Top Tier Perversion: Dual Cultivate Secretly

"...I don’t even wish to defend my house anymore."

The King held his scepter in front of him and leaned.

"House D’Arc, are you accepting your wrongs?"

"No."

Vincent looked the King in the eyes.

"I don’t wish to defend because all complaints are coming from hypocrites."

The King’s minister stepped forward.

"House D’Arc, address the accusation before questioning the character of other nobles. Any further contempt of court will result in a strong action."

"Hm?" Vincent turned to the man. "Calling hypocrites as hypocrites is wrong? Are we not supposed to state the truth in this court?"

"Marquis Morvell," Vincent pointed his cane at a curled mustache man wearing a monocle. "You accused us of stockpiling grains, yes? How about you let us search the granaries in your territory to give us an idea of how a ’normal’ stock should look like."

The moment those words left Vincent, a few nobles in the back and middle rows adjusted themselves.

Some used a handkerchief to wipe their faces and hide their expressions while many went silent.

If it was just Marquis Morvell’s granaries that were checked, things would be fine. But if theirs was going to as well...

They immediately began thinking of arguments to add to Marquis Morvell’s defense.

Marquis Morvell adjusted his monocle.

"House D’Arc, this court is discussing your actions, not mine."

"Falkner Kingdom stretches far and wide due to His Majesty’s excellency. While it is a splendid feat, if every accused noble demanded investigations into others, this court would never conclude."

He visibly sighed and took off his monocle and began wiping it with a silk cloth.

"Young man of House D’Arc, while I understand being hot blooded is a gift of youth, do not mistake every argument for provocation. I hope you don’t forget you’re talking to a Marquis House and are mindful of your words going forward."

The nobles in the back and middle rows silently nodded their heads.

The King was still quietly listening without interrupting. However, his shoulders were more relaxed as he leaned back on his throne.

Agnes observed the changes in the court and studied her father’s reaction.

She heaved an internal sigh.

’I just hope he remains neutral and doesn’t drag himself down for a second falling out with House D’Arc. His health cannot afford it.’

Agnes shifted her gaze to Vincent.

’He’s doing well despite the crass words. But how long can he hold out?’

Vincent visibly sighed and shook his head.

He turned to the King.

"Your Majesty, Marquis Morvell is avoiding the investigation with the excuse of the kingdom being too vast."

Vincent shrugged.

"But it’s fine because I expected nothing less from him. His son revealed my identity in a masquerade ball hosted by Duke Leurox. Masquerade, I’ll emphasize. If he can’t even teach his own son manners—"

"House D’Arc. Stick to the arguments."

The King’s minister stepped forward and said with a frown.

Vincent turned to him and stared for a solid few seconds.

The minister knitted his brows.

"House D’Arc, do not waste—"

"Shut it, will you?" Vincent said calmly.

"House D’Arc."

The King’s voice boomed.

Some nobles at the back rows were startled.

"Present your defense or sit down."

Vincent looked at the King with a gaze devoid of any emotion.

"House D’Arc doesn’t lack anything but food. County wide hunger would surely make my people riot. So what did we do?"

Vincent looked at the nobles and tapped his cane on the floor.

"We went knocking on everyone’s door, trying to negotiate a grain deal."

He looked at the King.

"We weren’t begging. We were paying. But even then, except for a few, every single one rejected us."

"Signs of riots were erupting in my county due to starvation. It would’ve brought great destruction of life and property, but it was of no concern to the other houses. Likewise..."

Vincent pointed his cane at the nobles without breaking eye contact.

"How are riots erupting in other territories the concern of my house?"

Marquis Morvell knitted his brows.

"House D’Arc—"

"Sit down."

Vincent tapped his cane on the ground again.

The nobles let out a collective gasp.

Seated in a corner, Duke Brunelle smiled faintly while keeping his hands folded and watching the fiasco.

Two rows behind him, Viscount Blaise wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.

’Will helping House D’Arc prove to be a problem? That damn daughter of mine...’

Before Marquis Morvell responded, the King’s minister raised his voice.

"House D’Arc, another of such disrespect will result in an immediate arrest."

Vincent did not bother glancing at him and looked at the King, who was now leaning forward on his scepter.

He looked ready to execute a command.

Vincent didn’t care.

"As I was saying, the crisis in other territories is the least of my house’s concerns. And given how your minister keeps targeting me and also how you as a King are silent and haven’t said anything to Marquis Morvell despite him constantly interrupting me..."

The King’s minister was about to erupt but the King’s aide placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

The King’s minister waited.

The King stared at Vincent silently.

Vincent continued.

"...it goes to show how much my house is valued in this court."

"But you know," Vincent flashed a small smile, "there’s others who value us quite a lot."

"Friends from Aldorp were saddened to know we did not have enough food..."

The King squinted his eyes.

The aide holding the minister frowned. He removed his hand from his shoulder.

One of the nobles in the back rows whispered, "Aldorp...?"

Vincent spread his hands out and sighed.

He continued.

"They wish to provide us aid without anything in return. But we, the D’Arcs, would never mistreat our friends"

"We do not have much to provide so we’re thinking, why not give them access to the rail lines we control, which is what, sprea over the whole kingdom?"

Vincent covered his mouth and softly chuckled.

"This isn’t much but I am sure they would be delighted to know they could reach every territory easily and make more friends."

The nobles broke out in shocked whispers.

"Will D’Arc really give Aldorp access to our territories?"

"Aldorp has been trying to invade for centuries but is locked in a stalemate."

"If they march into the mainland..."

"The consequences are unimaginable!"

"Both sides will end in mutual destruction."

"Is D’Arc rebelling and committing treason?"

"Going against the whole kingdom... just for a few grains..."

"D’Arc has lost it."

"I wouldn’t be surprised if the young man is executed on the spot."

"I hope the King doesn’t stay silent even now."

"Shhh. Don’t say it out loud. And remember, we have yet to hear Countess Vivienne D’Arc’s statement."

"What can she possibly do?"

"If she could’ve done something, she would’ve done it long ago."

"I hope the King is magnanimous and spares them. It’s too big of a waste to kill such beauty."

"Agree. All three D’Arcs are beautiful..."

The whispers were not audible past the middle rows. And to most, they sounded gibberish.

It was cold outside, but in the middle rows, Viscount Blaise was sweating profusely.

’Daughter... daughter... what have you gotten me into...’

Seated beside the King, Agnes had her eyes on Vincent.

’He’s openly threatening father, but I don’t blame him. Marquis Morvell and the minister kept interrupting and father did not utter a word.’

’I just hope father knows the importance of D’Arcs and de-escalates the matter.’

’Although, openly wishing to side with another kingdom is treason and they should be punished... but what other choice did they have? They were pushed around by everyone and cornered.’

’It isn’t a surprise that they’re now retaliating.’

Agnes felt an incoming headache. She did her best to not massage her temples.

Queen Mirielle had her hands on her lap and eyes closed.

Her thoughts, her opinions, and her decisions were irrelevant as the King never considered them.

She was merely in the court due to formal obligation, and limited herself to observation.

The King held his scepter to the side and looked down at Vincent.

"House D’Arc, are you threatening the crown?"

Vincent tilted his head slightly.

"Am I?"

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