Chap 25

-Clap! - clap!

The applause for the king's family resounded, all this as they approached their predestined place - at the bottom of the garden - which was placed on a platform that rose 2 meters above ground level.

-Tap - tap.

The king's footsteps filled my ears until they stopped when he positioned himself at the edge of the platform.

-Thud.

The instant the king took his position, everyone present knelt on one leg. For a moment, confusion filled my head, but it dissipated when Avas pulled me up.

"It is a pleasure to have all these great and powerful figures gathered here in the courtyard of our castle," said the king as he checked that everyone was kneeling. - And as the king of this nation, I have the honor of initiating the feast to celebrate my 53rd birthday."

-Clap!

Applause from the crowd resounded as I and the others stood up.

"See you later then," Avas said as he ran his hand slowly through his hair and gave me a wink, "See you... See ya, see ya."

I reciprocated the greeting and quickly made my way to the Hall family table.

"Sit down, in a little while the servants will bring our food," said Keith, seeing that we were all present; and just as he said, in a short time they brought the food - Fine cuts of Baca bred within a mana land." - said the servant who handed out our food.

I fixed my eyes on the fine plate I had been given; a large cut of juicy red meat, which was accompanied by a wine, which I opted to replace with some sweet tasting water of what I assume to be melon.

Watching the other attendees begin their meals, I mimicked the act and took a big mouthful, the juice and smooth texture flooding my mouth.

I continued to take bites of my plate, which gradually emptied, and after the time had passed I set my cutlery aside and focused elsewhere.

I looked at the platform - turning my head and slyly - where the royal family was.

Each of them was still tasting their plate, with refined and elegant manners, the blue hair they shared moved to the sound of the air, giving a fantasy image.

As I watched the scene I glanced sideways at Adu and thought of the way he was - the one shown in the game - he was a villain, one who could not be changed.

From the very first moment he is shown as someone of importance and danger, not so much because of his title, not so much because of his genius status, but because of his mentality.

The mentality of a madman, all he cared about was becoming king, nothing else apart from that was even the slightest bit important.

Time passed quickly as the attendees enjoyed their meal. Perhaps noticing that, a man who until now had only been standing next to the royal family's table, moved.

With quick, heavy steps which attracted attention, he approached the edge of the platform, took something I could not visualize from a gentleman, and prepared to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen leaders of this nation, the long-awaited moment has arrived - said the man, who had something resembling a microphone, but what I assumed were monster cores held near his mouth - the congratulations, which each of you will give to our king."

The man paused as he swept his gaze around the garden. "As is customary, we will begin with the families who hold this kingdom side by side with the king - loud and coordinated applause rang out as Keith and Elena stood up and the rest of us followed suit - The Hall family." Said the man as he pointed us to the appropriate place to approach.

We climbed up the stairs positioned on the left side of the platform and approached the king; a few meters away we stopped and knelt, we lasted a few seconds in that position, but it was interrupted by the king.

I stared at the floor while the king moved his hand towards Keith - who was positioned next to me - Keith took my hand with a soft and gentle touch, brought it towards his mouth and kissed the back of my hand, lifted it, and brought it towards his forehead, making it and the back of his hand touch.

After that, he slowly looked up, and receiving a nod from the King, he stood up - not without first indicating me with his eyes to repeat the gesture - having already moved a few steps away, it was my turn.

I took the King's hand and repeated the process of kissing the back of his hand and placing it on my forehead, after that, I looked up and met the King's blue eyes.

I didn't know too much about him, but he the perfect example of a stupid person, but I don't mean someone with IQ deficiency but someone who committed stupid acts and his first mistake was at his side.

I stood up and took a few steps to the right - without looking up from the floor. - Keith stood up, and where he was before I positioned myself, again I took the hand that was coming towards me, I brought it towards my lips and kissed it, and then I brought it towards my forehead.

The man moved away and I took the opportunity to look up, to the owner of the hand, Silas Lazuli, this person was the cause of the beginning of the fall of the king, the first mistake he made was to trust this bastard and give him the position of the crown prince.

Although I couldn't criticize him too much, after all, it's not as if he had too many options - I reflected in my mind while I approached the next person who had his hand outstretched - take the hand in front of me and repeat the process, but there was a slight change in him.

This time my eyes purposely met Adu's, he retracted his hand and gave me a vain smile, just as he was about to walk around me a barely audible whisper reached my ears.

"In 5 hours in my room, northwest of the castle on the second wall, Avas will tell you more details."

I feigned ignorance as I knelt again and took the hand that came towards me, which belonged to the Queen, who had a mysterious smile on her mouth.

I repeated the same greeting process with both the Queen and the princess and stood next to Keith, together we waited for the entire Hall family to finish their greetings - a process that took no more than 3 minutes - and then we all knelt together again.

"It is a pleasure for me and my family to have you at this party, house Hall - said the king while holding a smile on his face - I hope you continue the good service to this country and its King." He finished saying as he invited us back to our place with a gesture.

We approached our place, and for a long time, we watched as the other attendants did the same as us.

From duchies like the Hairbear to dukes like Blackgrey and of course, also barons and small noble houses.

-Clap!

At last, the last person passed and thousands of applause with more happiness and fervor than ever resounded.

The applause died away little by little and at the sound of the last one, the king rose from his luxurious seat.

"Today without a doubt is a happy day for this kingdom and that is why there is no better time to make such a happy announcement as this."

Exclaimed the King as he looked out over the crowd.

"As you know it is a tradition in this kingdom that the king announces his crown prince before the coronation - he said, pausing, which generated an unspoken tension in the crowd - that announcement takes place when the king turns 50 years old."

Once again he paused, which he used to take a breath of air. "But it's been three years since it should have been announced, but I haven't made it."

"This is due to something you know, the incredible talent of our two princes."

Lying bastard, I thought as I remembered this guy's fate... death.

"It was very difficult for me to choose one of them, each one has incredible virtues, but in the end after much talk - the tension once again rose among those present - we have decided, with the unanimous agreement we have decided-."

The king paused to emphasize his next words while holding a big smile, which ironically would carve his destiny.

"I am pleased to announce the crown prince of this kingdom - a great audible puff of air-filled the garden - Adu Lazuli!"

-Clap! -Clap!

Thousands of cheers resounded firmly and happily in the garden.

"Undoubtedly the best choice for this kingdom, I think," said a nobleman behind me, while another responded with a happy nod, "I think so too, not only is he intelligent and well versed in speech and culture, but his talent with the sword is incredible."

Hundreds were talking about the king's decision, some with a genuine smile and others with an obligatory one, which seemed to tell the owner that the decision was the best one.

But among all those smiles my eyes didn't wander for more than a few seconds but stopped on one person who didn't even have a fake smile on his face.

Silas, his gaze met mine, but it was empty and shocking.

Not unlike me.

My mind seemed to uncover a bit, as thousands of questions flooded my mind.

But one didn't seem to repeat itself like a broken record.

What the hell is going on?

Why on earth had Adu been announced and not Silas, who was behind this.

Nervousness flooded me and with what little rationality I had left I activated Ice Heart.

-Haaa...

A heavy breath so icy that it became visible in the air came out of my mouth.

The various feelings I had, from nervousness to the slight anger I felt.

With my mind and eyes clear, I moved to a table.

I waited a few minutes until Avas arrived and positioned himself next to me.

Even I didn't expect it," he said, as he watched Adu surrounded by nobles fawning and congratulating him, "I guess I'm the king's betrothed now."

I did not answer, my mind though calm was full of questions about my plans, which I was slowly piecing together.

"It seems no one knew - I said as I remembered Silas' blank and shocked look - Tell me, what is the place where the prince's room is."

A trace of surprise passed over Avas' face, but it was quickly changed to a smile, which he maintained as he explained to me how to get there.

Time passed as people celebrated - of course, I was doing nothing but thinking about the future - and the five hours passed.

I spent some time looking for the perfect moment to get away from the party and after a while I found it.

I took advantage of the moment when the servants were moving around and reappearing tables and said I would go to the bathroom.

As I walked through the corridors I concentrated on remembering Avas and Adu's instructions.

I took a fork and walked to where I thought the second wall was, which according to what they said was where Adu's room was.

I spent I don't know how long walking and trying to remember the directions I had been given, but it was useless.

I couldn't remember even half of them, I was so lost in my thoughts that I couldn't retain them.

Giving up, I decided to go back the way I came, but just before I made my assertion my feet and my gaze stopped.

My eyes scanned the garden in front of me and as if hypnotized I moved towards it.

A beautiful garden, with fountains and purple and blue flowers, lay in front of me.

And right in the middle a throne with plants blooming on it.

-Swiiing!

Just as I was about to enter, the sound of rushing air flooded my ears and made my eardrums quiver.

A shiver ran through me and my instinct took over my body, causing it to jump quickly into the garden.

"What have you done?"

Before I could see or do anything, an apathetic voice echoed...