[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-461":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100644,1437,"Chapter 461: A Second Offer and Childhood Jealousy","the-reborn-king-chapter-461",461,"\u003Cp>Outside the headmaster’s office, Jenny held her breath, terrified of what was about to happen. She wasn’t ignorant of the outside world and knew of everything that had happened to the Imperial family. The sudden summons made her heart skip a beat as she wondered if they suspected her of any involvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew the rumours and horror stories. Although she was proud to be an Ammay, she was terrified of the system in place around her. She loved the Empire and the opportunities it gave her, something she never dreamed possible as a woman, but it was a system built on blood and control. She just hoped that after becoming a teacher, she would be free from its grasp whilst still enjoying its privileges. Looking at the Headmaster’s door, she knew that was wishful thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps echoed within the corridor. Turning to look at the source of the noise, Jenny saw a smart-looking man, dressed to perfection, his eyes carrying a slight green tinge. Bardas spared a glance at the woman, knowing who she was, before letting himself into the Headmaster’s office. Once again, Jenny found herself sitting in silence, contemplating the future or what little she had left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened once again, Bardas poking his head out. \"Enter.\" She shot up on command and nervously walked in. The Headmaster had a grave expression, but said nothing as Bardas pulled out a slip of paper. \"These students will not return to your class. The Crown Prince will also not return. The Princess needs rest and will return when His Majesty deems it fit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenny stood still, finally able to breathe. Her worst fears instantly evaporated. \"Taking the paper, she saw the names of four boys, noticing that the names were those who hung around Balder. She wanted to ask what happened, but a nagging, panicked voice in the back of her mind told her that she didn’t want to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that all, my Lord?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" Bardas coldly said, \"His Majesty has realised that the safety of his children in the academy is no longer guaranteed. Heightened security will be placed within your class from this day on, and you have been tasked with keeping watch of any suspicious activity amongst the children in your class and other malicious entities that may be around. He doesn’t expect a teacher to notice those that are hidden, but the children are under your responsibilities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fixing his collar, Bardas turned to the Headmaster, \"I will take my leave.\" Nodding, he left the room, letting the two sigh in relief. The Headmaster rubbed his eyes before looking into Jenny’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You knew nothing about the incident with the Crown Prince nor the attack on the Princess?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not,\" Jenny nearly shouted in panic, \"I would never let the children come to harm.\" The Headmaster stared at her for a minute and sighed, waving her out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do better next time. I cannot protect you from any more failures. Luckily for you, the plot against the Princess did not involve any of the families of those in your class.\" Jenny gulped and nodded, bowing her head and running out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s done.\" Bardas climbed into the carriage Horace was waiting in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s innocent. If she did have an inkling of the attack, she hid it very well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s fine, it was a stretch to think she would be involved, but we had to make sure.\" Horace banged on the wall to get the carriage moving. \"Now then, Bardas, His Majesty is impressed with your work these past few years.\" Bardas sat up straight, sensing where the conversation was going. \"You’ve proven yourself loyal enough, and your information in Severia has proven vital in preparing for the coming war. Although he is mad that you couldn’t predict the attack, he doesn’t blame you for this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wouldn’t betray his Majesty as long as he remembers the deal,\" Bardas said with a friendly smile. Horace returned one and leaned on his hand, looking out the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, he is clear of that.\" The carriage went silent for a few seconds. After the brief silence, Horace turned back to face Bardas, \"He has an offer. The goal with Severia has changed. He is mad and wants revenge. If the opportunity arises, could you take the crown?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\" Bardas confidently answered, but seeing it wasn’t enough, he sighed, \"The nobles who lived under the Maximus banner are disloyal to Julius, but know there is no one with blood or the power to take the throne from him. If an opportunity arises, they will bend the knee, whether they’re happy about it or not. As for the east, Elias is slowly being shunned. Partly due to the rumours of marriage between Severia and Ammeria, and partly due to his distrust of Julius and the discovery of Theodosius. That old guy is smart enough not to say anything, and Julius is smart enough not to take any action.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bardas paused and rubbed his ring, \"As for Colchis, he’s loyal to himself. Only the North and Midlands will oppose a change of ruler.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So it’s possible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\" Horace gleefully smiled and chuckled at the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\" Horace carried on, \"Two things. First, you will marry Elizabeth Flanders to ensure a strong and lasting relationship.\" Bardas shrugged, not bothered by the condition, \"Secondly, in the event we fail, his Majesty has a second offer.\" Horace watched Bardas frown, \"If we cannot secure your place as Severian Emperor, his Majesty will offer you land across the ocean. You will be the administrator of a new colony. He believes your services deserve a reward, and we need people who have experience administering a vast amount of land.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He wants me gone if it fails.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Horace didn’t deny, \"But it’s not bad. You will become king on foreign soil, free to build a land as you see fit. Of course, this is under the condition that you remain loyal to the Empire and follow its basic laws, pay taxes, etc. If you dare try and act otherwise, it won’t end well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not what I want,\" Bardas said under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it a bad offer? You will have a new title in His Majesty’s government, Colonial Secretary. Whilst that will be your official title in government, His Majesty isn’t beyond letting those abroad call themselves whatever they want as long as it isn’t Emperor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bardas snorted and coldly smiled, \"If I get what I want, I will be an Emperor. You do forget this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If.\" Horace returned an equally cold smile to Bardas. \"You must understand how hard it will be to give you what you want. Even your defection to the Empire was a final gamble to get the Severian throne.\" Horace shrugged and sighed, \"He hasn’t given up on the original goal. His Majesty wants to know that his reign on the mainland will be unopposed. You in Severia is much better than being across the ocean. He just needs assurances that you won’t turn traitor if it fails, and this is his final one. If you can’t agree to this.\" Horace smirked, \"You’ll get nothing if we fail. No land, no titles, no fame. You will be a memory. Nothing more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his eyes, Bardas bitterly chuckled, \"A memory. He really is cruel. He knows I have no one else to turn to for this.\" Laughing louder, he deeply exhaled and sighed, \"Fine, whatever. If he wants to send me across the ocean to make me a king, so be it. But as long as I live, Severia will always be my target.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I expect nothing less.\" Patting Bardas’s knee in a friendly way, Horace flashed a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, \"But I will always be watching Bardas. One wrong move and our time together will mean nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bardas laughed and leaned backwards, unafraid of the threat, \"No wonder you have no friends. Well, other than that, Laska boy who’s terrified of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Balder sat in the corner of his room and watched. His words were colder than a child’s should be, as he observed the room before him. He watched as Astrid was pampered by the miads, happily laughing as they showed her many new gloves Alfred had made, all of them having a fake finger added to where Astrid’s one was missing. On the other side, Edward sat, silently reading a book, Abu by his side, making sure to meet his every need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down at himself and around him, Balder noticed that he was alone, none of the servants caring about him, in the face of his two siblings. Astrid would occasionally look over at him and smile, but that was all. She didn’t invite him to play like before, nor come over and talk to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened, and Alfred walked in. Looking at Astrid first, he checked to see if the gloves he had made were good enough, and once he was happy with them, glanced at Edward, thinly smiling. Finally, he looked at Balder and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, Balder would have felt happy, but for some reason, it seemed smaller for him than the other two. He hated it. Everything about it. Looking at his siblings, he understood instantly why they were treated so special. They were broken in one way or another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his own hand, Balder bent a finger, imagining if he was the one who lost it. Would he have been treated so nicely? Looking at Astrid, who laughed and showed off her new glove to everyone, he felt a pang of jealousy. All of them got something when hurt: Edward had his chair, and Astrid her gloves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t fair. He got nothing. Even now, Astrid monopolises Alfred’s attention, whereas before they shared his indifference. Huffing, he couldn’t take watching it anymore and stepped out of the room, heading to his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>----------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nightfall fell, and Balder opened his eyes. He had pretended to sleep at the same time as Astrid, and once she was sure she was sleeping, quietly crept out of bed towards the chest where she had carefully put her new gloves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening it, he grabbed one of them, rubbing the fake finger attached hidden under the silk covering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Balder.\" Astrid sat up, her voice tired but eyes wide awake. \"What are you doing?\" He froze, holding the glove, but then let out a deep breath and threw it to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not special.\" Balder knew he should have apologised, but the words came out faster than he could react. \"You’re just like Edward now. Broken.\" Staring at Astrid, he watched his sister’s lip curl up happily. He expected her to cry and was ready to apologise if she did, but seeing the happy, almost creepy smile, he felt something snap in his mind, \"Freak. Father will stop paying attention to you soon enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid’s smile grew wider, showing her white teeth. The door next door opened, Frida walking in with tired eyes. \"It’s bedtime. Go back to sleep, you two.\" Not caring about the argument, she grabbed Balder and put him into bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get off me!\" Balder struggled, but couldn’t get out of Frida’s clutches, \"You always take her side. All of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Balder, go to sleep. We will talk in the morning.\" Frida couldn’t be bothered and stuffed him under the covers, wrapping him up tightly so he couldn’t break free. Balder desperately tried but stopped when he realised he couldn’t get out. Turning his head to Astrid, he saw her still smiling at him with dim eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>--------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep in the night, Alfred walked into the room reserved for when the inner council gathered. Around the table, William, Issac, Charles, Abu, Catherine, Marcus and Horace sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive me for calling this so late, but the servants can’t be trusted to know anything at this time.\" Turning to face William, Alfred laughed, \"Old friend, I didn’t expect you to come back here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Neither did I, Your Majesty. Did my retirement mean nothing?\" The two shared a small laugh, with Alfred calming down first. Looking at the members, his smile dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough jokes.\" Leaning forward, he interlocked his fingers and leaned on them, scanning everyone, \"I’ve called you all here for one reason. The Severain War.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2058,"2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z","2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z",1,"novelbin.me","f54fc83f8e36d8cf15ab245bdc54984d455f4ab239445a05f7cff7dba4d97764","the-reborn-king-chapter-462","the-reborn-king-chapter-460",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]