[AFYC] Chapter 43

“When you were eagerly exchanging messages with the Marquis of Reinhardt, and now you demand that I send a letter of protest to the King of Luxen? What exactly did the Marquis do to offend you?”

“That scoundrel poured alcohol down my throat!” 

The king scoffed. It was so absurd that he shook his head in disbelief as the Duke continued his tirade. 

“This is not just a matter of rudeness; it should be considered an attempted assassination of the Felphe royal family! And, exchanging messages eagerly, Your Majesty?” 

When Duke Baden questioned with wide eyes, the king could no longer hold back his anger and snapped at him. 

“Can you honestly say that Reinhardt did not influence you to become the bank’s president?” 

Why else would he have placed such a fool in such a critical position as the head of the Felphe Bank? It was only possible because the Felphe Assembly had approved it, and Oscar von Reinhardt made that possible. The king could bet his crown on it. 

In other words, Oscar, a noble from Luxen, had overridden the king’s will to place Duke Baden in charge of the Felphe Bank. 

And now this fool realises that Reinhardt disregards the King of Felphe? The king clicked his tongue at the Duke’s foolishness. 

“Shall I tell you why you ended up in this situation?” the king leaned forward; his voice laced with scorn. 

“It’s because you foolishly tried to play both sides. When I didn’t make you the bank’s president, you turned to Reinhardt, thinking you could get what you wanted without paying the price. Am I wrong?” 

Duke Baden’s face turned beet red. His neck bulged with veins, and his eyes flared with anger, much like his mother’s. 

“Tell me, what price did he ask you to pay?” 

“Your Majesty, what are you insinuating? What price?” 

No matter how aggrieved he felt, he couldn’t openly admit to the secret verbal contract between him and Oscar. If he did, the king would pounce on the opportunity to denounce him as a criminal. 

“Becoming president was purely the result of my efforts!” 

“Baden!” 

The rift between the half-brothers had grown as wide as a glacial chasm. 

Just then, the tightly shut doors of the audience chamber opened, and a servant cautiously entered, glancing around nervously. The king, noticing him, gave a slight nod for the servant to speak. 

“Your Majesty, the Marquis of Reinhardt from Luxen has arrived.” 

While Duke Baden nearly jumped out of his skin at the announcement, the king calmly put on his glasses, which he had earlier removed. He checked the time on his watch and gestured for the servant to allow the visitor to enter. 

The servant bowed deeply to the king before stepping forward to push open the heavy doors himself. 

The measured footsteps echoed through the hall before the Marquis came into view. His deliberate, confident stride, followed by a composed appearance, made it seem like he was the star of some grand entrance despite having stretched the nerves of the King of Felphe and Duke Baden to the breaking point. 

As the king watched Oscar von Reinhardt’s relaxed steps, smile, and gaze, he thought, -Even his curly black hair is bait. It makes this scheming thirty-year-old man, who harbours unknown ambitions, appear as playful as someone in their twenties. This façade disarms others, making them vulnerable to his manipulations, allowing him to get exactly what he wants. 

This man had resurrected his family’s fortunes with his own power and amassed enough wealth and influence that even a king could not easily dismiss him. 

As Oscar approached the dais, he bowed deeply and greeted, “I am at Your Majesty’s service.” 

Duke Baden, who had been glaring at him with murderous intent, flared up. 

“Marquis Reinhardt! How dare you show such disrespect by being late? Do you think the Felphe royal family is a joke?” 

Oscar looked from the king to the Duke and then back to the king. He shed his earlier smile and adopted the behaviour of a disciplined soldier, clasping his hands behind his back and bowing his head. 

“I received the unexpected summons and came as quickly as possible, yet I was still late. I humbly ask for Your Majesty’s understanding.”