Chapter 25: The Ruthless and Decisive Nolan (2)

Chapter 25 - The Ruthless and Decisive Nolan (2)On the Dukes' stage, Duke Valcrest couldn't hide his smile as he watched the scene unfold. "Tsk! I didn't expect Prince Nolan to be this shrewd," he said with a quiet chuckle. Seated beside him, Duke Ashvale grinned, clearly amused. "You're right, Duke Valcrest. I never imagined Prince Nolan would use the law so cleverly to corner Prince Zarak," he replied in a playful tone. "Looks like Prince Zarak will be the one taking the fall." Although the other two—Duke Austin and Duke Malvain—remained silent, the subtle changes in their expressions showed they quietly agreed. Zarak froze, dumbfounded by Nolan's defense, his chubby face draining of color as if all the blood had vanished. "You... You're just making things up!" He shouted, jabbing a trembling finger at Nolan. "Whether it's nonsense or not, Father will be the one to decide," Nolan replied coolly, a faint chuckle slipping from his lips. Zarak stiffened. He turned toward Ragan, whose expression had grown dark and unreadable. A wave of dread surged through him, making his body quiver. "Father..." he began, hoping for help—but the Emperor's cold stare silenced him. The sharpness in Ragan's gaze made him swallow his words. Ragan then turned his attention to Nolan, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So, what do you intend to do, Nolan?" He asked in a calm but weighty voice. To be honest, Ragan hadn't expected Nolan to use that rule as a defense. Although irritated, he couldn't deny that Nolan was right. Zarak's remarks toward Nolan and Elina's mother—an Imperial concubine—had been outright insults. With the common people and the heads of noble families watching, denial was no longer an option. If he chose to side with Zarak, his reputation as Emperor would suffer, and public trust in him would crumble. Yet despite the tension, Nolan remained calm, offering only a casual smile in response. "Don't worry, Father. Since Fourth Brother is still my brother, I wouldn't ask you to imprison him, would I?" Beneath his light tone was a sharp undercurrent of mockery, enough to make Zarak tremble with rage. But aware of his precarious position, Zarak didn't dare act recklessly. Watching his father and the reactions of his other siblings, he realized he'd made a serious misstep. If he lashed out now, he'd only further disgrace himself—and risk destroying his chances in the fight for the throne. Ragan let out a quiet sigh. "Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what you want." Nolan glanced at Zarak with a sly smile and said, "I demand a fine of one million Sharn for Fourth Brother insulting my mother and five million Sharn for a twenty-year prison sentence. That totals six million Sharn. What do you think? And just to be clear—I'm not asking for the money from the palace treasury but from Fourth Brother's mother's side." "After all, the palace treasury is part of our family. Taking from it would be like stealing from my own blood. I wouldn't do that—my ancestors would surely punish me in the afterlife." "Six million Sharn? Hiss!" One commoner hissed in shock when he heard the amount Nolan demanded. The average citizen in the capital earned just a hundred Sharn per month. Even the highest incomes ranged only from five hundred to a thousand Sharn—and that was before taxes and other deductions. So six million Sharn sounded impossibly huge. It wasn't just that man who was stunned—everyone in the square fell silent. "Six million Sharn!? That's insane! Prince Nolan is so cruel!" "Exactly! With that money, I could buy three mansions on the west side of the Imperial capital!" "I've never even seen that much money. It would take hundreds of years of hard work to earn it, wouldn't it?" Exclamations rang out from the crowd. On one hand, they were shocked by the staggering sum Nolan demanded; on the other, they couldn't help but admire his boldness. Asking for six million Sharn in compensation—and doing it openly before the Emperor—was something almost no one else would dare. But Nolan? Only Nolan could pull it off. "Six million Sharn?" Aldric stared at Nolan in disbelief. "How dare he ask for that much?" Despite being a prince, Aldric didn't have that kind of money himself. He could have asked his mother's family, the Duke of Malvain, but even for them, the sum was staggering. Adalen, Cedric, and Cassian were equally stunned by Nolan's demand. They exchanged wary glances, their eyes filled with caution. This man is crazy and unpredictable. "Damn! Six million Sharn? Nolan, are you trying to rob me?!" Zarak finally lost control, shouting in a furious outburst. The sum was staggering—there was no way he could possibly pay it. Had he begged his mother or grandfather to cover the cost, the price of that favor would have been punishment he couldn't escape. Nolan simply smiled quietly at Zarak's reaction, fueling his rage even more. He turned to Ragan and pleaded, "Father, look at Nolan! He's demanding six million Sharn from me. How could I possibly afford that? Please, help me!" His voice trembled with desperation and fear. Without his father's help, he knew he would bleed dry today. Ragan took a deep breath and met Nolan's calm gaze. "So, you really want to do this, Nolan? Don't you feel any pity for your brother?" Nolan kept smiling, refusing to look away. "Father, didn't you always teach us to be ruthless to our enemies?" he said lightly. "The battle for the throne has begun, and we are all enemies now. Isn't this exactly what you taught us? Or... were those lessons just empty words?" His words struck Ragan silent. He had been the one to instill that harsh principle in his sons—but never imagined this brat would use it against him. This brat... never stops causing me trouble. He rubbed his temples, overwhelmed with helplessness. What sins had he committed to be burdened with such a son? Could these be the prayers of those he had killed in the past? It sounded absurd, but... not impossible. Shaking off the thought, Ragan turned to the trembling Zarak and shook his head. "Zarak, I sentence you to pay six million Sharn to Nolan. I will issue the Emperor's order to your grandfather." The words hit Zarak like a lightning strike. His round face drained of color, his body shaking uncontrollably. "Father... you can't be this cruel! I can't pay it!" He whimpered, shaking his head in despair. Sadly, Ragan remained unmoved, his face cold and unyielding. "This is my order. Even your grandfather's Trading House of Red Obsidian can't overturn it," he said without a trace of sympathy. "You brought this on yourself with your own words. Next time, think before you speak." Zarak stood frozen, his eyes blank. It's over... I'm finished... He knew resisting his father was useless. Too many witnesses had heard him speak. Reluctantly, he had to accept this cruel fate. But the hatred and anger inside him didn't fade—it only burned hotter. He shot Nolan a cold, venomous glare, but Nolan met it with a carefree, mocking smile. Damn you, Nolan! Don't blame me if I become ruthless in this battle for the throne! He snarled silently, his eyes glowing red with fury. Then suddenly... Roaarrr!