Read Novel Full Chapter 690: You Dare To Disrespect Me? [2]
Chapter 690: You Dare To Disrespect Me? [2]
Gold at the center.
Deep amber near the edges.
And a slit-like focus that resembled the gaze of a beast.
Michael watched the prince with calm eyes.
So this was the one said to rival Princess Priscilla in talent.
He did give off a sense of strength.
At least he felt stronger than Renn months ago and stronger than the imperial prince Renn had cut down.
But to Michael, this was still too weak.
Michael had no issue bowing as he was simply following the crowd.
He had followed the crowd without complaint when Princess Priscilla arrived, even without understanding every rule of etiquette.
But bowing now, after hearing the Tenth Prince’s voice at the entrance, felt uncomfortable.
The first words the prince had spoken upon arrival had brushed against Michael in a way he could not ignore, so he watched instead.
After greeting Princess Priscilla, the Tenth Prince turned slightly.
His gaze shifted toward the Second Prince and he gave a respectful nod.
The Second Prince returned the nod with equal composure.
Only after that brief exchange did the Tenth Prince’s eyes move on.
He did not look at the Seventh Prince or the Ninth Prince.
He treated them as though they were air standing at his sides.
The Seventh and Ninth Princes’ expressions twisted for a moment, but the Tenth Prince did not seem to care.
His attention shifted toward the list on the scroll as if nothing else in the room mattered.
Michael watched all of this in silence.
So this was the royal family.
It was one big messy thing.
The Tenth Prince let his gaze slide over the scroll.
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling something.
He spoke in a calm voice that carried through the hall.
"What was that name I heard earlier?"
The room went still again.
"Oh. Right. That was it."
He sounded almost thoughtful.
"I arrived with my aunty but did not enter with her. I had a few things to settle before stepping in."
His eyes lifted from the scroll and swept the hall.
"But even from the entrance, I heard something strange. A name that did not fit."
His tone lost all softness.
"What was a commoner name doing on the list?"
The words struck the hall like cold water.
The Tenth Prince continued without pausing.
"No surname. No house. No title. Yet placed beside the heirs of noble lines and the best talents of the kingdom."
His eyes sharpened.
"Does the ruin allow any random name now?"
Michael let his eyes drift across the hall.
Not everyone agreed with the Tenth Prince, but most nobles did.
He saw it in the small nods.
In the way a few shoulders relaxed, as though someone had finally voiced what many wanted to say.
Some looked uncomfortable, but agreement was still the dominant color.
Michael’s gaze shifted toward Leonard.
The Queen’s nephew had gone still, yet his expression had changed more than most.
There was a faint brightness in his eyes now.
The corners of his mouth had lifted an almost invisible amount.
He was pleased.
On the platform, the Seventh Prince’s face had lost its strain.
His earlier annoyance shifted into quiet satisfaction.
The Ninth Prince, Raelion, did not smile widely, but his eyes carried an entertained light.
The Tenth Prince looked ready to speak again.
Before the next word left his lips, another voice cut across the hall.
"And what is wrong with a commoner?"
Silence fell in a single instant.
Heads turned.
It was one thing for a prince to interrupt another prince.
But for someone else to do it?
Madness.
Arianne felt the blood drain from her face.
Seria’s fingers closed tightly around the fabric of her dress.
The source of the voice stood in plain sight.
Michael.
On the platform, the Seventh Prince’s eyes froze.
The amusement in Raelion’s eyes deepened.
Leonard Vale turned his head in disbelief before narrowing his gaze.
Princess Priscilla’s brows lifted a fraction. There was no shock there, only interest.
The Second Prince went still, fingers loosening around the armrest as he resisted the urge to rub his forehead.
The Tenth Prince’s gaze swung toward the center of the hall.
Those beast-like eyes locked onto Michael again.
A faint ripple of pressure washed through the air.
It was not enough to break anyone, but enough to make weaker nobles draw sharp breaths.
Michael’s expression did not change.
The Tenth Prince’s voice cut through the tension.
"Did you say something?"
His tone was mild at first, almost casual, but every noble felt the air tighten.
Dozens of eyes snapped toward Michael again.
Arianne’s breath stopped.
Seria’s fingers dug into her dress.
Michael met the prince’s gaze without hesitation.
"I asked what was wrong with a commoner."
Then the Tenth Prince laughed.
A wide, bright, openly mocking laugh that bounced off the gilded walls and cut across the nobles like a blade dipped in contempt.
He wiped a nonexistent tear from the corner of his eye while still chuckling.
"A commoner," he said.
"A commoner."
His smile sharpened.
"Do you truly not understand? Or are you pretending?"
He took a single step forward.
"Commoners fetch water. Commoners sweep streets. Commoners hunt rabbits and boars for coin."
His eyes narrowed.
"Commoners do not stand beside heirs of noble blood. And they certainly do not enter ancient ruins meant for the pillars of the kingdom."
His gaze swept the hall in a slow, disdainful arc.
"To compare a commoner to a noble is like comparing mud to marble."
A few nobles flinched.
Not because they disagreed, but because of how blunt he was.
The Tenth Prince returned his gaze to Michael.
"It is the natural order. Commoners serve. Nobles lead. And those without a house or history should know their place."
His voice dropped, quiet but carrying.
"Unless you are saying they do not? Unless you are suggesting mud should decorate the palace floors?"
The hall went silent.
Everyone waited.
What would the viscount say?
Michael met the prince’s eyes and spoke evenly.
"For someone weaker than a commoner, you do have a lot to say."