Reborn I Refuse To Save The Traitors (Margaery) novel Chapter 167

**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**

**Chapter 167**

Dashnell’s brow furrowed deeply, his mind racing.

*What could Father possibly mean by this?* he pondered, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him.

As the King pivoted, his voice sliced through the air with unexpected clarity. “You wish to protect her. I have seen it, and I have granted it to you.”

“Star of Fortune is a fine title. It can shield her,” he continued, his tone shifting, carrying an undercurrent of something more ominous. “However,” he emphasized, “by binding her to me, to the throne, you have ensured that her future path will no longer be under your control.”

Dashnell’s heart sank as he met his father’s penetrating gaze, the realization dawning upon him like a cold wave. From the very start, the King had seen through all the clever ruses that Simon and he had orchestrated.

And the King…

He had turned the tables and struck an unseen bargain, one that would reshape the very fabric of their lives.

The King had granted his wish, allowing Margaery to ascend as the Star of Fortune, successfully extricating her from her engagement with Dominic—a victory for Dashnell in his quest to protect her. Yet, in doing so, the King had deftly maneuvered to achieve his own goals.

The Chancellor’s estate was now positioned to be weakened.

The Chancellor, a figure of immense power, stood as the second most influential person in the realm, a representative of civil officials.

Yet, Raul’s insatiable ambition, his clandestine dealings with the Minister’s estate, and his attempts to curry favor with the Marquis of Longridge and General Eames had long made him a malignancy within the court.

To the King, Raul was a source of nothing but trouble.

The same could be said for the court itself.

Thus, the King sought a legitimate justification to diminish Raul’s influence, all while avoiding direct involvement.

And Dashnell had unwittingly provided the perfect opportunity.

A wave of shock coursed through Dashnell as he comprehended the depth of his father’s cunning.

His father, seated upon the throne today, had achieved his position through sheer strategy and skill, not by the favor of others.

With this revelation, Dashnell couldn’t help but acknowledge that the King had imparted a crucial lesson through this ordeal.

The King then offered him a path forward. “Go now. I shall remain on the throne for at least another decade. What may transpire within that time is beyond my foresight. But for now, you must assist me with another matter.”

“If you perform well, it is not impossible for this so-called Star of Fortune to return to your side.”

“I have informed Nathaniel. He will not lay a hand on her.”

These words detonated in Dashnell’s mind like a thunderclap, reverberating through his very core.

His father, the King, had calculated every angle. This was yet another intricate transaction, a delicate game of power and influence.

If he wished to reclaim Margaery, he would need to present substantial bargaining chips—most likely the means to stabilize the court after Raul’s inevitable fall.

He could provide stability, yet he would not gain any accolades. The King’s reward would merely be the return of the one Dashnell cherished most.

The art of weighing interests was a lesson he still had much to learn from his father, the King.

Dashnell’s heart raced, a mixture of fear and determination flooding his senses. “Father, what do you wish me to do?”

The King’s gaze bore into him, unwavering. “From this day forward, begin preparations for the Cabinet. Once the Chancellor is removed, I do not wish to see a second Chancellor rise in the court. The Cabinet must serve as a counterbalance to the Six Ministries, yet it must not dominate. You must devise a plan.”

“Once the Cabinet is established, you will face two choices.”

“First, you may assume the position of Chief Minister of the Cabinet and retain the Dragon Guard.”

“Second, you may relinquish the Dragon Guard, depart from the Cabinet, sever ties with the royal family, conceal your identity, and flee far away with Margaery. I will grant you a royal pardon, ensuring your safety for a hundred years.”

The implications of the first option were staggering. It suggested that before the King’s passing, the Crown Prince would be ousted, and Dashnell would ascend as Emperor.

Conversely, the second option would see Nathaniel take the throne while Dashnell and Margaery would retreat from court life, embarking on a journey into the unknown.

He could not have both paths. This was the pivotal choice the King laid before him.

As a prince, who among them would not yearn for victory and the chance to claim the throne, to become the ultimate ruler?

Dashnell, ever the reserved strategist, undoubtedly harbored such ambitions.

Yet, if achieving that meant sacrificing Margaery, the thought was unbearable.

Silence enveloped the Imperial Study, thick and suffocating. Torn between the allure of power and the pull of love, Dashnell found himself paralyzed by indecision.

What weighed even heavier on his mind was the King’s earlier words—a reminder that while a chess piece may overturn the board, the player must remain steadfast.

For to falter would mean utter defeat, with consequences rippling out to affect the common people.

As the King settled upon the throne, despite being over forty-five, his commanding presence remained undiminished, evoking memories of his youth, when he had followed the late King into battles across the realm, unifying the Eastvale Empire through sheer valor.

Yet, none of the princes present could match his imposing demeanor.

Only Dashnell bore a semblance to him, but he had been left crippled at the tender age of seven, confined to a wheelchair ever since.

Marcus’s thoughts spiraled, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. “Father, you summoned Mother and me here. Is it regarding the Hadley family?”

Before the King could respond, Marcus’s voice trembled, betraying his timidity. “My feelings for Lady Margaery are genuine. I was too impulsive and caused you trouble, Father!”

Alicia interjected hastily, “It is all my fault. Seeing my son yearn for Lady Margaery day and night, I couldn’t bear it and wanted to fulfill their wishes. I never anticipated…”

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. “I never expected to anger my mother so deeply…”

Sophia had passed away.

She was Alicia’s birth mother.

Alicia wept not only from genuine sorrow but also in hopes that the King, witnessing her grief, would choose to let the matter regarding the Hadley family fade into silence.

Marcus quickly added, “It was my lack of judgment that led to my grandmother’s death and brought shame upon you, Father. Please, punish me.”

They had committed even graver offenses.

In their pursuit of the Chancellor’s estate and the abduction of the Star of Fortune to bolster their fortunes and seize the Crown Prince’s position, they had reached a point of brazen ambition.

Yet none dared to voice the truth.

The King regarded Alicia with indifference.

His attention was solely on Marcus, disappointment flickering in his eyes.

If only Marcus had expressed a desire to inherit the throne, to fight fiercely for it, even in failure, he would have shown a glimmer of the spirit he once possessed.

But now, reduced to tears and whimpers, what did that signify?

When Dashnell had entered, his royal guards had struck with precision, targeting vital points.

While they bore no intent to kill, Dashnell would never react with such timidity. Even before his father, he could stand firm and retaliate with composure.

That was the mark of a true son!