Llane's rebuke instantly brought a flush of shame to the old duke's aged face.
"Y-Your Majesty, that was because the child was still young!" the old duke cried out in grief and indignation.
"Ha! Ha! Still young? Old duke, you actually consider a twenty-year-old noble who has already inherited a title in the kingdom a child." Llane's piercing gaze turned straight toward the old Duke Vilga. "Sometimes I feel ashamed to stand among you. Think of how great Emperor Soladin was, leading humanity out of despair to carve out the vast lands we hold today. Yet now his descendants indulge in thievery and debauchery, casting aside the great duty they bear to restore all humanity."
At this, Llane swept his gaze over the nobles, who had lowered their heads, furious but afraid to speak. "Look at yourselves. Strip away your status and bloodlines, and which of you would receive the people's love and support when you walked down the street? What gives people like you the right to call yourselves the kingdom's foundation?"
"Your Majesty! Aren't you going a little too far? We are all descendants of Emperor Soladin, all bearers of noble blood. How could those lowborn wretches compare to us?" a noble whose pride would not let him remain silent stepped forward to argue. His family's honor could not be insulted.
The old duke kneeling on the floor suddenly paled and turned to glare viciously at the noble who had spoken.
"Utterly ridiculous. People are noble not through noble blood, but through noble character. As a knight, have you never learned those words? You keep calling them lowborn wretches, but I think the truly lowly one is you-a maggot standing upon Emperor Soladin's honor, sucking the blood of the people who sustain you without ever thinking of repaying