“She’s doing well. She spent some time on Sleeping Island in the fjord, and now she's back in Neverwinter,” Hill said with a smile. “I heard that Ms. Quinn is particularly close to Her Majesty's sister, Princess Tilly, so naturally, Her Majesty wouldn't treat her poorly.”
Afterward, there was some trivial conversation. Otto learned from him that Andrea liked playing cards, her marksmanship had improved a lot, and she would occasionally bicker with another card player, but overall they got along very well.
These messages made him almost forget the passage of time.
Until a discordant quarrel came from outside the house.
“What's going on?” Hill stopped talking, quickly walked to the door, and glanced outside through the crack. “It seems there's a situation on the first floor.”
“Let me ask,” Otto signaled him to sit down, then shouted towards the door, “Who's making noise downstairs? Go see what's happening!”
“Yes, sir,” the maid who had been guarding outside the door replied.
“Maybe someone had too much to drink,” he wrapped his blanket tighter around himself. “This kind of thing isn't common, but you can't avoid it in a tavern. You said Ms. Quinn participated in the Neverwinter Hunting Competition. What were the results?”
Hill didn't answer, but made a shushing gesture, leaning his head lightly against the door.
After a few breaths, his expression suddenly darkened.
“The people below are not only wearing armor but also carrying weapons.”
“What?” Otto was taken aback.
“I heard the sound of iron boots and sword hilts colliding with the floor and chairs. Would anyone wear full armor while drinking?” Hill didn't wait for the maid's reply and directly lifted the soft couch. “Drunkards don't have a penchant for playing knights. Trouble has come to our door.”
“This… how is that possible?” Otto frowned. “Please believe me, I definitely didn't——”
“Of course, if I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have come here to find you,” Hill interrupted.
“Then… let's reschedule our meeting for another time. You should leave first. If they're really looking for you, I'll hold them off.” He felt very regretful. After this separation, he didn't know when he would hear about Andrea again.
“You're not leaving with me?” The other party looked slightly surprised. “Those people don't have good intentions. It's better for you to return to your territory first.”
“Don't worry, I'm the eldest son of the Losi family. They can't possibly lay a hand on me,” Otto shook his head. Not to mention that he had concealed the rescue of the witches and secretly contacting Roland's spies from his father, if the troublemakers were really targeting members of the ambassadorial delegation, wouldn't his departure seem particularly suspicious? Even if there were no problems, it would become a problem. “Besides, although this secret passage is unknown, it's not difficult to search. Seeing that the room is empty, they will inevitably become suspicious. With me staying here, you can evacuate more safely.”
“Alright then, good luck.” Hill didn't insist any further. He released his hands and slipped into the secret passage.
Otto tidied up the cushions and bedding for him and lay back down on the soft couch.
Soon, heavy footsteps came from the stairwell, mixed with the sound of metal friction, and the maid who went to inquire about the situation never reappeared.
Without knocking or questioning, the door was kicked open directly.
A group of fully armed knights crowded into the single room.
“What do you mean by this!” Otto roared angrily. “This is the territory of Count Losi. Do you want to rebel!” He was about to prop himself up and drive these rude people out of the tavern, but he didn't expect them to rush forward and hold him down on the soft couch.
“Sorry, Sir, it's not us who want to rebel, but you,” the leading knight shrugged. Although they wore gilded armor with emblems symbolizing the royal knighthood on their chests, Otto found that these people were all unfamiliar faces.
Damn it, where did they all come from?
“Let me go!” He twisted his body. “You're slandering me!”
“You can tell that to His Majesty Amperein,” the knight remained unmoved. “You have betrayed his trust, Lord.”
Hearing the name Amperein. Moore, Otto's chest turned ice-cold.
……
When he saw His Majesty again, it was two days later.
“I heard that you haven't eaten for the past two days and have been clamoring to see me?” Amperein still had that slightly weary look. In a short time, the new king seemed much more mature, and his eyes flashed with an unfamiliar expression. “Now that your request has been granted, you can eat properly, right?”
“Where is this?” Otto grabbed the iron railing, asking with a sore and hoarse voice, “Why are you doing this? Where's my father!”
“Are you not satisfied with this room?” Amperein looked around. “The furnishings here are completely based on the standards of the Duke's mansion. Although it's a bit smaller, the bed, table, chairs, and cabinet are all complete. It should be comfortable to live in.” He paused. “As for where this is… it's of course in the basement of the palace. Only by locking you up here can I feel at ease.”
Otto gritted his teeth. “Your Majesty, I want to have a good talk with you. I didn't——”
“Betray me?” The Lord of Dawn interrupted him. “Do you think I would still believe these lies and continue to be deceived by you? It took me two months to find some clues about the witches, but I didn't expect that you would be involved in it—— commissioning the Graycastle ambassador Yoko to go to «Black Money» to participate in the auction, and helping him leave Glow City after the incident. If this doesn't count as betrayal, what else is betrayal?” His voice grew louder and louder, obviously no longer wanting to suppress his anger. “That day in the hall, didn't you hear how the King of Graycastle broke the alliance and trampled on my father's wishes!”
“I…”
“Do you want to talk to me about betrayers, or those witches who deserve to go to hell?” Amperein's voice was full of deep hatred. “Enough, Otto. Losi! If you weren't my childhood friend, the eldest son of the three great families, you would have been sent to the gallows long ago! I still need the power of the three great families now, but it doesn't mean I will always need you. This is the last chance I'm giving you. Don't force me to take that step!”
These words made Otto feel like he had fallen into an ice cave. He had never seen his playmate show such a hideous face. Recalling those "royal knights" he had never seen before, he suddenly understood something.
Perhaps after the old king's death, they, who had no other choice, had lost the new king's trust.
“By the way, didn't you ask how your father is?” Before leaving, Amperein suddenly said coldly, “Nothing has happened to him. He still attended the court meeting today—— as long as you honestly eat all the food that is sent, Count Losi will naturally still be a good nobleman loyal to the royal family. So don't do such stupid things as starving yourself anymore. This is good for both of us. If you are stubborn, I can only take some coercive measures.”