CHAPTER EIGHT – HIDDEN FORCES WITHIN THE SHADOWS
He won't be called the legendary assassin from his previous life for nothing! After all, Dark Phoenix is not just a cold-blooded killer but also a master schemer and a great pretender.
Laurence keeps his façade as he smiled at the Duchess and the Duchess also smiled back at him as if both are close acquaintances with one another.
"Your Highness the Fifth Prince, as much as this subject wants to assist you, however, this one still has some business to attend"
Duchess Albert politely declines but Laurence could tell the hidden meaning of those words and he isn't that petty to force the Duchess to assist him.
'There would be a time that your Albert household would be no more because of the secrets that you hold. What would happen then? Can't wait to watch the downfall of your family because of you.'
"Is that so? Forgive this prince for troubling you, Madam. It seems like this prince could tell that the Madam isn't fit to host a banquet of her own as she didn't know how to address one's request"
His tone might sound innocent and timid but, on the inside, he is smirking because the words that he said had an underlying meaning to them.
When the Duchess heard what Laurence had stated, her face immediately grew paled as she understood the meaning of those words.
« …. "What is this disgrace of a child saying?! Since when he could speak like that?!" … »
'Wow! She loved the word "disgrace" that much. What about her? If her secrets had leaked into the public then, who would be the disgraceful one here?'
Laurence could only smile at the Duchess and even though he heard an insult through the woman's thoughts once again, he just acted innocent and dumb.
"If His Highness the Fifth Prince wants, this one can order one of my servants to assist you instead"
Duchess Albert tried her best to maintain her composure when she speaks to the Fifth Prince whose innocent smile was still plastered on the child's face.
Laurence, on the other hand, didn't say anything as if the words that he had spoken is nothing at all. He knew that others are still watching them and waiting for something to happen.
'What a fantastic welcome for me! Not just being almost assassinated in broad daylight but this Duchess makes me sick as she keeps on pretending right in front of my face!'
If he didn't mind his status as the Empire's Prince, Laurence wouldn't hesitate to kill all the people around him.
But as a newcomer, he needs to exercise restraint and needs more knowledge about this world.
Laurence hasn't much looked through the original's memories as he only scanned the important details for now because of the situation right now.
That's why he needs to get away from this forsaken place and needs to clean up the scratch wound on his hands.
"This prince would like to thank the Madam and this prince apologizes once again for troubling you on your business"
Duchess Albert; "Thank you for understanding, His Highness the Fifth Prince"
Duchess Albert called a servant and ordered them to assist Laurence as the servant went over to Laurence's side and bow down with respect.
"Your Highness, the Fifth Prince, let this servant assist you at the restroom"
Laurence only nodded at the servant; "Please lead the way"
The servant complied as he assists Laurence along the way and as soon as they left the banquet hall, the whole place is filled with noise and gossip around them.
Of course, the main topic is none other than the Fifth Prince who just left the banquet.
"What was that? Why did that wastrel come here? Does he have no shame for himself?!"
"I agree! Why is he here anyway? Such a disgrace of the Truman Royal Family and yet, he still has the nerve to make an appearance from here?"
"He's arrogant as if pretending not to know Duchess Albert?"
"Shhh! Have you guys forgotten that the Crown Prince is just in another banquet room! If he heard those words, who knows what would happen!"
"Just why is the Crown Prince favoring that wastrel anyway? There is nothing good about him!"
"The Crown Prince had supporters around so better keep your mouth shut or face the consequences! Have all of you forgotten what happened before?"
Some of them suddenly remembered what happen when a certain low-rank noble harassed the Fifth Prince and as the result, that noble is now banished from the Empire.
The Fifth Prince might be a wastrel however, no matter what happens, he is still one of the Prince of the Truman Empire and the Royal family would consider this as a rebellion if they laid a hand on one of them.
"However, didn't you guys notice the sudden change in his personality?"
"Now that you mention it. That good-for-nothing is always meek and doesn't socialize like his other siblings and that's why he is a disgrace in their household"
"However, earlier, he manages to catch the silver knife that's thrown in his direction without looking at it! The wastrel Prince had some reflexes!"
"Also, the Fifth Prince had a timid personality so why in just a snap, did he suddenly become sharp-tongued with an innocent personality?"
"Or is it just a fluke? Like what he did do? To catch that silver knife that's going to hit him?"
"He's a magical wastrel and lacks in martial arts so I think it's just our imagination. Just drop it"
The whole place is filled with negative comments about the Fifth Prince, and they didn't care to raise their opinions because they knew that the Fifth Prince is nothing but a disgrace within the whole Empire.
However, they tried to minimize their tone for a bit since most of them are quite terrified of the Crown Prince who was on the other side of the banquet hall, together with his close associates.
The Fifth Prince might have the backing of the Crown Prince but the Emperor, who didn't pay attention to the Fifth Prince so that's why some of them were bold enough to gossip about the Fifth Prince.
However, what they didn't know is that… there are forces within the shadows that were looking at the people inside the banquet hall with killing intent…
'How dare these people looked down upon HIM! They are nothing but a speck of dust in HIS eyes!'
They restrain themselves and didn't let their emotions be clouded by their judgment and when they saw that HE existed, they immediately retreated.
Laurence, on the other hand, felt an anonymous killing intent as he left the banquet and immediately looked around to search for that presence.
'It's not directly to me but I can't let my guard down if there is another assassination attempt on my life.'
He knew that after he left the banquet, those pesky nobles are gossiping about him being a disgrace to the Empire and Laurence just ignore it because it won't do him good if he let those provocations get into him.
When he felt that the killing intent suddenly vanished, he shook off his head as he walked forward, and the servant led the way to the restroom.