His challenge still hung in the air. I looked around for help, but both Octin and Octius seemed at a loss for words. I was hoping that Alysia would appear and make things clear, but I guess that was too much to hope for.
“My King! Please allow me to postpone this marriage for a brief spat so that I may send this man on his way to death!” The general turned around and called out.
Another Osterian stood up. He was wearing a fine robe and suit that I wouldn’t have been surprised to see on Prince Edward’s body. This was the king of the Ost Republic? Wait! Wasn’t this a republic? Why was there a king anyway?
“Alysia is my sister, and you will soon be my brother-in-law.” The other man said in a calm voice, his lips lifted slightly in a grin. “How could I deny you this request?”
“My lord!” This time, I was glad to see General Octin step forward. “Deek Deekson is an upper noble of Aberis. You can’t expect us to stand by and allow you to just kill him! From what I understand, this custom hasn’t been honored in over a hundred years.”
“That’s only because the Demon Lord Aberis was controlling these parts over the last one hundred years!” General Nova shrugged. “Technically, every law that passed over from old Osteria is archaic until we decide to use it again.”
“That still means it hasn’t been used in the last twenty years…”
“There hasn’t been a royal wedding in twenty years. The former queen refused marriage. Her children are the last of her line.” General Nova continued. “That only makes it more prudent for the continuation of royalty that she not be tempted, especially by some foreign human.”
“I demand that this go through a vote with the council…” Octin declared.
There were a ton of groans at these words.
“The bride and groom are Osterian.” This time, it was the King who spoke up. “Osterians follow the King, it is humans who follow the council, and this human isn’t from the Ost Republic, so there is no reason to consult the council in this.”
The government sounded complicated, but it looked like every species had its representation. The Osterians followed a king, while the humans consulted a council. However, I imagined that seeing as the Osterians were the muscle of the country, what the king said the council often had to agree with. In other words, they were there just for show to give the humans a feeling like they have some power, all while the Osterian line ruled the country. I was beginning to understand why a sword in the stone story would develop in this country where humans were being secretly oppressed.
“If you are so worried…” General Nova waved his hand. “Then I promise if he surrenders, I will not kill him. He only needs to admit he is inferior to me.”
“Even so-” General Octin stopped after I touched his shoulder.
“It’s okay.” I stepped in front of him and up to General Nova. “I accept your challenge. Let’s fight!”