[That sounds aggressively unhealthy.]
Lionel ignored the system while continuing toward the palace.
The massive golden castle stood proudly beneath the moonlight like the symbol of a glorious kingdom.
Lionel only saw a graveyard with better decorations.
Because he remembered exactly what happened here in the future.
Nobles poisoning each other.
Princes hiring assassins.
Ministers selling military information.
Royal knights switching sides during war.
And at the center of it all—
A rotten royal family pretending everything was fine.
Lionel climbed the palace stairs calmly.
Two armored knights standing guard immediately stiffened after seeing him.
Their eyes carried faint disgust.
Lionel noticed instantly.
"…Damn."
He walked past them casually.
"The original owner really had zero PR skills."
[Bro was publicly disliked.]
[That takes talent.]
Lionel smirked faintly.
The moment he entered the palace—
He felt it.
Eyes.
Watching him.
Servants lowered their heads quickly when he passed.
Some nobles whispered quietly.
Others looked openly amused.
Like they were waiting for tonight's entertainment.
The annual royal banquet.
A gathering filled with fake smiles and political parasites.
Lionel already knew what would happen.
The Crown Prince would publicly humiliate him.
The nobles would laugh.
The king would ignore it.
And later that night—
The first assassination attempt would begin.
Lionel clicked his tongue.
"…What a wonderful family environment."
[Your household has the emotional warmth of a prison stabbing.]
A servant approached nervously.
"Y-Your Highness…"
Lionel glanced at the young servant girl.
She immediately flinched.
Interesting.
The original Lionel must've terrified people regularly.
"The banquet begins shortly," she said quietly.
Lionel nodded once.
"Understood."
The servant hurried away immediately like escaping a dangerous animal.
Lionel sighed.
"…Was the original me genuinely that awful?"
[Short answer?]
[Yes.]
Lionel rubbed his forehead.
This body's reputation was terrible.
Arrogant.
Violent.
Obsessive.
Petty.
The perfect future criminal prince.
Which honestly helped him slightly.
Because if he suddenly acted kind and reasonable—
People would become suspicious instantly.
Lionel entered his room and stared at the royal uniform laid across the bed.
White and crimson.
Decorated with golden embroidery.
Elegant.
Prideful.
Disgusting.
He remembered wearing this exact outfit during his execution trial.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"…Yeah no."
He changed anyway.
Ten minutes later—
Lionel entered the royal banquet hall.
The atmosphere was luxurious.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the massive hall while nobles danced gracefully to soft music.
Laughter echoed everywhere.
Fake laughter.
The kind nobles used before betraying each other politically.
Lionel immediately spotted the royal family seated near the elevated platform.
The king.
Cold-faced.
Emotionless.
A man who ruled with logic instead of affection.
Beside him sat the Crown Prince.
Alexander Ashbourne.
Tall.
Handsome.
Golden-haired.
The kingdom's beloved heir.
And the man who secretly wanted Lionel dead.
Alexander noticed Lionel immediately.
Then smiled.
Warmly.
Politely.
Like a loving older brother.
Lionel almost laughed.
"That man definitely ordered murders before breakfast."
[OH absolutely.]
[That smile says "I commit political crimes professionally."]
Lionel walked into the hall calmly while countless eyes followed him.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Prince Lionel…"
"He actually showed up…"
"I heard he attacked another servant last week…"
"Disgraceful…"
Lionel ignored everything.
Then—
Alexander raised his wine glass.
"Brother."
The hall slowly quieted.
Ah.
Here we go.
Lionel smiled internally.
The original timeline's humiliation scene.
Alexander's expression looked friendly.
But Lionel already knew this game.
"Come join us," Alexander said smoothly. "Surely you are not planning to hide all evening?"
The nobles chuckled lightly.
Lionel calmly walked closer.
Every step felt tense.
Because unlike before—
Now Lionel could feel it clearly.
Killing intent.
Hidden.
Careful.
But present.
Several knights in the hall subtly watched him.
One noble near the eastern pillar touched his sleeve too often.
An assassin signal.
Lionel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Already moving this early?"
[Yep.]
[Someone here definitely wants you extremely dead.]
Lionel stopped before the royal table.
The king barely glanced at him.
"Lionel."
That single word contained disappointment.
Nothing more.
No warmth.
No affection.
Just irritation.
Lionel understood immediately.
The original prince truly lived like an unwanted spare.
Alexander smiled gently.
"Brother, I heard you've isolated yourself recently."
Lionel remained calm.
"And?"
A few nobles frowned slightly at his tone.
Alexander continued smiling.
"You should interact more socially. People misunderstand you."
Lionel almost admired the hypocrisy.
This bastard spent years destroying Lionel's reputation quietly behind the scenes.
Now he pretended to care publicly.
A master politician.
Too bad Lionel already knew the script.
"You worry too much," Lionel replied lazily.
Alexander's smile flickered slightly.
Probably because Lionel wasn't reacting emotionally like usual.
Interesting.
The Crown Prince leaned back calmly.
"Then perhaps you can reassure everyone."
Lionel raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Alexander lifted his wine glass casually.
"There have been concerning rumors lately."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Nobles became attentive.
Lionel already knew what was coming.
"Involving forbidden magic."
Silence.
Ah.
There it was.
The beginning.
The first seed of treason accusations.
The original Lionel became furious here and caused a massive scene.
Which only worsened public suspicion.
But now?
Lionel simply smiled.
"Brother."
Alexander blinked slightly.
Lionel's crimson eyes met his calmly.
"If I used forbidden magic…"
A faint grin spread across his face.
"…would any of you still be alive?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
Several nobles nearly choked.
One old minister burst into laughter accidentally before quickly stopping.
Even the king looked mildly surprised.
The system screamed inside Lionel's head.
[OOOOOOOOOH.]
[HE DEFLECTED THE POLITICAL ATTACK.]
[+500 AURA.]
Alexander's smile finally stiffened slightly.
Just slightly.
But Lionel noticed.
Victory.
Tiny.
But real.
Then Lionel felt it again.
Killing intent.
Sharper this time.
Someone had made a decision.
Tonight.
He would die.
Lionel smiled calmly while picking up a wine glass.
Perfect.
Because tonight—
Prince Lionel Ashbourne would begin disappearing forever.