Chapter 9: Blackout

Chapter 9: Blackout

"U- Ummm... T- Thank you all for attending my birthday celebration!! A- and, o- ooh….. A- Ahh…. H- hope you all enjoy your day!!"

Ruri Dhair mustered every courage she had and said what she wanted to. Even though she stuttered so much in her speech, the King held his head high and had a grin on his face.

The King whispered to her ears as soon as she finished her speech; "Didn't we practice this already, sweetie. Don't be shy, just say whatever you want. You're the star of our kingdom."

"B- But father, that's an absurd task…. After all, there's so many people gathered just to celebrate with me….."

"Never mind them, just enjoy yourself and don't be shy, sweetie."

"....Uuuuuuuu….."

Kendrick watched the father and daughter whisper to each other and frowned.

"Can't they just, hurry up already."

He wanted to go home so badly right now. It's not like he came here just to watch a father and daughter have fun with each other.

"Sigh….. You're right, can't they see my tired legs shaking from standing for so long. Like hell I want to see this lovely dovey scene, I still have to prepare for the latter events...."

And to sync with his complaints, a woman's voice let out her complaint as well.

Kendrick shifted his gaze over the owner of the voice, and there, he found someone he'll never wish to meet. Silvia Frost, just like her name, her hair was silver like a snow, the beauty of a knight. Their household was a duke household, and she was the second daughter of Duke Ariya Frost. She was one of the villainesse that took part in this poisoning event, and also, the most annoying villainess in the game.

Silvia Frost had a frown in her eyes as she glared towards the current King and his daughter, Ruri Dhair.

Soon enough, Silvia Frost also turned her gaze over him, and their eyes met. Silvia let out her dissatisfaction without a care in the world. Her glare also pierced through the eyes of Kendrick and her rude behavior came out.

"What are you staring at!?"

"....N- Nothing…"

Kendrick lowered his head and turned away. Like he thought, there's no sane person in the otome world he had reincarnated to.

The two of them ignored each other, and as soon as Ruri Dhair's speech came to an end, she soon descended downstairs like a fairy, then sat next to Kendrick.

The nobles minded their own business, but some still couldn't help but not to take away their gaze upon the King's daughter's beauty.

Even the nobles from foreign countries were in awe.

Kendrick was having a weird feeling as he saw the eyes of the nobles staring at him with disgust. Because he was from a low status viscount household, they're angry about how he can sit beside the princess when she's supposedly around the higher positioned household like them.

Kendrick wanted to remove the tension in his heart and so he decided to speak to Ruri Dhair.

"....Princess Ruri, How've you been..?"

Ruri Dhair slowly turned her head to him and smiled.

Her smile looks bright for some reason, as if she was a buddha brimming in gold or something.

"N- No need to be formal with me Dan…. I want to start a conversation with you but I'm too nervous…"

The truth is, Ruri Dhair was looking for an opportunity to talk with him. But since the gaze was all around focused on her, she couldn't bring herself to do so.

"....How can I do such a thing, Princess Ruri. You're someone who might become Queen one day."

Hearing Kendrick said that, the nobles peacefully eating their meal glared at him with annoyance. Even those who weren't paying attention to him, started to look his way. It looks like Kendrick just dug his own grave.

There were some nobles who chuckled in mockery at his words, but some nobles who's greedy for status started to look at Princess Ruri in different ways as if she was a diamond or gem.

"E-hehe, don't joke around Dan. My other siblings were way much better than I do in every way~"

'I'm not joking though….'

Because the King's diary from the otome game said so. That she could have been the crowned Queen if only she didn't die from food poisoning.

Kendrick stared at Ruri and scanned her body from head to toe.

"Princess Ruri, you've grown into a fine beautiful lady as I expected."

"...D- don't tease me like you always do Dan?! Can't you at least save it for later….. Uuuuoo... Even though it's my birthday today! Look at the crowds, their eyes are all staring at us?! What if they think we're a couple..."

"It's fine that way, Princess Ruri! Being misunderstood as your fiance would have been much better and win-win for me. I mean, who wouldn't wish for a beautiful lady as a fiance like yourself~"

"Y- you?!.... Gosh, didn't you know when to choose a proper time to say such an embarrassing thing…."

Kendrick was about to tease her more but then Viscount Anwir paused eating and called out to him.

"Dan! Don't forget to mind your manners in front of the Princess, will you."

Viscount Anwir was wearing a wide smile, but deep inside Kendrick could tell…

'He was angry…'

For some reason, he feels like he liked that irritated fake smile from what seemed to be his father now.

And for a minute there, everyone in the palace heard footsteps upstairs. The crowd stopped eating and focused their gaze upstairs. Before long, the King reappeared with his 2 daughters and 2 sons. The princes and princesses of the Kingdom after Ruri Dhair….

Just like their father, all of them had blonde hair, and eyes majestically red.

The first born son, Prince Ian.

The 4th born son, Prince Ryan.

The 3rd born daughter, Princess Vanessa

The 5th born daughter, Princess Peach.

All the royal family members had gathered upstairs and were all looking down at the crowd. Not really all since Ruri was downstairs but with her counted inside the palace, all the royal family members were gathered to celebrate her birthday today.

The first born Prince, Ian, was looking down at the crowd with a bright expression. While the 3 other siblings were looking coldly at Princess Ruri in secret.

Soon enough, the giant cake prepared entered inside the palace, including the dream drink of Princess Ruri, called 'The purple sky'. The drink was exported from a foreign Kingdom in another continent, it was a rare liquid that could only be obtained after waiting for 4 years in an ancient forest from the continent of Sunsharr. It was rare of rarest in the continent of Sunsharr, the way to obtain it till now was still a mystery.

'The purple sky' was said to make whoever drinks it two times stronger than they are and healthier than ever. And now. That rare drink was coming towards the table of the birthday girl, Princess Ruri Dhair.

It was also the awaited moment where she'll finally die from food poisoning.

And for the last show, before the drink was dropped in front of Princess Ruri, the whole palace suddenly became dark.

It was as if everything was darkness from the beginning. Neither Kendrick nor the other nobles could see a thing.

It's like he expected. The food poisoning event was finally happening.