0 – Even if Infamy Deceives You.
“Kyaaah!”
A piercing scream echoed through the bustling banquet hall.
It was a sound as provocative as scratching glass with one’s nails.
The sweet melody that had reached its peak suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
The dancers, the young men and women searching for partners, and even the chattering ladies, all turned their heads in surprise.
All eyes were on me.
I was currently gripping a man’s hair tightly, dragging him along.
In my other hand, I held a bottle of liquor that was more than half full.
“That silver hair…!”
“The, the Crown Prince!”
“How did that crazy author end up here?”
“Oh my, but isn’t that the eldest son of Count Luteon being dragged away?”
“Now they’re even bothering noble young men…”
“If this continues, someone will really die…!”
Chaotic murmurs filled with fear and anxiety erupted from all around.
But no one dared to stop me.
They simply parted hastily like the parting of the Red Sea, as if it were a miracle of Moses.
It wasn’t because of my exceptional appearance or my noble status as a prince.
It was because they were afraid that I, who had stood in the way of a despicable human, might cause unnecessary trouble.
“Uh… please… mercy…”
My steps continued for a while.
Then, I stopped beneath the largest and most splendid chandelier hanging from the wide ceiling.
“Sob… why are you doing this to me… what did I do wrong…”
The man, dragged here as if he were a sacrificial lamb, asked tearfully with a sense of injustice, but there was no reason to answer. I was simply curious.
“…”
Do I really not know?
Why am I doing this?
This foolish author, the eldest son of a viscount, had spewed insulting words in front of my fiancée. And everyone witnessed it.
As a result, everyone here pretended to laugh.
Those cowardly actions, those despicable tricks.
It ignited a fire in my heart.
There was no reason to endure.
There were already many who doubted my recent actions.
So, I intended to sacrifice this fool and once again reveal my recklessness and rashness to the world.
The more provocative the performance, the better.
All that was needed was.
An ample amount of blood and bold words.
Splat-
“Kuk! Kuh… even if you’re a prince… huff! Do you think you can do this to me and get away with it…!”
It seemed that I frightened my silence, as even with the red wine splashed all over my face, there was a slight force in my voice.
“I, haven’t said anything wrong…! Your fiancée, that vampire, is nothing but a lowly maid under Count Bart.”
As a gesture of contempt towards the posture of the holy man wielding a whip, I mercilessly struck his head with a bottle that still had some liquor left.
Crash!
Thud-
That should be enough of an answer.
However, as a warning to the onlookers, it seemed that it was not enough.
Looking down at the man trembling with his eyes turned inside out, I casually spoke.
“Look forward to it. Soon, you’ll see me again.”
“….”
“When that time comes, you’ll also realize how terrifying someone with nothing to lose can be.”
At the low, cold threat that slipped out.
And at my relentless gaze.
Someone’s eyes reddened, while another let out a small sigh and quickly covered their mouth in surprise.
Each of them avoided my gaze with shadowed faces.
The warning was sufficient now.
But then, suddenly, I felt a chill and looked straight ahead.
In a rather satisfied manner with this situation, the prince, Serbis Kaldavrian, crossed his legs and smiled at me.
The prince, my half-brother.
The most precious son of the current Empress, who poisoned the former Empress and took everything from me.
He was the worst villain in the novel.
Soon, he would become the most dangerous person who tried to kill me.
But I haven’t just been sucking my thumb all this time.
Now, the preparations are almost complete.
So, Cerberus.
Just wait a little longer.
Your downfall is not far away.