Chapter 191: Pulling the Weeds from the Garden

"Stay there, smile pretty, and let it be seen that you support everything the Master says," Aria cut her off, arranging her as if she were just another ornament. "That’s all."

Emilia opened her mouth to protest but before she could say anything, the sound of the antechamber doors opening echoed through the entire hall.

And the nobles began filing in.

There were around thirty elves.

All of them wore elegant clothing that made it clear they belonged to the kingdom’s upper class, and every single one of them, without exception, wore the same expression.

Indignation.

They hadn’t even taken ten steps into the hall when they began to protest, all at the same time.

"We demand an explanation for what happened yesterday!"

"Is everything said in that speech true?!"

"We will not allow a human to sit on that throne!" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"We want proof of this supposed coup!"

"Where are the council members?!"

"Your Majesty, explain yourself!"

The voices overlapped each other with no order whatsoever.

Each elf shouted their question or complaint without waiting for a response, unconcerned that everyone else was speaking at the same time, generating a noise that filled the entire hall.

Some pointed directly at Mark with their fingers as they advanced.

Others addressed Emilia, who was standing beside the throne with an expression trying to hold its composure but cracking with every insult thrown at her.

"It’s a disgrace that a human bearing the mark of death sets foot in this palace!"

"How dare you marry without consulting the council!"

"This is treason!"

Mark watched them from the throne without moving.

’They’re incredibly loud...’ he thought, feeling a vein start pulsing at his temple.

Mark let out a sigh.

"Alice," he said through the mental link. "Quiet them down."

"With great pleasure, my lord."

Alice stepped forward from her position beside the throne, descending two steps of the platform until she was above the group of nobles but close enough that everyone could see her clearly.

"SILENCE!"

Alice’s voice resonated through the entire hall with force and made several of the nearest nobles instinctively step back.

Alice surveyed them from the platform with a completely cold expression that showed not a trace of friendliness or patience.

"The next one who thinks to speak without the Master’s permission — I will tear out their tongue."

Everyone went quiet at once.

Nobody said anything.

Nobody moved.

Then Rose walked calmly until she was in front of the group of nobles, the scroll in one hand and the other behind her back.

"Much better," she said, looking at them with a half smile. "Now, to prevent this from turning into a circus again, only one of you will speak on behalf of everyone else."

The elves looked at each other in silence.

There were several seconds of exchanged glances, head gestures, discreet elbows, and murmurs that were barely audible.

Until finally one of them stepped forward, separating from the group.

His posture was rigid, his jaw was set, and his eyes looked directly at Mark with a contempt that made not the slightest effort to conceal itself.

"While there are many things the people demand to know," the elf began in a firm, controlled voice, "the first thing I want to convey on behalf of everyone present is our absolute discontent with the current situation."

Mark listened without changing his expression.

"What happened yesterday was a violation of all the traditions and laws that have governed this kingdom since its founding," the elf continued without looking away from Mark. "The council — an institution that had been functioning as a pillar of our government for decades — was eliminated overnight."

The elf made a calculated pause to let his words sink in.

"A human was proclaimed ruler without the consent of any of the noble houses," he continued. "And the queen made decisions affecting the entire kingdom without deigning to consult absolutely anyone."

The nobles behind him nodded with each sentence.

"Therefore," the elf said, pressing further, "we have decided to organize a referendum so that it is the people who choose between the royal house and a new council that represents the true interests of our people."

And after the elf’s words, the hall fell silent for a few seconds.

"All of you," Mark said calmly. "Do you agree with what he just said?"

The elves exchanged glances with each other as they assessed the situation.

Some nodded immediately with firmness, others needed a few seconds to decide, and a few opted to remain silent.

"Let’s make this simpler," Mark said, leaning back against the throne. "Those who think the same as he does, step forward."

The hall went quiet for a few seconds.

The white-haired elf didn’t move, but little by little the others began to step forward.

Then Mark raised a hand and snapped his fingers. The sound echoed through the entire throne room, and before anyone could react, Yuki had already moved.

Nobody saw her.

The only thing those present perceived was the result.

Because the twenty elves who a second before were standing in front of the throne simply stopped being so.

Because the twenty elves who a second before were in front of the throne fell dead instantly.

Some collapsed split in two, others crumpled into a shower of blood and flesh onto the floor.

The last to fall was the white-haired elf. His eyes were still open and the arrogance still remained on his face, as if he hadn’t even had time to understand he was dead.

Everything happened in under three seconds.

When it was over, Yuki was already standing among the bodies with both daggers dripping blood, and a heavy silence took hold of the hall.

The ten elves who had stayed behind stood completely still, their faces drained of color as they stared at the corpses in front of them.

"Does anyone else have any complaints?"

The ten remaining elves dropped to their knees one after another on the blood-soaked floor and lowered their heads, paying no attention to the stains soaking into their fine clothing.

"N-none..." one of them managed to say in a voice that was barely a thread.

"W-we are at your total and absolute disposal..." another added without daring to lift their gaze from the floor.

"W-whatever you command, Your Majesty..." said a third with a trembling in their voice they couldn’t control.

Mark watched them in silence from the throne for a few seconds, and a faint smile finally formed on his face.

"That’s what I like to hear," he said, settling into the seat. "Because as it turns out, I already have work for you..."