Chapter 342: Heroes Betrayed!
General Odin, the Iron Wolf of Carles and a pillar of Northem’s might for nearly three decades, now knelt in disgrace beneath the arched ceiling of the Justice Hall—once the seat of his honor, now the stage of his humiliation. Beside him, his four sons—Asael, Galahad, Bener, and Percival—also bowed on bended knee, heads low, encircled by Northem’s elite knights. Their drawn swords glinted coldly in the sunlight, each blade aimed mercilessly at the back of the Norse bloodline.
General Odin lifted his head as he gaze into the man who was seated on the throne, cloaked in a resplendent robe of gold, the insignia of a soaring eagle stitched across his chest in silver thread. The embroidery dazzled the eye—so much so that one might overlook the prince’s youth, his untested hands, or the hard curve of arrogance on his lips.
Odin slowly lifted his gaze, a tempest burning behind his eyes. His voice, hoarse from days of silence, cut through the heavy air.
"What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?" he demanded, each word deliberate and thunderous. "You summon us from Carles under royal decree—only to meet us with blades and shame? Are we criminals, that my sons and I are treated like traitors?"
He had once stood proudly in this very hall, not as a prisoner, but a celebrated hero. Two years ago, the hall rang with laughter and goblets clinking, honoring their triumph over the Estalis invaders. Today, it was a hall of betrayal.
Prince Reuben leaned forward, a crooked smirk on his face. "Why ask me, General Odin?" he said, his voice laced with youthful contempt. "Surely, you already know the crimes you’ve committed?"
"I beg Your Highness to enlighten me," Odin replied, rage simmering beneath the surface of his words. "Because I am truly in the dark."
The prince’s smile curled further. "Very well, if you insist on this charade of innocence—"
"We are innocent!" Galahad snapped, his temper igniting like dry tinder. His outburst echoed sharply—then thud! A brutal kick slammed into his back, throwing him face-first onto the cold, unforgiving stone floor.