Chương 47: Chapter 46: After the Banquet

After realizing that the painting was simply the result of what the person impersonating Rosa Roosevelt had interpreted from Furen's song, Ronin did not know whether to be impressed or disappointed. Despite having never met her before, the painting had perfectly captured the freedom that Furen longed for, a level of perception that was nothing short of extraordinary. Even so, he could not help but feel disappointed. This variable was not someone from his world.

If they had also returned from the future, then he would only need to uncover one thing: why they had saved the Empress Dowager. Once he understood their motives, he could decide whether they were someone worth protecting... or someone who needed to be eliminated before they became a threat. But now, it seemed they were simply an unusually perceptive stranger. With nothing else to investigate for the moment, Ronin quietly waited.

According to his memories, the person responsible for the disaster was supposed to be a man, and the incident itself would occur near the end of the banquet, when everyone had relaxed and lowered their guard. When it was the men's turn to present their talents, Ronin slipped away once more to inspect the barrier. Extending his senses through every layer of the magical formation, he examined every corner with painstaking care. Yet the result remained exactly the same. The barrier was perfectly intact.

If anything, it felt even stronger than it had been earlier. Ronin frowned. Something was wrong. Perhaps he had misunderstood what Furen had meant. Perhaps the problem had never been the barrier itself. Returning to the banquet hall, he quietly observed every guest, carefully watching for anything suspicious as the evening continued. Time slowly passed, and the Crown Prince even found himself stretching occasionally just to stay awake while maintaining his vigilance.

For a brief moment, he wondered whether he had remembered the wrong event altogether. Then it happened. A dark presence suddenly wrapped itself around one of the guests. Ronin instantly recognized the familiar sensation. A summoning circle. Without a moment's hesitation, he moved. His sword flashed through the air in a single clean strike, severing the man's head before the summoning could be completed. It rolled across the polished floor as silence swallowed the banquet hall.

The sudden execution sent panic throughout the room. Several noblewomen cried out in fear while others staggered backward in horror, but Ronin paid them little attention. He had prevented the ritual before it could begin. That was all that mattered. Just as he considered slipping away before anyone could identify him, his body suddenly stiffened.

"Everyone, please leave the hall in an orderly manner." Furen Boswe's calm voice echoed throughout the room. As the guests hurried away under her direction, Ronin remained where he stood. Then he heard footsteps. Slow. Measured. Growing closer with each passing second. His heart tightened. She recognized him. For the first time since his rebirth, Ronin found himself genuinely uncertain. Should he greet her? Should he pretend not to know her? What would the Ronin of this point in time have done?

Before he could decide, Furen arrived before him and lowered herself into a respectful bow.

"Greetings, Your Highness." The warmth in Ronin's heart froze instantly. Her voice was calm. Professional. Cold. Forcing himself to maintain the expression expected of a Crown Prince, Ronin looked down at her with the same icy authority.

"Lady Boswe. How did no one discover a dark magic user within your family's grounds? Were your security measures merely for public appearance?" Without offering a single excuse, Furen immediately dropped to both knees and lowered her forehead to the floor.

"This subject has failed in her duties." Ronin's hands tightened at his sides. He wanted to stop her. He wanted to tell her she had done nothing wrong. But this was not the future they shared. At this point in time, he was merely the Crown Prince. Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators! Nothing more.

"Bring me a fire mage," Ronin ordered.

"We will erase every trace of this body before anyone attempts to use it for necromancy."

"Understood, Your Highness." Furen immediately rose and departed without hesitation. Not long afterward, she returned with a fire mage. The corpse, the severed head, the spilled blood, and every remaining trace of the man were reduced to ash beneath intense magical flames. Even the ashes were carefully gathered and prepared to be burned once more beneath sacred fire, ensuring that no necromancer would ever be able to reconstruct the body.

While the purification continued, another mage stepped forward, this one specializing in soul sealing. A sealing formation quietly spread beneath the place where the man had died. If the soul still lingered nearby, it would be trapped for ten days. By the time the seal expired, most soul manipulators would no longer be able to make use of it. The lingering spirit would be left with only two possible fates: to pass naturally into reincarnation...

or remain until its very existence slowly disintegrated, forever losing the chance to be reborn. … After everything had been dealt with, the Crown Prince looked toward the parents who had descended from the safe area, as well as the remaining servants who had stayed behind. His expression remained calm, but his eyes carried the weight of someone who understood that the situation was far from over.

"I do not know what is going to happen next," Ronin said.

"However, I believe this is not a simple attack." The nobles immediately became silent.

"For those who are unable to fight, raise your hands. You will be escorted away by the people over there." He pointed toward the designated group.

"Please organize yourselves into groups of four. This will allow everyone to be moved safely and ensure that no one becomes separated." Ronin watched coldly as the elderly nobles, the injured, and those without combat abilities slowly began leaving. Some looked frightened. Others looked confused. But they followed his orders. Once the weaker individuals had departed, Ronin turned his attention toward those who remained. Several people stood firmly in place. They were prepared to fight.

The Crown Prince's expression darkened slightly. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt. He had expected this. Yet remembering the chain of events that had led Rosa Roosevelt to become the person she was in his previous life, he could not help but feel a complicated emotion. Regret. Frustration. And a faint sense of helplessness. Before choosing the people who would remain on the battlefield, Ronin spoke again.

"I will select four individuals to accompany the others who are leaving."

"Their purpose will be to protect the evacuation route and ensure that, if something unexpected occurs, the people being escorted away will remain safe."

"That way, we can maintain a strong defensive line without weakening the main forces." Before Ronin could choose, several people stepped forward. Four individuals volunteered immediately. None of them were Mr. or Mrs. Roosevelt. Ronin clenched his teeth slightly. So even now... History still refused to let them leave. It seemed that no matter how much he tried to interfere, certain events continued moving toward their original destination.

With no other choice, Ronin selected four capable fighters and assigned them to protect the evacuation group. Then his gaze moved toward one particular person.

"Miss Boswe." Furen Boswe looked toward him.

"Are you staying to fight alongside us, or are you leaving to protect the younger ones?"

"I will stay." Her answer came without hesitation.

"I am certain that Mrs. Rosa Roosevelt will be capable of leading the others in my absence. There is no need for me to accompany them." Ronin studied her expression. There was no fear. Only determination.

"Is that so?"

"Yes." After seeing the resolve in her eyes, Ronin turned toward the head maid, who had remained quietly in the background.

"Head Maid."

"Are you prepared?" The woman immediately bowed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Then prepare your weapons and give orders to the others." Ronin looked toward the barrier.

"Because I do not believe we have much time left." As soon as those words left his mouth...