Kael felt dizzy as his mind swirled with an intense headache. But sooner than expected, his thoughts cleared. Opening his eyes, he realized he was inside a room filled with grandeur. The materials used were all top-notch, exuding luxury.
Just then, a voice echoed in his mind.
(The trial for the wielder of three has begun. First trial: Orb of Chaos.)
Kael processed the words, his eyes wandering around the room. First, he realized he had no memories of how he got here. Unlike when he had regained his memories at the age of ten, this time, Kael was left with none at all.
From his surroundings, he could guess he might be an aristocrat.
"Knock, knock... Good morning, my prince. Your father has sent for you," a clear, feminine voice broke through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality.
Kael was stunned. The term prince implied that he was royalty, and if his father had summoned him, it could only mean he was the king of this kingdom. Kael didn't dare to disobey. With no memories and no knowledge of how royalty acted, he decided the best course of action was to remain courteous and create a false front.
His plan was to appear respectful and cautious.
"Wait a minute while I get dressed," Kael said, and the sound of his voice startled him. It was melodic, soothing, and almost divine.
He stood up, intrigued, and began observing his surroundings and, more importantly, himself.
Looking down, he saw a lean body with toned muscles, and he couldn't help but feel disappointed. It was evident the former owner of this body didn't work out. Maybe his health had been poor, and he had died in bed—giving Kael the chance to take over—or perhaps...
"This is a trial," Kael thought. "This might be a simulated world or an illusion. But why does it feel so real?"
Shaking off those thoughts, he noticed a mirror at the side of the room and walked over.
The face staring back at him left him dumbfounded. He looked like a beautiful porcelain doll. Combined with his lean physique, he resembled a male s*x servant.
"What the hell is wrong with this idiot?" Kael thought. He didn't look like a man at all—at least, not by his standards—but more like an androgynous beauty. It irritated him slightly, but he decided to accept it. His focus shifted back to the first trial, the Orb of Chaos.
From what he could tell, this body belonged to a young man around seventeen or eighteen years old. Kael sighed.
He couldn't afford to delay meeting his "father."
Looking through the wardrobe, Kael chose a reserved yet exquisite outfit and stepped out of the room.
Outside, he was met with the sight of a maid. Her beauty was astonishing—her delicate features, captivating eyes, and alluring lips left him momentarily lightheaded.
Kael steadied himself with a breath, pushing those thoughts aside.
"Where are the other maids?" he asked, confused. He needed information from her, as he was entirely in the dark.
It was risky; they might discover he wasn't the original owner of this body. Kael had to tread carefully, unsure of how the prince behaved toward others before.
"My prince," the maid replied, bowing respectfully. "You fired them all last month because... of me. You said only I was enough... for you."
Her voice grew softer, her cheeks flushed, and she hesitantly raised her eyes to meet his.
Kael smiled slightly, though his mind raced. The maid's demeanor seemed shy and touched, as if she were charmed by the prince's attention. However, her eyes told a different story.
Kael had been involved in political, economic, and military dealings long before this trial. As a father who had guided his children to success, he had encountered countless strong-willed individuals, including assassins.
He recognized those eyes. Beneath her outward embarrassment lay disgust—and a subtle, lethal intent.
"This idiot," Kael thought, cursing the former prince. "How could he not see it? A normal maid should be flattered by a prince's attention, yet this one's gaze holds killing intent. Fool. She's clearly an assassin."
Kael's mind worked quickly. He didn't know how the prince usually interacted with this maid, but he had to bite the bullet. Assassins were highly perceptive, able to detect the slightest changes in behavior, and Kael couldn't risk raising suspicion.
He kept reminding himself this might all be an illusion, but everything felt real. Earlier, when he'd pinched himself, it had hurt. If he were stabbed here, would it kill him for real?
"Hmm, you've gotten more beautiful," Kael said, smiling lightly.
He carefully observed her reaction. If she was shocked, it might mean the prince never spoke to her in this manner. But if she blushed, then he did.
The maid's body language betrayed her—her fingers nervously played with her skirt, and her cheeks turned crimson.
"This prince was a d*ck," Kael thought, his mouth twitching.
Walking closer, Kael boldly grabbed her a*s.
"My prince... we're... outside..." the maid gasped, her voice quivering as Kael fondled her with a smile.
He wasn't just acting like the prince—he was searching her body for hidden weapons. He wouldn't deny, though, the softness was unmatched.
"Alright, let's not keep Father waiting. He'll be grumpy," Kael said, waving his hand dismissively as he walked forward.
Behind him, the maid gritted her teeth.
"If not for Master, I would've killed you long ago, you filthy punk," she thought, quickly following him.
**************
"Why did I say the old man would be grumpy? It seems I don't have the memories, but this body does," Kael thought as he walked down a grand corridor. The walls surrounding him were adorned with intricate designs, hinting at the opulence of his surroundings.
As he approached the massive doors to the hall, two guards stood on either side, each holding a long spear. Seeing the prince approach, they bowed and pushed the doors open. Kael acknowledged them with a nod as the maid accompanying him stayed outside. She wasn't permitted to enter the hall, as her status deemed her unworthy.
Kael stepped into the hall, his eyes immediately drawn to the grand throne at the far end. Surrounding it were ministers and aristocrats, all standing in silent anticipation. He felt an inexplicable weight in the air, sensing that something significant was about to unfold.
Still, his body moved instinctively, guiding him to the center of the hall. It felt like muscle memory, as if this body knew exactly where it was supposed to stand.
"I greet the king," Kael said, bowing respectfully to the man seated on the throne.
"Stand, Prince Kael," the king responded indifferently, his tone cold and commanding.
Flanking the king were smaller thrones where his wives sat, each accompanied by their respective children—Kael's siblings, the other princes and princesses.
"So my name here is also Kael?" he mused internally.
A sense of foreboding gripped him. He could feel the tension in the room and guessed that tonight would not be an easy one for him.
"What are your orders?" Kael straightened his back and asked, his voice steady despite his unease. He wasn't sure how to act, but his body seemed to handle the situation flawlessly, as if it had been trained for this exact moment.
"Your bride has been accepted as a disciple of an ancient martial master," the king announced. "She plans to meet you first before deciding what to do."
Kael's frown deepened. A bride? He had no recollection of her. And now she had been taken under the wing of an ancient master? His thoughts raced. "Is this one of those cliché scenarios? Will she break the engagement, and then I'll uncover some hidden power or destiny? Wait... isn't this trial about creating chaos?"
A grin tugged at Kael's lips as his thoughts shifted.
"Frankly speaking," the king continued, "an ancient warrior has the potential to wreak havoc on our kingdom. While we might survive, it would be no better than death. The life and death of this kingdom rest on your shoulders. Even if she breaks the engagement, endure it."
The king's calm, cold tone carried across the hall, his words clear to all present.
Ministers and siblings alike watched Kael closely, expecting him to erupt in anger. His reputation as a disobedient and impulsive crown prince had been firmly established over the years. But to their surprise, Kael remained silent.
"You are the crown prince of this kingdom," the king added, his gaze piercing. "You represent us. Remember, it is not shameful to retreat in the face of war, but it is pure stupidity to charge toward death."
The hidden meaning behind the king's words was apparent to everyone. Yet Kael remained composed.
"I understand, Father. I won't let you down," he said, his tone measured and firm.
The unexpected response caused murmurs among the ministers and Kael's siblings. This was unlike the Kael they knew.
As Kael exited the hall after bowing, his mind worked furiously. "Two more trials to complete, but this chaos trial... I must create chaos. The obvious route would be to ignite a conflict between our kingdom and my bride's. But is it really that simple?"
He paused momentarily as he stepped outside, his body freezing for a few seconds before continuing forward. Behind him, the ministers exchanged wary glances, suspecting that the prince might be plotting something.
Unbeknownst to them, Kael had just received a flood of memories from the crown prince's past. His lips curled into a wide smile.
"With all of this information, I can craft the perfect plan," he thought, confidence surging through him.
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