Chapter 251: The Prince’s Promise

I stared at the Prince standing in front of me, with a polite, kind smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he held out his hand for a handshake.

We were about the same height, but I felt very short in front of him.

Confusion came over me for a few moments, but I caught myself quickly as I took his hand and felt the strength hidden in it.

Those red eyes stared at my face like they were measuring something... studying me, which sent a strange feeling through my body. "I’ve wanted to meet you for a while, but the chances didn’t allow me to."

Now thinking about it again, the Pillar of Blood is his aunt... and that means he’s Alicia’s cousin... Ellen’s brother, and so on.

Even though those last two were normal, the first one... uncomfortable... especially since it looks like he inherited some things from that crazy woman.

I tried to be as polite as possible. "And why would the Prince and next heir to the throne want to meet a simple person like me."

He looked like he was about to laugh, only to tilt his head a little. Like he liked what I said. "It’s early to say I’m the next heir, and personally I wouldn’t call you a simple person, you know... a simple person can’t stop an Artifact theft operation, wipe out a group of criminals, and wander around another world and come back with new things."

Zen came closer as he whispered, "And try to kill a Pillar."

Our little meeting started drawing many eyes from every corner of the hall... I held back the scowl that almost formed on my face as I replaced it with a smile like I’d just heard a nice joke. "I feel flattered when you say it like that... but I think you’re exaggerating in the last part."

Zen put the distance between us back. "Come on, you played an important role in that... you were the center of everything."

His tone turned into a deeper note, like he isn’t convinced by anything except what he says himself. "So, I’m not exaggerating when I say you provided great services to the Empire... and you didn’t receive anything in return."

His eyes shone like he’d just remembered something. "Except a small handful of essence stones.... how shameful of us!"

He moved his focus away from me for a moment, glancing at some of those eyes following this meeting before he came back to me, his tone softening. "So, when this game ends well... let’s meet in a better place and talk about what you deserve."

I barely held back the amused smile that almost showed... yeah, he really does resemble his aunt.

"I’ll be looking forward to it every day, Your Highness." I nodded my head like I was going to melt from gratitude and honor.

Zen smiled with satisfaction as he finally let go of my hand, and patted my shoulder, saying some words of encouragement. "So good luck, I’ll be watching your performance."

With a nod the Prince turned and walked away, and with him all the looks gathered on me faded.

I stared at his back for a moment longer than I should have.

What a suspicious prince.

...

After that lunch at the Imperial palace, we went back to the fancy resort on the edges of the capital.

And while we were coming out of the elevator and splitting up in the corridor... most of them complained about the clothes and wanted to change them, so they split up with amazing speed.

And while I was going to do that too, Ellen caught me near the door of my apartment.

"What did my brother want from you there?" Her tone was like a detective who wants to solve a case, so I couldn’t help but be confused for a moment.

The next moment the light of realization crept into my head as I drew an annoying smile. "Why, are you worried I’ll stand on his side one day."

Well, it made sense that Ellen doesn’t want her brother to get the throne, and of course any extra support could push him there.

But she didn’t respond to my short sarcasm, and she shook her head seriously... she looked like the first days at the Axis... too serious. "I’m not joking, Caius."

I scratched my head as I stared at her face. "Okay, that’s obvious."

I sighed. "It wasn’t anything big, just listing my achievements in a strange way and saying he wants to talk after the tournament, and reward me."

She frowned. "And you, what did you answer with?"

I raised my eyebrow and shrugged at the same time. "What would any sane person answer with... yes!"

She narrowed her eyes as she muttered audibly, "You’re not completely sane."

I scowled. "What was that?" But Ellen turned and walked toward her room. "Thanks for telling me... see you later."

"Suspicious." I muttered as I walked into my fancy room... well this wasn’t the time to think about the Prince, especially in my condition.

This was the last day I’d spend here before we get sent to a camp near the Hanging Islands, and that means goodbye to the luxury for a whole month... it’s not like I was enjoying it.

But I planned to spend this last day to the fullest, maybe going to the jacuzzi or the steam baths, and having a heavy dinner... at least to forget the churning in my guts.

I’d be lying if I said I’m not worried... no, I was very worried, but I was trying to push that away as much as possible.

And I did what I planned, I took a long bath, I didn’t have to pack anything because I always carry all of life’s necessities with me from food to clothes... even though we’ll go through an inspection later, everything I had was allowed.

Except the Mind Anchor... it’s merged with me, so they won’t discover it anyway.

The only thing that was suspicious was the tattoo on my hand connected to the Key of Dimensions... speaking of that, I was sure it was somewhere here in the capital.

I don’t know exactly but I felt it... and maybe if I got close enough, I’d be able to summon it to appear in front of me.

...

At the end of the day everyone gathered at a big dinner table... everyone means all hundred people.

It was chaotic... especially since it’s the first time, I see half of them... I don’t know how.

The groups sat near each other laughing and eating their food.

Some of them acted quietly like Garon and the arrow shooter I faced.

Others fought in a childish way.

Everyone stared at Jin, the good-looking kid, as he got a kiss on his cheek from a blonde girl after she drank a few glasses and her cheeks went red, this made him blush like a girl whose short skirt got lifted.

Ivan chattered about things only he knows while he got harassed by Valia and Naira from both sides.

Some girls tried to get close to Elliot and even feed him, until his face went red as he refused with a stupid smile.

Kyle and Ellen ate their food quietly as they watched all of that with a kind of silent amusement.

Leona stole the whole cake and refused to share it which made her and Izel fight, and taking advantage of that the cake got stolen again by Emeris.

But she did this for fun unlike Leona.

I have to admit... it was a fun dinner.

So fun that I forgot everything for a while.