leonardwarren Chapter 612 The Day Before The Mission - Part 6
Chapter 612 The Day Before The Mission - Part 6
"You're not much older than I," Asabel said. "Though I appreciate your sweetness, and your evident concern for me, we cannot have you butting heads with Oliver every time you meet. You speak of youth and burdens, but he is the youngest of all three of us."
"He doesn't bear the weight of a fledgling Kingdom, though, my Lady," Lancelot said. "Strong though he may be – and I acknowledge such strength. I admit such a thing now, when I was unable to in the weeks before. Yes, it is unnatural to go as far as he has in matters of the sword at such a young age, but it is one thing to take lives and another thing to be responsible for them."
"I'd agree with Lancelot on this one, Princess," Oliver said with a faltering smile. "I can't say I envy your position. You'll be the ruler of thousands now, won't you?"
"Tens of thousands," Lancelot corrected. "And when she fully inherits, it will be hundreds of thousands."@@@@
"And I'm struggling with just a handful of retainers," Oliver said.
Asabel sighed. "From that expression on your face, Oliver, you seem to be truly insisting on blaming yourself. For a man that the student body views as a marauding man of murder, you've too much kindness to you."
To be called out so obviously was enough to make Oliver look away. It was never pleasant to be seen through so easily.
"Nonetheless," Asabel said, "talk of friendship, it would mean much to me if you would consider it. I believe in what Oliver Patrick can bring to the Stormfront, just as Minister Hod does. I made my decision based on that. I determined that to have Oliver Patrick as an ally was worth more than three years extra spent on preparation."
"You intend to go for the High Crown, then?" Verdant pressed. "I had thought you seemed more ambitious than you let on. What are your intentions with it?"
As they spoke their noble euphemisms, it was all Oliver could do to keep up at times. He thought he understood most of it, but the second the High Crown was mentioned, he felt his eyebrow twitch in surprise.
"That is my intention," Asabel said firmly, noticing that Oliver was having difficulty following along. Even though it was Verdant that asked, it was Oliver that she said it to. "With the death of my Uncle Arthur, the cycle of succession has passed the Pendragons. I intend to change that."
"With war?" Oliver asked. He saw Lancelot stiffen.
"I do not intend for war," Asabel said. "As I've mentioned before, I am not fond of it. But I know in my heart that Arthur Pendragon was meant to be High King. If not for certain... factors... he would have been. I intend to change that course of history. I cannot bring him back from the dead, but I can ensure that his ideals reach the throne."
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"Ah, yes," Oliver said, recalling something that Dominus had said. "The High King sent Arthur to kill the Pandora Goblin, didn't he?"
"You knew?" Asabel asked, gasping. "The failure of the Pandora conquest was ordered a state secret – it was to be unmentionable. To bring it up now is treason in itself. Your father... Of course, of course, your father would have told you..."
"I've always wondered, Patrick, how did your father manage to survive that battle with Pandora Goblin?" Lancelot asked. News of how Dominus had died – Oliver knew – had not extended too far. Few knew just how poor a condition he'd been when he fought the Fragment of Ingolsol. Fewer still knew that it was Pandora Poison that had caused it.