Chapter 5
"Am I feeding you all just so you can sit back and watch those Northern Tribes barbarians storm right up to our doorstep?" the King roared.
None of the officials dared to utter a word.
Tommy's eyes flickered with a sly glint as he stepped forward.
"Father, please calm your anger," he said. "The Northern Tribes are just a minor itch, nothing to worry about.
"I think they're just here to scavenge during the harvest, hoping to grab a little something from our kingdom.
"As long as our soldiers at the pass stand firm, they won't get anything out of it and will just turn back."
His words drew a chorus of agreement from the peace faction officials.
"Tommy is absolutely right," one of them chimed in.
"Making a big deal out of such a minor issue would just waste our resources and trouble the people," another added.
Jamie stepped forward, his brows tightly knit as he spoke up to challenge.
"Father, Tommy is mistaken," Jamie said. "The Northern Tribes have wolfish ambitions. Gathering a hundred thousand troops is far more than just a simple harvest raid.
"Northgate Pass is our shield in the north. If it falls, their cavalry will charge straight through, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Please send reinforcements to the Northlands at once, and have the Duke of the North take command to boost the troops' morale."
Jamie spoke with conviction, his words echoing through the hall.
My father, the Duke of the North, Alexander, who had been resting quietly with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
But he didn't say a word.
All eyes were fixed on the King.
The King remained silent for a long time.
He glanced at Jamie, who looked so sincere, and then shifted his gaze to Alexander, standing calmly off to the side.
Finally, a flicker of suspicion and displeasure crossed his face.
"You're overthinking it, Jamie," the King said.
His voice carried an air of authority that brooked no argument.
He continued, "Alexander has served this country for thirty years. Now that he's back in Valemont City to rest, how could I trouble him with such a minor matter?
"The commander at the border was chosen by me personally. I trust them.
"Pass on my command: Blaze Rivas, the commander at Northgate Pass, is to hold his position and not provoke the enemy.
"This matter is settled. No more discussion."
The King's word was final.
Jamie's face was drained of all color.
His lips parted, ready to plead his case, but the King's icy glare froze him in place.
Tommy's lips curled into a smug smirk.
The court was full of unseen tensions, with undercurrents swirling everywhere.
This wasn't just a debate about war or peace anymore.
It was a blatant, bare-knuckle power play.
The King would rather risk the border falling than give up control of the army.
He'd do anything to hold back our Gibson family's growing reputation.
After the court session, Jamie walked ahead, looking utterly defeated.
My father, Alexander, passed by him, slowing his steps for a moment.
He didn't say a word, just shot Jamie a look full of unspoken meaning.
Then he walked away, not looking back.
I could just imagine that look—a thorn, stabbing straight into Jamie's heart.
It would haunt him all night.
It would plant seeds of doubt in his mind, making him wonder just what kind of massive scheme might be hiding behind this so-called "minor issue."
I got word from my father.
That pointed look he gave Jamie in court was just the opening move.
Now, it was up to me to take the next step.
I needed to let everyone see for themselves just how stupid the King's decision really was.
I had to get Jamie to come over to our side—willingly.
Getting in and out of the Prince's Palace—even with all its tight security—was never a problem for me.
But I decided to go with the safest, most straightforward, and legitimate approach.
As the Crown Princess, I paid my respects to the Queen and told her I wanted to go to the Grand Abbey outside the city to pray for our country's peace.
It was a flawless, official-sounding reason.
The Queen had always been devout, and she was glad to see her son's unwanted wife keep her distance from all the palace drama.
She agreed right away and even sent a royal procession to accompany me.
No one would ever suspect there was any hidden agenda behind a simple prayer trip.
The carriage rocked as it rolled out through the city gates.
Along the main road to the Grand Abbey, there was a quiet coffeehouse hidden off to the side.
My father, Alexander, was already there, waiting for me.
I waved off the attendants, leaving only Presley with me as we headed into a private booth at the teahouse.
My father was just wearing his everyday clothes, his temples touched with a bit of gray.
But his eyes were still sharp as a hawk from the Northlands.
"Michelle, is everything in place?" he asked.
I gave him a respectful nod as I poured him a cup of coffee.
"Rest assured, Father. I know exactly what to do," I replied.
We skipped the pleasantries and got straight down to business.
My father took out a leather map from his coat and handed it to me.
"This is a confidential map of the Northern Tribes' troop positions, but it's only partially reliable," he said.
I unfolded the map, and instantly understood what my father was getting at.
This was a map with nine fake locations and only one real one.
Of all the supply depots marked, just one actually existed.
And that real depot was hidden away in an extremely secret spot.
The rest were nothing but traps.
I said, "Dad, you want to..."
For a moment, my father's eyes turned sharp and icy.