Chapter 108 - Intimidation? I Think Not!
Arthur continued walking forward.
Soldiers moved out of the way left and right as his footsteps echoed across the training grounds.
’’Tsk,’’ the messenger let out extremely quietly.
His confident expression faltered slightly as he observed Arthur.
’This wasn’t the plan,’ he thought. ’He should’ve been demoralized to the point where he can’t show his face.’
Everything had been carefully, yet incredibly swiftly planned out.
Just before riding into the estate, he’d even checked with his intelligence just to be certain!
’Four days... you didn’t show your face for four days. And now you’re here?’
At the same time, Roderic noticed his change in expression.
A faint smirk flickered across his face right away.
’Wasn’t expecting that, huh,’ he thought smugly. ’I wasn’t either!’
Just then, a hand firmly pressed down on his shoulder.
Before he could react, Arthur walked past, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
Smiling proudly, he nodded once before locking onto the messenger.
’’So,’’ he started loudly. ’’This is Baron Deres’s idea of negotiation?’’
The messenger quickly regained his composure.
’’My lord has made very clear and reasonable demands.’’
Arthur’s expression swiftly turned cold.
’’Reasonable?’’ he repeated calmly. ’’You call this reasonable?’’
He paused for a moment as he shook his head at the ridiculousness of it all.
’’You rode into my territory, refused the hospitality of my household, gathered my soldiers around you and threatened them with war.’’
The messenger’s expression stiffened.
Arthur took a step forward right away.
’’I dare you to tell me this was reasonable.’’
Complete silence fell across the grounds.
Everyone’s gazes had started shifting between the messenger and Arthur.
Even Roderic couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.
’Oh?’ he thought. ’It seems like Arthur didn’t just clean himself up.’
The man was incredibly sharp with his words.
Every single sentence seemed to be another arrow ripping through the messenger’s plan.
The messenger’s face flushed red.
Straightening himself, he quickly tried to regain some momentum from the crowd.
’’Baron Aldric merely wishes for his sister to be freed from her prison and returned safely. If that does not happen, there will be a wa—’’
’’Silence!’’ Arthur interrupted him coldly.
The messenger’s words got caught in his throat.
It felt like an invisible pressure pressed down on him, barely allowing him to even breathe.
’’Margaret has been imprisoned for conspiring against House Whitemane,’’ Arthur stated loud enough for everyone to hear. ’’Not only did she conspire to murder my son several times, her actions also led to the deaths of dozens of innocent knights, soldiers and civilians.’’
The messenger’s face stiffened.
Around him, the soldiers immediately began murmuring again.
Only this time, the uncertainty from before was nowhere to be found.
Instead, anger was rapidly taking its place.
Many of them had known the people who died.
They’d trained with them, drank with them, fought beside them.
And now they knew who was responsible.
’’And now House Deres has the audacity to demand compensation from us?’’ Arthur continued coldly. ’’If anyone should be demanding compensation, it is House Whitemane.’’
The anger amongst the soldiers only grew stronger.
Noticing the changes, the messenger’s expression darkened.
’’But if Lady Margaret is not released, there will be war,’’ he stated.
But his poor attempt at intimidation only pushed the soldiers further.
Even Arthur narrowed his eyes.
’’War, war, war,’’ he repeated slowly. ’’You speak of war so easily.’’
He drew his sword in one smooth motion and pointed it at the messenger.
’’But is House Deres truly prepared for one?’’
The messenger fell deathly silent.
For the first time since arriving, his face had visibly paled.
Arthur scoffed as he sheathed his sword.
Then he turned towards the surrounding soldiers and knights.
’’Tell me!’’ he shouted. ’’Does anyone here fear House Deres?!’’
It didn’t even take a second.
’’NO!’’
The response thundered across the training grounds.
Loud roars, cries and the banging of swords against shields followed.
The sudden eruption proved too much for the messenger’s horse.
NEIGH!
The noble animal rose up onto its hind legs.
’’Woah—!’’
The messenger desperately grabbed the reins, but it was already too late.
Thud!
He slammed onto the stone road below as his horse ran away.
For a moment, the entire training ground fell silent.
Then Roderic pointed his finger at the man.
’’Pfft—HAHAHAHA!’’
He completely lost it.
Within seconds, the soldiers around him followed.
Laughter erupted across the training grounds as the messenger slowly pushed himself back onto his feet.
His face had turned so red that Roderic genuinely couldn’t tell whether he was bleeding or simply that embarrassed.
’Oh, that’s fucking perfect,’ he thought, wiping away a tear.
The messenger gritted his teeth, desperately brushing the dirt from his clothes while the laughter continued around him.
Arthur merely glanced at him.
’’There’s your answer,’’ he said.
The messenger’s expression completely twisted.
But Arthur didn’t give him a chance to speak.
’’Now go back to Aldric,’’ he commanded. ’’Tell him his threats have failed.’’
His expression turned cold again.
’’If he wants Margaret released, tell him to return with an offer worth considering.’’
The messenger didn’t utter another word.
He simply turned around and hurried towards the estate’s gate, the laughter of the soldiers following him the entire way.
A few knights even shouted after him.
Roderic watched the man disappear through the gates before glancing at Arthur.
’’You think he’ll keep running until he gets back to his barony?’’ he asked.
A faint chuckle left Arthur’s mouth.
’’Perhaps.’’
Silence fell between them for a moment.
Then Arthur turned back, locking eyes with Roderic.
’’You did well, Roderic,’’ he said warmly. ’’I’m proud of what you’ve become.’’
Roderic raised an eyebrow.
’’Huh?’’
Arthur smiled slightly.
’’I know there’s much I need to make up for,’’ he said firmly. ’’But that will have to wait.’’
His expression quickly turned serious again.
’’Right now, I want to know everything you’ve planned for the coming war.’’
Roderic stared at him for a moment, completely caught off guard.
Then a grin slowly appeared on his face.
’’Well,’’ he said. ’’You might want to sit down for this.’’