Austin sat in his chair and silently watched the royal advisors put on their pretentious act. He slowly sipped his tea as if he couldn’t be bothered by their so-called accusations.
His nonchalant demeanor made Langdon and the others frown. Their once-outrageous voices began to falter.
They had stormed in full of righteous fury earlier, only to be met with complete apathy. What was the point of arguing when he wasn’t even listening?
“Are you done?” Austin finally spoke once the room had quieted down. “If not, go ahead and keep talking. Say as much as you need to until you’re satisfied.”
“Your Highness, we’re here to discuss serious matters. Your dismissive attitude is truly disappointing,” Langdon said sharply.
“Serious matters?” Austin let out a short laugh.
He went on, “You barge in here without even understanding the full picture and spewing accusations like they’re facts. As far as I’m concerned, you’re no different from clowns putting on a show.”
“You… How dare you!” Langdon was visibly enraged.
His expression darkened. “The prince personally appointed us as royal advisors, so we have the authority to challenge injustice. Your abuse of power and persecution of loyal officials is unacceptable-both morally and legally. We have every right to protest.”
“That’s right. We demand justice for Sir Prescott,” the royal advisors echoed.
“Protest? Justice?”
At those words, Austin suddenly laughed as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
“What’s so funny?” Langdon asked grimly.
“I’m laughing at your ignorance, your stupidity, and your self-righteousness.”
As Austin laughed, his expression suddenly turned cold. “What makes you so sure Warrick is innocent? And what makes you think I made the wrong judgment?
“Without understanding the full truth, you blindly condemn me while defending a man guilty of unspeakable crimes. Tell me – are you foolish, or are you complicit?”
“We don’t see the so-called justice you speak of. We only see the fear, the disorder, and your unchecked authority,” Langdon retorted.
“Oh? Then, I’ll let you see the truth with your own eyes.”
Austin waved a hand. “Axel! Bring out all the evidence. Let these so-called defenders of justice see for themselves who the real villain is.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Axel responded.
He immediately laid out all the prepared evidence on the table. Every crime was recorded in detail, and this was only what had been documented. There were countless more left unreported.
“If you’re not blind, read it for yourself,” Austin said coldly. His patience was wearing thin.
These old fools weren’t just corrupt but were irredeemably stupid. Anyone with a shred of sense wouldn’t have chosen this moment to stir up trouble.
“How is this possible? Did Sir Prescott really commit all these crimes?”
“This is outrageous! Even the wildest rumors wouldn’t conjure up something this outrageous.”
As the royal advisors flipped through the pile of evidence before them, they exchanged uneasy glances and their brows furrowed in concern.
The crimes listed weren’t minor offenses like corruption or bribery-they were atrocities that had cost hundreds of lives, with countless others indirectly affected.
Just the photos and records alone were enough to send chills down their spines.
They had their own share of wrongdoing, but their sins paled in comparison to what lay before them.
Warrick’s actions were nothing short of monstrous. If these crimes were true, then their efforts to defend him would make them accomplices to his evil.
“Well? Do you have anything to say now?” Austin sneered.
The royal advisors exchanged glances, but no one dared speak. If Warrick was truly guilty of such heinous acts, even the boldest among them wouldn’t dare speak in his defense.
“No! This can’t be true.” Langdon’s face darkened as he finished reading the evidence, but he stubbornly held his ground.
He continued, “Where did you even get this so-called evidence? Sir Prescott has always been loyal and honorable. There’s no way he would commit such atrocities. This must be a setup-someone is trying to frame him.”
Several royal advisors nodded in agreement.
To them, Warrick was a war hero who had dedicated his life to serving the country and its people. While they could accept that he might have made mistakes in the heat of the moment, the idea of him being responsible for such cold-blooded crimes was unthinkable.
Perhaps, they reasoned, this was the work of external forces trying to sow discord within West Lucozia.
“Langdon Rhys!” Austin’s gaze turned razor-sharp. “The evidence is right in front of you, yet you still refuse to see the truth. Tell me, are you covering for him because you two have some unspeakable dealings?”
Austin’s patience had reached its limit. He had tolerated Langdon out of respect for his seniority within the Rhys family. But if Langdon insisted on pushing his luck, then Austin had no problem burning that bridge.
