"You're spouting nonsense. It's as clear as day that Prince Felix harbored resentment and killed the late emperor. Prince Francis became so furious that he ended up killing Prince Felix."
"Did you see it with your own eyes?" Lucas asked, feeling quite amused. "When I came back to the imperial capital and saw my father, the first thing he said was that Francis was trying to kill him, and he even handed over the testamentary edict he prepared long ago to me. You said that Francis has the testamentary edict, but I have it in my possession as well. I am wondering which one is fake!"
When Maxwell looked around, he saw that everyone was shocked. Then, he looked at Zack, who didn't seem surprised at all, as though he was already aware of it. The little fox was actually in on it, but he hadn't told him anything.
Francis got word that there was something wrong, so he rushed to the palace gates, with Jason following closely behind him. When Francis finally appeared, all the officials who had been whispering suddenly stopped and looked at him, hoping that he could give them an explanation.
Wearing the emperor's yellow robe, Francis looked so overbearing and cold. "Who are you? How dare you pretend to be Prince Lucas and try to rebel on such an important day?"
"Francis, how come you don't even recognize me? While I was on the way to the Great Jade Kingdom for the marriage alliance, you sent many people to hunt me down. Why can't you recognize me? Did you seriously think that I would be so useless and killed off by the assassins you sent? If I was actually killed by your men under Uncle Matthew's protection, it would be a huge slap in his face, wouldn't it?" Lucas said scornfully.
Hearing this, Francis curled his lips and said, "Lucas, you are still alive and well, but why we got the news that you were dead and even your body was sent back? Now, your remains have already been buried."
"If I didn't fake my death, would you stop the assassination? I used to think that Felix was the cruel one for killing his own brothers. But, now I know that you are the most heartless among all of us. You killed our father and eldest brother, harmed our uncle and stole his wife. Francis, do you think you have the world in the palm of your hands?" Lucas questioned him.
"Father left a testamentary edict saying that I would be the one who should take the throne. Why would I have to kill him?" Francis quickly answered.
Lucas laughed so hard that he was having convulsions. "Are you trying to make me laugh, Francis? Don't you know that the heir to the throne is especially taught by someone? Moreover, from the day the heir to the throne was decided, the Regal Guards would only be following his orders. If you are really the heir chosen by Father, then have you ever met the imperial preceptor? Do you have the Regal Guards serving under you?"
When Francis heard this, his face froze. He looked at Allen and Travis. These days, the two of them didn't really say much. But today, as soon as Lucas showed up, they didn't hesitate to help him, so they must have been aware that Lucas was the real heir to the throne as well as the late emperor's favorite candidate. In spite of that, they didn't do anything from the beginning to the end. Their patience was admirable.
"So Uncle Allen and Marquis Travis have sided with Lucas and become traitors?" Francis ordered in a hushed voice, "Seize them!"
"What? Prince Francis, your conspiracy has been exposed and you become furious? Are you planning to kill us as well so you could keep your secret?" Travis had always been a man of courage. No one else but he dared to provoke Matthew, and he was the only one who had fought with him. Thus, he would never be afraid of Francis.
"Marquis Travis, you and Uncle Allen have conspired with Lucas and tried to rebel. I am forced to take you down in accordance with the law." With a wave of his hand, Francis ordered, "Take them away!"
"Francis, you are so domineering." A voice roared in like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone's ears hurt. They followed the direction where the sound came from and found two people standing upstairs. They were, respectively, Matthew and his wife Harper!
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