Chapter 16: I Favor the Twin Ego

’Aw, shit...’

Adonis stood rigidly in panic.

He was in the worst trouble imaginable: running into a ruthless protagonist as a trash extra. And now? He’d just been caught red-handed committing what looked like a crime.

’I’m dead. I’m so dead! My life is over. I’ll get beheaded! Why did I have to transmigrate into a trash extra?! These overpowered protagonists have everything handed to them on a silver platter from day one, while the only things I have going for me are my looks and Minerva! And now I’m done for! Dammit!’

He idly wondered if he could even run. Probably not.

This protagonist likely already possessed some kind of absurd, cheat-tier speed or a one-hit kill ability that would erase a nobody like him in a split second.

Just as Adonis was about to give up entirely and relinquish the dragon teleporter...

Lloyd hurried over, throwing his arms around his grandmother in a tight, protective hug.

He pointed a finger at Adonis.

"Pervert! How dare you go after a sweet, old woman?! Have you no lower limit? Identify yourself right now!"

"Eh?"

Adonis, who thought his life was over, was confused.

’Oh... this idiot didn’t even notice...’

Before Adonis could process the stupidity of the situation, the old woman tapped Lloyd’s arm, trying to pull away.

"Lloyd, hush! Adonis is actually a sweet young man. I was the one going for the kiss! He’s a lovely fellow, he—"

"Grandma, stop!"

Lloyd cut her off instantly, glaring at Adonis with disgust.

"He’s clearly a gold digger!"

Then he really looked at the golden-haired young man.

That name.

"Wait... Adonis? Like... the disgraced prince?"

Adonis didn’t get to answer. Lloyd simply gave him a flat look of utter disappointment.

Without another word, he ushered his grandmother away.

"Let’s go, mother must be looking for you..."

Lloyd muttered, protectively placing a hand over the old woman’s hips just in case Adonis decided to sneak a quick peek.

Soon, Adonis was alone in a new silence.

He clenched his fists painfully. That flat, dismissive look the protagonist had just given him... it was the exact same look so many others had given him. They didn’t understand what it meant to carry the narrative weight of an extra. He was a nobody. That was the script destiny had written for him. They looked at him like he wasn’t even worth the effort.

It was just like his past life. He had failed at every job his parents found for him, and eventually, they started looking at him with that same empty disappointment. But back in that world, he could at least shut the door to his apartment and hide inside webnovels.

Here, he didn’t have the luxury of hiding.

He had no choice but to survive.

Adonis took a deep breath.

’And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.’

...

Eventually, the sun grew tired and sank beyond the horizon.

It’s time to return to the royal palace.

Grandma Gertrude was clinging to Adonis, hugging him tightly and refusing to let go, while Lloyd hovered near them, begging her to leave the "filthy rascal" alone.

Meanwhile, Lady Ariel and Minerva were exchanging polite goodbyes nearby.

Minerva glanced over with jealous, ruby eyes then grabbed Adonis, and forcibly, yet sweetly, tore him straight out of the fuming Gertrude’s arms.

"That’s quite enough of that, old lady."

Minerva said with a sugary, dangerous smile as she pulled Adonis close to her side.

Before they set off, Adonis turned to Lady Ariel.

"Uhm, Lady Ariel, about Baron Thale... you might want to keep an eye on him. I picked up some underground info that he plans to submit a major item to the auction."

Ariel’s eyes brightened, and she offered a graceful smile.

"I see. I’ll inform Queen Lucelia immediately so she’s available for appraisal."

Adonis smiled back and left with Minerva.

...

Upon their return to the Emerald Palace, Adonis and Minerva barely had time to catch their breath before an urgent messenger summoned them directly to the throne room.

The grand doors creaked open.

There was a small gathering.

Standing inside were Prussia, Fangfather Darius, King Aldrius, and his royal consorts.

Minerva stepped forward in her majestic, black dress.

"What is the meaning of this?"

First Queen Esmarie sighed softly, wringing her hands with a look of delicate hesitation.

"Minerva, I... I don’t even know how to explain this, but—"

Darius silenced her with a hold of his hand.

"Don’t worry, I’ll explain. I simply don’t trust a blood witch to act as the inventory manager for an auction carrying some of the most valuable magical artifacts in the eastern territory."

"Huh?"

Minerva held her flat stomach and laughed mockingly.

"Since when do you or House Dunamis care about the auction’s management? You’ve never even attended one of these events, and all of a sudden you have a say in our affairs?"

Third Queen Lucelia smiled calmly from her seat.

"Darius makes a fair point, Minerva. Not everyone is at ease around witches, especially considering they are one of the very threats our alliance is actively fighting against. It would be best if you sat this one out."

Minerva was genuinely shocked.

"Sit this out? I’ve been the inventory manager for over a decade! Now it’s a problem all of a sudden?!"

Then it hit her. Minerva pointed at the two queens.

"You two... you arranged this, didn’t you?"

First Queen Esmarie immediately adopted a innocent look like some sorrowful martyr.

"Oh, Minerva, please! It wasn’t us. A rumor spread among the maids regarding your nature, and it reached the foreign dignitaries. They unanimously agreed that if the inventory manager isn’t replaced, they won’t participate."

Minerva’s blood ran hot with fury. She was a Blood Witch. A race of a violent, terrifying race born of destruction. With a single thought, she could ignite the blood inside their bodies, boil the air in their lungs, and halt their beating hearts.

Yet, as her magic flared beneath her skin, she looked over at her coward of a husband. King Aldrius sat on his throne and didn’t say a word. Beside him, Grand Chamberlain Hershant was shaking with desperation.

To offend House Dunamis is hell on earth.

For the sake of innocent lives, Minerva forced her surging magic back down and gave a bitter nod.

"Fine. I will relinquish my position as inventory manager."

"Minerva, wait—"

Adonis tried to step in, but Minerva raised a hand.

Taking advantage of her concession, Fangfather Darius reached out and forcefully cupped Minerva’s chin so he could lift her pretty face to meet his wolfish gaze.

"Personally, I don’t have a problem with witches. I heard Aldrius bought you as a slave before marrying you. I must admit, the old man has a remarkably good eye."

Standing right beside them, Adonis felt his blood boil. He threw a desperate glance toward King Aldrius, but the spineless old man simply turned his head away, acting as if he hadn’t seen a thing, just like the pathetic coward he was written to be.

That was the final straw.

’Forget being an extra. Forget staying hidden.’

He stepped forward and forcefully slapped Darius’s hand away from Minerva’s face.

"Get your hands off her!"

Shing!

Before he could even draw another breath, a blade pressed hard against his throat. Prussia appeared out of nowhere and locked her sword onto his neck.

Adonis felt his body go numb.

This was the very first time he’d ever been this close to death, both in this life and his previous one. He knew what he was: a coward. He was the type of guy who would never risk his life for a woman. But he had made a promise to himself, he was going to make sure the losing heroines were treated right!

Prussia narrowed her eyes at him.

"Breathe too loudly, and you lose your head."

Darius, however, merely burst into a booming laugh.

He waved a dismissive hand at his daughter.

"Lower your sword, my dear. He’s a nobody."

Darius put on a calm front, but the real reason he backed off wasn’t Adonis... it was the beastly, suffocating bloodlust boiling off Minerva’s glowing ruby eyes.

A trembling King Aldrius banged his gavel down.

"Minerva is no longer the inventory manager, so let us end it here! The auction is in two days!"

The King dismissed them.

Everyone nodded and left.

Adonis turned to speak to Minerva, but her face was dark.

Ignoring him, she stormed out of the throne room before he could even call her name.

Adonis stood alone in the dim hallway.

’That man... that bastard actually touched Minerva’s face. I’ve never felt this mad since I transmigrated. Dunamis... they’re dead and don’t even realize it. I’ll make sure they remember my face when they’re wallowing in a pit of their own regrets.’

"Are you just going to stand there brooding all day?"

Adonis looked up. Prussia was leaning against the wall at the end of the corridor, waiting for him.

"What do you want?" Adonis asked flatly.

Prussia sneered, looking down her nose at him.

"Shut up, dog. I hope you aren’t sour about what happened back in the throne room, but you should know something... I always put my father first."

"Oh, cool..."

Adonis smiled sweetly with eyes gently closed.

"You know, Prussia, I understand. I just hope you don’t change your mind when I put my kingdom first."

Prussia lifted a brow as her grip tightened on her hilt.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Adonis tucked his hands behind and casually strolled past her with an unbothered smile rested on his lips.

"In the end... I favor the twin ego."

Prussia blinked, genuinely baffled. "Hm?"

Rather than stop or turn back, Adonis simply waved a lazy hand over his shoulder as he walked away.

"Words to live by."