Chapter 242 The Villain Lady Arrives 70
During the time when the Third Prince was recuperating from his injuries, undercurrents were surging inside and outside the palace, and a battle between power and loyalty quietly began.
The second prince, who was always known for his gentleness, quietly started his plan when the third prince was at his weakest. He knew that this was the best time to weaken the third prince's power and expand his own influence.
As a result, he frequently went in and out of the residences of various ministers, trying to win over those court officials who were dissatisfied with the third prince or had a weak stance with tempting conditions and promises.
The second prince's methods were clever and secretive, and he could always skillfully transform the desire for power and dissatisfaction with the status quo into support for himself while chatting and laughing.
Behind his smile, he hides an endless desire for power and indifference to brotherhood. Every night when everyone is asleep, the second prince would stand alone in front of the window, staring at the starry sky in the distance, and silently say in his heart: "The throne will eventually belong to me."
Meanwhile, Vivian's father, the battle-hardened duke, was brewing a storm. He was angry at the actions of the third prince, and even more heartbroken by the pain and humiliation his daughter had endured because of this unprovoked disaster.
Although Vivian has broken off her engagement with the third prince, the trauma in her heart is hard to heal. The Duke sees this and feels pain in his heart, so he decides to seek justice for his daughter in his own way.
In the Duke's study, the flickering candlelight illuminated his resolute face.
On the table were spread the magic scrolls and potion formulas left by Chi Meng. These were the results of her recent research and contained immeasurable power. A trace of determination flashed in the Duke's eyes. These alone were enough to shake the foundation of the empire.
He secretly gathered a group of loyal magicians and knights. Some of them were heroes on the battlefield, while others were the best in the magic world. They were brought together by a common goal.
With the Duke's careful planning, a coup against the palace was quietly prepared. They secretly collected wealth, trained the army, and took every step very cautiously, fearing that the news would leak out. In the Duke's mansion, the atmosphere was tense and solemn, and the flame of revenge was burning in everyone's heart, and at the same time, they also had a vision for the future.
Finally, on a stormy night, the Duke put his plan into action. He personally led the army and, under the cover of darkness, quietly surrounded the palace.
Inside and outside the palace, the guards were still asleep, unaware of the impending changes. Suddenly, the sound of rapid horse hooves and the collision of weapons broke the silence of the night, and the palace was instantly awakened.
The king and queen suddenly woke up from their dreams and looked at each other in horror. Before they could react, the bedroom door was kicked open by a powerful force, and the figure of the Duke appeared particularly tall in the candlelight.
Behind him, there followed a group of fully armed knights and magicians, who were very aggressive and should not be underestimated.
"Duke, what do you mean?" the king shouted angrily, trying to remain calm. But the trembling in his voice betrayed his inner fear.
The Duke sneered and slowly walked into the bedroom, his eyes sharp. "Your Majesty, I came here today only to seek justice." His voice was low and powerful, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting the king's heart.
"Fairness? What you call justice is leading troops to force the emperor to abdicate?" The queen stood aside, her face pale, but still trying to maintain her dignity as a queen.
"Your Majesty, do you know how your son, the Third Prince, treated my daughter?" The Duke's voice suddenly became louder, filled with anger. "He made Vivian suffer so much pain and humiliation! What I am doing today is just to seek justice for my daughter!"
The king's face was uncertain when he heard this. He knew that he was in the wrong, but he could not easily compromise. "Duke, do you know that you are treasoning?" He shouted sternly, trying to suppress the Duke's momentum with his majesty.
But the Duke had already made all the preparations. He waved his hand lightly, and the knights and magicians behind him immediately stepped forward and surrounded the king and queen.
"Your Majesty, you'd better save your energy. This palace, inside and outside, has long been controlled by my people. If you are sensible, just hand over the throne obediently, and I can guarantee that you will live in peace for the rest of your life."
The king and the queen looked at each other, their hearts filled with despair. They knew that resistance at this moment was futile. Finally, the king bowed his head helplessly and said in a hoarse voice:
"You win, Duke. But please remember that everything you do today will be remembered by history."
The Duke ignored the King's warning, and he only had the joy of victory and vision for the future in his heart. He ordered the knights to escort the King and Queen to a secret room for custody, and announced that he would temporarily take over the government and that Vivian was his heir.
When the news spread, the whole empire was shocked. People talked about it, some admired the Duke's bravery, while others were shocked and disturbed by his behavior.
In this chaos, Alice and the third prince seemed to be in another world. They leaned against each other on the bed, their hearts filled with uncertainty about the future and determination for each other.
"Alice, no matter what happens, I will protect you." The third prince said softly, his eyes full of tenderness and determination.
Alice smiled slightly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I believe in you. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I will walk with you."
At this moment, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the window. A knight rushed into the ward with a nervous look. "Third Prince, it's bad! The Duke has succeeded in forcing the King and Queen to abdicate, and the King and Queen have been imprisoned!"
The Third Prince's face suddenly changed when he heard this. He sat up suddenly, and the pain in his chest made him cough a few times. "How... is this possible?" His voice was full of disbelief.
Alice quickly supported him, her eyes full of worry. "We must find a way to deal with it as soon as possible. The Duke's power is huge, we can't just sit there and wait for death."
The third prince nodded, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes. "Alice, you are right. I cannot let my father and the queen get hurt. You stay here, I will go find those ministers and generals who are loyal to me, and we will fight against the Duke's tyranny together."
Although Alice was worried about his injuries, she also knew that this was the only way at the moment. She held the Third Prince's hand tightly, her eyes full of encouragement and trust. "You must be careful. I'll wait for you to come back here."
The third prince looked at her affectionately, then resolutely turned and left. The road ahead was full of unknowns and dangers, but he had to fight for his beliefs and the people he loved.
With the departure of the third prince, a battle concerning the fate of the empire officially began.