The Prince and His Servant

Chapter 34

"What the hell...?! Arlert, how the hell do you know who I am?!

I didn't expect him to understand right away. With all that's happened, I doubted he would. And I was correct; he stood before me, in all his wicked glory, confused and enraged at hearing his true title. How could he comprehend the fact that his identity was no secret to me? How could he, or anyone, expect me to have forgotten how his mother and father held the same dastardly problem that, eventually, let to a downfall of the manorial system?

And yet here he was, surprised at the mere fact. I couldn't help but wonder what it was he took me for, and it had better not have been a fool.

"It doesn't take a thousand men to figure out, your highness. Oh, but who am I to speak this way? Two and a half months passed before I fully realized just who you were, what identity the "supernatural killer" held. Did you not recall, this entire time, that your parents are what your condition came from? Yes, whom they received it from was, and always will be, a mystery. But surely you didn't think I, of all people, wouldn't notice the genetic chain at work?"

It was then his rage and confusion were replaced with a genuine look of shock. It wasn't a look that often showed itself on the prince's face, as he was usually a calm and collected authority figure, to my knowledge. I tapped my fingers on the wooden desk I sat at, while he processed what information I had given him. After a minute of thought, he spoke somewhat calmly. However, his demonic voice unsettled me slightly.

"Alright... I understand now. I suppose you're right. Considering we kept my parent's identities a secret, it's no wonder the public didn't have a clue when I emerged as a... a killer. Frankly, I'm a bit ashamed of my surprise in learning you knew. You're the smartest person I've ever known."

My lips curled upward a bit at the compliment, but I didn't let it go to my head. I knew there were still things to be discussed, things to be done about what has happened to this place.

"Thank you, your highness. However, there is still the matter at hand. You, in this state, have become a cold-blooded killer. You have murdered and devoured countless people across multiple villages. As your secretary, I have at least some right to convict you for your crimes. This should come as no surprise to you. It should also not surprise you to hear that you will be judged for said crimes as an average citizen rather than a royal figure, just as your parents were."

His face fell, as I expected it to. However, I did somewhat believe he would have come to foresee this. I suppose even I can be wrong about a few things. I would have continued, seeing as there was still more to explain, but the prince had come up to me and covered my mouth with his hand. He hissed at me when I attempted to remove his hand and question him. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Be quiet!"

In fear of what would happen if I didn't obey, I heeded his orders. He didn't move his hand for quite some time. To my surprise, however, I heard two pairs of frantic footsteps running down the hall in this direction, and I then understood why I was told to quiet myself. A minute or so after the footsteps had passed the door, he removed his hand and stepped back, explaining himself before I had the chance to ask him to.

"I brought my servant back here... Levi Ackerman. I coaxed him here. He thinks I, as the killer, has the prince in captivity. He has yet to realize just who I am. He also made friends with a fox-girl while he had been gone, and she's accompanying him. I planned on playing a small game with him before revealing myself, but I don't know if I'm going to execute this plan. If I do, would you mind having the staff that's here playing along? I don't want one of them to accidentally slip up and fuck everything up."

It was an offer I had to think about. Or, was it even classified as an offer? In all honesty, it didn't seem like that at all, but I couldn't properly assess what it really was. What I also couldn't seem to comprehend as the reason. Of course, I can see why he would want to delay the revealing of his true identity, but why would he go about it by toying with his subjects? But I was in no place to ask.