the cat had only recently discovered it could do.
"What makes you think," Ignis said, his laughter completely gone now, "that I would betray my king?"
Unlike most nobles who liked scheming, Ignis was completely different.
He never hid behind a mask, nor did his loyalty easily waver just because someone presented him with a convincing argument.
He was, in every sense, a straightforward man.
Which also meant that Adrian had to choose his words carefully, else, he’d make an enemy out of the man.
"I guess given your personality, you wouldn’t want to betray King Magnus," Adrian started, "but what if he isn’t the same man you pledged your loyalty to?"
Boreas frowned, turned darker as he looked at Adrian, "What do you mean?"
"I believe you’re quite the observant man, Grand Duke Ignis," Adrian continued, "throughout the festival, did the King seem like himself to you?"
Ignis went silent as he started thinking, as much as he was a hot-headed battle maniac, he also had his times when he was quite aware of the situations around him.
Perhaps even more than most gave him credit for.
And throughout the festivals, until the point that the creature appeared, the king had seemed like a different person altogether.
It wasn’t until that creature arrived that he seemed to revert to normal. Yet, just a day later, he was back to being different.
"What you’re saying is...." Ignis started.
"The King has been replaced by someone else?" "The King is someone else’s puppet."
He and Adrian spoke at the same time, leaving behind an awkward silence.
"Erm," Ignis cleared his throat, "that’s what I meant."
Adrian simply nodded, "The king has been making decisions that are unlike him, decisions that favor the church a little too much."
Boreas’s frown returned as he asked, "You think the church is responsible for the king’s different behavior?"
"Yes," Adrian answered, "if my suspicions are correct, they have been controlling him for quite a while now."
"Years, perhaps. "
Ignis went silent, considering Adrian’s words for a while. His son seemed to trust this butler, but that didn’t matter at the moment,
Especially given the fact that this involved the entire Avera.
"Let’s say I believe you," Ignis finally spoke up, the pressure still in the room, "why should I serve your Lady instead?"