Chapter 604 – The Changes at Gambella 2

Chapter 604 – The Gabella Change 2
“Sigrid has sent word that His Highness Felix and Duke Diaz are preparing to make their move in a week’s time.”

Lady Red Flame – Mariana’s name within the Secret Law Society – said the information she had just been informed of with a stoic face.

Right now she was within a certain hidden room, where Antonio, Aldrich, Yarvi, Ampolov, and Carol, the nine members of the Order of Ten, as well as a few other officials who were secretly supporting the Second Prince, were gathered to discuss the latest situation in the Imperial Capital.

Aside from Siegfried and MacDonald, all the core members of the Second Prince Antonio’s faction were here.

Ampolov frowned and said, “Surely once Marshal MacDonald and the army left, they couldn’t hold back?”

The thick beard on his face twitched, showing his master’s agitated mood.

“Your Highness, I think we should make a move before they do, strike first and suffer later.”

A black-robed old man suggested to Antonio, his name was Dougherty Mate, he was the most prestigious mage in the Secret Society, among the group of spell casters who possessed strange powers, he was the second only to Antonio as the leader, most of the people had never seen Master Mate casting his own spells, but no one doubted his power.

Master Matt always wears a black robe, and even indoors he often covers his face with the hood on his black robe, making it difficult for onlookers to observe his face.

The leader of the Maester’s Tower, Aldrich also said to Antonio: ”Master Matt’s suggestion is very reasonable, now is the time when Felix and Diaz are at their most arrogant, they think that they have already secured their victory, not realizing that we still have a caster force hidden in the imperial capital. Your Highness, this is a small but sharp dagger, as long as it is used at the right time and in the right place, it will serve to turn everything around.”

The others also offered their suggestions to Antonio, each in favor of immediately gathering forces to take out the Grand Prince’s faction.

Just as everyone was in agreement, the most central figure here, Antonio, showed a rare display of agitation.

He stood up from his seat and paced around the table continuously without uttering a word.

“Your Highness!” Master Odonnell, the most skillful spirit magic caster in the group of ten slowly stood up and said, “What are you still concerned about now?”

“My father ……”

Antonio’s voice was a bit hoarse, “How I should face him.”

A silence fell over the room.

All in all, Bartlett Griffin was a good ruler.

However, it was a pity that he couldn’t cope with the bad situation predicted. Moreover, it would be almost impossible to get such a monarch who grew up in a traditional atmosphere to recognize the legitimacy of spellcasters.

But the spellcasters would be the core force that should come in the future in their plans, and they had to be able to walk in the sunlight with honor, even to the point of occupying an important position in this country, on this continent.

Aldrich said with some heaviness, “I know, it’s an agonizing choice. Bartley is a good father, but he overly favors the role of a father, and as a monarch, he should be a bit more ruthless.”

“Our tradition in Gabella is that the one who can do the job takes the throne, Your Highness, with the feats you have repeatedly performed on the battlefield, he should have declared you as the heir to the throne a long time ago, but he has delayed deciding on his heir because of his own so-called fatherly love and not wanting to see his other son, Felix, grieve and lose his heart.”

“This caused Felix and some of the people around him to become disillusioned, and it also caused more people to have a great sense of doubt and uncertainty, which eventually spread throughout the entire country, with people splitting up into two factions fighting each other and colluding, and the empire’s power being used up in such meaningless activities for nothing.”

“So, Your Highness.” Aldrich said solemnly, “I ask you as a Gabella, put an end to all of this, only by uniting the empire first can we unite this continent, and only by uniting this continent can we face the great enemy of the prophecy.”

Hearing these words from his teacher, Antonio asked in a slightly pained voice, “And after that, what shall I do with my father.” “Let him abdicate.” Aldrich suggested, “Let him enjoy the rest of his life in peace as the emperor’s father, I think he will eventually be proud of what you have done in the future.”

Antonio did not speak.

“Jiejiejiejiejie!” A hoarse-voiced laugh thought up, it was another of the Ten, Enoch Christopher, an irritating fellow who enjoyed working with poisons and corpses all day long.

His head was bare, without a single hair, it was the whole head, not even an eyebrow, and his cheeks and body were horribly thin, as if it were a skeleton overlaid with a layer of human skin.

“Your Highness.” Christopher said in a tone of jest, “Please forgive me for speculating about your father with the utmost malice, or rather, what I am saying can be seen as a conspiracy theory.”

Christopher said horrible words in his usual tone, “Perhaps the reason why His Majesty the Emperor has delayed in announcing his successor is that he has done so on purpose, and it is his intention to make you and Felix fight with each other, knowing that, as an Emperor, your father is still young and energetic, and he doesn’t want to see a… …”

“Shut up!” Master Matt and Maester Aldrich barked at Christopher in unison.

Christopher shrugged his shoulders, retreated into his chair, and stopped talking.

Antonio stood quietly, his back to the crowd.

Perhaps Christopher’s words had irritated him.

“Alas,” the second prince sighed, “it will be a fight to the death.”

Carol stood up and slowly walked to his side, resting her soft palm on Antonio’s shoulder with fondness in her eyes.

“Your Highness, we will all be by your side now.”

Antonio nodded, “Alright, then let’s take action immediately.”

By the time he turned around, the hesitation and anxiety from earlier had all but disappeared, and in the eyes of everyone, the imperial prince who had won a hundred battles on the battlefield had returned.

“Master Matt, Lady Red Flame, gather the spell casters secretly near the imperial palace and assemble at any time on command.”

“Yes, Your Highness, we will definitely do it.”

“Amporov, use your position as captain of the guards to keep a close eye on Felix and Diaz and the others going out to the palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Amporov stood up, he was even more excited that His Highness had finally made up his mind.

“Master Yarvi,” the Emperor looked to the Maester, “you go and contact MacDonald and Siegfried, there are several places around the Imperial Capital that need attention ……”

“As for my teacher, Master Aldrich, public opinion must be prepared to respond to the success of our operation ……”

(End of chapter)