.
"Hmmm... The palace looks same as the last time I saw it, nothing has changed, huh? How boring..."
"This-"
"Hmmm... Old snake what are you staring at? Your wrinkled face gives me horrific shivers, please do everyone a favour and go hide in a hole or something."
"You-!"
"Hmmm?... Is there something one my face? Then buzz off! You are annoying me now!"
"The nerv-!"
"Hmmm... What a good perfume? Is it custom made?... Wow! That's awesome!"
"My, my..."
"Hmmm... Lady that purple dress really suits you~"
"Hehe..."
"Hmmm... My, my you sure have changed a lot Emilia~ You look more beautiful the last time I saw you."
"A-ahhh..."
"You also look more wise as you have matured, but sadly the same can't be said for your mother. She looks more stuck-up and insane, is it the old age? Eh? It must be embarrassing having to look up to such a bad example of a ruler right?"
"That..."
"Shut the hell up!" Anna couldn't take it anymore and screamed in anger and embarrassment.
The guy had been babbling nonstop as soon as he had been led to the Royal Court by Fergu who was the only one be the Kenzeth seemed to listen to.
The news of the return of the infamous 'Exiled Prince' had spread across the whole country like a wild fire. The first individual from from the Royal Family to be exiled to 'The World Below' for comitting a crime against the second Princess also became the first exile who managed to return alive from the land of beasts.
This isn't something one gets too see everyday and naturally this had caught the attention of many powerful people both good and bad. Many had rushed to the Palace to see how Prince after five years.
This many powerful individual coming to the Royal Palace would have been a good sign any other day as the Empress would have managed to get support of the majority of the people but Kenzeth here didn't seem to share the same sentiments as her.
Kenzeth spoke to anyone who approached him without any restrain. He would either compliment or insult anyone straightforwardly without any regards of their image or position.
Though the amount of people he offended easily exceeded the amount he befriended but no one had dared say anything no matter who they were.
There was a strange aura around Kenzeth that would make everyone's chest tighten in fear if they even though about back mouthing him.
Even though Anna's instincts were telling her that agitating Kenzeth was a bad idea but the shame and embarrassment was too much for her and she if she had kept quiet then she was sure she would have ripped her hair out in rage.
"See? Getting riled up so easily~ It's still a wonder that the country is still in one piece with a ruler like her whos tolerance is worse than an infant's." Kenzeth snickered as Emilia who was standing near him had to stufle a giggle at Kenzeth's witty jabs at the Anna's intelligence.
Now the tolerance part wasn't true. Anna had a lot of tolerance and patience it was required of her to posses these two qualities to become a ruler. It's just that Kenzeth exactly knew how to push her buttons and get a rise out of her.
"You rogue! How dare you-!"
"Please forgive my interruption your Highness, but I think it will be better if you talk a deep breath and calm down. Getting angered will get us nowhere." Fergu, the wise elder interwined before the Empress lost her cool and she physically attacked Kenzeth which he knew is what Kenzeth is aiming for. "And you Kenzeth... You shouldn't tease her Highness like that."
"Awww... You are no fun Grandpa but well, f*ck it... Just get these Royal Bitches to point then other wise don't blame me if I do something 'rude'." Kenzeth said as he openly threatened them in a very casual manner.
Emilia looked at Kenzeth with shock. It was still hard for her to believe that Kenzeth has changed so much.
"What? Living in a gianta*s forest with bloodthirsty animals will change anyone." Kenzeth stated in slight irritation as if he read Emilia's thoughts.
Emilia blushed in embarrassment for being too obvious and looked away to calm her erratic heart. This was the first time she has ever felt like this and she couldn't help but feel ashamed as the reason of this was her own brother.
'This... This is so wrong!'
"Ahem... Alright let the session begin." Anna began after calming herself. "I, Anna Marsh will question subject, Kenzeth Marsh regarding a matter that needs to be addressed to satisfy the curiosity of the people of Rising Heaven."
"Eh? Isn't this bullsh*t just to satisfy your own curiosity? Why disguised your intentions? Damn... You truly are rotten to the core" Kenzeth couldn't help himself and spat out in distaste. "And subject? Who the f*ck is your subject? I ain't no damn servant of yours! I answer no one!"
"This guy... Isn't he too arrogant?!"
"Wow... What a brave young man?!"
"The nerve of this guy... Acting high and mighty infront of her highness! Bastard! Don't be so full of yourself!"
Kenzeth's words got a reaction from the crowd. The words he said sounded so arrogant but the firmness in his voice was enough to tell everyone that he really believed in his words.
Anna didn't know what to say and just sat their with her mouth open. Ruling the country after the death of her husband she was used to the respect and the high level of obedience the people had towards her, when this guy infront of her acted rebelliously and refused to answer her, she didn't know how react.
Luckily for her sanity Fergu was there to help her.
"Please Kenzeth..." Fergu rubbed his temples as he already felt exhausted. "Just listen to her highness."
"What the hell Grandpa?! Why am I being questioned like a criminal?!" Kenzeth asked as Anna finally rebutted as she gained her bearings.
"Quite you rogue! Technically you are still a criminal for your crimes against the second Princess and it's required for me to treat you like own." Anna said in a matter of fact tone. "Be quite and answer otherwise I'll have you executed!"
"Shut the f*ck up wretched woman! You think I'm afraid if your threats?! I, Kenzeth have no fear for a mortal who was born from dust. If one threatens me then I shall reduce him to dust and shall stomp on his remains!"
Kenzeth was agitated. The playfulness was gone and was replaced by a cold look of a warrior that bad even Fergu who was a veteran shiver slightly.
Kenzeth took a deep breath to calm his rage that was threatning to burst from its shackles.
"You are really getting on my nerves. Ah! By the way, aren't you the same woman who said that all my crimes would be written off if I managed to return alive from 'The World Below' no questions asked, huh?" Kenzeth asked in a mocking tone causing Anna to visibly flinch. "Well, well aren't you going back on your words now?"
"I-"
"Should have known better than to believe the words of a woman who willingly sacrificed her own flesh for a few sack of gold and goddamned glory." If words could kill then Anna's body would probably be mutilated by now.
"That's enough Kenzeth!" Fergu exerted his pressure as he bellowed. After a while he stopped and spoke softly. "Please... Answer you mother's question just this once. I promise you no harm will come to you."
"Tch. You are too kind for your own good Grandpa. If it weren't for your interference then I would have leveled this palace to ground by now." Kenzeth state on a matter-of-fact tone and everyone shuddered. "Tch. Whatever! Just ask the question and be done with it."
"Thank you Kenzeth." Fergu smiled kindly before he turned towards Anna with a neutral look. "Please ask you questions your Highness."
"Sigh... Alright then. Let's begin." Anna sighed tiredly but proceeded with her questions. "Kenzeth Marsh, five years ago you were exiled for your crimes to 'The World Below', which is a place filled with Demonic Beasts. Do tell the Court how you managed to survive."
"Eh? Seriously? I survived so what? I mean isn't it just a place filled with Demonic Beasts. If one knows the proper way to deal with them then anyone can survive." Kenzeth said casually causing the crowd to swallow.
"Do not fool around! No one before you has ever managed to return alive. No matter how powerful or resourceful they were, that makes the Court wonder how a cripple like you, managed to return alive in a single piece and not only that but you somehow gained the ability to cultivate which itself is impossible. How will you explain that?" Anna asked while narrowing her eyes.
No matter how many times she thought about it but it still numbed her with shock that Kenzeth was no longer a cripple and was able to cultivate and it seemed that he was quite strong to as she was unable to tell what his cultivation realm was. This made Kenzeth a hundred times more dangerous then he was before his exile.
"Eh? So, if no exile before me has ever returned then its impossible for me to do so, huh? It's also impossible for a cripple to ever cultivate, huh? How will I explain all this? Meh! I dunno." Kenzeth shrugged before he narrowed his eyes. "Maybe it's because the exiled individuals before me weren't a crippled prince who was framed falsely and was thrown into the plams of death by his own kin."
Anna flinched while the crowd began to muttering amongst themselves.
"I honestly don't know. Maybe the heavens that you said have abandoned me isn't corrupted and they didn't really abandon me. Maybe they took pity on me and decided help me." Kenzeth said as he smirked. "Do you remember, I told you that if heavens really does exist then they wouldn't abandon a righteous person? Yeah, turns out that heavens does exist."
"The heaven for me was 'The World Below' itself who allowed be to be born again."
"I am no different than a Lotus. In the mud where others wither and lose, in the same place I rise and I bloom." Kenzeth recited a poem written by an old friend from his past life.
"This... I-" Anna didn't know to say. Her beliefs and her plans were ruined just by Kenzeth's return. If he indeed was blessed by the heavens then he was some to really be afraid of. 'Or if I play my cards right then he can be an incredible asset and I would no longer have to fear that bastard.'
Anna's eyes lit up and gained a greedy glint which wasn't missed by Kenzeth who gritted his teeth in anger.
'This... This woman is really vile!'
"If that's the truth then you really are lucky to have gained heavens favour. If the heavens are giving you a second chance then I do not want to offend them." Anna said relaxing.
'Vile woman... With me here, offending the heavens should be the least of your worries!' Kenzeth exclaimed in his heart.
"Now to my second question. Are those Demonic Beast yours?" Anna asked with greed in her eyes.
"What kind of dumb question is this? Of course they are mine! If it weren't for my orders then Sebastian and Marnie would have ripped those guards out there anew." Kenzeth said as Sebastian who was lazing out in the front grounds growled scaring the guards near him causing Marnie pecked his head playfully scolding him.
"Oh, how very interesting. How did you obtain them?"
"Found Sebastian injured and suffering from Red Scaled Python's poison and as for Marnie, she obtained me you could say." Kenzeth say shrugging. "She is very intelligent and she found me when I was traveling with Seb."
"I see." Anna said as she tried to form a plan. After a while she stood up and smiled. "Kenzeth A. Marsh, you not only managed to survive your exile but blessed by the heavens you also returned as a new person.
It seems that the heavens have accepted your penance and have decided to give you another chance. I shall not oppose the heavens and I too am ready to give you another second chance."
Anna looked at the crowd and smiled while putting on a gracious smile.
"I Anna Marsh, will not go back on my word and will honour what I had started five years ago."
"With all the people present as witness I welcome Kenzeth Marsh back into the Royal Family and holding the heavens witness I crown him the 88th Emperor of Rising Heaven Country!" Anna declared loudly shocking everyone. She smiled and turned to Kenzeth who was looking at her with a calm smile and said "Congratulations, my son. I place all my trust in you and hope that you will be better ruler than I was."
Kenzeth just smiled.
He smiled.
But his smile didn't seem so friendly when Anna looked closely. His eyes burned with hatred and his smile morphed into a demonic smirk.
"No doubt that I can be a better ruler than you were, 'mother'. It's just that there is a slight problem." Kenzeth finally spoke after a while surprising the crowd. "The problem is that... I refuse."
"Wha-?!" Anna didn't dare believe her ears. This was completely opposite to what she had imagined.
"You heard me well the first time, do I need to repeat myself?" Kenzeth asked his voice full of mockery. "Very well then. I refuse. It's simple as that and the reason for my refusal is similarly very simple."
"I was humiliated and exiled because of your selfish reasons, whatever they maybe. I have returned and am far stronger than any of you royal b*tches have expected me to be. I know for a fact that there must be some hidden motive of yours to make me the Emperor of this country and I honestly want no part in any of the sh*t you have planned. Allow me to make my statement very clear now..."
"I disown the blood in me and the name it has given me. I disown the the Marsh Family and sever all the bonds we ever had!"
"From today onwards I am no longer Kenzeth Marsh, the First Prince of the Rising Heaven but I am Kenzeth Khaoscrest! The founder and the head of Khaoscrest Clan!"
"And you all shall remember my name!"
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Alternative Titles:-
Return To The Royal Court Of B*tches,
Bro You So Cool!
Kenzeth Makes A Statement,
The Rise Of A New Clan.