Supreme Magus novel Chapter 2383

"Silence!" The King hadn't even yelled, yet his voice carried such an authority that the Grand Duchess took a step back and stopped talking as if he had slapped her. "I allow the Blood Judgment. "House Verhen has hereby challenged Houses Lamonia, Turhat, and Cranst.

Lith was amazed as well. According to the customs, he could only challenge the Grand Duchess since the other two nobles had said too little to be held accountable for defamation. Yet Meron's judgment superseded customs.

He was not only a witness of the events but also the King and he had ruled the Duchess and the Marquees guilty by association.

"Each one of you should pick their respective champion but since this is a Gala and I don't want to waste time, I allow the three Households to pool their resources and determine their fate in a single fight if they agree." Meron said.

"All three of us?" Duchess Turhat felt fear gripping her heart and wallet. "But I said just a few words and didn't even talk with Baroness Verhen. I merely stated my opinion. Isn't there freedom of speech in the Kingdom?"

"Freedom of speech, yes, dear Duchess. Slander, however, is a crime and what little you said qualifies aplenty." The King towered over the smaller woman, exuding an aura that made every rumor about his poor health seem hot air.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, this Gala is meant to celebrate the renewed peace. Is it really necessary to dirt these halls with blood on such an occasion?" The Grand Duchess said.

"This is indeed an extraordinary day. The King's order has been defied not once, but thrice. Inside my home. In front of my Court." Meron's laugh was dry of humor and joy, sending a cold shiver down everyone's spine.

His fury was palpable whereas his mercy seemed to have taken the day off.

"You should have thought about peace before running your mouth, Grand Duchess Cranst." Meron lowered his voice to growl while also keeping it perfectly audible. "You dirtied these halls with your allegations against a hero of the Kingdom.

"Even if Supreme Magus Verhen hadn't destroyed the Golden Griffon, which he did, I wouldn't let your insults pass anyway. We won this war only thanks to our allies in the Council and those among the plant and the beast folk, yet here you are, sowing discord.

"I had enough of people mocking and hazing Headmaster Marth's wife and child." Meron slammed a thick pile of documents that came out of his dimensional amulet.

Ryssa did more than return in kind everything she suffered, she also submitted a formal complaint detailed with words, actions, and the names of the witnesses to the hazing every time.

"I'm sick and tired of hearing reports about the treatment that Duchess Vastor and Professor Vastor's stepchildren have to endure." Another pile of documents appeared. "You lot don't like commoners, despise plant folk, and would put a leash on beasts.

"Yet when your homeland was in danger, when your Queen put her life on the line, you deserted us whereas they stood by our side. How dare you talk about peace when you did nothing to build it and even now work to destroy it?

"How dare you offend the heroes of this country in front of my Court? Be thankful that Supreme Magus Verhen called the Blood Judgment first because I was about to do the same and the Queen would have been my champion." The King pointed at Sylpha who smiled with the grace of a maiden and the savagery of a predator.

The Queen caressed the hilt of the Saefel Sword, making the elemental crystals on the hilt hum with power in answer to her touch. Those on the blade shone so brightly that their light was visible even through the thick scabbard.

"You can pick me as your champion as well, Supreme Magus Verhen."

At those words, the three nobles shuddered in horror.