The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1428: She’s not Going to Like It

Soon after, Lucas coordinated with Fargo and the others to send Agent Noxcra to further investigate what had happened at Rockfield. Afterwards, he convened a meeting in the privy chambers with Lydia, Maddeline, Jack, Garrof, Lloyd, Gavin, and Samuel Albrecht to discuss their mission—to persuade the healers from the S.A.I.N.T. organization to defect.

Clad in his royal garb, Lucas sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding and charismatic despite the lingering pallor on his face. Yet the immense pressure radiating from him was undeniable, filling the room with a heavy, almost suffocating atmosphere.

For Samuel, meeting the King of Harland face to face for the first time was an awakening. Now he understood why Theodore Nevaro feared this man so deeply.

Though Lucas was much younger, his poise and charisma far exceeded his years. Meanwhile, Maddeline, Lydia, and the others sat tensely, their nerves taut as they struggled to steady their breathing under the weight of his presence.

Lucas, much like Lory, was scarcely aware of the effect their presence had on those around them—perhaps because Fredhardt and the others treated them with the easy familiarity of siblings, while their fathers and uncles, though doting, had never spoiled them. Especially Lucas, who had long been groomed with the weighty expectation of becoming the next King.

Even now, his focus was fixed entirely on the matter at hand. Wasting no time on pleasantries, he went straight to the point.

"Thank you in advance for your cooperation," he began, his tone calm yet carrying the weight of authority. "I understand this mission will be extremely dangerous and risky. Therefore, I’ll ensure you have access to any resources you require. If there’s anything specific you need, don’t hesitate to ask one of my subordinates—they will assist you."

Clift then stepped forward, his voice steady and reassuring. "We’ve already prepared several safe houses in Dolza in case the situation turns volatile. Our Noxcra agents are also embedded on the premises and will contact you upon arrival. I’ll personally act as your handler for this mission, so rest assured—just follow my directions. I promise I’ll keep you safe during the mission."

Hearing this, Maddeline and Lydia felt a wave of relief wash over them. Though they had already been briefed about receiving support from the Archknights, hearing these words directly in the King’s presence made the reassurance feel all the more solid.

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty. We will not fail you," Maddeline said firmly.

Lucas gave a faint nod. "I’m not worried, since my sister trusts you. But I still feel compelled to give you a reminder." His gaze sharpened, and his tone grew measured. "Understand this—many of the healers within the organization are fanatics. Some are utterly devoted to its ideology, others perhaps to the Saintess herself. You must tread carefully. Be cautious about whom you approach; don’t act too hastily, and reveal nothing until you’re certain you can trust them."

His eyes darkened, and his voice sank into a solemn weight. "And remember this... You cannot save everyone."

Maddeline’s expression tightened, while Lydia’s face was shadowed by a sad, conflicted look. No one understood Lucas’s words better than she did. Once, she too had believed wholeheartedly in the organization’s ideology and had it not been for the events of these past few months, she might blindly believe whatever the organization said.

A moment of heavy silence passed before both women spoke in unison. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Maddeline said firmly, "I understand, Your majesty."

Lydia followed, her voice soft yet resolute. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Satisfied, Lucas turned to Samuel, his tone shifting slightly. "About this device called MADD..." His expression grew heavy. "I need to know exactly what it’s capable of. Knowing Nevaro’s character, it’s unlikely to be as simple as blocking mana; there must be something else. Also, find out if they’ve secured a replacement for Ethan Hamilton. It’s impossible they’d stake all their hopes on him alone. They must have a contingency plan, and I need to know what it is."

Samuel nodded. "Got it."

"Good." Lucas adjusted his posture, leaning back slightly as his demeanor softened. His gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on each of them before a faint smile curved his lips.

"The truth is... I gathered you here not only for the mission but because I wanted to meet the people who’ve stood by my sister and brother-in-law. Now that I see all of you, I want to say—thank you. Thank you for supporting her all this time when I’m not around."

The room fell silent for a moment, his words catching them off guard. None of them had expected the King of Harland to thank them personally. Garrof, Jack, and Lloyd suddenly found themselves flustered.

Garrof raised his hands, shaking his head. "Honestly, it was Princess Lorient who helped us. She even saved the life of my youngest team member... For that, I could never thank her enough."

"That’s true," Lloyd added. "Her Highness has done so much for us. Helping her is only natural."

The others nodded in agreement, their expressions softening with shared respect and gratitude.

Lucas looked at them and let out a soft chuckle. "Regardless... thank you." His expression was calm and unguarded, carrying a sincerity that left no room for doubt or hidden motive.

It was then they began to understand why the people of Harland held such unshakable loyalty to their King and the Lucient family. because, in that brief moment, something stirred deep within their hearts—an unspoken urge to be close with him, and serve this man with all they had.

After everyone leave, Lucas walked alongside Fredhardt, discussing the previous matters as they made their way toward the King’s study room. In time, Lucas shifted the conversation about Hugo Hamilton.

The reason Lucas refrained from summoning Hugo and Edmund was because he had other plans for them. He had learned of Hugo’s discreet efforts to sway influential figures within his circle, encouraging them to resist Luxemborough and the S.A.I.N.T. organization.

Lucas believed he could leverage this influence to serve his own purposes."I heard he’s holding an art exhibition to gather influential people from all over the world," Lucas said.

"He is," Fredhardt replied. "Argus has been monitoring the movements of the rich and powerful, subtly pressuring them to cooperate. Those who showed even slight opposition to Luxemborough were eliminated, like the Levingstons and the Savalli family. Truthfully, the Hamiltons almost suffered the same fate if Lory hadn’t intervened and saved them. So, to avoid alerting the enemy, Hugo’s using the exhibition as a cover, a chance to meet with his allies, exchange information, and strategize."

Hearing this, Lucas’s eyes narrowed slightly in thought. The situation had turned out better than he expected. If their actions were driven not merely by profit but by personal grievances, their loyalties could be anchored far more deeply. Persuading them to align with his plans would likely demand far less effort than he had anticipated.

"Then why don’t we take it a step further?" Lucas suggested, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Let’s support the Hamilton family by having the exhibition held at Harland’s National Art Gallery."

The Harland National Art Gallery was a place where only a select few artists were granted the privilege of holding an exhibition, and even fewer paintings earned the honor of being displayed within its halls. Unlike most galleries, the Harland was not established to chase fortune or fame; it existed purely for the sake of art. Any artist wishing to see their work hung there had to first prove their worth and demonstrate exceptional capability.

Furthermore, after the war ended, no new artists were granted the right to hold exhibitions there.

"Oh? You want to go all out?" Fredhardt smirked.

"I do," Lucas said smoothly, his voice calm yet edged with intent. "I want to rally more influential families, turn them to our side, and have them stand in opposition to Luxemborough and the S.A.I.N.T. organization. It’s time we make the world turn its eyes back to Harland."

"That’s a bold move. But you know this will definitely alert the enemy," Fredhardt warned.

Lucas shrugged indifferently. "So? I’m here now... and so is Lory. We’re done playing defense." He knew everyone had held themselves because they worried about him, but now the situation had changed.

Fredhardt let out a short laugh. "Fair enough. So, what’s your plan once we’ve gathered all these rich and powerful people in our country?"

"Offer them a guarantee of safety—not just for themselves, but for their families as well. Then extend our full support to their business in Harland. In return..." Lucas’s gaze sharpened, his tone laced with quiet resolve. "They must channel their investments into Harland. And more importantly..." His voice hardened. "They must stand in open opposition to the Saintess and the S.A.I.N.T. organization."

Fredhardt’s brows arched, a wry note threading his voice. "The Saintess, hm? She’s been amassing quite a tide of sympathy recently...We’ll need a carefully wrought plan to undermine her influence—otherwise, they would face a severe backlash from the public."

Lucas sigh, he knew this is a bit tricky, "I know... got any ideas?"

"Well..." Fredhardt’s eyes gleamed with inspiration. "Since people are so fond of comparing her to Lory, why don’t we make that competition official? We could reveal to the world all that Lory has done, before and after the war. The countless people she’s helped, the sacrifices she’s made since childhood... We could turn it into a documentary as a commemoration of her legacy."

He spread his hands dramatically, a grin tugging at his lips. "I’ve already thought of the title: In the Memory of Our Beloved Princess Lorient."

"Nice. It’ll be even more impactful if she makes a dramatic appearance before the public," Lucas said with a thoughtful nod. "It would be like... a miraculous moment."

"I know, right? For the TV show, we can use never-before-seen footage from her childhood, when she do Poko - Poko dance and then—"

"Do we still have it?" Lucas’s brow furrowed.

"I have it!" Fredhardt replied proudly without thingking.

"..." Lucas’s expression darkened. "Does it include footage of me as well?"

"..." Fredhardt hesitated briefly before continuing, choosing to ignore the question. "We’ll also do interviews with people she’s saved and gather testimonies from those who knew her personally. People already adore Lory and are endlessly curious about her life. This could be huge." His mind was already racing with ideas, his excitement palpable.

Lucas let out a quiet sigh. "Yeah... for some reason, people have always been fascinated by the private lives of the Lucient family. And you lot have always done such a fine job keeping those annoying paparazzi at bay—"

But then Lucas gaze slid to Fredhardt with a sharp edge of sarcasm "—though it seems we already have our own annoying paparazzi right here."

"..." Fredhardt feigned ignorance, raising his brows in mock innocence before brushing it off. "This could end up being the biggest thing to happen this year." he profoundly said.

But as quickly as his excitement flared, it dimmed the next second. A flicker of seriousness passed over his face. "But, there’s just one problem..."

Lucas massaged his forehead, the beginnings of a headache creeping in. "Lory."

"Uh-huh." Fredhardt nodded grimly. "It’s not going to be easy to get her permission..."

They walked on in thoughtful silence, Fredhardt’s brow furrowed in deep contemplation. But as they approached the doors to the King’s study, his eyes suddenly lit up with inspiration. He clapped his hands together, a sly smile curling across his lips.

"Wait aminute... I think I’ve just thought of an excellent plan."

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