Gospel of Blood

“None of them came?”

Upon hearing the reply from Marquis Howard, Count Stafford’s eyebrows furrowed immediately.

He was about to press for more information, but a glance at Charlotte, who was behind him receiving the homage from numerous nobles and engaging in friendly conversation with Bishop Campbell of the Holy Court, made him hold back his questions.

In a low voice, he said,

“Marquis, let’s set aside their matters for now. The Red Palace should be ready, right? Her Majesty is weary from the journey. We should first escort her to the Red Palace to rest.”

However, this time both Marquis Howard and Count Greenville-Roman hesitated.

“What is it now? Marquis, Count, is there a problem with the Red Palace as well?”

Seeing their conflicted expressions, Count Stafford couldn’t help but ask.

Marquis Howard nodded and said,

“Chairman, the Red Palace… might not be suitable for habitation at the moment. However, we have prepared the royal manor on the outskirts of Starfall, which was originally a royal retreat with beautiful scenery. It can serve as a temporary residence for Her Majesty.”

“The royal palace? Marquis, are you serious? How long has that place been abandoned? Her Majesty comes to Starfall and you suggest she stays in a run-down retreat instead of the royal palace?”

Count Stafford was genuinely angry this time.

Seeing him nearly ready to explode, Count Greenville-Roman stepped forward and sighed.

“Chairman, this isn’t Marquis Howard’s fault. As the steward, he has done his best. It’s the knight order that isn’t cooperating… Commander Camden refused to relinquish control of the Red Palace’s defenses. He believes that since the throne is still vacant, it’s inappropriate for the yet-to-be-crowned queen to reside there.”

“You know… those young nobles of the knight order have always been at odds with the court nobles. With their significant extraordinary powers, marquis Howard can’t manage them either…”

Hearing this, Count Stafford couldn’t contain his anger.

“Refusing to relinquish control of the Red Palace’s defenses? How dare they! Her Majesty is the legitimate heir designated by the late king! Didn’t they already agree to the parliament’s proposal, supporting Queen Charlotte?”

Count Stafford’s expression was furious, and his voice unintentionally raised.

Behind him, Charlotte, with her heightened senses as a bloodborne, had already overheard their whispered conversation clearly.

She raised her eyebrows slightly.

Indeed, the succession of the throne couldn’t be smooth.

See? Just after receiving the homage of the loyalist nobles, here come the troublemakers.

But…

“Duke West and the Knight Order?”

Charlotte repeated, raising her eyebrows.

Hearing Charlotte’s voice, marquis Howard stepped forward hastily and said,

“Your Majesty, we apologize… but rest assured, we have prepared the royal retreat, which is absolutely suitable as a temporary residence. We are also continuing to negotiate with the knight order and will resolve the issue as soon as possible…”

Charlotte made no comment on Howard’s response.

She glanced at Yurst beside her and asked an obscure question that left the nobles puzzled.

“That matter… were they the masterminds?”

Yurst stepped forward and replied in a low voice.

“Yes, Your Majesty, it was them.”

That matter?

What matter?

The Starfall nobles were all baffled.

Meanwhile, Count Stafford seemed to understand something, and his expression changed instantly.

He stared at Yurst with a mix of astonishment and disbelief.

“Count, are you saying…”

He was about to question further but seeing Charlotte’s signaling look, he forcibly held back his words.

Even so, he couldn’t help but ask.

“Count, are you certain?”

“Of course, I have ample evidence.”

Yurst replied.

Count Stafford’s eyes widened in shock.

His expression turned complicated as he murmured.

“Them? It’s them? How can it be them? When did they fall so low?”

Listening to Stafford and Yurst’s cryptic conversation, the Starfall nobles were at a loss.

Only Charlotte understood their dialogue.

After the Sea Behemoth Kraken attack, Charlotte had ordered Yurst to investigate the “suspects.”

The results of the interrogation pointed directly to Duke West, the Military Advisor of Starfall Kingdom, and the Kingdom’s Knight Order.

Of course, this matter was not yet suitable for broad exposure, at least not until Charlotte had settled accounts with them.

She was worried that the plotters might flee if their scheme was exposed prematurely.

However, from the current situation, the likelihood of that seemed small.

The fact that they could openly defy her, controlling the Starfall Kingdom Red Palace with the Knight Order and preventing her entry, showed they were quite confident.

No…

Perhaps they didn’t expect her to arrive in Starfall so smoothly.

Well then.

Although she had just set foot on Starfall soil, as a queen from overseas, Charlotte felt she needed to establish her authority quickly in this unfamiliar kingdom.

Otherwise, many nobles might indeed treat her as a child to be trifled with.

Having experienced such inheritance disputes once before, Charlotte could easily foresee this.

With this in mind, Charlotte narrowed her eyes and suddenly smiled.

She looked at Marquis Howard and said with a smile.

“Marquis, thank you for your efforts. But… let’s proceed to the royal palace.”

“I may not be crowned yet, but as far as I know, the Starfall Red Palace is not only the royal palace but also a property of the Roman family.”

As she spoke, Charlotte touched the Roman Sword at her waist and said calmly.

“I am the legitimate heir designated by the late King Edward, and also the chosen wielder of the Roman Sword. As the master of the Roman Sword… I would like to see who dares to prevent the future ruler and prospective head of the Roman family from entering her family’s property.”

With that, Charlotte turned to Count Stafford and said,

“Count… no, Chairman, shall we proceed?”

Seeing Charlotte’s unflinching demeanor, Count Stafford hesitated.

Recalling the sight of this young queen driving away the Behemoth Kraken in the ocean, an inexplicable sense of anticipation welled up within him.

Taking a deep breath, he said solemnly.

“Her Majesty is right. Even if she is not yet crowned, the Red Palace is still a property of the Roman family. There is no issue with Her Majesty residing there.”

“Her Majesty has the Roman family’s recognition. She is the prospective head of the Roman family!”

“If anyone dares to obstruct Her Majesty, it is an affront to the Starfall royal family!”

With that, Count Stafford looked at Marquis Howard and said sternly.

“Marquis, did you hear Her Majesty’s words? Escort our queen, back to the palace!”