Chapter 903: Kesh's Answer

The council chamber held every faction that was still important in Meraval. Canal House representatives occupied one side, the Ancients another, Tide officers sat beneath the gallery, and the five heirs faced the central floor from separate seats.

Vaelis, Lyren, Nerith, Corvyn and Ilyra were all present. None of the other observers had been admitted; Lucard, Zafira, Rhosyn and the rest remained outside because the council was now dealing with Myrrhvale's succession and the crimes around it.

Trafalgar was the only exception because his own actions were part of the case. He had broken restrictions, entered sealed areas and taken part in Kesh's capture, so the council still had to decide what to do with him.

The Tide already had a new admiral seated near Corvyn's faction. Myrrhvale had replaced Kesh quickly, making it clear that the fleet would continue functioning without the man who had commanded it for years.

Kesh stood under guard in the center of the chamber. His wounds had been treated after the fight, but he looked worse than Trafalgar expected, with less color in his face and a faint tremor passing through his fingers every few minutes.

Ithanne finished reading the official record. She covered Nyssara's illness, Halvic Meer's departure, Emric Varn's dead signature, the warehouse, the closed crossings, Rhavel's men, the Deep Chambers and the original command ledger recovered during Kesh's capture.

Every document had been copied, sealed and witnessed under Myrrhvale authority. Several instructions had also reached Kesh through coded channels and intermediaries, proving that he had not created every part of the operation himself.

"Kesh Varlan," Ithanne said. "You swore loyalty to House Myrrhvale and served this family for most of your life. Why did you betray it?"

Kesh remained silent for several seconds before answering, while Corvyn watched him from across the chamber.

"Because Myrrhvale had become weak."

"We were treated like a lesser power while the other Great Families expanded around us. Nyssara watched it happen and called restraint wisdom. Then she became ill, and her children spent two years accusing one another while the house stopped moving."

Kesh looked across the five heirs before continuing.

"I spent my life commanding the force that kept this territory alive. I watched administrators and heirs make decisions while the fleet dealt with the consequences. Eventually I stopped seeing a reason they should be the only people deciding what Myrrhvale became."

Corvyn leaned forward, his expression hardening.

"So you were using me."

"Yes. You were the easiest."

Corvyn's face changed immediately, and Kesh continued before anyone else could speak.

"You trusted the fleet. You wanted strength after two years of paralysis, and you already believed the others were incapable of leading. I gave you reasons to move where I needed you."

Corvyn stared at him without answering. Trafalgar remembered how certain he had been that The Tide supported his claim because it believed in him; Kesh had simply used that loyalty for his own plans.

Ithanne kept her eyes on Kesh when she spoke again.

"Since House Myrrhvale was founded, our people have served this family because protecting the house means protecting Meraval. Generals advise, administrators advise, and the fleet protects. None of us stands above the family because we decide we could govern it better."

"If you thought centuries of loyalty would disappear because you wanted power, then you were a fool. Now answer what you keep avoiding. Who convinced you this could work?"

Kesh looked at her and gave a short laugh without any amusement. Before anyone could ask another question, his breath caught and dark violet-red blood ran from the corner of his mouth.

Trafalgar stood as Kesh tried to wipe it away. More followed immediately, his knees weakened, and one of the guards caught him before he hit the floor as something reacted against Trafalgar's chest.

[Heirloom of the First Lord – Unique Rank]

[Noble Blood detected.]

Trafalgar stared at the notification. He had expected a hidden weapon or suicide capsule, but the heirloom was reacting to something already circulating through Kesh's body.

"Physician!" Ithanne shouted. "Now!"

Guards cleared space while two healers rushed in and lowered Kesh to the floor. One checked his breathing while the other forced mana through his chest and neck, but the dark blood kept appearing around his mouth.

The tremor, weakness and loss of color reminded Trafalgar of Nyssara's medical records. Her deterioration had taken months; whatever was inside Kesh was producing similar symptoms in minutes.

Kesh opened his eyes once, and Trafalgar moved closer.

"Who was above you?"

Kesh looked directly at him and tried to speak. Nothing came out, his breathing failed again, and the older healer forced Trafalgar away while they continued working.

Several minutes passed before both physicians stopped. Ithanne looked down at them and already understood the answer from their faces.

"He's dead?"

"Yes."

The chamber went quiet again, but nobody looked relieved. Ithanne returned to her place and faced the factions before looking toward Vaelis.

"Kesh Varlan is dead. His death changes none of the evidence entered today, and it makes one thing clear: this investigation does not end with him."

"The record also establishes that First Heir Vaelis di Myrrhvale did not participate in Nyssara's murder. His destruction of evidence and concealment of information remain separate matters and will be judged separately."

The five heirs looked toward one another after two years of accusations, hidden information and attempts to protect people close to them. Trafalgar had seen enough of his own family to recognize how quickly blood and power could turn relatives into opposing sides.

Corvyn was the first to address his brother.

"Vaelis, why did you stay silent for two years? We could have avoided half of this."

Vaelis looked toward Ilyra before answering.

"Because I found out what happened to Mother, and someone had used Ilyra to do it."

Ilyra froze while Vaelis kept his attention on Corvyn.

"She didn't know what she was carrying. If I cleared my name, everyone would've looked at her next. You know what people were saying about me. What do you think they would've done to a thirteen-year-old girl they thought poisoned the Matriarch?"

Corvyn remained silent, and Vaelis continued without raising his voice.

"I could survive the accusation. I still had supporters, and none of you could move against me openly without proof. Ilyra didn't have that protection, so I let the blame remain with me."

Vaelis turned fully toward his brother, his attention moving away from Ilyra.

"Now answer mine. Why did you order the fleet deployment after all of this started coming out? Were you trying to start a civil war and remove the rest of us while the house was already falling apart?"