The Royal Grand Hall was alive with chatter and laughter once again.
However, unlike the stifling tension of the Gathering Day months ago, tonight’s atmosphere carried a scent of exhausted relief.
After all, the Fourth Trial — The Trial of Martial Might — had concluded just yesterday.
"Hmm..."
I stood by the long buffet table, a plate of honey-glazed venison and tartlets in my hand, doing what I did best.
"Mmm. The royal chefs really outdid themselves this time."
I muttered praises with a stuffed cheek, grabbing another skewer of meat. To the nobles drifting past, I was just another guest, completely absorbed in the culinary delights of the evening, blissfully unaware of the heavy atmosphere.
However, while my mouth was busy, my eyes remained sharp.
’It’s finally over.’
The past seven days had been brutal.
The Fourth Trial had been a direct tournament of strength and leadership. The rules were simple: participants could either step into the arena themselves or send forth the followers they had recruited during the previous three trials.
It was intended to demonstrate who possessed the military might and the charisma to command the kingdom’s forces.
Naturally, the arena had been stained with blood and broken pride.
Big Sis Clara had fought valiantly, her swordsmanship pushing her to the semi-finals. Neron had used underhanded tactics and poison users, nearly clutching victory.
But in the end...
My gaze shifted to the center of the ballroom.
There, surrounded by a wall of sycophantic nobles, stood Crown Prince Bane.
He and his followers had reigned supreme.
It wasn’t just a victory; it was a massacre.
His lineup was terrifying.
He had managed to secure the loyalty of the Captain of the Ironclad Legion, a man whose defense was rumored to be unbreakable. And beside him... that mysterious figure clad in grey robes. A combatant at the peak of Tier 6 who had swept through the tournament without revealing his face.
Bane didn’t even have to lift a finger.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, taking a sip of juice to hide my expression.
’Big Brother was even more dominant this time.’
But it wasn’t just his strength that unsettled me. It was him.
In my memories, Bane at this time was a man who lived for the applause. He was the "Sunny Prince," always smiling, always basking in the adoration of the crowd. By now, he should have been soaking up this victory, effortlessly charming the duchesses and accepting their praise with that practiced, dazzling grace of his.
But the man standing there today was different.
His face was devoid of emotion.
His hands were empty, hanging loosely by his sides. His posture was rigid, his expression calm to the point of being lifeless. Instead of basking in the adoration, he endured it with a cold detachment that made the air around him feel thin.
’He has changed.’
A lot.
If I wasn’t mistaken, this shift started exactly two months ago. Right after the conclusion of the Second Trial — The Trial of the Mind.
He had vanished for a few weeks, citing "Sudden Enlightenment" as the reason for his seclusion. When he returned, the charismatic Crown Prince was gone. In his place was this efficient, ruthless machine.
’Could it be that something happened during that "enlightenment" to change him this significantly?’
I watched as Bane turned away from a Duke mid-sentence, his murky eyes staring at nothing, as if he were seeing a different world entirely.
I felt a shiver run down my spine.
This Bane was dangerous. Far more unpredictable than the one I remembered.
’Sigh.’
I stuffed another tartlet into my mouth, the sweetness doing little to settle my nerves.
’Whatever it is... I just hope it doesn’t change the future too much.’
’But then again...’
I swallowed the tartlet, the rich cream feeling heavy in my stomach.
’Hasn’t it already changed a lot?’
I wiped a crumb from my lip, my gaze drifting toward the corner where the "Ghost Princess" stood.
Let’s take Aurelia, for instance.
In the original timeline, she remained a shadow until the very end, a silent observer who never made a move. But this time? She had shattered expectations right out of the gate. She took First Place in the First Trial, The Trial of the Heart, and secured Second Place in the Trial of the Mind.
Although her results in the Third and Fourth Trials had reverted to the expected average, that initial explosive performance had already altered the political landscape. She was no longer invisible now. She was viewed as a potential contender instead.
Then there was the matter of the Shield Families.
I tapped my finger against the table, recalling the tragic fracture that defined the mid-game of the succession war in my memories.
By this point in time, their ancient alliance should have been completely broken. House Viremont should have been openly warring for Bane, House Luthaire should have thrown their full weight behind Aurelia, and House Fenvar should have remained stubbornly neutral, watching the other two tear each other apart.
But this time?
I glanced at the cluster of knights near the entrance.
House Viremont was still with Bane, as expected. But shockingly, House Fenvar also stood with them. The family that prided itself on neutrality had bowed to the Crown Prince.
Meanwhile, House Luthaire, who should have been Aurelia’s sword, had retreated into total neutrality, refusing to take a side.
’Bane’s faction is heavier than it should be.’
It was a concerning variable.
’And, of course...’
I picked up a glass of sparkling water, swirling the liquid gently.
’There are the ripples I created myself.’
My eyes wandered to the VIP balcony, catching a glimpse of a golden-haired woman with striking violet eyes.
Joana Von Crestfall.
In the original history, she was a calamity waiting to happen, a woman whose cold ambition would eventually spell doom for many. But now?
I allowed a small, genuine smirk to touch my lips.
I had successfully intervened. I had managed to inch my way into her guarded heart, aiming to win her over completely. Through her, I had even secured a line of cooperation with her father, the Iron Duke Valerius.
It was a dangerous game, dancing with the Crestfalls, but it was necessary.
I took a sip of juice, the cool liquid clearing my head.
’I have prepared everything I can.’
I had secretly gathered resources, altered alliances, and positioned my pieces on the board.
’All for the sake of the future I envisioned.’
A future where the kingdom didn’t burn.
A future where I didn’t make terrible, stupid mistakes.
A future where I didn’t live foolishly and... die even more pathetically.
’...’
Just as I was lost in thought, the heavy double doors at the far end of the hall groaned open. The herald’s staff slammed against the floor, silencing the room instantly.
"The King approaches!"
’Well, here comes the loving father...’
I wiped the calculating glint from my eyes, replacing it with a vacuous, happy-go-lucky grin.
’Time to put the mask back on.’
’The fool must play his part, after all.’