Restart:Untalented Man

Chapter 115 Devastating News

?After enjoying their breakfast, Philip leads the remaining soldiers out of the forest.

They resumed their journey toward the capital, Napuna which doesn't really take a long time to arrive.

As soon as the gatekeeper recognized the familiar faces, he immediately opened the gate. Philip and the soldiers passed the gatekeeper and moved straight into the city without stopping.

"That's weird. I see no figure of the king." He muttered. However, his thought doesn't last long as he continues to do his job. It is not his place to mind the affair of the higher-up.

The horses ran through the main streets as they headed for the palace. People there instinctively make a way to prevent themselves from being run by a horse.

When the palace's gate appears in their sight, all of them wear solemn expressions as were agreed upon.

Their return was detected by the servants working in the garden. One of them swiftly moves to inform the butler. Naturally, the servants quickly line up on the palace grounds to receive the king.

However, none of them saw the king. Only a group of soldiers full of dirt and blood on their injured bodies and damaged armour.

Noticing something wrong, the butler couldn't help but ask. "Sir Philip, where is His Majesty?"

Philip looked at the butler with sad eyes and didn't utter a word. He simply shook his head.

Coincidentally, Niall passed by. "What's going on here?" None of them answered his question. He turned his head to Philip and Philip looked at him too.

Niall is not an idiot to not know the context in Philip's eyes. A tacit understanding has been agreed upon between both of them.

Thus, Niall joined this farce. There's no other place he could act other than in front of a lot of people. A sympathetic nature of humans will turn these servants into his biggest supporters. That way, he can avoid suspicion.

"Your Highness..." Philip pretends to be scared. He didn't dare to lift his face to look directly at Niall. He tried to summon his courage to convey the devastating news, "His Majesty King Nicholas I died in a battle against Naharog."

It took a few seconds for Philip's words to sink into the minds of the people there, Niall acted as if he was attacked by dizziness. His whole body is swaying around.

"Your Highness!" The butler hurriedly comes to Niall's side and supports his body from falling to the ground.

"M-My father, did you retrieve his body?" Niall stutteringly asked. His voice told them that he was trying his best to not cry.

Philip silently nods. He signalled his subordinates to bring forward the horse cart.

Niall with the help of the butler staggeringly walked forward.

"This is the body of the king. We took off his armour to stop the bleeding on his body but unfortunately..." said Philip with a heavy tone. He lifted the cloth that covered Nicholas's body.

The cold body of Nicholas I was lying in a wooden horse cart.

The state of the body causes both Niall's and the butler's mouths to go wide open. The butler quickly covered his mouth in shock but Niall covered his mouth to hide his smile.

He made a scornful remark in his mind, 'In the end, you die because of your stubbornness. Your throne will belong to me.'

The butler shuddered in his heart. There are many traces of stabbing and slashing on his body including His Majesty's face as well. Thankfully, it is not to the point of being unrecognizable. Nevertheless, whoever looks at it will be terrified.

'I've to say Philip has done a wonderful job in torturing him.' Niall commented.

"Sniff...Sniff...Your Highness, we need to tell Her Majesty about this grief news." said the butler.

"Don't worry, let me handle this. You prepared for the funeral," said Niall. The sooner he completes Nicholas's funeral, the sooner he is enthroned.

He made his way to the queen bedroom on the third floor. He stood in front of the door for a few seconds before knocking on it.

"Dear?" Catherina's voice was heard from the other side of the door.

"It's me, mother."

"What do you want?" He can tell his mother's annoyance with him. But he couldn't care less.

"It's about father..."

The door was opened before Niall could finish his words. "What about your father? Didn't the army return safely?" Catherina asked anxiously. She has been worrying about her husband for the past few hours and didn't sleep a wink after Nicholas I departed.

Her husband is no longer as strong and vigorous as he was in his youth. He is already an old man.

"Father...He died on the battlefield. Luckily, Philip manages to bring his body back."

"W-What? How could this happen?" Catherina said with tears. Just this dawn, her husband is still alive. Her cries and screams attract the attention of the maids. Everyone got curious about why the queen was in such a state. "Where? Where is his body?"

"On the ground floor. The butler is preparing for the funeral," informed Niall.

Catherina headed downstairs, leaving Niall behind. She needs to see Nicholas's corpse.

As for Niall, he leisurely made his way to his room. Not minding the stares from the maids in the palace. Today is his happiest day as the last obstacle between him and the throne has perished.

Shortly thereafter, the news of Nicholas's death was known to everyone in the palace. Then, it spreads to the entire capital.

Because Niall is the only legitimate heir to the throne left, all nobles unite to show their support for him as a new king. The citizen also has no worry about the possibility of civil war to happen.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"I've arrived, Your Highness."

"Come in, Philip."

Philip opened the door and entered Niall's room. There is a smile on his face.

"Did you dispose of his armour?"

"I've done it with caution, Your Highness."

"Good, you've done an excellent job in finishing this task. I am very pleased. How's the reaction outside?"

"All of them accept the reason for the king's death at face value."

Just as Niall expected, no one associates him with his father's death. Count Naharog took all the blame for him.

"But...only one person seems suspicious about this whole thing."

"Who is it?" Niall raised his eyebrows.

"The prime minister, Wendall."

"Did he say anything?" Niall squinted his eyes.

Philip shook his head, "No. However, his face looks unconvincing."

Niall sighed, "Let him be, then. Wendall is close to my father and knows him well. As long as he doesn't make a noise, we don't have to get rid of him now. Once I become a king, I am going to make his life miserable before killing him."

"I'll plant some men to watch his movement," said Philip enthusiasticly. He needs to make sure everything proceeds smoothly until the day of the prince's enthronement. Niall ascended to the throne which meant the position of prime minister would belong to him.