Chapter 1684: Chapter 1684

A fire crackled in the drawing-room's hearth, unseasonably warm. In its flickering light, Salsi II's voice grew ever fainter, and Jenkins worried the king might pass away right then and there. The weakness in his voice, however, was a product of his heavy heart, not his failing health, much to Jenkins's relief.

Jenkins leaned forward, eager to catch every word, a clear sign of his deep interest in Salsi II's tale.

"I found a most peculiar item in the storeroom. It had been there for years; I remember seeing it even as a boy, but it never once piqued my interest. Today, I finally touched that mirror—that heirloom our ancestors left for us."

The ancestors of House Stuart were renowned Enchanters with mastery over ice and snow. That was a long, long time ago. Yet, in recent generations, Dolores was the only Enchanter to emerge from the Stuart line. The artifacts left by their powerful forebears, however, had been diligently preserved, including numbered items like the Vampire Buster.

"So what exactly did you encounter?"

"Our ancestor left us a revelation, an opportunity, and a final choice."

He looked at Jenkins, who was utterly perplexed.

"So... what does this have to do with me?"

"Our ancestor foresaw what would transpire at the end of the Eighteenth Epoch. He saw that our family would arrive at a critical crossroads, and so he left us a chance to choose—to decide which path to take."

Jenkins watched them file in, and he could see the same bewilderment on their faces.

The drawing-room was not large, and before the crackling hearth stood only two chairs—one occupied by the Stuart patriarch, the other by Jenkins Williams.

The door closed, and the rush of air made the fire dance wildly again. The flickering light threw their shadows across one another, making them look like the cavorting demons from the "Stranger's Story Collection."

Jenkins remained seated, watching as the Stuart children entered and stood uncertainly in the room. He glanced at Salsi II, but the king gave a slight shake of his head, a silent command for Jenkins to hold his tongue. Then, Salsi II addressed his children.

"I had imagined this day, but I never thought it would come so quickly."

His voice was strong; he refused to show any weakness before his children.

"But this day was always destined to arrive. Before the sun rises, I will choose my successor from among you. They will inherit all that is mine."

The old king's gaze swept across his children's faces, reading the surprise, panic, joy, and apprehension in their eyes. But no one spoke. They all watched him, their dying king, their father.

"One of you will take the crown from my head and, in my stead, protect the lands our ancestors bequeathed to us. This is a duty, a sacred mission. Therefore, I will use a trial to determine which of you is most worthy."

His gaze fell upon his eldest son, Sarrot Stuart. He had expected an objection, but the prince merely bowed his head in silence.

"This will be a perfectly fair trial. As for its nature—I will use an artifact left to us by our ancestor. You all remember the events of the Ice and Snow Festival, so you are aware that the extraordinary exists. Some of you have even had direct contact with Enchanters."

His words were pointed, but still, no one dared to speak. The dying king continued.

"Tonight, I will engage in a contest with Mr. Jenkins Williams—a contest on a chessboard. You will be the pieces. Your individual performances in this game will be the basis for my final decision."

Jenkins's brow furrowed, but it was clear Salsi II had no intention of letting him speak. The king was not finished.

"The board's setting will be the city of Ruen as it is tonight. You will enter this ancient, decaying city to investigate and quell the unrest that will soon erupt. The ancestral artifact will allow myself and Viscount Williams to offer you some assistance. But remember this: death on the board is real death. This is no game."

With that, he struggled to his feet.

"If any of you wish to withdraw, you may do so now. I guarantee you will live out the rest of your days as a member of the royal family, wanting for nothing." For more chapters visıt novel⦿fire.net

He had risen not only for dramatic effect but to retrieve a black-and-white chessboard from beneath his cushion. He gestured for Jenkins to bring over another chair and a round table. They sat opposite each other, the board placed squarely in the center of the table.

This was a Series B Transcendent Object, and one with a terrifyingly potent aura. As the others watched with concern, Salsi II let a drop of his own blood fall onto the board. The square board immediately expanded until it covered the entire surface of the table.

The black and white squares shimmered like ripples on water. A few seconds later, the board's surface transformed into an aerial view of Ruen.

Buildings and streets were no larger than sesame seeds, dotting the cityscape below. The few people moving about in the night were less discernible than the point of a pin. Ruen was now fully outfitted with street lamps, and from this bird's-eye view, the areas glowing with a warm yellow light were clearly the city's main thoroughfares. This would help the observers compare the reflection on the board with the real Ruen.

Tonight, a thick blanket of clouds obscured the skies over Ruen, hiding the light of the twin moons. Dark shadows prowled the city streets—it was not a good omen.

Salsi II looked at his children, who had gathered around the table.

"If you do not wish to participate, you may simply stand by the table and watch the Viscount and me play. If you do wish to join, you must choose whose piece you will become. Those who choose me, stand behind me. Those who choose Viscount Williams, stand beside him."

Jenkins suspected that most of the people in the room were as baffled as he was, but that didn't prevent him from understanding the rules Salsi II had laid out. He glanced at Dolores. The princess offered him a small smile and then, without a moment's hesitation, walked to his side.

Her move prompted her siblings to stir. No one spoke, but a silent, urgent conversation passed between them through exchanged glances.

Just as the others hesitated, Salsi II added another rule.

"My heir will be chosen from among the winner's pieces."

The eldest prince, Sarrot Stuart, immediately stepped behind his father, his left arm hanging low to keep his wooden prosthetic hidden in the shadows. He then cast a look at his wavering siblings. Whatever meaning was contained in that gaze, it was enough. One by one, they moved to the left side of the table, to stand with Salsi II.

In the end, only Dolores and two other young princesses stood with Jenkins. Salsi II, meanwhile, was flanked by eight members of the royal family.