Chapter 269

Chapter 269: Chapter 269

Despite the presence of lots of guests with the rank of earl and above, nobody clinked their glasses. They just relished food without chattering.

At first, they were cautious because they were not sure of the emperor's intentions, but in no time they began to feel relaxed one by one. Some of them still squinted at the two High Priests, but most of them were enjoying food in a relaxed mood. Suddenly, I heard them chatting here and there, and the servants and maids were busy moving around to fill their wine glasses.

How much time passed? The luncheon, which started with a light appetizer, was finished after some time.

The emperor, who just finished having dessert, said, folding the napkin, "I hope everyone had a good time."

"Of course, Your Majesty. We're so grateful for your warm considerations."

"Thank you for saying so. Hmm..."

He slurred for a moment, then said abruptly, tapping the table with his index finger, "I can't delay it anyway. Are you outside? Let them come in."

The nobles who were puzzled by his unexpected announcement were even more dumbfounded to see a couple of men when the door opened. Of course, some hardened their faces.

"I, Ally Corona, am honored to greet the Sun of the empire."

"I, Herod Stra, am honored to greet the Sun of the empire."

The man and woman in white clothes, who bowed to the emperor politely, were holding something in their hands. The nobles began to whisper after finding out what they were holding.

"Aren't they medical testers? Do you know why they appeared here?"

"I have no idea. Are they holding silver pointers now?"

"Silver pointers? If that's true..."

"Everyone, be quiet," the emperor said coldly when they were whispering.

Looking around them coldly, he leaned against his back, with his hands folded, then said in a drowsy voice, "Some time ago, I suddenly passed out. At the time, I took it lightly because I thought I fell because of overwork. The more I thought about it, the more strange I felt. Basically I was physically strong. How could I collapse because of that?

He continued, making some mysterious smile which usually came to his lips when he was very displeased.

"So I pondered over it for the past several days. Strangely enough, my condition was like I was poisoned. "

"What are you talking about, Your Majesty?"

"Poisoned? How is that possible?"

"That's nonsense! Who could dare poison the ruler of the empire?"

There were whispers, swallowing and screaming here and there among the nobles. Their mixed reactions were natural because when confirmed, there would be a bloody crackdown on the suspects and their factions.

"You are denying the possibility that I was poisoned...So, I'm going to do a simple test in front of you today. This shouldn't bring about any doubt or suspicion. I think it is most fair to do the poison detection test in front of everyone. "

"..."

"Medical testers, start the test immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The man and woman, who bowed politely, took the dishes, then began to check closely.

I looked up at the head table, while watching them scrape the plates with the silver pointers after dropping some powder and taking out reagent to check its chemical reaction. Unlike the nervous expression of the nobles watching them nervously, he looked indifferent as if he was uninterested.

Well, it was natural that he showed such a nonchalant reaction because he was aware of the results.

Three days ago, I received a letter from the High Priest, which said that he succeeded in obtaining the poison and its antidote that I had asked him to recently in return for investigating the corruption of the top priests at the temple. As I received the good news when I was pretty busy, I asked him to convey the poison and its antidote to the emperor, and he granted my request immediately. The emperor was now testing it.

Regardless of whether he could find the criminal who tried to harm the emperor, it was certain that the medical testers would detect poison on the plates. That's why I asked the High Priest to obtain the antidote, too, in addition to the poison in question.

'Duke Jenna, what are you going to do now?'

Unfortunately, I could not find any direct evidence that the duke was responsible for instigating this poisoning even though I obtained his family seal. I tried my best to find the related documents supporting his involvement, but it was in vain.

Given that he was taking the daughter of the man in charge of imperial wines as hostage and that he had been in close contact with the senior priests who smuggled the poison, the duke was the true culprit, and he could be punished for that.

When I turned and looked, I saw the stubborn old man watching the testers nonchalantly, and the purple-haired middle-aged man was staring at me.

"I've got the test results, Your Majesty."

"Report to me!"

"I'm sorry to report, but what you guessed is right. I've detected poison."

"Poison!"

At that moment, there was a sharp silence. Who could say anything when poison was detected in the food served for the emperor?

Glancing over them who were shocked with fear and at a loss what to do, he said, "Poison was detected in my food. Is anybody among you here who has dared to harm me?"

"Well, I think you might misunderstand, Your Majesty. Who could dare do this...?"

"Misunderstanding? Can you say that when you see this clear evidence?"

Earl Hamel shut up when he saw the reagents whose color changed. Looking at him who was silent, he said, with his mouth turned up a bit, "Well, I might be mistaken. Okay, let me ask them. As we have the High Priests here, let me ask them if they could check if my food had poison or now. Let me have them check if I was poisoned, too."

"..."

"High Priest, can I ask both of you a favor?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

The two High Priests stepped forward after bowing to him.

While the white-haired High Priest checked the emperor's condition, the blonde high priest recited a prayer in a small voice and put his hand into the reagent bottle. At that moment, the liquid that had turned red in the brilliant white light recovered its original color.

"That is...! "

"It's poison!"

Moaning came out from the nobles here and there.

Then the High Priest announced in a mysterious voice, "Yes, it's certainly poison, Your Majesty. As the Fourth Root of Vita, I, Quartus, can conclude it's poison, swearing on my divine power."

"I agree. Besides, I, Secondus, can say, swearing on my divine power, that you have been poisoned now."

When the two High Priests said that definitely, silence mixed with fear fell on the conference room.

Looking around with cold eyes, the emperor said, "The two High Priests testified, swearing on their divine power, that it is poison. Do you still want to argue that I was mistaken?"

"..."

"As of now, I order all the nobles to stay home. I will convene a big meeting at this time tomorrow. So, every noble in the capital should attend. This is my order as the emperor. If you violate it, you will be regarded as participating in treason, and you will be executed immediately." "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I would like to trust you, so don't behave rashly."

Then, he stood up coldly. Leaving them still trembling with shock behind, he left. The door was closed with a bang.

'So, is this the start of the crackdown that I have been waiting for so long?'

A satisfied smile came to my lips.

The next day the big meeting was held as expected.

Only

The big conference hall, which I had not visited after a long time, was huge. Typically, there were vacant seats here and there, but today all the seats were fully packed with the nobles who took the emperor's warning very seriously yesterday.

"The Sun of the empire is entering!"

When the protocol officer announced, everybody stood up and bowed to him who sat at the head table. They were unusually polite today.

"Loyalty to the Lion, we're honored to see the Sun of the empire."

"Glory to the empire! Please sit down. "

As soon as he said that coldly, the spacious conference hall was filled with the sound of them taking seats for a moment. After confirming that they were seated, the protocol officer opened a long piece of paper.

"Glory to the great Castina Empire! May the bright sunshine..."

"Stop there. Let's skip the introduction and get to the point."