I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Chapter 229: Intrigue in the Castle

"Oh? She is in the kingdom?" Thorian asked, his eyes narrowing. Then, his voice resounded in the castle again, "Restrict access to every Gate in the country this instant. Only royal mages are authorised to use them."

After giving his command, he focused back on Gabriel, more questions spawning in his head. "How did a boy escape your Ashford family and reach such a far away college?" He asked, a brow raised. If it was the Academy of Elemental Arts, Dark Magic and Necromancy or Academy of Light Magic established on the central continent, he could have accepted it with difficulties.

But the College of Alchemy and Transmutation needed two months of travel by boat at minimum, and he was sure Gabriel wasn't stupid enough not to monitor the kingdom's Gates and ports.

"It's a family problem. I would like you to respect my privacy and allow me not to answer this question, my king," Gabriel answered, lowering his head respectfully as he attempted to avoid the question.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he knew if the king pushed him further, he would have to reveal more than what he was comfortable with, including things much worse than his agenda with the boy.

However, the furious Thorian didn't give him what he wanted. The next second, he smirked and asked, "A criminal in your marquisate is a criminal in my kingdom. Now, explain what he did and how he escaped your vigilance for months."

With a sigh, Gabriel shook his head before his eyes turned sharp. "I entertained your questions long enough. Don't push me too much or be ready to see most nobles turn against you," replied Gabriel, his solemn voice reflecting his firm stance.

After all, who would want to serve under a king who abused his authority to invade their private life? Not to mention, many were dissatisfied with him after the whole baby fiasco from thirteen years ago. Yet, they stayed silent, scrutinising Thorian's moves and gauging his worthiness.

He did not doubt that once public, this interrogation session would blow out of proportion and threaten the king's interest.

With enough nobles retracting their support and loyalty, even if Thorian commanded enough mages to force each of them to bend individually, he would find himself in a world of trouble after so many stopped paying taxes. Of course, he could move his entire forces to conduct a widespread sweep of the kingdom to subdue them all simultaneously.

But that would require mobilising the mages protecting critical areas like the borders, cities or strategic resource nodes. Stay tuned to M V L

Thus, his only choice would be to take them on gradually over several months, during which he would find himself without income and unable to pay his army.

Upon hearing Gabriel's not-so-veiled threat, Thorian's veins bulged, squirming on his forehead under his anger. He knew Gabriel and the Ashfords were rotten to their core, but every noble wasn't like them.

He almost faced public outrage after ordering them to kidnap babies and dispose of their parents thirteen years ago without giving proper explanations. The last thing he wanted was for a fresh scandal to blow up so soon.

His eyes glowing in fury, he gritted his teeth, his jaw's muscle apparent as he forced himself to say, "You are forbidden to leave your manor until light is shed on this case. For your lack of decorum, you are fined two thousand gold coins. Now get out of my sight."

Silently, Gabriel rose from his seat and took his leave, yet his mind was anything but silent. 'Wash your neck because your days are counted, foolish king. In a year or two, my family members will sit on that throne you don't deserve,' he thought, his eyes glowing with ambition.

As his steps echoed against the castle's marble floor, Thorian sneered in anger, ordering, "Monitor this old dog and his family's moves. No matter what they do or who they contact, I want to be informed."

Then, he thought, 'In three months, the first batch of kids will awaken their memories and start progressing at breakneck speed. In a year or two, those dissident and plotting nobles will bend the knee or die at the hands of the babies they cluelessly delivered against their will.'

As he walked out of the room, ready to conduct a widespread search for the traitorous girl who abused his trust, Morgane rose to her feet in Ossian's castle, feeling liberated.

"I-I can express my emotions!" She yelled, jumping in happiness as the force blocking her vanished entirely.

Julius gazed at her fluttering red hair in shock as he listened to her melodious, emotion-filled voice. 'Did she become someone else entirely?' He wondered, his eyes wide. The difference was just that big between her usual taciturn and freed self, not to mention her vigorous life force. Despite her untrained body and young age, he estimated she was already faster than a regular adult.

"Alright, calm down, little squirrel," Ossian said, amused by her lively reactions. Then, he contacted his soul reapers through their marks and said, "Scour the canyon to find a female ghost who appeared here ten to fifteen years ago."

Gratitude flashed in Morgane's eyes upon hearing his words. She would finally meet her mother!

"Thank you, uncle Ossian," she said, a bright smile covering her face as she bowed her head respectfully.

"U-Uncle? Call me king Ossian, please," the ghost king answered, stunned by her lack of decorum but not finding the strength to punish the friendly girl. Then, with a gentle smile, he added, "They should find her in a day or two. Now, tell me that secret only known by royals."

Morgane's smile vanished in response as her eyes trembled after remembering what she and the other eight thousand kids went through in the past.

Taking a second to breathe deeply and calm her emotions, she revealed, her eyes narrowed, "They are building secret armies composed of slaves they call the summoned. According to Thorian, we came from another world, and our potential is higher than regular nobles'. To keep the secret, he kidnapped us and killed our parents when we were babies."

Silence engulfed the room as her words lingered like an omen. An omen Ossian understood more than anyone else, one of impending war.