My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 138: Royal Liar

Chapter 138: Royal Liar

The transition from Crown Prince to King was difficult for a few advisors to accept. Some didn’t witness firsthand the carnage left behind after Stephano killed his father. Those who didn’t see his viciousness didn’t have the reality of their new king shoved into their faces so violently.

For those who didn’t bear witness, they took longer to consider Stephano III their true ruler. During meetings, some seemed to slight him or talk down to him more than they should someone who was meant to be their ruler.

Of course, it shouldn’t be so different when he escaped the capital for a month without so much as a word to the people he deemed unimportant.

When they discovered the hidden letter in his study after a couple of weeks, they brought an entourage to Montclair and were forced to stay in an inn while the festivities of the Spring Equinox Festival raged on for a week.

Twice King Stephano pushed forward his departure date, leaving his aides on edge as they desired their more privileged lives in the capital rather than an inn in one of the duchies.

By the time it truly was time to leave, those who were smart enough not to respond simply kept their mouths shut as they found the king and escorted him back to Coeruvalle. Even if they disagreed with his actions, they certainly couldn’t say anything to oppose him.

They made it to the capital over a week later considering the size of the group. It was hard to move quickly when wagons were involved and he was required to act like a king upon his arrival.

From the moment he went back to the palace, he was practically locked in his study while he delegated tasks and was updated about what he missed during that time.

However, it was noted that the kingdom wasn’t in a much worse state without him there. He had left with a lot of preparation and made many tasks self-sufficient, considering spring was an easy season for the capital.

Being young, many underestimated him, but quite a few advisors had to admit he was wise – perhaps wiser than Stephano II who left the palace in shambles each time he went out on a spontaneous excursion.

Within the first day of his return, Stephano sat at his oversized cherry wood desk. Its reddish brown wood shone under the daylight seeping through the windows. It was finely polished and carved by master craftsmen depicting vines and berries that the valley of Coeurvalle was known for.

The red-haired monarch heard a disruption in the hallway, but he ignored it knowing how well-guarded the palace was.

Considering the hostility of court life, he always had a sword within arms reach. If many subjects thought he was a brutal king, he would do what he could to suit that image.

The golden sword sat on a stand on the right side of his desk and his bare hand went to it as the disturbance in the hall made its way to his door.

Soon, the door opened, and he smelled smoke.

Quinn rushed into the study and slammed the door behind himself. There were black marks on his hand and he had certainly threatened someone with his offensive magic.

"Your guards are overly reactive, Your Highness," Quinn snapped. "You told me before you left that I would have your first audience but they insisted that you will be busy all day."

"The palace is run by old bastards," Stephano said, flicking his wrist toward the mage as if the situation was of no importance to him.

"Well, are you as busy as they say?" Quinn asked, glancing toward the pile of folders and papers on his desk.

He pulled circular glasses off of his face and pocketed them inside of his robes. He needed them when he read small text but since he was away from the mages area of the palace, there was no reason to continue.

Without being offered a seat, he sat down heavily at the chair across from Stephano.

"Tell me, please," Quinn requested. "How is her grace doing?"

Stephano’s light red eyebrow raised.

"You aren’t close enough to write her a letter?" he asked.

"And face the wrath of his grace?" Quinn asked, horrified. "I’m certain my letters to her weren’t private even when she was under the count’s care. I can imagine she’s living in more strict circumstances."

Stephano didn’t hold back when he laughed at Quinn’s words. His pale hand slapped the top of his desk.

"Tell me," Stephano said. "When you sent your familiar to check on her, did she seem mistreated?"

Quinn crossed his thin arms over his chest.

"She seemed..." Quinn bit the inside of his cheek. "Sad."

However, the disturbances weren’t over as the shrill cry of a hawk could be heard from the King’s balcony. It was a black bird with blue eyes.

Both of the men glanced at one another before Stephano rushed to the door.

"Who’s familiar–?" Quinn began.

"Leonor’s!" Stephano interrupted him.

Once the king opened the double door leading to the balcony, the bird jumped over his head and onto his desk.

As Eve turned from a hawk to a kitten, the letter dropped from her foot, and she bounded forward to Quinn, who was reaching out his hand.

"You’re awfully small right now," Quinn said. "Leonor wasn’t focused when she sent the letter."

The mage’s hands lit up with a silvery glow and Eve got a bit bigger. While Quinn’s mana wouldn’t last as long as her master’s she would at least last until she could be at Leonor’s side once again.

Eve licked Quinn’s fingers with her rough tongue and he held her close while he waited for Stephano to read what was in the letter.

The king sat down with a light sigh before unrolling the paper.

His relaxed demeanor quickly changed when he saw the words on the paper.

"You knew and you lied."

His hazel eyes went to Quinn and he was frozen for a few moments.

"What happened?" Quinn asked, still holding the familiar in his arm.

"I suppose I should explain it to you from the beginning..." Stephano began.

Before he could get another word out, Eve jumped back onto the king’s desk and hissed at him. She then leaped off of the desk and turned into a falcon so she could get back to Montclair as quickly as possible.

Leonor was mad at him, it turned out.