Read Novel Full Chapter 694: Guardians [2]
Chapter 694: Guardians [2]
The two stood in absolute silence.
The nobles did not know who the unfamiliar figure in armor was, but they all recognized the black robed elder the moment they heard his title.
The Grand Shadow.
He was the one who commanded all Shadow Guards under the royal family.
He also held another title.
He was the second brother of the second generation king of the kingdom.
Even to Princess Priscilla, who was above sixty years old, this man was like her great grandfather and the guardian of the royal palace. He had appeared only because he sensed traces of shadow magic, something an assassin of his level was extremely sensitive to.
The old man’s presence was quiet, yet it pressed on the hall like an invisible weight. His eyes were a dull, faded grey, but they were fixed on Fade.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then a voice sounded in Michael’s mind.
"My lord. I cannot beat him."
Fade did not move his lips, but Michael heard him clearly.
Michael did not need the warning.
His Eye of Truth had activated the moment the old man appeared.
This was not the first Rank 3 he had seen.
It was, however, the most terrifying.
But was Michael afraid?
No.
His heart did not speed up.
His breathing did not change.
He simply tightened his control over his emotions and watched.
The old man’s gaze shifted slightly.
A faint hint of killing intent spread into the air, too thin for most people to notice.
But Michael’s undead noticed it immediately.
From the shadow beneath Michael’s feet, something else stirred.
A second darkness separated itself and rose.
There was only one undead in his army with a nature similar to Fade’s.
Ghost.
The figure that rose beside Michael was much larger than Fade. A tall, broad shouldered man with short dark hair and deep green eyes that absorbed every detail around him.
His presence was heavy.
Ghost had always been strange, even among Michael’s undead.
From Rank 0 onward, he had always been the strongest of his tier.
Rank 1, the same.
Rank 2, again the same.
Now at Rank 3, the difference had become almost absurd.
If they compared raw power alone, only Beginning could challenge him, and even then only when Beginning pushed his Rebirth Law to its absolute limit.
Under normal conditions, Ghost was Michael’s strongest undead.
A true monster.
The old man felt it as well.
His killing intent, which had chilled the air moments earlier, softened and flickered with caution.
He studied Ghost, then Fade, then Michael. For the first time, a hint of uncertainty crossed his ancient eyes.
When he arrived, the situation looked clear.
Multiple shadow-type beings surrounding a noble youth.
Shadow Guards suppressed.
Foreign entities that showed no fear toward the royal family.
There was only one logical assumption.
They were enemies.
But now?
Now his instincts wavered.
These figures were far too strong to be ordinary spies or assassins.
The old man’s killing intent faded further. Suspicion, calculation, and wariness took its place.
He finally spoke.
"What," he said slowly, "are all of you doing in my kingdom?"
The royal banquet ended in a way no one had expected.
The original purpose was technically fulfilled.
The one who gained the most was the Second Prince.
Of the extra ten slots, seven went to his faction.
The Tenth Prince was not as lucky.
His careless remarks earned him a punishment and he nearly lost his slot.
The Ninth and Seventh Princes suffered the most.
Their loud behaviour, their mockery, and their eagerness to stir conflict made them look immature and unstable.
Older factions quietly withdrew support.
In the race for the throne, both princes dropped an entire tier in influence within a week.
And then there was Michael.
People no longer saw him as a mysterious youth.
They now saw him as a young man backed by a power capable of producing two Great Stage supernatural guardians.
A lineage level force.
The kind only ancient families possessed.
"Maybe he came from the Empire to train."
"Perhaps a hidden clan from across the sea."
"Maybe a branch family with terrifying standards."
"Or an envoy sent to observe our kingdom."
Michael, however, was thinking of none of them.
As the Evermoon carriage carried him away from the banquet, he leaned back and exhaled slowly.
For a moment, he wondered if he had gone too far by acting like himself tonight.
But the feeling disappeared quickly.
The truth was simple.
He felt great.
For the first time in a long while, he had spoken exactly as he wanted.
He had acted as he wished.
He had lowered his head to no one.
What was the point of gaining power if you lived your life bowing to others?
If you spent every moment trying not to offend someone?
Power was meant to be used.
Power was meant to give freedom.
Michael had lived freely tonight.
And it felt incredible.
There was only one small problem.
He turned to the side inside the carriage.
Arianne sat opposite him.
Her hands were neatly placed on her lap.
Her back was straight.
Her eyes were lowered.
Her posture was unnaturally formal.
Rigid even.
Michael frowned slightly.
"Princess?" he called softly.
Arianne lifted her gaze. She blinked once, as though pulled from deep thought.
"Yes, Sir Mic," she answered.
"Are you alright?" Michael asked.
Arianne hesitated. A faint breath left her lips.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Can someone of your status still call me Princess?"
Michael blinked.
"My status?" he asked. "What status?"
Arianne stared at him like he had asked whether fire was hot.
Before she could reply, he continued.
"I am just a Viscount."
Arianne stared for a moment.
Then her lips curved.
Her entire posture relaxed, melting like frost under the morning sun.
Her smile brightened, warm and relieved.
"I see," she said softly.
"You should stop calling me Princess."
Michael raised a brow.
"Oh? And what should I call you then?"
Arianne’s smile grew wider, sweet and openly pleased.
"Call me Arianne," she said.