“I’ve come, mother,” Cian placed his hand on his chest and lightly bowed while Ruka behind him immediately kneeled, eyes down, not daring to raise her head and stared at the Empress.

“Your Highness, Second Prince Aanuel, please kneel!” Suddenly a voice rang out from the side.

Turning his head towards the side, Cian saw a blue-skinned demon with one horn on his forehead. He was glaring at Cian and his vice was even cold. He had a rectangular face, pouty lips, and long beard, almost causing him to look like a sage in those wuxia novels he had read before.

If Cian wasn’t mistaken, he should be the Prime Minister of this country—though he was more of an advisor to the Empress. He was holding such a high and important status in the Demon Empire, thus, his character is somewhat strong even in front of the prince and princesses.

The original Aanuel seemed to be scared of him because even with the Empress umbrella, this old man wasn’t afraid—as long as he wouldn’t do anything excessive, the Empress wouldn’t easily touch him…

However, was Cian similar to Aanuel…?

Of course not…!

Cian didn’t back off and instead glare towards the old geezer. His mismatched eyes glowed dimly—“Whether I kneel or not, how does it concern you…?”

“… …” A pin-drop silence instantly appeared.

Even the atmosphere seemed to have turned heavy in an instant.

“You!?” The Old Geezer’s eyes widened in shock. Apart from the exalted Demon Empress, this was the very first time someone had talked to him like this! Even the First prince wouldn’t dare to go against him.

He was known as the sage old wisdom. He advises the Empress not only in military aspect but also in the management of the entire Empire. He has a very exalted status that no one would ever dare go against him!

“I came here not as a subordinate but as a son… why would a son kneel in front of her mother in front of many people…? Such strangeness, don’t let me act as a stranger in front of my beloved mother…!”

When Cian muttered beloved mother, the smile on the queen turned gentle and wider. Her eyes sparkle in obvious delight and joy.

“Your Highness, mind your manners!!” The old geezer scowled angrily.

“My manners, he he, how can you not know about my lack of manners, ha? Grand Duke; Lucian…? My lack of manners is widely spread…” Cian chuckled but his eyes were flashing with a cold light. “I can even proudly say, I am somewhat famous to that aspect~”

“Disrespectful!”

“Enough!” As Grand Duke was going to flew in rage, a thunderous voice reverberated through the entire hall. The Demon Empress was releasing her terrifying aura without holding back. Dark shadow immediately congealed around her, like a dark miasma. Every people present could barely look at her without feeling a tingle, as if their body were starting to burn.

However, the aura didn’t have an effect on Cian and instead congealed towards Grand Duke Lucian, causing the old man to shiver in fright. He hastily steps back, staring wide-eyed in shock to the Empress.

“Grand Duke, teaching my son is still not your duty, I believe. I ask you to step down…” The Demon Empress voice was gentle and calm but anyone can hear the threat hiding within.

Cold sweat poured on the Grand Duke’s back. He hurriedly bowed and then retroceded.

Seeing Grand Duke withdrawing, Cian and the Demon Empress gaze didn’t linger on him and look at each other. “Quite late,” The Demon Empress muttered.

“I apologize, mother, traffic jam~” Cian smiled warmly.

Traffic jam? The Demon Empress didn’t know what the word was but it was neither the time nor she was interested in knowing about it. She had already heard what this adorable dumb son was doing before coming here…

The Demon Empress studied her beloved son thoughtfully. Indeed, compared to a few days ago, this adorable prodigal son of hers seemed to have changed significantly. Outer appearance but also inner character…

Even for some reason, she was surprised to find out that she felt danger from him. With her current power, in this world, people who can make her feel like this can only be counted by two hands. This is really a shocking transformation.

The Demon Empress was certain that among her genius and talented children, no one can be compared to him now. Even the talented eldest prince and princess would easily be defeated…

As to this shocking metamorphosis, the Demon Empress was not interested to know the reason. Since she had already checked her son’s situation and knows that there was no foreign influence or soul that had replaced the second prince body through body possession, means that Cian was genuine. The Demon Empress was confident of her power and that she would never mistake anything.

Besides, Aanuel was her own biological son. The son did things well and that was because the mother had given birth well.

As long as he was still her most darling son, wherever this power he had comes from or the reason for his changes in character, it doesn’t matter!

“I’m glad you came… it’s been, what… two to three months since you entered this castle and look for your mother in your own initiative…”

“Was that so?” Cian tilted his head with a faint smile. “But, you can’t blame me for this, mother. You should know, I’m not fond of the court…I feel like a fish out of water at affairs like this. Deceit, lies, fraud…all sickening things covered every corner, like rats and cockroaches. I would rather embrace a woman than swim in this turbid water,” Cian’s tone seemed like he was joking but his words carried sharpness that can pierce through anything on it.

“… …”Bang! Most people inside the court, all their faces turned grave and heavy. CIan’s mocking words, how could they not notice?

This, isn’t this downright insulting?

However, because of the presence of the Demon Empress, they dared not issued a groan and just clenched their fists in anger and humiliation.

In an instant, the atmosphere within the Throne Hall turned suffocating. The calm transformed into a raging storm.

However, Cian wasn’t bothered the least bit. What he said was right… and even if he was excessive… can bite me?

The Demon Empress lips arched, “This shameless son, mind your words, we are in front of the gallery. There’s no point in stirring up trouble…”

Cian shrugged, “Trouble…? Ha ha, I seem to have made myself fairly obvious.” He then looks around and saw glares from all around him. He smirked, “And the ironic thing is that, aside from my genius siblings, I believe these people probably don’t know I’m alive. After all, I’m just a prince out of proportion, a snake hiding in its hole, only bullying those who entered but always feared the outside world.” he sighed while smiling wryly, “My this words, are just like a bark of a defeated dog. Why would they care about me?”

“… …”

“Suffice…” The Demon Empress made a sigh. This sarcasm can really make people vomit blood.

Just what is this son of hers doing now?

What is he planning?

Why is he making an enemy out of the people of the court…?

“… I had heard about the attack, are you well?”

“Never been better,” Cian nodded. “However, truthfully, mother, the attacker was just a paid killer. He doesn’t know anything, even he only knows little about his organization… even still, I heard some clues here and there… thus, sooner or later, this debt, I would surely repay it hundredfold…” While saying it, Cian’s cold gaze roamed towards the people in the surroundings.

His right eye crazily working, watching every movements and expression the people in the surrounding.

1, 2… at most six people who seemed to be showing a sign of agitation.

Obviously, he wasn’t acting like this without purpose. Truthfully, he couldn’t find anything from the assailant, no matter how much torture he had done. That bastard assassin indeed knows nothing… even still; Cian didn’t doubt that this was a planned attack.

Only a few people know where he was going at that time and most of them were his so-called friends. And these friends were obviously children of high ranking people.

“You don’t need to worry about it, I’ve already sent people to investigate who had guts to move my son…!” The Demon Empress voice turned cold, icy cold.

“Then, really thanks, mother…” Cian nodded. However, in his heart, he was more inclined to hunting these bastards personally. The grievance he had, only he can calculate!

“No worries, ah… before I forget, the talk we had last night… have you considered it? Have you found your answer?” The Demon Empress smiled mischievously.

Cian frowned. Then, his lips arched, “I’m sorry mother, but it seems I can’t be with you…”

“… …” The Demon Empress was still smiling but disappointment colored her expression. “Is that so?”

“… not for now, at least…”

“… ?”

“Mother, just like what you said, I will judge this war with my own eyes and mind. Humans, Demi-humans, and Demons… this nonsensical war, I will see the beginning of it, look as much as I want, until I can see the ending I wanted. It’s probably the ending you wanted to see… possibly it’s the opposite. You might loathe me for it, but doesn’t matter… I will walk my own path, the path I carved myself…” Cian declared with a serious expression.

I will pity the human as I was one before, but I would not be biased and if I see evil in the human world, I would kill without hesitation.

Night’s plea… my mission and purpose… I will look for them myself!

I would not do this because of Night, I will do this for myself…!