Skyler scrambled to balance himself as he fell out of the portal he was tossed into. Just as he regained his balance, his furious gaze snapped back at the culprit.
But he instantly curbed his anger when he remembered the power difference between him and his uncle. If he angered the man, he would die without even knowing how.
Grumbling inwardly about having to leave Riruru with the Queen, he finally took in the place he had arrived at with the rest. It was an underground chamber illuminated by many lights hanging in different places.
Skyler's eyes fell onto the huge towering gate in the center of the chamber. It was a wooden gate, nothing impressive, and was emanating the aura of death and decay.
"The tomb entrance..."
He muttered silently. The chamber before him was just as described in the book. And he knew they were currently underneath the Royal Castle. Under his gaze, the multiple guards stationed around the Gate instantly greeted Alistair when they saw him.
Alistair acknowledged the armored guard who appeared to be in charge with a nod.
Then, he proceeded to talk with a few old individuals standing at the other side of the chamber, talking with the youths who were specifically picked and trained to enter the tomb as the trusted confidant of the royals.
Skyler watched everything with a sense of eagerness. After separating with Riruru, he was even more in a hurry to enter the tomb so he could come back as soon as he can. He nodded when suddenly one of the older individuals in robes, who he found were the royal mages, gave him a storage ring filled with all the necessary items he needs to survive and a small life-saving artifact.
He excitedly checked the storage ring and the square-shaped life-saving artifact that snuggly curled around his arm like vines. A hint of dissatisfaction flickered in his eyes when he failed to see any shiny thing in the storage ring given to him. Not even a single crystal or gold coin.
'The royal family is so stingy...!'
He glared daggers at Alistair's back.
First, this man had dragged him here to enter an ancient tomb with no preparation whatsoever. Now, the things he was giving him weren't even worth 100k star coins?
Guaranteed, Skyler planned everything!
But still, couldn't he give him something worthwhile? Like a few pretty gems??
One of his dear cousins, Rhys, a muscular 20-year-old youth clad in an expensive suit, noticed him staring at Alistair and scoffed.
"What are you staring at? Keep your eyes down. Your lie will soon be exposed when the tomb rejects your entry. Be prepared for the worst punishment ever, liar!"
Alisha chimed in with a sly smirk.
"Indeed, it would be a fun sight."
Her smirk widened when she saw Skyler's hardened face. Unaware, he was lamenting the royals' stinginess and planning how to steal everything valuable in the tomb. After all, he had read the book and felt confident that he knew enough about it to pull it off.
Alisha and Rhys' words caused some of their cousins to snicker and chuckle. What angered them was that the subject of their discussion wasn't even paying attention.
Though simmering with frustration, they forced themselves to not be openly hostile.
In no time, Alistair turned his attention to them and then quickly proceeded to assign three trusted confidants, all of whom were between the ages of 16 and 25, to each of the nine chosen princes and princesses.
Skyler glanced at the two young men and one young woman who arrived beside him after getting a signal from Alistair Thorne. Like everyone else, the trio was clad in tight dark combat suits. The lady held a spear, while the two men wore knuckle guards.
The only thing the three shared was the solemn frown on their young faces.
He flashed a smile at his three confidants, whom he planned to abandon immediately after they entered the tomb. He had plans, and they simply weren't part of them.
However, the three simply nodded. His charming smile had no impact on them.
Skyler didn't admit defeat though. Even if they were icebergs, he wanted to talk.
"Hi, my name is Skyler. Hope we get along inside the tomb. There's only one thing you three need to do in there. That is not to die."
The three pairs of eyes widened slightly in surprise, and once again, the trio nodded.
Unlike the other trained confidants, these three were the offspring of the royal guards, summoned only a while ago to accompany a new prince who had just arrived. Knowing nothing about him, the trio hadn't expected much from him. But he didn't seem bad.
Their loyalty lies with the royal family.
Therefore, it was clear they would protect him, but hearing him worry about their lives when even their parents didn't, they at least wouldn't regret following him around.
Skyler scratched his chin awkwardly when his confidants didn't speak in response. The center of his eyes glinted with a pure white color that went unnoticed by everyone.
"At least tell me your names?"
He didn't like it that they had to enter the dangerous tomb because of him.
But there was little he could do.
Not to mention, he was going to abandon them in the tomb. The three would have to fend for themselves. It was clear that even if they survived and returned, they would be punished by Alistair once they were out for not doing their duty of staying by his side.
They looked to be around his age. So, he didn't want to be the cause of their deaths.
The trio's faces softened visibly at his question. A hint of a smile flashed in their eyes. The woman among them stepped forward and bowed slightly before him.
"Myself, Rasha, the two men with me are twins. They are known as Six and Seven."
Skyler let out an 'Oh'. Although their names were a bit strange, as if their parents hadn't really put much effort into naming them, he still nodded politely. Next second, Alistair's voice prompted him to look at the man.
Everyone was already gathered in front of the massive Gate of the tomb except him.
Alisha Thorne smirked at him, thinking he was delaying because he knew his lie would be exposed the instant he tried to enter the Gate. A sweet voice drawled out of her lips.
"Come cousin. How about you enter first?"
Rhys, George, and her other male cousins mused, making way for Skyler to enter the tomb first. Not out of consideration, but to prove that he was nothing but an imposter.
They knew the Queen had called Skyler her grandson and his eyes were blue, but they still didn't believe he was one of them.
Over the years, there were many who had tried to enter the royal family pretending to be one of them since the time Riya Thorne disappeared, only for them to try to harm them when their backs were turned.
Skyler blinked and shamelessly stepped forward with an amused glint in his eyes.
"Now that the princess is so politely asking me, I wouldn't reject and will take the offer."
He chuckled when Alisha's smile stiffened. Wondering if he should help them. Since in the book, each and every one of them died. Only the protagonist team, who entered the tomb as Jenny's trusted confidants, barely survived. Still, even they failed to find and bring back the Lost Sapphire of Serenity.
'The protagonist and his damn over-the-top luck! He and his team survived the calamity in the tomb. Not only did they survive it, but Max even consumed 'The Crimson Tear of the King' that the calamity was protecting, which belonged to the Thorne family.'
Skyler clicked his tongue inwardly as he made his way toward the tomb gate under the watchful eyes of many individuals. The guards, the mages, his Uncle, and his eight cousins. His three confidants, Rasha, Six, and Seven followed behind him solemnly.
His hand hovered over the Gate, about to touch it. Then, he abruptly turned, his gaze sweeping across the assembled crowd. A sigh escaped him as his eyes met Alistair's, and then, one by one, those of his cousins.
"I know none of you will listen to me."
He paused, carefully choosing his words.
"However, you all are rich, so take a lot of life-saving treasures into the tomb. I have never entered one myself, but it's perilous, right? If I could, I would be the only one to go in. But ultimately, the choice is yours."
This was Skyler's way of being good to his annoying, distant family members. Still, he knew his words held very little weight.
He had just arrived – why would they listen to him? And how could he tell them he had read in a book that they were all destined to die without sounding utterly insane?
The eyes on him flickered with confusion, but before anyone could understand what he meant, he had already pressed his hand on the wooden door, emanating the aura of death and decay. The next second, a bright light flashed in the chamber and swallowed him. Instantly, his three confidants followed his actions and vanished as well. Leaving behind a deadly silent chamber.