Chapter 1687: Chapter 1687

Yani had overheard the two men's conversation as she entered with the tea tray. While her sisters poured the tea, she asked:

“Uncle Rodbael is in Ruen?”

The eldest princess was also surprised. She first looked at her father, then back at Jenkins:

“Dolores never mentioned this to me.”

“We only learned of it recently. We didn't mention it because it didn't seem terribly important.”

“No, no, this is a very big deal. Uncle Rodbael only comes to Ruen when a major national event is taking place...”

Instead of being angry at her allies for the concealment, she offered a warning.

“You know something, don't you?”

Salhir II cut his eldest daughter off, pressing one hand on the table as he questioned Jenkins. If he weren't so weak, the gesture would have been quite intimidating.

He started chuckling as he spoke. The cat happily stood on its hind legs on Jenkins's lap, its front paws resting on the edge of the table, apparently interested in the chessboard again.

“Then what does Dolores want with Rodbael?”

The king didn't press the previous question.

“She's going to ask him why he's in Ruen, and then inquire if the Duke might reveal what mission you've assigned him.”

Without giving Salhir II a chance to interrupt, Jenkins produced the ice archer piece:

“That piece is a Stuart family heirloom, passed down for ages—a gift your ancestor received from a great being. It symbolizes the legitimacy of the Stuart line, but unfortunately, there hasn't been a Benefactor in your family for several generations...”

Only two of the pieces could leave the northern kingdom at any one time. After Dolores also came to Nolan, Jenkins had wanted to leave both with her, but the princess insisted they each take one, which was why the archer piece was now in Jenkins's possession.

“The Stuart descendant who can now hold and use this piece is the legitimate heir to the Stuart line—a fact acknowledged by your own ancestors.”

“How is it that I'm unaware of this supposed acknowledgment?”

Salhir II challenged, then asked another question:

“I also recall that this piece can only be used by a Benefactor of Stuart blood. It was recovered by the Church in the Nolan region last year and returned to the Stuart family through a trade. Why is it back in your hands now?”

He was likely aware that the capture of the Ice Servant who originally possessed the piece was due to Jenkins's involvement.

Dolores had also asked how he was able to use the piece. Later, when she discovered that Jenkins could use all kinds of Bestowals, she stopped suspecting he was a relative. But Jenkins couldn't explain it to Salhir II that way, so he simply said:

“There's no need for you to understand the finer points of being a Benefactor.”

With that, he placed the piece on an empty square on the chessboard next to him:

“In this game, the Benefactor on my side who possesses and can wield this piece will automatically be recognized by all royalists in the city. They will also find it easy to earn their trust and support.”

This had nothing to do with the piece's actual function, but according to the rules of the board, Jenkins's words took effect.

He smiled, his left hand gripping the arm of his chair and his right stroking his chin as he leaned back slightly:

“You see? This game is quite interesting, indeed.”

“Yani, Dantrian, Angelina, if your judgment in choosing husbands were half as good as Dolores's, I wouldn't have to worry about your marriages.”

Far from being angry, Salhir II praised Jenkins in a joking manner. Everyone turned their attention to the board, where the Stuarts of Ruen had begun to move.

During the second turn, because both Salhir II and Jenkins had assigned tasks that aligned with their pieces' personalities, the actions unfolded largely as they had predicted. However, due to the influence of the ring and the ice piece, the Stuarts in motion garnered overwhelming support from everyone they met.

The fervent support was almost like the irrational faith of cultists in a heretical god, and it even made the onlookers uncomfortable. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ N0velFire.ɴet

Because Dolores's side was short on manpower, they gave up on contacting the city's defense force directly. As a result, Salhir II's side took control of nearly all the military forces in the city. Dolores's side, meanwhile, only managed to secure the support of the city's police department, but the number of officers and their armaments were no match for the regular army.

Additionally, the young Stuart whom Sarrot had sent to the royal palace failed to complete his mission. Before leaving Ruen, Salhir II had ordered that no one was to enter the palace until he himself returned. Consequently, the eldest prince's agent was unable to take control of the nation's most vital buildings.

But as a trade-off for forgoing the city's defense forces, Dolores successfully met with Duke Rodbael. Jenkins had assumed the Duke knew about the duel Salhir II had arranged for tonight, but he turned out to be completely unaware of it. He was even surprised by Dolores's sudden appearance.

The Duke thought all the Stuarts had accompanied the king—the real one—to the Fidektri Kingdom for the important Tri-King Summit.

“Jenkins, do you think Uncle Rodbael was telling the truth?”

Watching Dolores and Duke Rodbael converse on the board, Yani Stuart asked Jenkins from her seat at the table. Their relationship wasn't yet familiar enough for her to use his first name, but Jenkins had no interest in correcting her at the moment.

he replied, without a moment's hesitation.

“You see, Yani? Whether or not the young man across from me becomes the king of this land, he will be the enemy you and your siblings should fear most. Although Queen Isabella has grown a bit muddled lately, I must admit, the Middleton family is truly fortunate.”

Salhir II was not stingy with his praise for Jenkins, but Jenkins himself showed little reaction, continuing to hold his cat and gaze at the board.

Still in conversation, Dolores directly asked Duke Rodbael the reason for his visit to Ruen. After confirming he wasn't dreaming, the Duke initially refused to answer. But after Dolores demonstrated her abilities as a Benefactor and stated that she was the only Benefactor in the Stuart family for several generations, Rodbael hesitated.

Unlike the Fidektri and Cheslan Kingdoms, the harsh natural environment of the northern kingdom has instilled in its people a tradition of revering strength. Setting aside the significance of a Benefactor reappearing in the Stuart family, the power Dolores displayed alone was enough to make Duke Rodbael wonder if the young princess before him was destined to be the Stuart dynasty's first queen.

Of course, this peculiar line of thought was the chess piece at work.