Julius found himself thoroughly unsettled. Despite his meticulous planning and calculated moves, Rufus’s return alive was an unforeseen twist he found difficult to accept.
In fact, it wasn’t Julius alone who was unsettled. Elijah and the other generals were equally stunned, their faces drained of color.
The only reason they found the courage to join Julius in his rebellion was due to Rufus’ death. They would never have dreamed of committing such treasonous acts if Rufus had been alive.
“What a lively day. There’s so many familiar faces in the crowd,” Rufus remarked as he took his time walking out of the gates.
The crowd instinctively made way for him.
“Rufus! But you-!” Eloise struggled to find words, her expression a mix of bewilderment and disbelief.
She had personally witnessed Rufus being impaled through the chest with a sword and saw him take his last breath. She had even arranged his funeral. She couldn’t understand how a dead man could come back to life!
“Don’t worry. I’m not a ghost,” Rufus assured with a faint smile.
“The assassin’s strike nearly took my life. Fortunately, I was able to survive by protecting my heart with internal energy.”
“Rufus! Why didn’t you inform us earlier? Do you realize how heartbroken we were?” Eloise’s eyes welled up with tears.
After Rufus’ supposed death, she had endured profound grief. Yet, she had to restrain her emotions for the sake of the monarchy.
As she arranged his funeral, she still had to navigate the world of politics and guard against those with ambitious intentions.
“Eloise, thank you for your hard work over the past few days.” Rufus reached out to wipe away her tears.
He then smiled and said, “The reason I faked my death was to take the opportunity to recover from my injuries. On the other hand, I also wanted to see if chaos would ensue after my death.”
As he said this, his gaze suddenly shifted over to Julius and his cohorts. ” Unfortunately, things did not unfold in the right direction. Some of you have truly disappointed me.”
After the attempt on his life, Rufus decided to turn the tables and fake his death to gauge the reactions of those around him.
Unexpectedly, the monarchy underwent a significant transformation in just a few days. And at the same time, it revealed the true colors of those harboring sinister motives.
Given the current circumstances, he had no choice but to reveal himself and put an end to the unfolding drama.
“Dad! I’m glad you’re okay!” Austin’s initial shock transformed into excitement.
He then reported, “While you were recovering from your injuries, Julius had joined forces with the Northern Four Sovereigns and started a rebellion.
“He even seized the Marshal’s military insignia. His actions are audacious!”
“I’m already aware.” Rufus nodded and gazed calmly at Julius.
“Julius, as the Grand General of the Iron Stallion Cavalry, you wield unparalleled authority. Was that not enough to satisfy your ambitions?
“Why did you stray down this misguided path? Do you know how many lives have been lost because of your actions?”
Julius’ face darkened, and he remained silent. Whether it was due to nervousness or fear, his body trembled slightly. And the sword in his hand wobbled.
