CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR – AUDIENCE WITH THE KING
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A couple of days had passed and now is the day that he would meet face-to-face the original owner's father, the King of Truman Empire.
'Since this is an unavoidable situation, might as well to look at this original owner's trash of a father.'
During the time of his recuperation, the former assassin secretly studied for other relevant information that he needs to know in order for him to act his role properly.
From the moment he learned that the Crown Prince is a regressor, the former assassin needs to be cautious around him as he didn't want to be caught suspicious under the Crown Prince's care and protection.
'Aside from the original Laurence's biological mother, the Crown Prince is the only person who knew the original Laurence's personality and habits.'
So, the best course of action that the former assassin needs to do is to imitate the original Laurence properly, with no hint of mistakes.
It doesn't matter if he needs to pretend like a fragile lamb that was tossed within the crowd of wolves to be entirely devoured, but that doesn't mean he would be a pushover and let anyone to humiliate him for their own benefit.
Right now, after some preparation, he makes his way to the main palace hallway according to the original owner's memories, and he isn't that stupid to ask the servants of the main palace to guide him.
After all, he is nothing but a magical wastrel prince, so why would they bother to guide him?
'I don't want to deal with their arrogance towards the original owner, and it would be just a waste of time.'
He hasn't seen the Crown Prince today, and it's understandable that he needs to "work" on something, and he won't be surprised if this is still about the incident back at Duke Albert's household banquet.
'I thought I will have to deal with them, but since the Crown Prince is a regressor, I think it's for the best to leave it to him as I couldn't make a hasty move on them.'
As much as he wanted to deal with them personally, however, remembering that he is still in a body of a child that hasn't reached maturity, he could only sigh and do nothing for the time being.
'Well, there would be a next time though…'
Also, the new servants who were handpicked by the Crown Prince are the ones who prepared everything that he needs as the King summons him for his presence.
'I only instruct them to prepare the bath and leave the clothes behind as I don't want their hands to roam around my body even if they were just assisting me.'
Aside from the original Laurence's mother, only the Crown Prince's touch doesn't make him feel uncomfortable.
Well, given that the original Laurence trusted him more than anyone else, and that's understandable.
The reason for the original Laurence to have a touch aversion….
He snapped back from thinking about it and this is not the time and place to be thinking about that.
The former assassin had finally reached to his destination. Two royal knights who stood at each side of the King's throne room noticed his presence and they bow down to him, acknowledging his presence.
One royal knight step forward and bows down; "This humble knight greets the Fifth Prince. His Majesty the King is waiting for your presence."
«….. ["For some unknown reason, this Fifth Prince had some odd presence around him. I couldn't pinpoint what was it. It's different compared to before whenever I encounter this timid little prince."] …. »
'Wow! Didn't expect for this royal knight to sense something about him. I guess he is one of those talented knights out there. It's just a shame that he pledge his loyalty to that trash of a King.'
He didn't want this to drag out any longer as he wanted this meeting to be finished as soon as possible.
The royal knights opened the door, and he walked inside with no delay and the moment he was inside the King's throne room, the door from behind immediately closed off.
Now, he is in the presence of the King of this empire, the original Laurence's father, Hendrix Wayne Von Truman.
'Now I know why the original Laurence labelled his father a tyrant. His oppressing aura is no joke at all! Even if I tried my best not to be affected by it, but this body trembled at the mere sight of this person.'
In actual reality, King Hendrix is not just the typical tyrant of the general description.
That is because, within the Truman Empire, they revered King Hendrix as a wise but a strict ruler by the commoners, but only the inner circle of nobles knows about the true nature of the King.
'Tsk! This meeting won't turn up good and my instincts told me so.'
As a protocol, the former assassin greeted the King as he bow down while placing his right hand to his chest and didn't look up without permission.
"T-this… h-humble… s-son… g-greets… T-truman…. E-empire's… H-his… M-majesty… K-king… H-hendrix…"
The former assassin wants to click on his tongue because of his acting skills but he didn't want to draw unwanted attention from the King and Laurence could feel the piercing gaze that is thrown in his direction.
As if an angel had come across the room as the air of silence lingers within the throne room and only the two of them were the ones who were inside.
"Do me a favor and forget about what happen at the Duke Albert's banquet. I'll just order someone to send a compensation to your palace. Do I make myself clear, Laurence?"
'See? What kind of sh*tty f*cker of a father he is?!'
One reason the inner circle of nobles labelled him as a tyrant is because of his oppressing decision-making as if it's just a trivial matter.
Not only that, his blatant favoritism towards Duke Albert and it's not a secret that those two are sworn brothers as the Duke Albert family and the Truman royal family are great friends for generations.
'He didn't even bother to ask about his son's condition and have the nerve to threaten him! Tsk!'
There is no need to work himself up as he wouldn't care about this bastard's life and it won't be my problem, anyway.
"Y-yes… Y-your…. M-majesty…"
«….. ["What a weak child! It's embarrassing for me to be related to this weakling! I don't understand why Eugene is protecting this child. Isn't because of Hanezza? That woman with an unknown origin with an extraordinary affinity. Why was her child became this useless piece of a trash!"] …. »
Although Laurence appeared to be timid and easy to be bullied, the former assassin's thoughts screams for bloodlust and murder when he heard the King's inner thoughts about him.
He almost snapped, but immediately calm down as he continued to act like the original Laurence.
"You may now go. Stay where should you belong and don't embarrass the royal family name again. Understand?"