CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – THE ANSWER
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«….. "You… you can change everything. Finally…. I…. I can perish in this world without regrets. Sorry to drag you into this. I'll leave some of my memories to you as your guide." …. »
The words from the original Laurence suddenly came up to his mind and from those statements alone, the former assassin couldn't help but to think further.
'Why is he telling me… that I can change everything? Is there something that I am missing with?'
Aside from that, about the mysterious person who appeared within his dreams, a person who has a similar snowflake wing on its forehead.
Just like what he saw from his own forehead before he lost consciousness from the sudden dizziness from that time.
'Are these two connected or something? From the original Laurence's memories, that symbol didn't appear on his forehead, even on the day he died….'
The former assassin suddenly frowns as he noticed something odd.
'That's strange. Why is that…. His death is a mystery. There is no memory from the original owner. Is there something wrong with his memory instead?'
To change everything and to be perished without regrets…. A mysterious person with a similar snowflake wing tattoo from its forehead….
No matter what he thought, the former assassin could link nothing together.
"Just take some rest and don't think of anything else. I'll arrange new servants for you, since the old ones are no longer needed."
Laurence snapped from his thoughts when he hears what the Crown Prince said.
'New servants? No longer needed? Just what is happening?'
«... ["I almost let my guard down and to think I almost failed to protect Jules! No one should know about this matter, and I won't make the same mistake twice. Once is enough!"] ….. »
The former assassin couldn't comprehend what the Crown Prince was thinking, and it looks like he knows something that should be kept in the dark from the original Laurence.
However, before he could think further, the Crown Prince's inner thoughts continues and what he hears is something that he didn't expect.
«... ["This didn't happen from my previous life! What triggers?! Lady Hanezza warned me before about the seal within Jules that would break soon the moment something happens to her! But… that didn't happen in my previous life! So… why now?!"] ….. »
"What?"
Crown Prince Eugene: "Jules, is there something wrong? Don't worry about the old servants that serve you before. They have served their purpose and you need new servants in your place. I'll do everything in my power to protect you from here and now. Don't be afraid."
«….. ["Yes, don't be afraid, my little brother. Since in the previous life, I failed you, but now I've got this second chance in life to do it better. I don't know what triggers to have the seal broken, but as per Lady Hanezza's instructions, I'll explain everything to him later on. For now, he needs to rest."] ….. »
As soon as the former assassin hears the rest of the inner thoughts of the Crown Prince, that, alone, answers his previous questions to himself about the Crown Prince's odd behavior that differs from the original Laurence's memories.
'So, this Crown Prince Eugene right now is a regressor? No wonder he's different from what the original Laurence remembers, from the memories that I inherited.'
And also, he learns something that was not within the original Laurence's memories.
'It looks like I shouldn't just rely on the original owner's memories alone, as there are things that make little sense. Since the Crown Prince will explain things to him later on, I will need to prepare myself then.'
Since this Crown Prince is a regressor, the former assassin became even more cautious about his actions so that he won't be suspected.
'If he noticed the slightest form of change, he would be in doubt, and I really can't explain to him about what happen to the original Laurence. Even if I tried to explain, I am not a fool to trust this person immediately.'
That also explains the level of protectiveness and his active participation within the court and also in his social gatherings from what he learned from the original Laurence's memories.
If the former assassin looked further, it looks like this drastic change happens two years ago, from the day of the original Laurence's mother had died.
Just having these loads of information that suddenly swarms inside his head makes him feel a dizzy for a moment.
Eugene, on the other hand, notice the discomfort of his little brother and he shift from his seat to be at the side of his little brother and held him carefully not to hurt him.
"Jules, I know you were shocked by what happen back at the banquet and you just woke up. No need to push yourself and just take a rest. I'll leave for now and let you rest. I'll inform your new servants about your situation, and they would take care of you."
Laurence looked at his brother with a little smile on his face and nodded; "Hm. Thank you, brother Gene. Ever since mother died, you are at my side and even protected me from harm. I wish I could be a help to you."
'For some reason, those words that I spoke came genuinely from the bottom of my heart. Maybe the original Laurence is still within me or just his residue feelings are still here.'
** ["P-please…. Change the fate of the people that I cared, especially my brother."] **
'!!!'
**'What? Laurence? I thought your soul had perished from back then?! Where are you?!'**
**[….]**
**'Hey! F*cking b*stard of a Prince! Don't you dare f*cking ghost with me!'**
**[….]**
No matter how he tried to communicate with the original Laurence, if his soul still lingers around, he won't respond and that makes the former assassin want to commit murder right here and then.
But of course, he won't do such irrational thinking no matter how he truly wanted to.
'That f*cker…!'
So, for now, he would try to communicate with the original Laurence later on since he doesn't want to be under suspicious within this regressor Crown Prince.
After some time had passed, the Crown Prince left him alone to rest and Laurence hears the Crown Prince said that he will come visit him again by tomorrow to check on him.
Now that he is all alone, and he also makes sure that no one's within the vicinity, he tried to call out for the original Laurence.
"Hey! I know you can hear me and now it's the time for you to explain some things that I don't really understand since you are the one who forced me into this predicament!"
He waited for hours as he looked around the room to catch at least a glimpse of his silhouette if he is still around.
After hours of waiting, the former assassin gave up on looking for him.
'Just where the heck is he?!'