Chapter 24: The Wolf’s Looming Shadow

Mariella stood frozen at the center of the grand ballroom.

Her legs were shaking.

But it’s neither from fear nor humiliation.

Unsurprisingly, very much so, it’s from pleasure.

’Oh my god... oh my god... oh my god...’

Her mind was a screaming mess of blissful pleasure.

She felt like butter melting on a hot pan.

’This is why! This is why I can never get over him! He’s a kinky genius! A genius madman! He knew! He KNEW about my desires! He sent me that letter asking for my help and made me travel all the way here just to cuck me in front of everyone!’

Her heart pounded so hard she thought it would burst.

’I’m a cuck! A CUCK! And it’s so exciting!’

Her knees buckled slightly.

While she’s enjoying herself, the nobles were panicking.

"Oh no... Lady Mariella is about to cry!"

"We’re dead! We’re all dead!"

"The Duke of Soron will have our heads!"

"Why does it always have to be our kingdom?! Why?!"

"It must be that accursed Fifth Prince! This is all his fault!"

Noble after noble backed away like they were standing near a bomb. Only one person could see the truth. Adonis watched Mariella’s trembling form with a deadpan face.

’She’s not crying. She’s about to climax.’ (ᗜ _ ᗜ)

Seeing her like this made his tongue lose some taste.

To think he used to simp on her illustrations.

’This woman... I technically cucked her, and she looks like she’s about to explode. I’m a little scared how she’ll react when I tell her Leander has feelings for Prussia in front of everyone. She might actually slap him the instant she hears that. Leander’s image is as good as done.’

Adonis smiled cynically.

He cleared his throat loudly.

Every eye turned to him as he walked calmly toward Mariella’s shaking figure. The nobles wanted to console her, they’d really do anything to stop the Duke of Soron’s daughter from crying in their kingdom, but they were too terrified to move.

Adonis stopped beside her.

He placed a hand on his chest and sighed dramatically.

"It’s truly unfortunate."

Being his usually performative self, he made sure his voice was loud enough for the audience to hear. This is how he’ll save his reputation after all.

"My big brother fell in love with my woman when he already has a fair maiden like Lady Mariella."

King Aldrius blinked.

"Eh?"

The old King was confused.

’Is... is my disowned son talking about his former fiancée like she’s an angel? Why is he suddenly defending her? Don’t tell me he’s a cuck. Hmph. Another reason to disown him.’

He cleared his throat and watched carefully.

Adonis gently pulled Mariella into his arms and she easily melted against him immediately.

He hugged her tightly.

"This kingdom laughed at me for being talentless, but you comfortably praise a prince who would deceive two women just for his own selfish desires!"

The nobles murmured as Adonis kept speaking.

"Prussia told me everything! How much of a scoundrel my big brother is! Looking under her skirt on a hunt! Touching her hands inappropriately! Hmm, her patience is really vast..."

He looked at the nobles with passionate sorrow.

"Is that the future king this nation really wants? Talk about standards, am I right—"

He didn’t get to finish.

Because Mariella’s hands were suddenly everywhere.

She grabbed his butt. Adonis slapped her hand away.

She tried to grab his Mr. John and he shoved her hand away while trying not to look suspicious.

But the nobles didn’t notice any of that.

They were too busy staring at Leander with irritation.

"Is it really true?"

"Is the Third Prince really like that?"

"It must be true. No one would be foolish enough to lie about something like that in the presence of Lady Prussia. Not even a daring bastard like Adonis."

Leander’s face went pale, then red, then pale again. His breaths became heavy and his green pupils contracted and expanded unevenly like he was going crazy.

"I DIDN’T DO ANY OF THIS!"

Silence.

"Adonis is lying! I’d never touch a lady like that! My mother taught me better! I’m no scoundrel!"

He looked desperately at his father.

"Father! Please! You have to believe me!"

King Aldrius stayed quiet.

That silence hooked Leander’s heart like a fish on a line and he’d become so desperate he turned to Prussia. Right now he didn’t care if she was in love with him or Adonis, as long as she said the truth, that was fine.

"Lady Prussia! Tell them the truth! What we had was special! It was pure! You smiled at me! We enjoyed peacefully hunted beasts together! You know this isn’t true!"

Prussia didn’t say a word. Her face was expressionless as she looked at the hyperventilating prince. Sweat poured down his face. Even during dragon hunting, he hadn’t sweat this much. It made a part of her want to sympathize with him.

Adonis narrowed his eyes.

’Is that plot armor I smell...?’

He pulled Mariella away by her wrist.

"Come on, I’ll take you away from the assaulter!"

He grabbed Prussia close to him with his other arm.

He was holding both ladies now.

"Come on, Prussia! Tell them the truth! Tell them why you weren’t able to make it to the goodbye gala that night! You were deeply disgusted of being around him! That’s why you came to see me, right? We had drinks and talked so much we didn’t realize when we got home drunk!"

A chill ran down Prussia’s spine.

Her body felt strange. She was shaking.

This is an unfamiliar feeling.

Being the daughter of one of the fiercest swordsmen in the Magic Continent, fear was rare for her. But looking at this bastard Prince like this... How he fabricated a web of lies.

’No... no way... that’s madness... did he plan that far ahead? Is it possible he revealed his plans to my family that night to stop us from attending the goodbye gala... for this?’

She clenched her fists tight to stop the trembling.

When was he not scheming? Was she next?

She looked coldly at the Third Prince.

"Looking at a perverted pig like you makes me sick."

Leander took many steps back.

"No... no... no... why are you doing this to me?"

His body started to shake as hot tears built up in his eyes so hard he could barely see. The way these nobles were looking at him. It was the same way they looked at Adonis. So much disgust. Like they were better than him.

He looked at his father.

As much as the King tried to hide his disappointment...

It was there.

Leander shook his head.

"No... no..."

He turned to Adonis.

Adonis was still holding Prussia and Mariella in his arms.

"YOU DID THIS TO ME—?!"

A voice filled with so much hate and venom.

Leander unsheathed his sword and dashed like a beam of red light straight for Adonis.

"I’LL RUIN THAT FACE OF YOURS!"

He screeched viciously.

Just when his blade was about to hit, Prussia’s slender waist slipped out of Adonis’s grasp. SHIIINNNGGG! She moved like a sword fairy and sliced Leander’s sword in half then kicked him away like a harmless piece of rock.

BRRRRR... THUD!

The Third Prince rolled and crashed into a pillar.

Mariella grabbed Adonis’s cheeks until they bulged out like a squirrel storing nuts.

"Are you okay—?!"

Adonis nodded, surprised.

She was this worried? But that made sense. She’d always been obsessed with him and affection level was at 85 points right now so he’s getting the loving treatment.

Leander weakly climbed to his knees. The first thing he saw was Mariella looking so worried about Adonis. She was never like this with him. Why? Why was it always Adonis?

Minerva, Prussia, Mariella. Even the maids.

It was always Adonis!

That smug look on his bastard face.

His own fiancée was caring for Adonis like a mother would care for her baby while he was here with dirt on his face and auburn hair that was a mess.

[Host has deeply humiliated Leander to the point that his reputation has been greatly damaged!]

[Warning: If this continues, Target ’Leander Falsbane’ will lose his protagonist status!]

Adonis’s eyes widened.

’I can do that?’

[Yes, Host. The fragments of a destroyed protagonist status can be refined to become a Plot Card... an item that can be used to change the course of fate!]

Adonis’s greed awakened.

’A Plot Card...’

But how much more could he humiliate his brother without looking like the bad guy? That was also important.

In the end, did it matter?

Adonis didn’t want to get ahead of himself. He certainly didn’t. But to know so much of a story... He didn’t need raw power to achieve anything. In his mind, he was the god of this world. He knew everything that had happened and will happen. Was that not godhood?

’It wouldn’t be arrogant to say so.’

But suddenly, came a feeling of dread.

It was like a fox preying after a rabbit, with no idea of the wolf’s looming shadow.

Old Hershant stepped past the King.

He smiled expressionlessly at Prussia.

"I deeply apologize."

Prussia nodded mattely.

"For what?"

"Well, the brothers have suddenly become so treacherous and violent because of the battle for the throne. Your name was tossed somewhere there as a motivation. But perhaps there’s a better way to go about this..."

He looked back at King Aldrius with a calm, wide smile and eyes gently closed.

"Right, Your Majesty?"

The King immediately understood.

He rose from his chair.

"To quell the hostility that has grown in the royal family... why not host a small competition? A battle of four brothers! The winner shall ascend to second rank in succession for my throne! I’ll give them all a month to prepare!"

The ballroom erupted in cheers.

First Queen Esmarie had the brightest smile on her face. Her son was a [Grand Holy Knight].

To her, his brothers were inferior to him.

Bradley tightened his fist with determination.

’This is my chance to make Father proud!’

King Aldrius smiled at how the mood lightened. It was scenes like these that made him appreciate the joys of being king. And also made him wary of who would succeed him.

"NO!"

A vicious voice silenced the ballroom.

It wasn’t Leander’s.

Everyone was surprised to see that this panicked voice came from the Fifth Prince. They’d never seen him lose his head until now. He was always so calm and composed, in fact, it always annoyed them how unfazed he can be.

Adonis marched forward.

"This is unfair! I refuse this! The deal was whoever has Prussia wins the throne! And now that I’ve won it, your egos can’t accept it, can they?! I worked so hard for this! No, no, no! You all make me sick! SICK! I won’t accept this! I HATE this!"

The hall ignored his anger.

Old Hershant stood on the royal upper dais.

He casually looked down at Adonis with contempt.

"How is that my problem?"

"What...?"

Adonis shakily said, he didn’t recognize this old man.

It was very clear now.

Old Hershant was the wolf’s looming shadow.