Conquering His Cold Heart
Chapter 421 - 421: Traitor

"I did not want him dead until yesterday," Everard replied without caring what Regulus thought of his response because he really did feel that way.

Regulus was about to open his mouth to say something biased and something that he speculated on his own.

However, before Regulus could do so and ruin his reputation some more, Everard began giving a reason behind feeling that way, and a valid reason at that.

"I always felt that there was something wrong about Romulus because of the things he used to say to me and how he used to behave with his own men. Yesterday, my suspicion was confirmed because you know what I found out?"

Regulus gritted his teeth and tried to defend his brother although he knew the true nature of his brother. "Don't try to make things up now and try to ruin the image of someone who is already dead."

"No, I am not trying to sully his perfect image. No." Everard narrowed his eyes and didn't back down from what he had already planned on telling. "I am just trying to bring forth his true nature."

Everard then quickly stepped forward so that he could face everyone present there in the hall. All of them had a look on their faces that demanded an answer from him.

And in a loud voice, Everard shared what he discovered after his visit to Orsenia, "I bet almost all of you are aware of the incident that took place in the outskirts of the capital on the day of my coronation."

When he paused for a brief second, a lot of people nodded their heads in agreement.

Regulus, on the other hand, didn't know what Everard was really up to by bringing this subject up.

He had also heard about the mass massacre that had happened because of some dispute between the werewolves and the vampires who were invited as guests during the coronation.

'But how is that relevant right now?' Regulus frowned and slowly turned around to face Everard as well as everyone else.

After seeing their response, Everard continued, "I don't know how many of you heard it, but a verdict was issued from me later saying that the main perpetrator of that incident had been caught and given a death sentence."

A lot of murmurs among the crowd were heard right after. They were discussing what the King had just said.

"I heard that it was Sir Graham who planned that attack on the vampires," a man who was standing close to the altar said to another man who was standing beside him.

"Yes. The poor man had to die." The other man dressed in a white suit knitted his brows and wondered, "But they were vampires. So, I never understood why Sir Graham needed to be punished for doing what everyone would."

"Because!" The first man gave a look of disbelief to the one dressed in white. "Those vampires were invited here as guests by the King himself. If anything had happened to them, especially to their King, can you imagine what we would be going through right now? A damned war!"

"Ah! Right!" The one in a white suit shivered at the thought of the war. "One or the other Kingdom would have fallen by now. It would be a disaster."

"Exactly!"

Regulus got angered by this sudden change of topic and asked Everard in a low growl, "What is the point of all this? Are you just trying to divert your loyal subject's attention from the fact that–"

"I'll tell you what the point here is," Everard interrupted Regulus and said while looking over his shoulder.

He quickly turned to look ahead and then said at the top of his voice, "I thought that I had caught and punished the main perpetrator of that incident. But I recently uncovered that the main perpetrator wasn't Sir Graham. Someone else was pulling the strings from behind the scenes."

Everard looked at Regulus again. His eyes slightly glowed yellow when he said in a loud growling voice, "And that someone was the late alpha of the Atkinson clan."

The Great Hall was filled with gasps from the shocked people. It came as a shock because Romulus had maintained a stainless reputation for himself. Only a handful of people knew his true dark nature.

And although Regulus was one of those who had seen Romulus' dark side, he defended his dead brother.

He pumped his chest and asked Everard without flinching once, "What proof do you have that my brother pulled the strings? Don't try to fling mud at him just because he is dead."

Everard clenched his jaw and looked ahead. In the heat of the moment, he spilled the truth. However, he had no definite proof that it was Romulus' doing. He only repeated what Alexander had told him.

Since Regulus didn't shout when he demanded the proof, Everard brushed it off by pretending not to hear. Then he began to explain how Romulus' action could have hurt the Kingdom to everyone in the hall.

"What Romulus did was unforgivable. You all have no idea how close we were to having a full-fledged war with not just Sorvando, but also with Orsenia."

When some people started to question and murmur why Orsenia would fight too, Everard answered them, "The Crown Prince of Orsenia was traveling back with the King of Sorvando. I don't know how many of you know this but Orsenia and Sorvando are united by the marriage ties between King Caspian and Princess, now Queen Anastasia."

Regulus was quick to notice the change in Everard's voice. It almost sounded as though Everard had a pin in his heart when he said it. He also noticed Everard's clenched fists and the bulging veins on his arms.

A very subtle smirk appeared on Regulus' lips. 'So the rumor is true…' he thought.

Everard was still explaining to the crowd. "…and because of that, I had to apologize to the vampires! Can you imagine what I had to go through as I wrote that letter just so that the peace could be maintained? I had to do all that just because…"

He pointed at Regulus and shouted in an enraged manner, "…his brother went behind everyone's back and did something that could have jeopardized everything that we have protected until now."

Everard looked at everyone with bloodshot eyes and asked, "Now tell me why I shouldn't want that man dead? If he was still alive, I would have definitely given him the death penalty for his crime. But since he is already dead, I don't need to bother…"

"Or should I?" He looked at Regulus when he asked that. "Should I be wary of you too? Are you also planning to walk in your brother's footsteps?"

There was a pin-drop silence in the room as if everyone was expecting Regulus to answer the King.

Regulus felt his warm blood rushing to his cheeks and ears when he felt countless glares on him. This was the first time he ever felt this humiliated.

Everard further gave a piercing glare to Regulus and poked him again, "Do you also wish for this Kingdom's destruction? Because if you do, then I cannot allow you to leave this Hall."

And as if the Royal Guards were ready to arrest Regulus right on the spot, they were in an alert position.

It was clear that if Everard said a word, Regulus would be captured right then and there, and would be branded as a traitor to the Kingdom.

It finally dawned upon Regulus that just he and a few of his men, who were already cornered by the way, could never go toe-to-toe with the King, who also happened to be the alpha of the biggest clan.

Regulus suddenly had a wide smile on his face as if he wasn't just threatened by the King.

He looked at his pocket watch and then said as calmly as he could, "It seems like I spent a lot of time here than I had expected." He slammed the lid of the watch shut and said as he put it back inside his pocket, "I should get back to the mansion before the full moon."

Everard also had a sly smirk on his lips. He was feeling extremely grateful towards Alexander for providing the piece of information that basically saved his face tonight.

Then he said while turning to face Regulus, "Yes. I think you shouldn't miss the full moon. Else you will have to wait another full month to get the Goddess' blessing. Who knows what will happen till then?"

Regulus was defeated tonight. But he wasn't going to let Everard cover up his crimes forever. He bowed before Everard even though he was feeling like slicing the King's throat clean.

Then he said while clenching his fists, "I will see you again, Your Majesty."

Everard was quick to reply before Regulus vanished from sight, "Oh, I wouldn't mind if you don't."