vncnus Chapter 540 Parchment
Chapter 540 Parchment
Chapter 540 Parchment
The stables at Buckingham Castle always smelled terrible.
Caroline returned the horses and the troops, and Alain Barlow entered the palace with only Diego and two generals.
As an official, Caroline had the freedom to move around most of the place, so she knew the layout of the castle like the back of her hand.
However, she still had palace patrol officers escort them there.
As soon as they entered the palace, Finley and Lucien left the group, claiming that their mission was complete.
It's easy to guess what the two are thinking; the current situation is definitely not in line with the expectations of their respective masters.
They were unsure of the impact this development would have on the overall situation.
Therefore, it is necessary to leave in advance to report the intelligence, so as to give the masters room to respond and act.
But Caroline needed an outsider to witness the conversation, so she didn't have any further conversations with the Barlow family representatives.
That's why she had the patrol officers escort her.
Of course, Diego is also a third party.
However, during this incident, he was assigned to be Caroline's bodyguard, and he was at the prime of his youth, while Caroline happened to be beautiful and charming.
Although this doesn't prove anything, Caroline doesn't want to be suspected or targeted by those people.
Therefore, Caroline must not leave any evidence, and three people together form a crowd.
Soon, they all arrived at the audience hall.
Any matters not related to family or social interactions must be completed here.
Caroline was already very familiar with the layout of this place.
The soldiers stood in a row with the pillars.
The throne is located at the deepest part of the palace.
Beside the throne lies the colossal platinum book, which records secrets that only those with exceptional talent can read.
Two guardian knights, dressed in white and gold robes, stood in front of the great ceremonial hall.
There was also a small chair on the side, which was the chair that the Prime Minister sat in when he was acting as Prime Minister.
They need to wait here.
Soon, Finance Minister Massimo, accompanied by the eldest prince, entered the audience hall.
But then, the eldest princess joined the audience.
Lucien and Finley were behind them.
Seeing that the team was fully assembled, and neither side had the opportunity to preemptively make a separate plan against Alain Barlow —
Caroline knew she had won.
The eldest prince and the eldest princess each found a cushioned chair below the throne and sat down.
Massimo stood between the two, ready to proceed with the procedure.
He cleared his throat, looking slightly nervous.
Caroline could understand, after all, he was being plotted against.
Who is below?
Alan was silent for a moment, seemingly uneasy about the current situation, but he quickly spoke up: "I am Alan Barlow, and I am here on behalf of my father to pay the taxes owed by the family."
"Then, hand over your debt."
Alan's weapons had been confiscated by the guards before he entered the palace.
However, he was still wearing armor, and he remained a significant threat to the samurai.
Whether it was because he was worried that Alan had ulterior motives, or because there were three Guardian Knights present at the same time, Massimo let him get closer.
Alan walked up to Massimo, took the small bag tied around his waist, and handed it to the latter.
Massimo took the bag, his expression immediately turning suspicious as he stared intently at Alan.
But he still opened the bag.
Inside, there was only a piece of parchment that had been rolled up and sealed with wax.
Massimo could not hide his shock as he looked into the bag.
His forehead, already lined with wrinkles, suddenly transformed into a layered loaf of bread: "Where's the money?"
Alan said, "That's it."
Massimo picked up the roll of parchment, shook it twice in his hand: "You call this money?"
I call it tax.
"Nonsense."
Massimo was so angry that his face turned green, and he spat as he spoke. He immediately turned to the eldest prince and said, "Your Highness, look at me! I have been dutifully performing my duties. I am clearly a member of the Barlow family. Yet he has been so arrogant and disrespectful, showing no regard for the Sinclair family. Now, in Platinum Castle, beneath the throne, before this grand ceremony, he still dares to mock us like this. Please see the truth."
The eldest prince also frowned slightly, but was noticeably calmer than Massimo.
He squinted, staring intently, then slowly spoke: "Tell me, Sir, what do you want to tell us with this?"
"Come on," Caroline thought, "you only have one last scene to finish."
Alan replied, "Please open it."
Despite his continued doubts, Massimo broke the wax seal and unfolded the parchment.
But after he read the contents of the paper, he was immediately dumbfounded.
The eldest prince noticed his unusual behavior and quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Massimo immediately went over and handed the parchment to the eldest prince.
After reading it, the eldest prince immediately looked puzzled and fell into deep thought, clearly trying to figure out what was going on.
However, the eldest princess sitting opposite him was not happy at this moment.
She asked, "What exactly are you plotting?"
Even the eldest prince was not alarmed, but instead asked, "I should be asking you, sister."
The eldest princess looked surprised: "What?"
The prince returned the parchment to Massimo and gestured with his chin. The treasurer then followed instructions and delivered the parchment to the eldest princess.
The eldest princess quickly read the document, then looked at Alan Barlow in the middle: "A loan?"
"That's right, to borrow money from Your Highness?"
"This is a forgery! You are framing and slandering the royal family!" Her Highness's eyes flashed with malice. "Guards, seize this man and investigate whether anyone instructed him to do this."
"Wait!" Alan shouted, "This isn't a forgery, it's just a loan agreement signed on your behalf—"
With that, Alan faced the eldest princess and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness, please be sure to provide financial assistance to the Balo family."
The Barlow family's debts were merely a weapon for the eldest princess to achieve her political goals; therefore, anyone who dared to fund the Barlow family would be regarded by her as a political enemy to be opposed and attacked.
Unless, of course, that person is herself.
The eldest princess seemed a little confused: "You mean, you're asking me to lend you money now?"
"That's right."
"dream!"
"Your Highness, I wish to become your subordinate or bodyguard," Alan shouted.
"I don't need you, the Guardian Knights will protect me."
"And I also severely wounded a Guardian Knight!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Diego.
Diego was not wearing a helmet. He nodded in response to the crowd's gaze and pointed to the swollen and slightly inflamed wound on his head.
At this moment, Alan continued, "This is proof of my strength. I believe that one day I will be able to become your strength. Please allow me to pledge my loyalty to you. As a meritorious family of the kingdom, the Barlow family's righteous assistance will surely become a celebrated story among the powerful families."
And right now you need fame—Caroline thought.
The eldest princess narrowed her eyes: "I don't dislike men who dare to take risks—"