V2 Chapter 61

At first, it was a completely unassuming book with a different cover than most books piled up in the cupboard.

Its cover, unlike paper, was a monster hide, making it durable and thick.

Plain black cover, with only large words; [The Prince], was engraved on it. And below was a simple line; [Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Everyone sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.].

Wonderful words… words that instantly struck Ezra’s heart like a blade that pierced through it the moment she had read those words.

Simple but so deep, like a chasm.

Powerful, elusive...but so true...!

What is this book…? Ezra wondered as she flipped the cover. And then, she was stunned…

It was not a fairytale… nor any kind of beautiful stories and piece of moving literature. But Ezra’s soul and body trembled the moment she had started reading:

[…Those who try to obtain the favourable attention of a prince are accustomed to come before him with the things that they value most, or which they think the prince will most enjoy. As a result, one often sees expensive gifts such as horses, weapons, cloths of gold, precious stones, and similar ornaments presented to princes.]

[…I do not agree with those who regard it as a presumption if a man of low and humble condition dares to discuss and criticise the concerns of princes. Those who draw pictures place themselves below in the plain to understand the nature of the mountains and other high places, and in order to understand the plains place themselves upon high mountains. Similarly, to understand the nature of the people one needs to be a prince, and to understand princes one needs to be of the people. Take then, this little gift in the spirit in which I send it. If it is carefully read and considered by you, you will learn my extreme desire that you should attain that greatness which fortune and your other attributes promise. And if, my lord, from the mountain top of your greatness, you will sometimes turn your eyes to these lower regions, you will see how undeservedly I suffer great and continued bad fortune…]

[…The prince who holds a country differing in language, customs and law ought to make himself the head and defender of his less powerful neighbours. He should weaken the more powerful amongst them, taking care that no foreigner as powerful as himself shall, by any accident, get established there. It will always happen that some powerful foreigner will be invited in by those who are unhappy with the prince, either through excess of ambition or through fear…]

Although the book has some obviously skipping of paragraphs and seemed to be missing some phrase with hanging intent. Ezra couldn’t understand why, probably the author—the Second Prince had forgotten what to write, but all in all, it was an amazing piece of an anecdote or philosophies.

Ezra, who was not really fond of reading books, due to her strict training of the way of the sword, still couldn’t help but be immersed on it and spent a long time reading it.

According to what Ezra understands, was that the prince needs to go to the “effectual truth” of things, thinking and seeing things in reality and forgo the standard of “what should be done”, something which was in an ideal or dreams, lest he brings about his ruin.

An incredibly realistic way of thinking—considering what was happening at the very moment and not some idealistic thinking. The book also advises the use of prudence in particular circumstances, and, though it sometimes offers rules or remedies for princes to adopt, the book does not seek to establish exact or universal laws of politics that came from orthodox ways.

Did the second prince write this book…? Ezra couldn’t help but wonder. Judging from how it was made as well as the writings, it was identical to the other books so it was easy to realize that it has the same author.

Even still…

Is he not only versed in combat and fighting but also… in this kind of things as well…?

That abominable demon...!

[…the best possible fortress is not to be hated by the people…]

…this is one of the wonderful facts that Ezra extremely understands. Ezra laid aside the last of the books and surveyed the luxurious cavernous room. This was where the Second Prince should have supposed to spend much of his time...though, not until now, as the mentioned being was absent for a few days already, who knows where he had gone.

And Ezra cannot believe her sudden realization—no, probably, she had already understood this long before but because of her unwilling mind and heart, she chooses to avert her eyes from the truth, and instead, chasing away a vague ghost image…which she thought was the truth…!

The Second Demon Prince, look down by many, gazed by the world with contempt—was, in fact, very exceptional, more excellent than any man she had seen up until now.

Deeper, and mystifying than what he let on in the surface.

A Brilliant man, who for some unknown reason, adorned the clothes of a Fool,

That was Ezra realized as she lives in the room with him up until now. Of course, because of her situation, she was sleeping every night in this room, however, not once did he touched her—she slept on the ground while he sleeps on the bed. Ungentlemanly as it seems, but it was completely understandable as she was never a proper guest. In fact, she was already satisfied with this outcome…!

And this also made her impression on him changed.

Really… just what is that guy…? Ezra could not understand him more and more—she was not just investigating about the Princess of Ice and her associates but also, the Second Prince as well. And just as she had heard, he was indeed infamous…something that would make any people loathe and mocked, after hearing the things he had done and acted he how.

In fact, many times her subconscious mind felt quite conflicted by this sudden news and information of a man, completely opposite to the person she knows. And yet, what is this contrast…? It’s as if the person they were saying was a completely different person from the second Prince she had known of. Although he was slightly lascivious and rude, he was never a man that could be disgusted over. And he was also excellent in many areas…!

In fact, the more she tried to hate him, the more she founds herself unable to. It's as if, no matter what kind of 'evil' that man do, it still makes other people unable to hate him. That is what she felt and personally thought as she have more and more encounters with him. Then, where is these rumors and hearsays coming from...?

Back in her world, there were many such people, standing in the shoes of a proper gentleman, but in fact wild beasts in human clothing. They are adored by many, loved by many, dreamed by many…and yet, not a single one of these supposed to be Great Men can hold a candle to this Mysterious Demon Prince…!

Hence, if the Second Demon Prince was a lowly, incompetent scum beyond redemption--then, just how could she describe these people whose number almost covered the sky in her own world...?

But this also caused her to become confused the most. If the Second Demon Prince was indeed a capable man, what was his infamy based on and how had he put himself in such a desperate position in the first place? And for what reason…?

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Many ideas, many thoughts, many conjectures… but all can only feel that they are right but as long as she couldn’t confirm anything, all of them are nothing but an empty guess. Well, because of this as well, Ezra can’t help but be certain that the second prince indeed did not have any interest in the war—if not, he would surely become one of the worst enemies humanity would ever face—much worse than the Prince of Darkness or Princess of Ice themselves!

…though, not like he could certainly be trusted either…!

Of course… Ezra sighs. Not like anyone, can be trusted either—no matter what race they came from…

As her head touched the pillow, she admitted herself that she had made a tactical error—she had unexpectedly started to savor the life she had here. No one has high expectations of her, no one called her for the matters of war, no training that made her exhausted and labored, no playing pretense, no one look at her with obvious masks on their faces—nothing…

In this life, she was free, although she was hiding most of the time, but even still, she was freer than anyone else. Even though she looked like a prisoner, she was not heavily monitored by anyone. She would also don’t have to worry about anything as well as the second prince have already prepared anything necessary; food and etc…and she too was quite safe and full of an indescribable sense of security coming from the second prince that should have been her enemy…!

Or…was he…? Her last thought, before she fell asleep, was of her mother, “Do not trust all men, but trust men of worth…especially when the day is dark…” her mother had been fond of saying.

Remembering this, Ezra smiled to herself in the dark before her eyelids fluttered and closed.

What a load of bull...

… …

Ezra followed some servants hurrying down the stairs to the ballroom, where the musicians were playing a popular string and wind instruments concerto.

At this point, there were still more servants than guests in the upstairs ballroom, and those who had already arrived were too busy plying themselves with food and drink to notice her entrance.

She was currently wearing a black-white servant attire with an appearance of that of a hairy monkey—illusion created by the collar, though she was appalled and frustrated by her current appearance, however, she has no other options, as like what the Second Prince said—to avoid being caught by demon perverts and be fancied, being ugly is better than being plain much less pretty. Thus, she didn’t have any options but to endure the painful looks and words coming from all the people who met her. Well, with the Second Prince protection, there was not one person that dared to mess with her, but this was just a precaution.

Laplashia; The Second Prince’ favorite servant Ruka’s Close Friend—that is her current identity. By now, everyone had already known that Ruka was extremely special for the Second Prince and that even though she was a servant, there are no daredevils and son of bitches that dared to mess with her, nor tried to order her to do anything.

She has a very sensitive but untouchable status in the Demon Palace. And so, as Ruka’s friend, Laplashia was also known as the Second Prince servant…and was then, also untouchable in some other description, other than her pitiful appearance, of course.

Her hair, in a bob style with a long braid at the back, was brown with chestnut lights in it while her face was lumpy. In the illusion, her entire body was covered with thick hair, with only her face, which was in a heart-shaped form, was clear.

Her nose was too long and her mouth too big. With thick dark eyelashes and brows, her lips were puffy and dark red. When she first saw herself in a mirror, she was horrified, in disbelief that her beautiful face had turned into something like this. Even in the Monkey Demi-human tribe, most were surely beautiful if compared to her—after all, only several are those unfortunate to have such hairy appearance, and only it was common among male.

However, what could she do...?

This is attached to her own survival.

Nodding at a few familiar faces, Ezra, with a bitter smile wove through the room and made her way toward the stair­case at the rear of the Palace. As she descended to the middle landing, the lamps fluttered in a sudden breeze and she felt a rush of cold air around her.

No matter how much she tried, she could never adapt to this cold weather. In fact, the Winter Mountain is known as a forbidden death land by humans, and only demons would dare explore the icy mountain without care. There, although many unexplored ruins, but there are also numerous dangers and monsters that are only heard in Legend and Myths.

Not only the landscape, the surrounding temperature and the monster was deadly--the snow-white laded mountain was dangerous itself. It's like an enormous monster waiting for travelers to step foot in its body and be devoured. Terrifying...!

Everything passed in a blur; the fancy dressed demon nobles and aristocracies and several scary looking demons wearing military attires; the cluster of gentlemen gathered around pretty ladies, vying for their attention and the noble ladies and their bevy of gossips, avidly discussing the latest news and information occurring in the war zone and Imperial rumors and hearsays.

No matter where she directed her gaze to, Ezra can’t help but feel that Demon World and Human World are so much alike, save for their contrasting appearances. Unlike the balls and parties in the human world, this seemed like a gathering of monsters and demons in a Halloween during harvest festivals…

Although the guests and servant alike parted like the red sea before her, Ezra couldn’t avoid the impression that they had all gathered for the sole purpose of witnessing her ugly appearance and faux pas. Though, she has always been feeling that way even in the Human World as she was not fond nor used to large crowds like this… nor she ever wants to get used to, in the first place.

This kind of places was the muddiest of all water, second only to the court, were lies and fraud woven in an entangled mess.

People wearing masks, even though it was not the season for masquerade, along with their bare intentions and wicked schemes. Not even the Demon World is an exception to that…seems so, Ezra mused as she felt the darts of a dozen pair of eyes around her, she wove an awkward path across the ballroom. Although this time she has something to be embarrassed off, a reason she was extremely awkward to be here.

She was appalled to appear in the public, even if they are the hateful demons. She hadn’t wanted to be here in the first place. Despite knowing that her appearance at this very moment cannot be helped, but she, as a woman, felt losing something very important at every gaze darted at her. Still, she can’t run away as this is a very valuable and rare opportunity to scout for the Demon Empire’s force and power, all of its entirety.

"You’re here. Though, you should stop at the kitchen first till you've eaten something. The next hour would be quite exhausting,"

She turned to see a tall pale girl at her elbow.

"Never fight on an empty stomach." The girl had a quick, easy smile. "Come on." She touched her on the arm. "I can show you the way."

She looks amiable but Ezra shook her off. She didn't need friends. Especially not in here. Ezra smiled a forced smile, nodded her head and then turns around to find a certain someone. The servant girl look at her confused. However, after recalling about her, quite sensitive status, she could only shrug her shoulders and turned around to leave.

Seeing that she didn't pester her, Ezra sigh in relief. She kept her head down and concentrated on making her way, navigating a crooked path around the demon nobles and aristocrats, potted plants, and passing servants.

Feeling another chilling breeze, Era couldn’t help but shiver in cold. Though, along with the icy cold wind from the winter mountain, she could also hear snippets of gossip, which went from group to group like a contagion;

'Scandalous, isn’t it? Someone like her, managing to enter the Imperial Palace—so ugly and disgusting—and to say that she was a personal servant of the Second Prince… I wonder just what is His Highness thinking…?'

'It’s probably that Caitsith Servant of his…I really wonder just how did she manage to capture the royalty favor…!'

'Shhh! Don’t speak in a venture. If His Highness would get a hold of your words, you would surely be punished!'

'Not just mere simple punishment, I believe. Once there's a poor young man, molested and insulted the sagacious cat, think what it led to? Out there in the cold, hanged in his neck, swaying along the breeze, not down even now.'

'Horrifying...!'

'His Highness is a cruel man, not even the nobles could stop his way...! Nor her Highness would even care!'

Even in this strange monster world, there are such idiotic and stupid people, Ezra thought, sneaking glances at her critics. Beautiful dressed, their manners as finely honed as their tongues, they were the elite hostesses of the capital, the wives of nobles and high ranking military leaders.

Couldn’t they find something more interesting than, Ezra Redhawk, for amusement…?

However, the gossips and hearsays passing down, all about a certain prince, caught her attention. She then hurried as fast as she dared, but her shuffling pace was too slow. It always was. Ezra didn’t push herself for fear of attracting too much attention.

But where is that damn prince…?! That Ruka servant said that he would be in this place… but where is he…?

There are too many people in this goddamn hall…!

As she was walking through the sea of fancy clothed people, she found herself on a blissfully desert patio.

Black shadows shrouded the flagstones and walkways. An icy cold chill sharpened the air. Letting out a long, tense breathe she had not known she was holding, Ezra pressed her hands against the figured concrete rail.

She was probably soiling her gloves but, that didn’t matter now. She has no intention to find a dance partner or anyone else to hold her hand tonight.

So tiring...

Just where is he...?

... ...