I Came Here for a Meeting-What Are You Trying to Do?!
Thus, Queen Katarina became the current supreme leader of the kingdom. This woman, who had always maintained a low profile during the king's lifetime, now demonstrated astonishing decisiveness and action.
She immediately used the excuse that "His Your Majesty is seriously injured and needs to rest, in order to prevent any unforeseen circumstances and ensure the safety of the royal family" to issue the most urgent troop mobilization order to her father, Earl Eisenberg, who was far away at Eagle's Nest Fortress.
In stark contrast to the slow pace during the previous siege of the Royal Capital the Sauron, this time, Earl Eisenberg reacted with astonishing speed.
Less than a day after the order was issued, thousands of well-equipped and stern-faced elite cavalrymen of the Eagle's Nest Legion appeared like ghosts outside the Prye City, and with lightning speed, took over and completely sealed off all entrances and exits of the royal palace.
Within the towering palace walls, it instantly transformed into an independent kingdom controlled by the Eisenberg Family's military might.
The gears of the coup began to turn silently and efficiently.
Princess Louise was the first to be controlled.
This quiet and unassuming daughter of the Former Queen hadn't even figured out what was happening when her side palace was surrounded by fully armed soldiers.
The guards at the door had changed to cold faces and were told, "By order of the Queen, Her Highness the Princess needs to rest and is not receiving guests at this time."
She instantly realized that she was under house arrest.
Next, the focus shifted to the three high-ranking officials who knew the King's final Royal Decree.
Olivier, the Lord Seal Minister of the Seals, was currently engrossed in his large office, which was filled with files and reeked of old parchment and wax seals.
Outside the window lay the deep darkness of the Royal Capital, with only the solitary lamp on his desk casting a small, dim yellow glow in the heavy darkness.
His withered fingers unconsciously twirled a long-dried quill pen, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, all his energy focused on how to deal with the Former King's Royal Decree.
This sudden imperial Imperial Edict, designating Princess Louise as the heir to the throne, was like pushing him to the brink of disaster.
He pondered it over and over, feeling as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing on his heart.
Princess Louise... alas, she has lived a secluded life for many years and has virtually no foothold in the treacherous political arena of the kingdom.
His Your Majesty never consciously cultivated or built any political team of his own for Princess Louise during his lifetime, whether it was loyal advisors, capable generals, or stable factional support.
Therefore, in this rapidly changing power vacuum, few people are willing to risk their future and destiny on this young Princess who has no foundation.
As for the Princess's maternal family, they could offer little help. Her mother, the late former queen, came from a minor southern noble family that had long since declined and was almost ignored in the court. Apart from an empty Nobility title, she could not provide any substantial assistance.
Olivier's mind raced, searching for any possible allies within and outside the court: several generals with military power but ambiguous stances? Several respected but self-serving veteran Duke?
Their faces flashed by, but they were all like reflections in a mirror, elusive and hard to grasp, let alone imagine them confronting Queen Katerina wielded immense power and was backed by the behemoth that was the Eisenberg Family.
A profound sense of powerlessness and despair, like cold vines, entwined his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
If he takes the wrong step, not only will his political life be ruined, but his entire family will likely face annihilation.
Just as he was immersed in this suffocating weighing of options, trying to unravel the tangled mess,
"Bang!!!"
The heavy oak door to the office was violently smashed open from the outside! The loud noise was like a thunderclap in the quiet night. The door slammed heavily against the wall, causing dust to fall from the bookshelves.
Olivier was startled and dropped his quill pen onto the unfolded map with a "thud," splashing a small blot of ink.
He looked up in astonishment and saw a group of soldiers, clad in fine black breastplates, with swords at their waists and fierce eyes like hawks, swarming in like a pack of bloodthirsty wolves!
They were clearly prepared; their movements were swift and silent, and they instantly occupied all the key positions in the room. The cold metal plates reflected a chilling light under the lamplight, surrounding Olivier completely.
Before he could react or even have a chance to question them, two burly soldiers roughly grabbed his arms from either side, their immense strength rendering the frail old minister completely immobile.
Another person stepped forward and swiftly searched his official robes inside and out without any hesitation. Soon, the copy of the Royal Decree that he regarded as his life and also as his death warrant was found and presented to a stern-faced officer in charge.
"What... what are you doing? I am the Lord Seal Minister!" Olivier was both shocked and furious, and tried to struggle, but his voice trembled with extreme shock and fear.
The captain of the guards merely glanced at him coldly, his gaze as if he were looking at a dead man.
He waved his hand, his voice flat and emotionless. "Acting on orders, take them away!"
Everything happened so fast, so unexpectedly.
Before Olivier could even ponder the origin of this "decree," he was roughly dragged from his seat by the pack of ravenous guards and staggered toward the unknown, murderous darkness outside the door.
Olivier quickly realized that the Queen had reacted much faster than he had, but it was too late for him to do anything. He was soon handcuffed in cold shackles and accused of the heinous crimes the Queen had fabricated. "Colluding with foreign officials, plotting rebellion, and poisoning His Majesty."
He didn't even have a chance to explain himself before being thrown directly into the cold, damp depths of the dungeon.
Subsequently, the Queen summoned the Chief Recorder, Count Alvin, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Marquis Wolfgang, to the main hall of the palace for a meeting under the pretext of "urgently discussing the succession to the throne."
When Alvin and Wolfgang entered the once solemn and dignified council chamber with heavy hearts and unease, the scene before them sank them to their lowest point.
Queen Katerina sat on the king's throne, her face stern and imposing.
On both sides of the main hall stood Eisenberg Family warriors, each wielding a sharp blade and with piercing eyes; the air was thick with a suffocating murderous aura.
Olivier, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.
Marquis Wolfgang and Count Alvin exchanged a glance, both seeing a deep chill in each other's eyes.
They knew that the worst had happened.
The Queen said coldly, "Count Alvin, Marquis Wolfgang, the King has passed away, but a country cannot be without a ruler for a day. The most urgent task is to stabilize the situation and enthrone a new king. Prince Sigmund is the Former King's legitimate son and the rightful heir. He should ascend the throne immediately."