G. Kitsune
patreon
The Soul Reborn: From Silence to Sovereignty Chapter 9
🕑 Added 2025-05-30 11:26:15 +0000 UTCChapter 9: Kill the Crown Prince, Please and Thank You
I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly as I looked at all the nobles in attendance whispering behind fans and embroidered sleeves. Every step we took before we were standing in front of the king echoed louder than the one before. My grip on Noah’s arm had practically turned into a death hold.
But of course he didn’t even flinch.
He led me forward with the calm confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times and would do it a thousand times more in the future.
Once we finally reached the bottom of the steps leading to the king's throne, Noah released my arm and took a slow, respectful bow.
I blinked, hesitating.
Then he reached over and gently pushed my head down in the same motion he had just performed.
“All glory to the crown, and may your reign last a hundred years.” Noah said smoothly.
I just mumbled the same words under my breath, praying no one would say anything to me.
“So…” The king started speaking in a deep and almost playful tone. “You’ve finally decided to take a wife?”
Noah simply nodded. “Yes, you’re Majesty. I’ve come to formally request your blessing for my engagement.” He turned to me, placing a hand lightly on my back. “This is Seraphina Durel.”
For a moment, there was quiet. The king tilted his head, and I felt like he was scrutinizing me even more than before, as if I was daring to take his favorite son away from him.
Then he smiled. “I’m glad. Honestly, I thought you were into men with how many eligible ladies you turned away over the years.”
A choked sound escaped from my lips, and then I chuckled lightly. I raised my hand quickly over my mouth, hoping no one saw. But it was already too late because the king was staring at me with a raised eyebrow and this look of amusement shining in his eyes.
“What about you, Lady Seraphina?” He asked simply, giving the corner of my lips a constant twitch. “What do you think about that?”
I hesitated… wondering just what kind of answer he was expecting from me. After thinking hard for about two seconds, I completely ignored that part of my brain that warned me to be diplomatic.
“It’s honestly not surprising.” I said bluntly. “He’s so beautiful; I’d believe any man could fall for him.”
After the whole room went completely silent, I couldn’t help but speak up again. “When he had saved me the other day, I thought he was a heroine.”
Then I glanced at Noah; he had one of those looks. I can’t believe you really said it. But it was also one full of amusement.
The one who surprised me the most was the king, who let out a roaring laugh that echoed throughout the throne room like thunder.
“HAHA! I like this one, Noah!” he said, slapping his knee. “She’s honest. I see why you picked her. You’ve always been surrounded by too many liars and flatterers.”
I exhaled slowly, with a wry smile on my face at the king's obvious acceptance of me.
The King was almost instantly smitten, sending hateful gazes from all those around in my direction.
A stare colder and sharper than anyone else who you could tell was full of arrogance. From across the room, leaning against one of the polished white columns, arms crossed, stood a young man who screamed royalty.
Is that the crown prince? I couldn’t help but wonder. The enemy of most female leads in any fantasy novel. Unless he’s the male lead, but even then he’s probably still an asshole.
His stare was burning through me as if he was trying to figure out where he wanted to put a dagger.
I stiffened. Great… The cliché appears.
My eyes darted away from the man quickly, pretending not to notice, though my skin still crawled. If the king really favored Noah over that guy, then we had a problem.
The thoughts going through my mind spiraled as I bowed once again to the king, with Noah about to walk out of the throne room.
Going forward, Noah will either have to kill that man or become king himself. It’s obvious by his gaze that there will be no other options. Either way, that creep better stay the hell away from me.
The king finally stopped laughing long enough to speak. “Well then, you have my blessing, Noah. I expect great things from this union.” He turned those sharp eyes back to me. “I look forward to seeing the children you two will bring into this world in the future.”
Noah simply smiled and bowed his head slightly, the image of composed nobility. I, however, cringed like never before.
Children would be so far into the future, maybe never, definitely not thinking about that right now, NOPE!
The king gave a final nod, waving us off. “You’re excused. But I’ll be hosting a banquet in a few days to honor the occasion. Attendance will be… extensive.”
Oh no… My stomach couldn’t help but twist. A banquet, with everyone invited, including that bastard family? Great… Just perfect!
We turned and walked down a long corridor leading back towards the entrance, nobles still watching, whispering like the snakes they are.
I leaned in towards Noah and whispered. “Were you… really serious about being favored for the throne?”
He didn’t look at me and just said, “If I want it… it’s mine.”
I stopped walking for a second and then grabbed his arm and hissed, “Take it now!” That finally got his attention. He turned to me, slightly bewildered.
“Excuse me?”
My mind was going one hundred miles an hour as I gestured furiously with my free hand. “Noah, did you see the way the crown prince was just staring at me? I’ve read enough books to know what this means.”
He raised an eyebrow at my animated reaction, clearly entertained.
“There are only a few options.” I continued. “Option one, he’s jealous of you and tried to woo me to spite you. Which I very much hate! Like a lot! I might throw myself off another balcony.”
Noah looked mildly concerned by my words.
“Option two, he can’t have me, so he tries to kill me just to hurt you.”
“Dramatic…” He dared to comment after my words.
“Realistic!” I shot back. “People like him don’t deal with rejection, and I saw his face. He didn’t look interested in a conversation. He looked to be mentally selecting which wall to hang my head on.”
Noah didn’t reply immediately, so I hit him with the most important question.
“Do you consider yourself… close to him?”
He just shrugged. “He’s nothing to me.”
I once again stopped walking and looked him dead in the eye. “Then, kill him!”
Noah blinked in obvious surprise at my words.
“I know what that kind of person will do to me. That look he had… I’ve seen it in every villain prince ever written. He’s going to try luring me somewhere, give me some royal command, and etiquette will demand I obey.”
I clenched my fists at my sides. “Well screw that, actually, FUCK THAT! The words slipped out a lot louder than I intended.
A few nearby nobles turned, eyes wide at my manner, I’m sure.
Noah paused and slowly turned to look at me, clearly surprised by the outburst.
The look in my eyes, I’m sure, was fierce as I said this: “I refuse to be some tragic side character in a power struggle romance.”
Noah just sighed deeply. Then placed a hand on my back and gently guided me forward, towards the carriage.
“I’ll take care of you, Seraphina.” The power in his words gave me a sense of safety, but I still couldn’t help worrying.
I squinted at him. “So you’ll kill him?”
Noah didn’t answer but just sighed again.
After a while I spoke just before we reached the carriage. “I’ll do it myself if you won’t.” I said resolutely, already knowing with certainty this crown prince could never be trusted.
The carriage rattled gently as we rode back from the palace, the sun now hanging lower in the sky.
Neither of us spoke at first… The silence wasn’t too awkward, but I wasn’t really paying attention to him with my mind racing with ideas.
Eventually, Noah got my attention. “You know, if you said something like that in front of anyone else, especially the King, you would have been executed for treason.”
I just scoffed at him. “Well, if you turned your back on me now, I’d die anyway at the hands of my own family. So what’s there to be afraid of?”
He raised an eyebrow at my retort. “Besides, you’ve never actually tried to stop me from speaking what I think. You just stand there and listen like I’m a toddler running around with a knife.”
The grin spreading across my face couldn’t be held in. “Also, I only agreed with the King because I thought it was funny and wanted to make a good impression. Even he found it enjoyable, so it’s all good!”
Noah just stared at me for a long while, his expression completely unreadable. Then, without any kind of warning, he pulled me into his embrace and hugged me tightly.
My body stiffened instantly. “What!?”
I couldn’t even move with my arms trapped against his chest, and my face was being squished awkwardly against the crook of his neck.
“What’s wrong?!” I mumbled out, muffled against his coat.
Noah’s voice then came out low and soft. “I don’t know myself; I just wanted to hug you all of a sudden. Is that alright?”
My brain stuttered as if it was currently impossible to think. Like a full system reboot. I didn’t have any valid reason to say no. He wasn’t doing anything weird or creepy; it was just warm.
So I let myself lean into him, just a little.
It wasn’t… bad.
I mean, come on; he looks like an impossibly beautiful girl from a shoujo anime. You know those characters with androgynous features that force you to look at yourself and wonder, Do I actually like men?"
Here I was living the trope, but instead of being male, I was actually a girl. Wrapped in the arms of the literal fantasy I thought only existed in fiction.
A man who looked like the perfect hero was for some reason, mine.
