Chapter 17: Show has begun
"APPREHEND THE TRAITOR-!!"
The voice reverberated in the banquet hall. Within a moment, the soldiers, armed with spears, had surrounded Aliana. The silence did not exist anymore.
"Do you think you will be safe after displaying such rudeness to a member of the royal family? Lady Rosenstein!"
The old man's violet eyes were fixed on Aliana. His face was red with anger. He looked down at Aliana from his private quarters situated at the floor above.
"One shouldn't get full of himself, 'Emperor'."
Aliana's mocking tone became clear as she pushed away the spear by its tip. Looking at the crowd below the platform, her eyes met those of the person she had brought along with her.
Jaden smiled at Aliana. He was ready to take action, but still was a bit hesitant. Aliana responded to his smile by speaking.
"Isn't it about the time you uphold your part of the contract? Jaden."
Snap
A ring appeared in her hand. The ring's gem shone blue calming one's eyes.
The gem that left people in awe was so precious that one could feel his jaw dropping just at a glimpse of it. Everyone felt as if they were hypnotized by the sparkling stone.
She smiled while holding the ring in her hand. Jaden was walking towards the stage while keenly observing the people around him.
"That is-! It can't be-!"
The bewilderment spread through the crowd. It was an item most people had heard legends about.
There was no way such an item existed. And even if it did, no one could believe that Aliana was the one possessing it.
"She must've used some trick-"
Jaden's gaze fell on a person he knew. He could no longer feel hesitation.
'Ah. That person...'
With one snap of his fingers, a sword appeared in Jaden's hand. Aliana was smiling at him, who had his gaze fixed on someone else.
Her calling out his name was supposed to be his signal. He had heard it, yet, why was he not moving for a while, gripping the sword tightly?
"Y-yeah. There's no way that someone like her coul-"
The fat man saying that was someone whom Jaden remembered very well. But before the man could complete his words, his vision faded because of the darkness.
Slash
Jaden had a cold look in his eyes. He cut off the head of that man, who was making insulting remarks about Aliana.
'So this is what she meant...'
Jaden could connect points. Aliana really meant what she said all the time.
-Remember his face well. He is Baron Spelman.
Jaden was aware of the man's identity. He had killed a person for the first time.
-You will meet him at the banquet later. That time...
Aliana had already planned it all, far ahead of what Jaden could guess. When did she start planning?
-You need to just kill one of the people there on my signal.
She never specified who Jaden was supposed to kill. It was Jaden's choice. He looked at the blue blade, which was dyed red. Rose petals continued to fall slowly.
'I don't need to feel remorse for killing someone like him...'
He could see his lips reflecting on the smooth surface. The lips that curled up unconsciously made Jaden feel a bit lighter.
"Indeed, my dearest."
Jaden had started to play along with Aliana's act. Aliana's lips were left gaping for a moment. The silence spread throughout the hall once again.
But there was another thing that was mixed in that silence. It was an emotion called fear.
"It looks like they are scared of you now."
Aliana laughed while putting her left hand on her lips. She held the ring in her right hand.
"Isn't that the outcome you expected?"
Jaden was aware that Aliana had everything calculated. He was just fulfilling his role.
"Now then... it seems like everything's ready."
Jaden could feel the gazes of people as he turned towards the crowd. Aliana was smiling while looking at him.
The terrified look in the eyes of guests became visible to him. It wasn't surprising as he had just killed a person at a speed that could not be detected with the eyes.
"Anyway. This is amazing."
He tried to catch the rose petals that were raining near them with his right hand. His mana had taken that form because of the sword's effects.
Soon, his admiration for that scene came to a stop. He gripped his left hand's fingers around Aliana's hand.
"Let's get going, I suppose."
They both got off the platform. The guests and hosts were frozen in their steps.
Aliana opened her mouth just when Jaden was about to walk towards the exit.
"Hold right there, dear."
She was pulling Jaden's hand lightly. And her smile turned grim.
"O-oh. What might be the problem here? A-alia."
Jaden couldn't help but sweat at seeing Aliana's smile. He remembered how his worries increased every time she smiled.
He glanced at the people around him to notice that they had a pale face. Was it because of him displaying his strength?
'Was it because of me? Or maybe...'
He sneaked a glanced at Aliana. Jaden tried to remember what he was feeling when he was sprinting towards Baron Spelman.
'Was that her magic just a while ago...?'
Jaden was indeed moving as fast as he could. However, his speed was accelerated by some unknown force.
Aliana had something to do with it, for sure. Or what else sounded like a reasonable explanation behind it?
"You aren't possibly thinking of going out without doing your job properly? Right?"
She pulled him closer just to whisper in his ear. Seeing her reaction Jaden became certain of two things.
First, it was her who had casted her magic on him. It was when she snapped her fingers to pull out the ring. Of course, he didn't know about the later part.
"N-not at all. I-i will do it properly, of course."
Second, accepting to form the soul contract was the worst choice of his life. How worse could it even get?
Jaden walked towards the platform. He couldn't help but think about it while walking.
'Maybe I should've run away. Why am I getting dragged into something like this-?!!!!'
It was tough to keep up the act, but Jaden had to do it. Only if he had asked about the terms before accepting the soul contract...
He stopped for a while and looked towards Aliana. Aliana waved at him while smiling. To which, he waved back too. With a smile on his face, he turned around.
'I will die. I will die. I will die. I will die if I don't do this now.'
The contract hadn't been altered yet. It would take five to six days for it to happen. If he didn't do what Aliana wanted him to, there was no telling what consequences he might've had to face.
And not to mention, there were other issues too. The main problem, if the soul contract was excluded, would be something that would make anyone say...
'Sh*t!'
Jaden bit his lips, realising just what mess he had gotten involved in. There were too many irregularities.
'This isn't the same as in the novel...'
He tried to compare everything he could think of, but there were no similarities. The only thing could do was gulp down his own saliva nervously.
Was this maybe all because of someone's interference with the original plot? Even if it wasn't, there was no other explanation.
'This doesn't seem like a coincidence.'
Aliana was supposed to be a villainess who was infatuated with the crown prince. But here, her actions were totally different.
Currently, she was planning to break off the engagement by herself rather than allowing Lenon to do so. The polar opposite of what had occurred in the original story.
-That's just a part of my plan.
Jaden remembered the words Aliana said to him last night. Those made him feel chills run down his spine.
'Then... what exactly is her plan?'
With a nervous face, he looked towards the guests. He stood on the platform now, with only one thought on his mind.
------------------
'How did it even come to this-?'
Claire thought while biting her nails. She had no idea who the person standing on the stage was, but she was certain of one thing.
'He is stronger than Lenon...'
She could tell since she had seen Lenon swing his sword during battle with monsters or bandits.
And even if that wasn't the case, Aliana breaking off the engagement would be more trifling. The Crown Prince couldn't possibly use force against a woman.
-[Is that...]
The voice inside her mind spoke. It had not said a word since the loud sound was heard. Claire flinched a bit and mumbled.
"What is it?"
She was already nervous about her current situation. The person she considered her worst enemy was trying her best to humiliate both Lenon and her.
-[... It's nothing.]
Claire didn't ask any further. She was going to ask, but Jaden's voice interrupted her.
"Dear guests, it seems we've got your attention now."
Jaden was trying his best not to stutter. It was his first time speaking in front of a crowd.
-Getting proposed to by your hidden lover on their birthday sounds good, right?
Jaden knew what he had to do. Aliana held the ring in Jaden's hand right before he walked onto the stage. Only a few steps were left.
'I'm doomed either way.'
Jaden tightened his hand's grip around the ring. He slowly spoke with an unwavering tone, accompanied with a serious gaze.
"You must've heard rumours about Lady Rosenstein having a secret lover."
He smiled awkwardly. It was obvious what his next words were about to be.
Not for everyone, but at least for Lenon and Claire. They had anticipated it to happen the moment they heard those words.
"That's me..."
Not wasting a single moment, he walked down the stage. Everyone had their eyes on him whose unique attire attracted the eyes of bystanders.
"May I have the honour of asking your hand for marriage?"
Jaden took Aliana's hand in his, while kneeling on one knee. She glanced once at Lenon, whose face expressed an unknown fear.
He felt as if he had eaten something he shouldn't have. Maybe that was the case? Or... Not?
"Yes, of course."
Jaden's face was pale making him feel like he was going to pass out. He had no idea what would happen after that point.
Slowly putting the ring on her hand, Jaden kissed it. That was till where he understood Aliana's plan. Then he stood quietly.
"W-who would allow such an absurd thing?!'
The emperor didn't stay quiet. Even after witnessing Jaden's skills, he wasn't scared. The royal family was in power for a reason.
'Magic is useless against that old man.'
Jaden looked at Aliana with nervous eyes. The information he had specified in his novel flashed through his mind.
-There was an item that the emperor held that made him strong enough to keep all nobles within his grasp. The item could seal away magic and artifacts with special effects.
'If not for that item...'
Jaden stared at the pendant that the emperor was wearing around his neck. It was an ancient relic that the founder of the kingdom had received from a reliable ally.
Everyone began talking against it. The Emperor smiled cunningly and looked at Jaden.
"Let's do it this way... If even one person supports you, we shall certify your marriage."
No one knew who Jaden was. They only understood that he was wearing some unusual clothes and had skills worthy of their admiration.
'Isn't it our victory...?'
The bet the Emperor just placed was unfavourable to him. Jaden looked at him with a confused face.
But something was strange. Was it the silence in the air? Or the Emperor's grin?
"Who is against the marriage of Lady Rosenstein and this gentleman in unusual clothing?"
The Emperor asked while putting his hand on the pendant. Jaden bit his lips.
He should've at least tried to not do such things in front of the public. Jaden knew what he was trying.
'Is he threatening them...?'
Most people were raising their hands. The Emperor snickered at the sight he was expecting since earlier.
It seemed like everyone was against it. For what reason? Obviously, they were scared of what the old man would do, if everything went as Aliana wanted.
"It looks like no one is in favour of your decision."
The pendant emitted a blue light. Aliana could feel her magic getting blocked off.
"You have committed a grave sin today. Not only did you display discourtesy to the crown prince, but you also killed an innocent citizen."
Everything was going as the Emperor wanted. He covered his smile. He wasn't the only one smiling.
"Arrest them!"
The guards began to move in Aliana and Jaden's directions. She stood in one place. Jaden's face was colorless, but she was still smiling.
'Everything according to my plan.'
She thought while witnessing the crowd's reaction. The one person she was waiting for was someone a whole lot stronger and important than the Emperor himself.
'Now, if that person were to appear...'
Tink tink
The sound of windchimes attracted everyone's attention. Aliana and Jaden weren't the ones who spoke.
"Innocent citizen, you say...?"
Tink
A bundle of paper appeared in front of the emperor. It was floating in the air.
His gaze shifted towards Aliana. There was no way that it was her who used magic.
"This is evidence about Baron Spelman's evil deeds."
A man in a robe was standing behind the platform. His green, glowing eyes peered at the emperor's.
He had a hood covering his head. His fangs were barely visible as he smiled whilst exposing his teeth.
"As for who is not against these two's decision... we can just ask them."
He said this while flipping out an invitation letter from under his robe. The man was also a guest who was invited to the banquet.
"And about the engagement between Lady Rosenstein and Prince Lenon..."
The man glanced at Aliana and Jaden. He smiled a bit before continuing with his words.
"Crown Prince Lenon was the one who sought to break off the engagement, after all."
The invitation he held in his hand vanished into the air. He looked at the emperor, whose face was beet red with anger. The man spoke with a bright smile.
"Dear guests, who is in favour of their marriage? Please raise your hands."
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