Chapter 1053: Into the Spotlight
Chapter 1051 of "Primordial Villain With A Slave Harem" opens showing developments: Chapter 1053: Into the SpotlightJasmine chuckled. She found the edge in Quinlanâs tone amusing. He... Keep reading!
Chapter 1053: Into the SpotlightJasmine chuckled. She found the edge in Quinlanâs tone amusing. He clearly didnât like being dismissed, even when it came to his alias.
But, of course, Quinlan wasnât a raging bull who couldnât act reserved when he needed to. Devil has been resting for months now, so being taken for a lie was more than reasonable. If he wanted to correct the misunderstanding, all he needed to do was don the mask. Based on what he was hearing here, the Consortium was slowly losing, so sooner or later Quinlan would be called in anyhow.
Or perhaps not. Who knew what Black Fang was thinking. She allowed him to leave, as she was informed of his upcoming trial by Vex. But perhaps even after his return, heâd be left alone. Black Fang didnât seem particularly worried about the Consortiumâs current state, having never personally appeared on the front lines.
The woman certainly didnât become Quinlanâs sponsor just so she could send him to die in a war she herself didnât care enough about to leave the comfort of her skincare poison bath behind and participate.
Calienneâs, the first princessâs, voice cut through the rising murmurs of the nobility, all of whom looked as if they were having the time of their lives. They came here expecting a posh dinner party, but what they got was far better than any theatre play could ever hope to be.
âAre those rumors truly so impossible to believe, Duke?â
Alastairâs eyes snapped toward her in surprise, but she wasnât looking at him. Her gaze had shifted.
Right towardâŚ
Quinlan.
His heart lurched instantly.
âI meanâŚâ she went on, âwe just saw Black cast wind and fire together, silently. Iâm no elemental mage, but⌠whatâs two more elements? Doesnât sound as impossible to me as you make it out to be.â
Quinlanâs instincts flared like sirens. Bad. This was bad.
Many heads turned toward him. The speculative glint in their eyes was unmistakable.
He stepped in quickly, before anyone could begin trying to connect the dots any further. His voice was even, perhaps too even. âIâve heard of Devil as well, but what happened here today was not comparable to those rumors.â
His tone moved too fast, too sharp, and before he could adjust, two gentle pressures landed on his thighs, Ayameâs and Irisâs hands. No words were said by either woman, not even using telepathy. All they did was provide him their grounding touch that told him plainly: âSlow down. Youâll look desperate. Thereâs nothing more suspicious than a man desperately trying to appear not suspicious.â
ââŚâ Quinlan inhaled deeply, letting his posture loosen. Under the table, he gripped both of their dainty hands in gratitude.
âMy class,â he continued a lot more naturally, âonly grants me two elements. Itâs already taken me a long time to wield them properly. Adding two more elements isnât as simple as you make it out to be, Princess Calienne. As for the silent casting⌠that was pure accident. Iâve never managed to do it before, and I doubt I can again. I wasâŚâ his voice lowered, â⌠angry. My women were assaulted, and that anger allowed me to tap into something fleeting. I donât know how to reach it again.â
Quinlan gave a mild shrug. âBut from what Iâve heard of Devilâs⌠legends⌠He casts all four elements silently at will. He doesnât need rage or desperation. If the rumors are to be believed, he can do it anytime he wishes.â
King Alexiosâs gaze pinned him for a long, unreadable moment. His eyes narrowed, studying every line of Quinlanâs expression, but whatever conclusion he reached, he kept to himself. Slowly, he turned back to Alastair with disappointment weighing visibly in his stare.
âTell me, Duke Alastair,â Alexios spoke up again as his voice returned to that cold, unshakable regality, âdid you truly abandon your investigation simply because you, a warrior, found the rumors outlandish? Did you ever think to consult Queen Morgana? Or any other elemental mage of renowned skill, before making such a judgment?â
Alastairâs shoulders sagged before his head snapped toward Quinlanâs direction. Hate seeped through his visage, hate that told Quinlan he was being blamed right now. After all, his mere existence made Devilâs own existence more believable, which in turn made the duke look even more incompetent than before.
The king shook his head. âI was right to question your fitness for your station. A man who discards potential threats, or rather potential assets of immense value, based solely on his own disbelief, rather than seeking the opinions of his betters, is unfit to steward a duchy of the realm.â
The blade finally withdrew from Alastairâs throat. He staggered upright⌠Or he would have, had the king not moved again.
Alexiosâs features hardened, his stance shifting as his shoulders and arms swelled with muscle. He raised his sword high, letting the polished steel blaze with a radiant gold light that chased every shadow from the hall.
âBy my authority as King of Vraven,â Alexiosâs voice boomed, âI deem Alastair Thalion Greenvale unfit to rule.â
The duke stumbled back with his face paling to that of a ghost. âY-You canât- You have no right to-â
Alexios cut him off. âTradition demands, I allow your heir to inherit. But the blood of an incompetent father breeds the same weakness in his children. A man who fails in duty raises heirs who will fail in kind. That is the truth of rulership. Incompetence,â he stepped forward, closing the distance Alastair was trying to put between them, âbegets incompetence.â
His gaze swept the hall. âJust as the Fujimori clan was entrusted with Silverwind when their predecessor proved unworthy, the time has come once more.â
Alastairâs voice erupted into a scream, raw and desperate. âYou have no right! No right! This is my duchy, you hear me?! King Alexios!!â
The man in question didnât even spare him a glance. âThe Duchy of Greenvale will go to whichever noble house proves itself most worthy. Bring me the heads of the Consortiumâs leaders, and you will be rewarded in kind.â
âEach Consortium head⌠will be worth one thousand points.
Their lieutenants⌠two hundred and fifty.
Any other Veil Walker⌠ten.
Shadow Vanguards⌠one.â
Then, his smile curled upwards.
âAnd Devil⌠brought to me alive⌠will be worth two thousand.â