The incredibly blunt statement, filled with absolute confidence, instantly made the atmosphere upon the empty plot of land grow increasingly tense and gripping.
The confession regarding a murder committed by Arvin Vedegra, who was capable of obliterating the lives of three elite shadow squad members without anyone knowing, seemed to forcefully silence everyone's mouths.
"You have deliberately shredded my pride as a Vedegra!" Arvin said, breaking the agonizing silence. His voice sounded very calm, yet every intonation carried a very heavy and piercing weight. "First, you secretly monitored my every move using your three assassins. And then, you suddenly come to meet me to offer someone of unclear origins, demanding that I marry him purely for the sake of diplomatic relations?"
Arvin took one step forward, looking directly into the Victoriaz ruler's eyes without blinking.
"Even His Majesty King Garland Yudavius En Astoria, whom I deeply respect, was firmly rejected by me after he personally offered the third prince of the Astoria Kingdom for me to marry." Arvin continued with an increasingly intimidating tone, deliberately dropping a massive political fact in front of the public. "Let alone you, a ruler who did not trust me from the very beginning I set foot here. It is absolutely certain that I will outright reject such a highly suspicious sudden offer!"
The blatant statement regarding the fact that Arvin had boldly rejected King Garland's request to marry off the third prince left everyone present even more dumbfounded in shock. The crowd of locals, the merchant guild representatives, and the Astoria academy students exchanged glances.
This was new history. For the very first time, they witnessed with their own eyes a young nobleman being fought over by many great kingdoms merely for the sake of a diplomatic marriage tie, and the youth rejected all of it in front of many people without the slightest hesitation.
However, that sense of shock and awe did not apply to Prince Lionias at all.
Standing beside his father, the prince furrowed his brow deeply. He felt that all of Arvin's words were nothing more than a highly illogical empty bluff, as if the statement was deliberately fabricated to elevate his own pride in front of them.
"Do not boast! If you are truly that great to dare reject the offers from my father and the third prince of the Astoria Kingdom, then why did you take Prince Kaylenciel of the Flamort Kingdom to become your sixth spouse?!" Prince Lionias asked in a high and probing tone, trying to find a loophole to strike down Arvin's argument.
Hearing that provocative question, Arvin turned his face toward the prince. The corner of his lips lifted slightly, forming a very patronizing faint smile.
"The answer is very simple." he replied quickly and without the slightest pause. "It is because he was the one who wanted me to be his husband. There was absolutely no political interference or any hidden motives behind his desire. Therefore, my other spouses and I very gladly accepted him to become my sixth spouse."
Arvin sharpened his gaze, ensuring Prince Lionias understood every word he spoke.
"But, listen to this carefully! If that proposal was the result of the Flamort Kingdom leader's desire or coercion, then I too would have firmly rejected that offer laden with political marriage!" he continued in a loud and firm voice. "From this brief explanation, do you feel clear enough about my reasoning and principles, Prince Lionias?"
The prince was instantly silenced, unable to refute the absolute logic that had just been thrown in his face.
Having silenced the prince, Arvin turned his face back. He looked straight into King Estadian's face with his piercing gaze that never faded.
"And to be honest, Your Majesty!" Arvin said, refocusing the conversation on the main issue. "I still feel insulted and cannot accept that surveillance. Am I a dangerous criminal in your eyes who must be monitored like that? Even though I came all the way here only to represent the academy and participate in the annual tournament."
Hearing barrage after barrage from the youth, King Estadian's pride as a king was truly being tested.
"Is it not a perfectly natural thing for a kingdom to take precautionary measures by monitoring one of the descendants of the strongest noble family on this continent?!" King Estadian countered to defend himself, trying to justify his paranoid actions. "With the power you possess, you could do all sorts of things within my kingdom's territory!"
"Your answer leaves me completely unsatisfied, Your Majesty!" Arvin said in a tone that remained polite, yet did not hide his annoyance. "The action you took was a form of strict surveillance for a state criminal, not a form of monitoring or protection for an official tournament participant arriving as a guest from another kingdom."
Not wanting to waste any more time arguing with the stubborn ruler, Arvin turned his head toward the Astoria academy group.
"Dean Saires, please immediately lead all the students to depart from this kingdom at once!" Arvin ordered with a very firm and authoritative voice, echoing across the entire empty plot of land. "Do it right now!"
"In accordance with your command, Owner." the middle-aged man replied in a very respectful and compliant tone while bowing his body.
The Dean then straightened his posture and immediately ordered all the students and academy staff to quickly enter their respective horse carriages. And without a single person daring to object, everyone moved swiftly following the instruction.
Seeing that irrational sight, King Estadian and Prince Lionias felt as if they were struck by lightning in broad daylight. The fact that Arvin Vedegra was not merely a student, but the rightful owner of the entire Astoria Academy institution, left the two of them paralyzed in silence, losing the ability to string words together.
It was at that moment that King Estadian finally realized very clearly the sheer magnitude of the fatal mistake caused by the reckless and underestimating actions they had taken against the Vedegra descendant.
However, instead of regretting his actions and apologizing, the King's ego and pride took over. He felt incredibly annoyed and exceptionally furious at Arvin's actions, which had deliberately humiliated and wounded his pride as a king in front of his own people.
"I guarantee you will deeply regret this decision and your arrogance, Arvin Vedegra!" the king hissed with a clenched jaw, issuing an open threat.
Hearing the threatening sentence coming straight from the King's mouth, the youth did not feel intimidated in the slightest. He stared back at the ruler, smiling faintly as if he would gladly accept the challenge of war.
"I will never regret my decision!" Arvin replied in a very casual manner, completely disregarding the ruler's anger. "And I hope the same goes for you, Your Majesty. I assure you, it is you who will deeply regret it in the future if you ever dare to take a step that crosses the line."
After ensuring that all his group members had entered the carriages safely, Arvin took a step back, then bowed to give a formal salute that felt extremely cold and full of sarcasm.
"Thank you very much for all your 'willingness' in hosting our arrival during our stay in this kingdom." he said politely, utilizing perfect etiquette to respect a kingdom's leader. "I beg to take my leave, Your Majesty."
Without waiting for an answer or any response from the King, the blue-haired youth turned around and walked with calm steps toward one of the academy's carriages.
Shortly after Arvin entered and his carriage door shut tightly, the entire convoy of carriages from the Astoria Kingdom and the Flamort Kingdom began to move away, leaving the empty plot of land in unison.
Street dust billowed in the air, slowly obscuring the caravan of carriages as they drifted further away.
King Estadian could only stand rigidly in his place, swallowing the bitterness. His hands were clenched tightly as he watched the departure of the entire group with eyes filled with a blazing fire of anger.
Arvin Vedegra! the king growled in his heart, veins of anger bulging on his temples. He felt that his entire pride and dignity as a king had been mercilessly shredded. I guarantee you will receive a very painful retaliation for this insult! Just wait until the time comes!