The banquet day came in a flash. Numerous envoys from the other kingdom sat at their respective seats chatting. They all smile, maintaining a calm composure. The weather is very good. The envoys were sitting at their designated seats. They are chatting in low voice. Then the eunuch announced the arrival of the monarch and others.
The king and queen along with the crown prince stepped into the grand banquet hall. Ace came this morning to attend the banquet. To Ace nothing is more important the Aaron but still to live peacefully he had to do this. He will do everything to make his love happy. Today the main cause of his presence here is to see the shaman. He will make everyone here know about the year ago incident. If his parents didn't create more problems, after this incident he can leave this so-called Crown and go with Aaron to the battlefield. Thinking he have to do so much he felt bad for himself but if it is for Aaron, he will do anything.
For now, he is the Center of everyone's attention. He was always like this. Even in his original life he was admired by thousands. But to him, they were insignificant. He had nothing which he could call significant. They had all their eyes on him. For a moment people were all drove into a fantasy called daydreaming.
Several were considering proposing a marriage. Stephan is really someone who will always attract attention. The world knows how handsome and beautiful Stephan is. His face gentle and warm. Seeing his sharp beautiful features, the breathing of many beautiful ladies and even some gentleman faltered. He nodded to some officials he knows. The minister and officials were already sitting at his designated seat.
Only after they sat on the uppermost throne, people lowered their gazes to continue their thoughts. But they couldn't help but look at him again and again. In between this, they heard the loud voice filled with vigor and firmness, "It's very good to meet you all, and I welcome very heartily all the remarkable and reputable envoys. Please enjoy the moment. While later we will start the discussion."
The king sat back, greeted them and motioned the courtier to start the scheduled program. He is really worthy of being called as the king. Still holding the throne firmly. They felt people like Grip and Virno are rare. They are admired by generations of old and young people. They also have such an outstanding son. Their beauty inherited by this young man. The golden hair and deep dark eyes with supreme facial features. It would have been a weird combination but this uneven mixture of features on him is very matching. It can't be any more enchanting.
Ace darted his gaze toward the crowd. He saw the formidable general of the north and famous Prince and princes of different kingdoms. The Minister warned him to guard against these clever people, but today the main performer is someone else, so he didn't mind these people. He is very relaxed. He secretly contacted the system, 'Trick him to come in.'
The system: yes host.
The king looked at his only son and said, dropping his voice to a dangerous level of threat, "You like Daniel that much, to even say we are not enough for you." Saying this he can't help but grit his teeth in anger. He raised him with so difficulty, and he dare to say these things without any consideration. For a moment Grip felt that he spoiled him too much.
Ace knowing his thought very well, as he saw his behavior change wanted to laugh. He wanted to say something like please look ahead father, people are looking at us, but he eventually didn't bother. He raised his brows and replied, "Father, I love him. Naturally, his love and yours can't be compared. You both are my favorites. It was said in a moment of anger. No need to take it to heart."
How could you blame me for saying that. He still had various thing he wanted to say but fearing things would be over saccharine he restrained himself. If the emperor hears it, he will really vomit blood. To think he even have more to say. Really incredulous.
The king saw his son smiling as he said sarcastically, "Wow! I can't believe it. You fell for someone. Good, it's good."
His veins bulging over his forehead. Ace felt that he must have triggered his anger too much. Grip has his head bursting out. He cannot understand what his son is actually thinking. He wants to know if this son of his has any idea about what happened in past.
Listening to his sarcastic remark, Ace thought of something as he showed a more natural practiced and deep smile making the audience feel amazement. It's about time and the shaman will enter any time in this large hall. Looking at the crowd of envoys, his light eyes blinked twice. Ace didn't say anything and continued his chat with the queen. They are not chatting but threatening each other.
The empress at the side saw the pair of a loving father and son getting into a weird exchange. She couldn't help but feel something wrong with that smiley interaction. She elegantly cleaned the jade-like cup and poured the best red wine, looking at her husband she said, "Have some drink. You didn't touch anything here."
Grip looked over the dishes and drinks. Sitting at the highest position, how could he leave anything untouched? He nodded as he gulped down the wine and again looked at his son and continued the talk. He didn't even look at his queen again.
His focus was all on Ace, and he didn't notice the arrival of someone unknown. The courtier bowed as he came ahead and appealed, "Your majesty, dancers from the North wants to show a performance. Please grant them the audience."
Ace looked at the courtier, feeling something off and his similar voice, and asked, "Who are you? No one in the palace wears a hood over their head. It is not a good omen." The courtier stood frozen and didn't dare to lift his face. The crowd stuck their eye on him.
He asked his system, 'Who did you tricked to come here??'
The system: Isn't he the shaman, the one wearing the hood.
Ace felt his lips twitched in anger, 'So you just looked at the hood?!'
The system stayed silent knowing her useless work.
The king saw the person not moving and asked, "Why are you just standing and not speaking? Show your face." His piercing eyes looking over the person standing in the middle of everyone in silence.
Still no movement. Ace gestured for the guard to lift his face. The guard walked towards the man and shook off the veil. The person didn't even resist as the people expected. Yet the next second everyone was stunned.
The moment his face was shown, Ace felt his face color drown out of the blood. He carefully looked at him and contracted the system to confirm things. She replied, "He is not Aaron. I notified you this morning. We were too late to stop him."
Ace calmed his worried heart. He can't help but say this world consciousness is really something else huh. Changing the plot by helping John in such a way that even people would feel unreal. He is really blessed. Ace want to know what good karma John had to bring him this much of luck.
The surrounding nobles of Shenoy took deep breaths in fear and the envoys once again stood dumbly seeing the beauty. Standing in the middle with tall height is Daniel Frank. He seemed slightly different. The indifferent eyes were nervous for some reasons. Even though he is still a beauty the grace he once had was completely ward off. He doesn't look like a general at all. The King asked confused, "General Daniel, what happened?"
Ace made his breathing uneven, as he asked acting, "Daniel, what are you doing? Wearing courtiers' clothes. Did something happen?" But he didn't move from his seat. Yet no one noticed his unusualness due to their constant gaze fixed to the person standing in the middle.
"Are you feeling unwell?" He said this, but he didn't feel anxious at all. Because the person in front of him is not Daniel, rather it is his clone. Those beautiful eyes which must be crammed with pure peace are now greedy, he can just know right away. Certainly, Ace doesn't feel even a slightest ecstasy. He felt rage looking at someone he knows well but it is not him. Just a shell. His heart didn't resonate that usual beat. This appearance didn't tremble like it does when he was with Aaron. They are connected with soul and mind. These cheap tricks are nothing. His love for Aaron is indispensable. He would never get over this.
The clone smiled slightly as he said, "Stephen, nothing happened, I was afraid after seeing you nowhere this morning. So, I came to see you."
Damn it!! He thought of just wandering into the palace to find a chance to make Stephen drunk and do it with him. But he was spotted by someone outside, who asked him to demand an audience for the dancers. The furious guards outside made him fear, and he unwillingly came in. However, he was confident that Stephen will help him and hug him, taking him away from there. He was for a long time in his own fantasy and overlooked major things. He anticipated his rapid footstep and pampering actions. However, nothing happened for a long time.
The emissary saw the scene and didn't say anything but felt the weird atmosphere. They can't help but feel something wrong. General Daniel is rumored to be a very cold person, so why is he like this. Opposite to them were the nobles, thought, now General Daniel couldn't stay separated from the Crown prince. The coldness melted into a hot water spring. Everyone thought something and they even felt like laughing.
Ace stood from his seat. He took a while as he seized up and said, "You are not him."
He said as if it is something very trivial. He didn't care about anyone here. Ace doesn't care people think of him as maniac. For now, he wants to kill the person before him. The present people are shocked. Confusion shrouded their face, and a probing look is evident in their eyes. His declaration was very straightforward that people cannot help but question in their heart, why he isn't General Daniel? Look at that beautiful face. It is still same as before handsome beyond belief.
Ace said firmly, "I told you before, don't even think about it. But you never understand, right?"
He said, looking straight into the clone's eyes, "John Allen, do you think I'm a fool? Do you think that the Proud General of Shenoy, Daniel Frank who never ever showed extreme reaction to even death will react, so coquettes like you? You underestimate yourself. You have nothing in common with him to begin with."
His reminder made John completely lost. But he saw Aaron smiling towards Stephan with smiley face. He is wrong because only towards Stephan, Daniel could smile and not before anyone else. The mind of the crowd fell in utter shock. The person in front of them is Daniel, isn't he?
The King, eyes filled with killing intent. It is unknown if he is angry to kill John or someone else. He ordered, seeing the situation as not good for open interrogation, "Take him into custody. "Then he said something to the guard beside him. In no time he went away to obey his command. Ace who heard everything due to system was not even a bit shocked. He will let him have this shaman for now but soon that shaman would eventually be his chess piece.
Ace noticed that no one spoke up for John. In original plot weren't these people trying to encompass John with glory and the status of the Crown Princes. The right minister didn't say anything for his son. This shock was enough to make him confused. He just stood without any actions. But his heartfelt pain to see the boy who he pampered for so long become another person.
Ace felt that Ron is very pitiful father. This father did his best to cage his child till they got married yet John is still out somehow with the help of the guards. Worrying the minister. He signaled him with eye to rest assured. He will be fine. They always have this tactic understanding.
John hurriedly said, not willing to let his last chance go, "I did this for Stephen. Doesn't he like Daniel for his good looks? Why can't you people accept me like this?"
why after all he did it because he thought that out of happiness, he can tie Stephen with him. He met the North Shaman at their gateway. That shaman was forced by him to make it happen, and he did believe after seeing his change in appearance. However, why he was not accepted?
John was dragged by the guards awkwardly. They are dragging the pseudo-General without power. Ace stood up, silent. He asked respectively, "I will go to the general's residence to check on him. He is already injured. I'm worried that he is in danger."
He arranged everything but didn't expect to see these changes in his plans. He really wants to kill this world consciousness and kill this John, the troublesome child of destiny. His moment of smiley face disappeared, and only blank look appear before everyone.