Arthur's POV :
I commanded the guards with unwavering resolve to cast Ark into the depths of the prison, unyielding in my determination to uphold justice.
This decision weighed heavily on my conscience, for Ark was not just a mere subject of the kingdom, but a cherished figure, akin to my own flesh and blood.
The burden of condemning him to imprisonment gnawed at my soul, a bitter reminder of the sacrifices demanded by duty and the harsh realities of leadership.
Though my heart shattered within, I recognized the need to maintain emotional composure as the head of all ministries.
It took hours, even for a seasoned and composed diplomat like myself, to disentangle from the chains of affection and sympathy for Ark.
I proceeded to the executive assembly to gather comprehensive insights into the current state of affairs within the palace capital and throughout the entire kingdom.
Rumours had already spread throughout the capital, igniting a wave of outrage among its inhabitants.
There was still some time before the inevitable leak of the news to the entirety of the kingdom.
I immediately ordered a curfew to halt the movement of locals, tourists, and travellers who might inadvertently leak this news. Additionally, I announced a ban on press coverage for a week.
A Squad X guard confirmed my orders and assured me that the entire capital would be in complete lockdown within 5 to 10 minutes.
Reports revealed a series of alarming incidents that occurred within just a few hours, leaving me deeply shocked.
Capital was divided within 3 factions and the worst possible outcome was ensured.
The three factions were as follows:
The Conservatives, who supported the royal family and advocated for the immediate execution of Ark or warned of facing revolution.
The New Era, a group of individuals who believed in Ark and argued for a valid reason behind Ark's actions.
A group of people who were still unable to comprehend the current events, were in deep shock, and were worried about the fate of the kingdom.
Both the New Era and the Conservatives tried their best to win over the third group, using any means necessary.
Even terrorist organisations seized this opportunity and began their preparations, launching attacks on the Council Fort of the West and the Princely Palace.
Soon, word came that the royal family of the western province had been assassinated by terrorists.
I immediately understood that the chaos in the capital and the assassinations of the royal families of both the western province and Zenark were not mere coincidences but the well-planned result of a larger scheme.
I issued strict orders to restrict any unnecessary activities and transportation within the capital.
Furthermore, I instructed Command Squad X, the most refined secret agency of Zenark, to monitor every citizen closely, as even those closest to us couldn't be trusted.
Legend has it that if ten people gather in one place, two of them could be members of the espionage branch of Command Squad X, completely unaware of each other's true identities due to their mastery in disguise.
Amidst the chaos in the Executive Assembly, a decree arrived from the Parliamentary Council, mandating my ascension to the throne as the new monarch."
Without hesitation, I promptly declined the officials' proposal and staunchly advocated for Zen's rightful ascension to the throne.
Despite their concerns over Zen's critical condition, they withdrew their offer out of respect for my stance but insisted that I assume the role of caretaker for the kingdom until Zen's recovery.
Though not entirely convinced, I reluctantly agreed to their proposal to serve as caretaker of Zenark until the rightful heir to the throne recovered.
With unwavering faith and loyalty to the kingdom, I swore to employ every necessary measure to quell the chaos and restore peace, fueled by a steadfast determination.
As dusk fell, the efforts of Command Squad X began to bear fruit, with numerous revolutionaries and criminals apprehended.We employed every means possible to extract information from them.
Accompanied by a few nobles and royal guards, I visited cell no. 403 to address some disputes. Nothing out of the ordinary, just an attempt to calm our tempers.
Curiously, within an hour, the bunch of revolutionaries were discovered dead. It remains unclear who was responsible for their demise.
We also managed to capture several spy demons. Despite our efforts to extract information about their motives, they seemed unusually desperate. In a surprising turn of events, they chose to end their own lives by detonating explosives.
It's a puzzling development, but there's no time to dwell on it now.
Through the coordinated efforts of various agencies, we successfully quelled every uprising and prevented many potential outbreaks before they could occur.
While my days were dedicated to my role as caretaker, every night was devoted to monitoring Zen's condition and overseeing his recovery.
Zen remained unconscious for a week.
I felt remorseful, knowing that I couldn't save anyone, and it pained me to see Zen witness such death and destruction with his own eyes due to my incapability.
After two weeks, Zen regained consciousness to some extent. While there's physical progress due to his royal lineage, the trauma of the massacre still haunts him.
It's hard to gauge his mental state, and despite medical efforts, his emotional wounds seem untouched. Perhaps time will be the ultimate healer as physical medicine seems effect less.
All members of the royal family were killed by Ark in one swift motion with his sword while some were brusted from inside due to his Ma.... [lowers his voice, inaudible].
But miraculously, Zen survived a critical slash on his chest by his own brother.
During Zen's recovery, I attended to all internal and external affairs. Alongside several ministries and council members, we ensured the full security of the capital.
Additionally, the Minister of Magic Rudeus erected a formidable barrier around the palace to prevent intruders from entering.
The kingdom was ablaze with fury as demands for Ark's swift execution reverberated throughout, emanating from both the noble guilds and clans as well as the commons.
Zen's condition had stabilised, yet he remained silent and withdrawn, speaking only to me.
The trauma still haunted him, evident in his trembling demeanour and tearful outbursts.
The mere mention of the tragic incident threatened to unleash his pent-up emotions, even inciting thoughts of violence towards those who broached the topic.
After a week or so, I convened the executive and legislative councils to apprise them of Zen's condition.
Then, with a resolve honed from weeks of turmoil, I approached Zen. Dispensing with pleasantries, I confronted him directly, urging him to accept the mantle of emperor. The weight of my words hung heavy in the air, punctuated by the gravity of the moment-a shocking revelation that would reverberate through the Kingdom
He refused the title of emperor without a second thought.
Still I am determined to make him the emperor. So, I started presenting him with reasonable arguments.
After a spirited half-hour of persuasion and debate, he relented to assume the mantle of caretaker for the kingdom.
Yet, the title of emperor still eluded his grasp. Nonetheless, I remain convinced that time will inevitably lead him to the throne.
But I am not worried for Zen atleast now but as for my second grandson, Ark, the road ahead was fraught with hardship.
We maintained strict isolation for him, a month stretching into more, as he grappled with the weight of his actions.
Despite refraining from checking on him myself, my heart couldn't help but harbor a soft spot for Ark, my second grandson, amidst all the chaos.
Deep within, my heart still struggles to accept what unfolded that day. In secret, I find myself compelled to gather more details about the incident.
A very suspicious and questionable argument surfaced from my loyal subordinate, Law. He brought up a fact we were aware of but had intentionally chosen to overlook.
He argued that while all members of the royal family perished from the burst of mana from Ark's mana field or from relatively less severe slashes while Zen miraculously survived a deep slash that extended from his right chest to his heart on the other side.
I pondered Law's argument, but deep down I wasn't ready to shift the focus of my investigation in that direction. So, I instructed him not to bring it up elsewhere.
The following day, we caught a big fish: Tyrant, the first commander of the revolutionaries.
Despite his tough exterior, not even three rounds of intense questioning from my subordinate could elicit a word from him.
I decided to intervene personally, employing my secret technique to delve into his mind. Previously I couldn't penetrate Ark's thoughts even a bit and I don't know why, but I remained hopeful of unlocking the truth this time.
The fog in his mind was thick, indicating a strong resistance from his inner self. Despite this, I managed to gain some foothold, but it was clear that his will and inner strength were formidable, preventing me from fully accessing his thoughts.
I barely managed to glimpse a fragment of his memory, revealing a plot to overthrow Lord Louis with a comrade in a black cloak.
I attempted to uncover further details about this figure in the black cloak, but it appears he never revealed his face to Tyrant.
I was able to access his memory where he and his companion in the black cloak discussed using both princes as pawns to overthrow Emperor Louis.
This gave me a ray of hope that perhaps Ark was merely a pawn in this whole plot, and perhaps his sentence could be reduced or even that he is entirely innocent.
However, on the contrary, there was a chance that this person in the cloak might be Ark himself, but upon seeing his physique, he doesn't resemble Ark.
While these insights provide a glimpse into a potential direction, it's essential to acknowledge that they aren't yet backed by concrete evidence or a fully developed theory. Therefore, I must continue gathering information and evidence before drawing any conclusions.
I resolved to delve deeper into the matter by arranging a meeting with Ark, aiming to uncover the underlying truths behind the incident.
I found myself engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions, uncertain of how I would respond or how Ark would react during our impending meeting.
Regrettably, despite considering the possibility that he might be a pawn or victim, I couldn't disclose this to him.
With all these thoughts swirling in my mind, I made my way down to the 10th level of the prison tower, which lay about ten floors beneath the ground.On this level, only prisoners who pose a significant threat are held captive.
It was just another day of torment for Ark; he was still enduring torture when I entered the cell.
I ordered the guards to leave, overwhelmed by emotion as I beheld Ark's condition: bloodied, bones crushed, suspended upside down by chains.
I put on a forced smile, feigning indifference toward the prisoner before me, despite the familial bond we shared. Yet, as soon as his eyes met mine, tears streamed down his face, his cries echoing through the dimly lit cell as he professed his innocence, claiming to have no memory of the tragic event
Despite the torrent of tears welling in my own eyes, I fought to maintain composure, suppressing the urge to break down alongside him.
I struggled to maintain my stoic facade, urging him to cease his tears. Despite the conflict within me, I am still a human and I couldn't bear witnessing his suffering.
Thus I told him about my investigation. It was a big gamble but I want to trust him as betraying is a sin,being betrayed is not a sin.
He recounted his experience, describing the overwhelming dizziness that had engulfed him during the incident.
According to him, he remained unconscious throughout the chaos, awakening only around Arthur's arrival.
His account seemed to align with my suspicions, providing another piece of evidence to support my theory.
I began to entertain the possibility that he might have been under some form of external influence or control.
I wasted no time in bringing up my thoughts to him, but he remained silent about any potential influence or involvement from outside sources.
His face clearly showed he was thinking about something or someone but he didn't mention it to me.
I assured him that I would seek out evidence to support his innocence, urging him not to fret. With that, I exited the cell, leaving him to contemplate his fate.
The next day, after previous chaotic events in the capital and my meeting with Ark, whole Zenark bore witness to the solemn Pledge Ceremony, where Zen took his oath as the Kingdom's new caretaker.