Chapter 26: D-Day (3)

In the morning, Arthur was already preoccupied again with organizing what clothes would suit him. The theater event started at noon. Therefore, he still had time to pack.

Some of the nobles were supposed to have come there to have a look at the new building. Count Rubel had been there since early in the morning as he organized everything.

Arthur could not go with Count Rubel. Now he had to give in when his father wanted to go with him. He wanted to check on the preparations of the K-Night Assassins Guild.

Using the royal carriage, they arrived at Britney Main Street. Arthur could see that the ordinary citizens were curious about the new building and also the nobles who came.

Arthur saw some of them lining up in front of the knights there. They seemed to be very curious and asked the knight questions.

Duke Rudolf commented, "They are very curious because this is the first time they have seen the nobles gathering somewhere other than at a banquet for fellow nobles. Perhaps on this occasion, they can meet their local leaders."

Arthur heard that well. He also knew that if he transmigrated into one of those people, he would probably join the gathering and perform the iconic scene of saving the nobles later. Even if he had to be punished for trespassing. His heroic action would probably make him as lowly a noble as a Baron without territory.

He also thought about volume one of his novel. During the ritual later, it entered the beginning of the second volume of the novel. Arthur would do whatever it took to become an companion of Yoon Dalmi, the protagonist, so that Crown Prince Xavier would not be able to use him.

His reverie was interrupted when he arrived at the theater. He could see that some nobles had arrived and were greeted by the staff on duty. There were some maids present as well.

'Ugh, am I going to stand out for using the royal carriage? I should, I'm so handsome.'

Arthur and Duke Rudolf got off the carriage. Sure enough, the two were immediately noticed.

Because of that, Arthur immediately put on a cool guy face. He knew how to be a cool guy when he became Kang Seongje because he was a guy that many women liked in the past.

However, the thoughts of the young nobles and ladies who saw him, were not so. They didn't have the same thoughts as Arthur.

"That, Duke Rudolf's successor? He's getting thinner and thinner, poor boy."

"Rumor has it that he had an argument with Viscount Noland. He said his face was so red that it was once thought he was attracted to men rather than women."

"Her body is getting thinner and thinner. Her face is also... pretty? But I can't see it properly. Are the rumors true?"

"What a pity... he's too skinny to be a man. Are the rumors about his taste in partners true?"

Of course Arthur did not hear the ladies' conversation. Perhaps if he had, he would have shouted that he was a normal man.

The two of them walked towards the main courtyard, but it was Count Rubel's staff who led them. They were asked to go to the rest room first.

In the room, there were King Taylor and Queen Cosette who seemed to be in a serious conversation. Moreover, Queen Cosette was being held by King Taylor. The two of them ended up just standing in front of the door of the room even though they were asked to enter by the staff because they didn't want to disturb them.

"If they aren't dismissed now... it's a great misfortune... to have all the misfortune!"

"I... it's just that... The Crown Prince is our son... let it be ...."

Arthur could hear their conversation faintly. He could not hear clearly. However, Arthur could infer that perhaps Queen Cosette saw something there.

There were some stage staff carrying equipment so large that it was carried by several people. They politely asked Duke Rudolf and Arthur to open the way. That made them both step back.

King Taylor and Queen Cosette's conversation was interrupted when Duke Rudolf accidentally stepped back and bumped into the door. The room had two doors with one open. King Taylor and Queen Cosette could see who was outside.

Duke Rudolf immediately said, "I'm sorry, Your Royal Majesty. There were some carrying large objects and I accidentally bumped into the door. I'm sorry I accidentally interrupted your conversation."

He politely bowed, followed by Arthur. Arthur was still thinking about what they were talking about until it looked like an argument.

King Taylor told them to stand up straight. "It's okay, we're not talking about anything heavy. I invited you here because—"

King Taylor's words were interrupted by Queen Cosette suddenly pulling Arthur's hand. She said, "Arthur, if you see something strange later. Please don't leave the room, okay? Please."

King Taylor was taken aback by Queen Cosette's action. He cleared his throat briefly before continuing, "Queen Cosette asked Count Rubel to bring you to her, Arthur."

Arthur looked at the hand Queen Cosette was holding. The old woman did not look directly at Arthur's face at all. Still the same as before, she avoided Arthur's gaze.

"Queen Cosette is calmer when there are relatives she knows coming to this event. Although this is not our first time at the event, it is our first time as Xavier Gladias' parents. So, we are very excited about it."

King Taylor had a guilty look on his face. Crown Prince Xavier during his time at the academy had always organized events, but for the nobles directly, this was indeed the first time.

Arthur, with the thought of being an asshole. He wanted to pry information from Queen Cosette.

"If there's anything going on, I'm supposed to go tell the caretaker, right? That's the rule." Arthur said as he looked at Queen Cosette.

Hearing that, Queen Cosette immediately looked at his face. Something happened between the two of them.

Cling!

"Aw!"

Arthur felt his eyes burn. He was pushed back by something he saw.

'Damn it, what was that light?'

Arthur saw a light, coming out of Queen Cosette's eyes. It was so bright that he was pushed back, but didn't fall. She was just covering her eyes now.

"Auch! I've caught a glimpse. Forgive me, Queen." Arthur had to lie in order not to be considered strange. Because the two old people there must not have seen the light from Queen Cosette's eyes.

Duke Rudolf immediately grabbed Arthur's shoulder. "In that case, we will excuse ourselves. We will do as you command, Your Royal Majesty."

Duke Rudolf immediately took Arthur out of the room. King Taylor deeply regretted what Queen Cosette had asked of Arthur.

"Why did you ask Arthur not to come out when you asked all the nobles to come out, my dear?" King Taylor gently asked Queen Cosette.

"The man with the white wig—no, Arthur's energy draws all misfortune into himself." Queen Cosette replied with some confusion.

King Taylor frowned. "What do you mean, my dear?"

"Arthur is destined to take away all the misfortunes around. He has a misfortune far worse than death."

***

Arthur sat in the row of successors to the left of the stage. The upper-class nobles were seated right in front of the stage. He could see the entire Crown Prince faction sitting in the back row.

There were two roads separating the rows of spectators. Because the room was unusually large and could accommodate hundreds of people, Arthur paid little attention to who came.

He could see Count Rubel who was still busy backstage. It was visible from the curtain that covered the edge of the stage from the outermost row of the audience.

'That man is too hard on his face.'

There was Crown Prince Xavier also backstage. He seemed to be giving something to Crown Prince Xavier. King Taylor and Queen Cosette were already seated upstairs, in their special place.

After some waiting, Count Rubel finally came on stage to say a few words. He was asked by Crown Prince Xavier to welcome the guests on stage.

Crown Prince Xavier had just arrived at his seat upstairs, the second floor of the theater. Then Count Rubel began the theater.

As expected, Kalypt was the main character. He portrayed the previous King Gladius well. Even Arthur felt like he was too immersed in the performance on stage.

Tinkle!

Something fell from the stage lighting, it was a dripping liquid. Not too much, but it was in the center of the stage. The actors continued with their activities.

Tinkle!

Splash!

Eventually, the liquid fell with a higher volume. Kalypt was hit by the liquid because it was right in the center of the stage.

"What's that? They prepared it so thoroughly."

The nobles murmured during the blood-soaked battle scene. The liquid droplets looked like real blood.

"What is this fishy smell?"

However, the upper nobles at the front of the stage smelled something strange. Then, one of the members of the Young Nobles Faction, shouted, "It's real blood!"

Hearing the shout, the liquid suspected to be real blood flowed down the audience seats in an orderly manner. It moved very purposefully.

"What is that circle?"

The blood formed a circle with strange writing. It moved itself regularly and showed a very sinister reddish light.

"T-this is the summoning magic circle of the necromancer!"

A mage wearing a staff outfit shouted in a trembling tone. Arthur knew that it was Cindy. He wanted to try to bring the nobles out, but his legs felt heavy.

The nobles panicked when they realized their legs couldn't move. Arthur knew that the brainwashing ritual had failed because the nobles were still conscious. He could feel a very strong negative aura from the second floor.

Their panic stopped as the surrounding light disappeared. The visible blood made the magic circle black. However, there was something that caught their attention.

On the stage, where the actors had gone to the side because of the blood, someone appeared there. A person wearing strange clothes with an unusual aura.

'Yoon Dalmi, the protagonist, I finally met you.'