V2 Chapter 82

Every people present stared at the couple from afar.

Their mouths were wide open from being stunned.

Should such a person be owned by the world? Could it be that it’s an angel who’d descended from heaven? Most people couldn’t help but rub their eyes. Not only the prince as handsome but also the girl beside him was extremely captivating.

As men stared at Cian in jealousy while most women also look at Sibylla with the same expression.

The beaming face of the laughing prince, it seems a little too devilish. His complexion is white-like jade, almost transparent like he is sick. Because of the light coming everywhere, it made him have a layer of gold, making the cold emitting from his body fade a bit.

Looking at those eyes which are as deep as a cold pool of water of a thousand years.

It’s like carved from a knife.

Piercing and cold but within it also held an endless affection and love as he stared at the girl before him.

Those eyes are crystal clear but were obscured by the sparkling on the surface, making people unable to guess his inner thoughts. It also made people unable to dare come forward to explore him some more. They were concerned that if they’re just a moment careless, they’d get sucked into those eyes and all their thoughts deep inside their hearts would be seen by the owner of this pair of eyes.

He is obviously a man so beautiful like a devil, but his charm was even more greatly enhanced by his strange but attractive clothes that they only saw a few months ago, and had been quite popular by then. It just happens that this body in a purple strange fabric actually expresses his appearance of a human and a demon in a scholarly way. It’s as if he was born for these clothes with the luster of gems. His sweet smiling expression at this moment, made people feel a fondness for him as if he was a celebrity that tops in the entertainment world, he attracted everyone’s affection just by being there.

“He really is a quick-witted, handsome prince!”

“That’s right! He looks really graceful!”

“…..”

Whispers of praises sounded one after another in the Celebration Hall as they stared at the direction where one two people who were talking and laughing with each other, as if having their own worlds were sitting.

When the other people saw Cian laughing innocently, their expression is not much better than most young women. Even the faces of those married women became slightly red like they saw their first love again. They looked at the infamous Second Demon Prince full of feelings.

Devil, really a devil! Sibylla who noticed the surrounding’s peculiarity couldn’t help but have her heart exclaimed in amusement as well as pride. This man before him, with looks that can charm any woman he likes was actually hers. She really can’t associate the current him to the one from the rumors in the Capital. If he just showed this kind of expression, wouldn’t all the women in the Capital throw themselves at him without any shame and without using force?

Silly….really silly!

These rumors who spoke nothing but venomous tongues don’t have any credibility at all!

Fortunately, she was not blinded by stupidity and was awakened early. Otherwise, she would be like those people drooling in front of a handsome man and yet couldn't approach at all. She’s afraid that Aanuel would’ve laughed in her face then. Even still, it seems that this future husband of hers can really attract the bees and butterflies, Sibylla thought with a wry smile.

On the other hand, although Cian had long become accustomed to people’s infatuated eyes, but being stared at like wolves by those women, still made him become very unhappy. He frowned gently. And this frown is also so perfect. People began to draw air.

“Did you look enough?”

Only when Cian’s desolate voice stung the eardrums of those people did they wake up. The men and women alike, nobles and maids were rattled, shivering from sudden cold. It’s as if the coldness from his voice pierced through their very core.

Shock and surprised caused most people to immediately avert their eyes from him.

Plates and jugs in their hands fell onto the ground, making a burst of ‘dingdang’ sounds.

... ...

A bit further from Cian and Sibylla’s table of two.

“So his Highness the Second Prince is here as well? I thought only Her Highness would come,” A middle-aged woman with red skin and purple eyes, looking very attractive muttered as her eyes caught the handsome figure who was sitting there as if exuding light that attracts many people’s attention.

Just by sitting there, he had become the focus of attention.

Truly incredible….

She had heard about the infamy of the Second Demon Prince, not only that, even his beauty that had been hailed ever since when he was a child. Unlike the manliness and wildness of the First Prince, the Second Demon Prince was once said to be a gentle and effeminate prince. Though, when he grows up he was far from the word ‘gentle’.

“Oh, she had…” Marelys Avidhorn absent-mindedly responded to her guest.

The war at the north might be a bit less tense compared to the one in the central region. However, unlike the latter, here in the Northern region, they were able to hold their grounds and wasn’t able to suffer a loss even with the existence of Heroes. They were even able to pull a success in snatching a trading city just close at the boundary of the Haaravar Empire, because of advantage dealt by terrain and temperature. Hence, this success was among the best news in this warring time for the Demon World.

That’s why this night's celebration was exceptionally grandiose. The officials have long arrived at the Hall of Wicked Beauty in the Mansion where the banquet is being held. Even the First Princess and the other City Officials and Military Officers have already arrived—just that, they are in a specific room, still discussing the next movement they would make as they know that the humans would never give up this trading city and would surely try to snatch it from them. Such a thing cannot be allowed to happen, thus, further planning was necessary.

“I heard stories about him, but it seems like the stories are not quite accurate.” The wife of the Earl of the Vortan Clan, the red-skinned beauty. “He had been here for two years and yet not one thing I had heard about him. He’s been as quiet as a hunting wolf. For some strange reason, I find him frightening this way.” she turned towards Marelys Avidhorn with a faint smile, “You know, I never trust those rumors. The Royal Family… they’re…what can I say, since old, they’re terrifying each and one of them. And I doubt that as the descendant carrying that blood within him, he’s a fool with little fangs. There must be something within him…” The wife of the Earl of Vortan Clan muttered with a sigh. “Something that is just waiting to explode…”

Ah, far more than what you can imagine, Marelys Avidhorn thought inwardly as she stared at the back of the laughing Second Demon Prince. Her expression in a daze.

His back was stunning. She really couldn’t get over those broad shoulders, the hint of muscle through the beautifully tailored shirt, the way that it all tucked into the form-fitting pants—

She shook off the thought and made herself look away, her cheeks warm as if she were a young maiden like she’d been before her first marriage.

He was captivating, even from the back. Especially from the back.

Her cheeks grew even warmer. She pressed her hands against them, willing the reaction to go away. She didn’t need to get all hot and bothered in the middle of the party.

“Mother told me that the Second Prince is inclined to be bad-tempered and lascivious.” One of the young girls standing beside Marelys Avidhorn muttered with a solemn voice. “But somehow I hadn’t quite realized how terrifying he might turn out to be.” the young girl stared at the Second Prince with a gaze full of complex emotions she couldn’t figure out yet.

If Cian saw this girl, he would surely recognize her immediately.

Sayrash Stormblade of the renowned Stormblade Family.

These past two years, she observed the Second Prince with scrutinizing eyes, trying to figure out who was the real him after that encounter in the Devilish Maiden House. And yet, the more she saw him the worst her doubt becomes.

She just couldn’t understand him.

But one thing she was certain was that…the Second Demon Prince hated and despised by many people was not simple at all.

He was far more extraordinary than anyone thinks. Just that, she just couldn’t understand why he was acting like the rumors say.

What is he planning?

Marelys Avidhorn giggled in obvious amusement; “That’s the whole point about His Highness Aanuel; you must not let him see he terrifies you, even if he does. I’ve found the only people he respects are those who stand up to him and give as good as they get. He cared less to people he doesn’t acknowledge but to those he cared for, he surprisingly give endless affection….to the point that one can’t help but feel envious for…” she muttered before saying ‘Anyway’, “If you had any qualms about His Highness, why are you approaching him and argue with him every time you meet? Surely a girl like yourself would have plenty of interest of her own without coming to the ends of the world to do battle with His Highness Aanuel,”

Marelys Avidhorn asked with a faint smile but her eyes flashed certain coldness that people around her, fortunately, failed to notice.

“… …” Sayrash frowned as she stared at the figure of the Second Prince. She wasn’t sure if Marelys Avidhorn expected her to answer the question, which of course, even for her, didn’t know what truly the reason was. For some strange reason, she just has this weird desire to uncover the real face of the one knows the ultimate villain in the entire Empire.

As Sayrash didn’t know what to do, the long pause which followed Marelys Avidhorn’s words became uncomfortable.

However, again she became aware of the Marquis Lady’s whimsical regard; “Don’t tell me you’ve been jilted and have come to bother His Highness to forget, as they used to say…who was that again? The son of Duke Hangrid; that boy Gregory, the one you fancied if I’m not mistaken?”

To Sayrash mortification, she flushed up to her very hair roots. She knew the remark had been merely a shot in the dark and yet all the humiliation and embarrassment she had felt at Gregory’s rejection now surged up anew.

Marelys Avidhorn flashed a secret smile as she saw the reaction to her not-so-careless words.

Well, it didn’t surprise her that she had failed in love against that typical arrogant man; Gregory Osbalt. Although beautiful, that small mouth and tiny pointed face proclaimed her the type of a girl who would always find herself on the losing end of a love affair; too quick to give her heart; too unsuspicious of other’s motives…Marelys Avidhorn smiled mischievously. And most of all, she was wild and fierce, completely unladylike for a noblewoman. For that boy Gregory who likes graceful swans that he can boast about to anyone, he would not like her at all.

Although she was quite beautiful, her uninhibited, outspoken manner of speech was quite a turn off for men with high pride. Especially, Gregory, he was never one to temper the wind to the shorn lamb.

Her being rejected is not unexpected.

However, this is this and that is that…bothering someone just to keep yourself better is something one would find unacceptable. Marelys Avidhorn sneered inwardly.

“Don’t be deceived,” The wife of the Earl of the Vortan Clan said, as she saw Sayrash’s expression. “He might not be just as the rumors depicted him. However, he was still someone one shouldn’t cross against with. I’m afraid, it’s not really the genuine article… if my thoughts are right, he is a horrifying schemer, a wolf dressing a lamb’s skin. He was not something good… he is a terrible existence…”

“What do you mean?” Sayrash frowned. “…and for your information, I am not being deceived. I would never be…!”

Especially to the likes of him.

Marelys Avidhorn who had heard Welie Vortan’s words slight furrowed her brows, as she finds her statement unacceptable…or at least somewhat distasteful. However, she doesn’t want to appear over defensive over this sensitive matter as she continued to show a smile; “Lady Welie, I beg your pardon. However, as a matter of fact, in my opinion, His Highness Aanuel Heretarium Vorn Stormfury, the Second Prince of the Stormfury Empire, is extremely genuine—too much so, if anything,” she informed her dryly.

“…??”

Marelys Avidhorn giggled in amusement as she saw the skeptical expressions on her companions; “He hates what he hates, without any falsity or pretense. He likes what he likes and he knows what he needed and desires and follows it till the very end. If you caught in his good side, he would take care of you but if not, then no matter what you do, he will chase you out like a wild dog. Understanding such a person is as easy as one, two, three…”

“You seemed to know a lot about him…” Welie Vortan asked with eyes of suspicion.

“Of course, I do.” But Marelys was not fazed at all. She smiled proudly and replied; “I have been observing him for quite a while now. Walking blindly in this road of life is no better than a blind cat wanting to catch a mouse. Understanding the people around you, and it will make your life better, avoiding enemies that should be avoided….”

“Marelys, you… you didn’t fall for him…do you?” Welie Vortan asked, her voice turned sharp as if giving a warning.

“What?!” Sayrash who was at the side stared at Marelys Avidhorn with wide open eyes, startled by Welie Vortan’s sudden words.

Marelys Avidhorn grinned; “Quite Charming, isn’t he? Falling in love is easy…” she suddenly burst out laughing. “However, I know the boundaries I shouldn’t pass, Lady Welie. And this is one of them. And besides, even if I did, it’s not something that would happen anyway. Life is but a game, there is always something you cannot have even if you wanted it unless you sacrifice everything to obtain it. His Highness the Second Prince already has the Young Lady of the Vandlehouse Clan. Weak they may be, it still not something our families can contend to.”

“… ..”

“If I need to choose between family and love, I would choose the former. I am not the sentimental type who throws everything for something idiotic and a rather comical form of an illusion of a daydreamer…like love…”

Marelys Avidhorn muttered with a wry smile.