Chapter 210: He’s Cheated
The poetry gathering fell into dead silence at these words. All eyes turned to Simon and his three companions.
Then another voice rang out. "Donald, you mustn’t make baseless accusations. What evidence do you have that Prince Simon cheated?"
"What a surprise, I didn’t expect the Prince of Sylvaris to be in Eldora as well," Simon said, looking at the speaker. It was none other than the Fifth Prince, Prince Gal.
"Your Highness, I am not speaking recklessly. Maxwell, Reece and Daniel are they not all talentless fools? How could their poems possibly catch Her Highness’s eye? I saw Prince Simon whispering to them earlier; he must have fed them the lines!" Donald declared.
Maxwell frowned. "Donald, what grudge do you hold against us? How dare you slander us like this? Explain yourself. What exactly do you want?"
The Prince of Sylvaris interjected with a smile. "Maxwell, there’s no need for anger. If Donald doubts your talent, simply compose another poem in front of Her Highness to prove yourself."
Simon’s gaze shifted between the Prince of Sylvaris and Donald. It was clear they were putting on an act, one playing the villain, the other the mediator.
Simon had already been furious with Prince Gal for obstructing his access to saltpetre. Combined with their past enmity in Eldora, his anger flared even hotter. Had he not mobilised the entire population of his domain to search for saltpetre, the siege of Dunmere might have ended very differently.
And now this bastard dared to stand before him and cause trouble again?
At Prince Gal’s words, Maxwell grew uneasy. Reece and Daniel were the same; after all, they had cheated.
Seeing their silence, Donald grew even bolder. "Hah! To think such frauds have infiltrated the Autumn Outing Poetry Gathering, what an insult to the eyes of all present! And for Prince Simon himself to abet such deceit, how laughable! This disgraces the imperial family!"
Prince Gal added. "Donald, you mustn’t say that. Prince Simon has long been a disgrace to the imperial family."
Malicious laughter rippled through the gathering.
Simon watched coldly. Prince Gal had finally shed his mask of false benevolence. He turned to Maxwell and asked. "Maxwell, what is the punishment for a nobleman who slanders a feudal prince?"
Maxwell hesitated, then replied. "Your Highness, the law dictates one hundred lashes for a noble who defames a prince."
"Good. Go outside and fetch a whip." Simon said, narrowing his eyes at Donald.
Prince Gal was his equal in rank; their feud was one thing. But who did this Donald think he was, daring to humiliate him? If he didn’t teach these people a lesson today, they would never realise that Prince Simon was no longer the laughingstock of old.
"Uh..." Maxwell gave Simon a strange look.
"Go, now!" Simon glared. Nodding, Maxwell hurried out.
Prince Gal and Donald were now thoroughly confused.
After a moment of silence, Prince Gal sneered. "Prince Simon, surely you don’t intend to brawl with me? Though I suppose you could always run crying to your mother again, as you used to."
Baldwin had warned him that his recent achievements would provoke jealousy among the other princes. Now, those words had come true; Prince Gal was clearly eager to be the first to strike.
If Simon endured this humiliation, he would become a laughingstock. But if he fought Prince Gal, the matter would inevitably reach Emperor Alaric, leading to reprimands and further censure from the court officials.
Yet Simon was not one to suffer in silence. "While I was shedding blood on the walls of Dunmere against the reavers, you were still suckling at some courtesan’s breast. You think you’re worthy of crossing blades with me?"
Prince Gal’s face flushed crimson.
Back in Eldora, he and Simon had always been at odds; both notorious troublemakers, their clashes were frequent.
Now that Simon had earned such glory, Prince Gal couldn’t bear it. Summoned to Eldora by the Emperor, he had been waiting for an opportunity to humiliate Simon.
After all, in the past, Simon had always been the one bullied.
Younger and with a mother of no significant influence, Simon could only complain to the Emperor and Lady Isolde after a beating.
And to Emperor Alaric, such quarrels had only ever warranted a stern scolding.
"Say that again if you dare!" Prince Gal roared.
"You’re beneath me." Simon shot back, unflinching. In his eyes, Prince Gal was even more despicable than the reavers; while the reavers were sworn enemies, Prince Gal was actively sabotaging the Eldorian Empire from within.
Just as the two were about to roll up their sleeves and fight, a sharp voice cut through the tension.
"Who dares to cause trouble at my poetry gathering?"
The curtain was drawn back, revealing layers of beaded screens shielding Princess Lisa and the other noblewomen.
"Greetings to Her Highness." The scholars chorused, bowing.
As their elder, Princess Lisa received the respect of both princes. "Prince Gal. Prince Simon. So it was you two. Have you brought your brawling to my gathering now?" She said sternly.
Simon replied. "Aunt, Prince Gal has falsely accused me of cheating and repeatedly insulted me. I could not endure such slander, hence our quarrel."
"Prince Gal, is this true?" Princess Lisa’s voice turned grave. "Your childish squabbles were one thing, but now, as feudal lords, how can you still act so recklessly?"
"Aunt, I only spoke out because I could not tolerate his cheating! I did this for your sake. Maxwell, Reece, and Daniel, everyone in Eldora knows they are talentless fools. How could they possibly have been selected?"
"You mean to say these four poems belong to Prince Simon and these three?" Princess Lisa frowned. She, too, knew of their reputations.
"Simon, as the Prince of Brambleford, how could you act so shamelessly? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Simon had cheated, but so had many of these scholars. Plenty had prepared chrysanthemum-themed poems in advance, only to be caught off guard when the theme changed to war poetry.
Compared to them, he was no worse.
He neither admitted nor denied it. "Aunt, how can you be certain they are incapable of composing such poems? If you doubt them, test them publicly. If they succeed, will you name them the winners?"
Princess Lisa hesitated. Simon’s confidence gave her pause. "Very well. I shall test them myself. Prince Gal, if you have falsely accused them, I will have words with your father."
"Understood, Aunt." Prince Gal said smugly. "And if I am right, I hope you will expose Prince Simon’s disgraceful conduct."
At that moment, Maxwell returned with a horsewhip in hand.
Princess Lisa said. "Elin, you shall set the challenge. Let us see their true skill."