Yuval was escorted up to the royal balcony where he got a perfect view of the courtyard from above.
Multiple people stood gathered in neat lines.
To one side were people clad in the same formal clothings, the knights. To the other were gathered the maids and palace workers.
Yuval gazed at them from the balcony, while they gazed up at him from below, awaiting whatever announcement he had for them.
However, Yuval simply stood in silence, watching and carefully observing their faces. His eyes were scrutinizing them.
In Yuval's presence, they stood rigid like dolls who didn't dare move much. Stiff like statues.
After a while of Yuval simply gazing at them in silence, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Ugh~! I thought by having them all in my presence, I could detect the spies from my loyal servants since I'm so good at reading people. But here, they're all so stiff that it's hard to fetch out those who harbor killing intents for me.
Sigh! Guess I have no option than to ask directly.
Turning to one of the guards behind him, he commanded.
"Take me to the dungeon. I'll like to meet with the maid who wanted to claim my life this morning."
The guard bowed, and started to lead the way.
Wordlessly, Yuval turned and left the balcony, leaving behind the people gathered outside without any instruction or word, nothing.
The hot sun had started to rise. And with no word from their king who asked them to gather up, they couldn't leave. They had to stay waiting under the sun.
Fully aware of this, only a knowing smirk graced Yuval's lips.
This will spread more wickedness in my name. That way, no one will ever guess the real Yuval is no more.
'He left his people standing for hours under the scorching sun', yeah, it has a nice ring to it, haha, he chuckled softly to himself as he followed the guard.
He was led deeper into the palace, lower where the luxurious ornaments faded. Yuval followed the guard down a spiral staircase that led to the underground dungeons steeped in low lighting.
There were wooden torches strapped over the walls, and a line of cells. In different cells were people, men and women, looking gaunt with rags as clothes.
For some reason, he thought he'd only meet the girl down here, and was surprised there were a lot more people imprisoned.
"What were their crimes?" He asked the guard who escorted him there.
The guard glanced at Yuval, a flicker of confusion evident in his face before he responded.
"They infiltrated the palace and attempted to kill you, my Lord."
That look, he must be a bit confused that I asked since the real Yuval would've known.
Also, should I thank my stars that the imprisoned are ones who attempted to claim his life and not innocent people that he threw here just because he felt like it? Haa!
"Alright, bring me to the girl."
Yuval was escorted to the girl's cell where she laid on the pile of hay flooring the dungeon. Sighting Yuval, she immediately rose to her feet.
Yuval demanded the cell be opened and it was. He walked in and sat down on a chair that was dragged into the cell specifically for him.
"Will you kneel or do you expect me to strain my neck?" He asked, sitting with his legs crossed.
The girl immediately dropped to the ground, bowing with her face close to the ground.
"You know….I've been thinking," Yuval started. "Whether to kill you or let you rot in here like the others."
The girl's shoulder rose and fell, her breaths coming out as little pants, shallow and ragged. She couldn't begin to imagine what fate awaited her.
"But then I came to a better conclusion," he continued. "Want to know what that is?" He leaned into the girl, his face almost burying into the crook of her neck.
The girl flinched, shuddering at how close he was.
"To spare you if you confess honestly to every question I ask," Yuval grinned, drawing back in his chair.
With a commanding hand gesture, Yuval asked the guard to come in.
"Draw your sword," he commanded. "Decapitate her the moment she lies or hesitates to answer my question."
The girl's breath caught in her throat, her body trembling vigorously with eyes spread wide in horror.
"First," Yuval started, straightening up in his chair. "What gave you the audacity to boldly infiltrate my palace and pull that trick?"
The girl's heart pounded, her lips parting immediately to respond.
"S-si-since you're known to not pay much attention t-to people who come for your life and only have them thrown into the dungeon…. I was promised escape whether or not I… I succeeded," she answered, eyes glued to the floor.
Hmmm. So Yuval ever just sends them to the dungeon and never cares much. Foolish indeed.
Yuval's lips parted, but before he could utter the next question, a screen appeared before him.
[Prohibited from asking about the mastermind behind the attempted assassination…]
[Disobedience will lead to instant death penalty and continuous death till death count runs out…]
The fuck? So I have to find out the masterminds myself? Seriously? When I'm new here?
Yuval let out a loud sigh, calming his nerves that were starting to heat up.
"I will not ask who sent you," he continued calmly. "But do tell me. Aside from you, who are the others?"
The girl's breath hitched, her head snapping up to glance briefly at Yuval before dipping again.
"T-they… they—"
"You know what? Come point them out." Yuval rose from his chair. "That is if you want to keep living, of course."
Yuval gestured to the guard to take the girl with them and they started heading out.
They must've grown a bit tired and sweaty under the sun by now, he thought to himself as they returned to the balcony.
He asked the guard to take the girl down to the courtyard where everyone gathered in a line, and asked her to point out all her accomplices.
The guard walked the girl around everyone gathered, and she nervously pointed everyone included.
"My Lord, she's blatantly lying! I have no idea what she's talking about," a woman cried out as they were being dragged aside to be separated from the innocent.
"Yes, your Majesty. I'm innocent!" A man cried out.
Yuval's gaze turned cold from above, a dark cloud blooming around him as he stared the woman down with disdain and irritation.
"Is that so?" He asked, his tone cold and heavy with authority. "I haven't even announced the reason for which she's pointing out all of you, nor have I revealed her crimes, yet you're already defending yourselves."
Everywhere turned silent instantly, their gazes dropping to the ground.
"Against what crimes exactly are you innocent?" He asked, but the silence from them was deafening.
After the guards finished gathering up the accomplices, one among them looked up and asked.
"What shall we do with them, my Lord?"
Yuval's cold gaze squinted, a thrill of excitement flashing in his eyes.
"What do you mean what?" he asked, turning sideways.
With his head tilted up slightly, his gaze staring down with authority, he commanded. "Slaughter them all."