My eyes widened when I happened to know that he was the Crown Prince. I did not notice him!
I was quick enough to greet him back. He glanced in my direction and nodded.
“Long time no see, Duke Leveaux. It seems that you are doing well,” His Royal Highness said in his friendly tone.
Valerian chuckled and nodded. “I look forward to seeing you here, Your Royal Highness.”
I almost gasped, knowing that Valerian knew the crown prince was coming here instead of the Alpha King. It seemed that he was really acknowledging him as the great leader once he was crowned as the Alpha King in the future.
Crown Prince Henricus smiled from ear to ear. “Likewise, Duke Leveaux. Likewise.”
He turned to me. “Bring us some refreshments. And do not tell that His Royal Highness is here. He will show himself later.”
I mindlessly nodded, still shocked that the first son of the Alpha King really showed himself before Valerian when I left the changing room. I was expecting that he would have some royal guards, but there was another person who entered aside from him. He was also wearing a hood, just like the Royal Crown Prince.
But…
Was this what happened in the past?
Did Valerian deliberately throw his drink in his direction so he could change and meet His Royal Highness? If that really happened, that was the part Valerian did not tell me if they had talked as the crown prince and the duke.
I wondered what they would talk about and that the crown prince needed to speak with Valerian alone.
I returned to the changing room and knocked to relinquish their drinks. But I was soon greeted by the familiar man.
It was… Lanfrid Rendich! Crown Prince Henricus’s assistant! He was also one of the members of the royal knights.
“I can handle it. You should return on serving the others,” he said nonchalantly and took the tray from me.
“Alright, my lord.” I stepped back and bowed my head before him even though I wanted to come in there and listen to their conversations. The realization hit me that the changing room was soundproof, so there was no way I could even hear what they would say, even if I tried to sneak out. “Great way to avoid people who eavesdrop…” I muttered and returned to my post.
It did not take long for Valerian and Crown Prince Henricus to leave that place. It was then the right time for His Royal Highness to be revealed to the crowds. They immediately bowed their heads before him, knowing well who he was and what he was to them.
“My father cannot come here for some reason, so he has asked me to be his proxy.”
No one dared to speak. The whole amphitheater was obstructed with silence. All of the servers were settled in the corner just in case our presence would be needed to tend to all the Alphas’ needs.
“Shall we commence this assembly then?” He smiled. It was an empty one with pure coldness and innocence.
“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” all of them answered in unison before they were all seated in their respective seats.
I quietly listened to the instruction of the crown prince and what measures he had thought of.
“The total of 44 Alphas have been killed in the past 23 years. This peculiar Executioner has been instilling fear for the years my father has been reigning in.”
Executioner…
This kingdom has made a name for my father, who had been slaying Alphas. He was nicknamed Executioner or Unfathomable Slayer since no one knew what he actually looked like.
Papa never left any trace of his identity and remained mysterious for these years had passed. He even taught us that we must be vigilant and careful not to allow anyone from the pack we slaughtered would leave any survivors.
There was one time that there were left with survivors of the pack he killed when he was starting to inflict his hatred on the Alphas. Papa hunted them down and sliced their throats. He even gauged out their eyes and cut their tongues for speaking about him and remaining as survivors of the pack he massacred.
That was how cruel Papa was.
When Arthur and I were being trained first by Papa, he kept engraving those words in our minds that we must remain cruel and seek bloodlust. We must take no mercy and must kill our emotions.
Having felt something during the killing would leave us having a weakminded state. It was why I tried so hard to live up to his expectation since I wanted to be acknowledged and loved by my father despite my mother not being here while I was growing up.
“Even before I was crowned as the Crown Prince of the Yuanzhong Kingdom six years ago, I have been investigating this dilemma of our kingdom. I have come to notice that this culprit has another accomplice. I can estimate that the henchmen of this culprit are probably more than ten people based on the past killings that happened.”
I almost smiled at his statement. That was an accurate answer. Well done for doing some research and investigation, Your Royal Highness. However, we were not Papa’s henchmen.
“And it is possible that the people around here might be killed in no time. I would not want to lose many Alphas this year or years before being crowned the next Alpha King.”
I stared at him. Even if it was in my previous life, he wasn’t crowned to be the next Alpha King. He still held the crown prince title since his father refused to pass it down when His Royal Highness was 30 years old.
I heard rumors that there was a coup d’etat that the prince had been planning to overthrow his father from the throne. I wondered if that happened before I regressed and wasn’t killed yet by Caroline.
It would be a matter of time now that once my vacation was over, Valerian would be next that I would be tasked.
Before that should happen, I must speak with the future Alpha King. I needed his help with my plans.
His Royal Highness took a thin journal and waved it in front of us. “This shall serve as a helpful guide for what I have learned so far.” He glanced in our direction and nodded.
We made haste to distribute the almost pamphlet-like parchment. I had read the contents beforehand and was impressed by the crown prince’s deduction.
However, I was expecting that he also had information about the culprits. I wondered if he already had a suspect on his mind, which was why he was not listed in the deduction report.
After the distribution of the report, all of them happily dug into their meal when His Royal Highness was finished answering the Alphas’ questions. He was quick and sharp-witted as he never faltered from answering.
“Your Royal Highness, would it be possible if I can amend the age of who shall be entering the draft in my pack? I am wondering since I am planning to have the children during the age of ten, would commence their training so they cannot be useless and shall know the basics of protecting themselves?”
That was another question that had been asked while they were having their supper.
Crown Prince Henricus smiled emptily. “As long as the training shall not include violations, it is fine by me. It is important that these children of these ages know self-defense,” he answered confidently.
Now, I know the reason why it was amended. Because of his approval, every Alpha had been implementing this method. Even Valerian.
This man is right here… The next Alpha King was working on the shadows his father was unaware of.
Interesting…
“Dominic.”
I was already in the locker room to rest and fulfill what I had come for, but a co-worker interrupted me.
“What?” I arched my eyebrow.
“His Grace, Duke Leveaux is looking for you.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I am not certain. You can see him at his table. He is waiting for you there.”
Bewildered, I went to the amphitheater and looked at Valerian again. I had no idea why he would look for me. It was impossible that he would see my disguise. I had been careful and concealed my scent so he and his wolf won’t be alerted.
He was alone at his table when I approached him while the other Alphas were gathering to talk to all of them, ignoring his scent. “You are looking for me, Your Grace?” I asked politely, bowing my head before him.
Valerian looked at me while the brim of the flute glass was in his mouth. “Ah, yes. You… Dominic, is it?” I nodded, not wanting to talk. “Here.” I lowered my gaze, seeing that he had relinquished five gold coins. “A tip from earlier.”
“Oh…” I got it now. He must have realized the confusion on my face, so he had to answer what I had on my mind. “I see. Thank you, my lord.” I accepted it by opening my hands.
He handed them over before his eyes settled on my bangle. “Such a glamorous bangle you have there. Did your mate bestow that on you?”
I stiffened and glanced at the bangle I was wearing to conceal my scent. I quickly hid my hands behind me when I saw that he was looking intently at it. I did not want him to notice that his bangle and mine had the same intricate designs. However, for the bangle size, mine was thinner, while his bangle size was thicker. It was fitted for a man who was going to wear.
“Indeed, Your Grace.” I chuckled nervously, not wanting to panic since he was looking at me intently. But my attention had been distracted when I happened to see His Royal Highness was about to leave. I turned at Valerian, and my heart jumped when his chartreuse eyes were still fixated on me. “I have to go now, Your Grace. I was being called now to clean up the mess.”
I did not wait for him to say anything. I needed to take the next step: speak with the crown prince and discuss some important matters with him.
I followed Crown Prince Henricus and Sir Lanfrid as they entered a room that I believed was meant for the honorable and notable guest of Count Fortue. I pretended that I was fixing the wall lamp near the room when Sir Lanfrid left the room, most probably that he would get something for His Royal Highness.
I took that as an opportunity to enter. I made sure that no one was eyeing me in my direction since I knew that it was not allowed for personnel like me to enter His Royal Highness’ guest room.
I saw Crown Prince Henricus leaning his head on the couch while closing his eyes. “Lanfrid, you came back as soon…” His words did not continue, but he did not dare to open his eyes to look in my direction. “To what do I owe the pleasure, person from earlier?”
A sly smile crept to my lips, quietly impressed that he noticed I was not his knight assistant. “As expected from His Royal Highness, you notice my presence in a short time.” I was awed actually.
This was the first time I would talk to him up close. In the past, on his birthday, that had been happening in the royal palace, we only got to greet him, but we never got to converse with him, except Papa.
Crown Prince Henricus slowly peeled his eyes open and looked in my direction. “If you are here, then I believe you wish to discuss something with me,” he concluded, not asking.
I walked in his direction and sat across from him. “How can you be certain I wish to discuss with you? What if I am going to assassinate you?” I asked playfully, still using my masculine voice.
His lips formed a smirk. “If you are, you should have already made your move stealthily the moment you entered here.” He crossed his legs and cocked his head from side to side. “Well?”
I stared at him, having an interesting smile. Now, I knew the reason why Valerian was looking up to him and had high expectations from this man.
“I wish to negotiate with His Royal Highness,” I commenced and removed my wig and the peridot ring to show my true self.