9 Chapter 9: Confrontation
"I'm teaching a maid a lesson, my dear brother" Keon answered with a chuckle before clicking his fingers together
The poor maid's body was moved by the tentacles and landed in front of Lawrence
"Today, it would be this maid. Tomorrow, I wonder who it would be" Keon continued, insinuating something
Today, it was this maid that is in this pitiful condition. In the future, it would be Lawrence
"Whatever you are doing, better stop it and explain to me what is happening" Lawrence spoke yet it sounds like an order and Keon placed his fingers into his chin
"Hmm, I wonder if I should give you an explanation" Keon asked loudly to himself, angering Lawrence in the process
The Prince clenched his fist hard. He had witnessed his brother being like this to many people but never to him
Keon has always looked at him with eyes filled with thirst and yearning. Even a single compliment from Lawrence would already turn him into a joyful dog
Lawrence didn't expect that a day would come that the 1st Princess would treat him like how he treated the people he planned on playing and toying with
"Keon!" The Prince spat out angrily in a threatening manner. It might make the maids around fearful but certainly not Keon
"Hahaha, brother, this is reality" Keon stated before pointing at the Palace behind him
"This palace, these maids, this ground that we are standing on are all real. I am almost 18 now and you are younger than me. Are you sure that it is wise of you to act like this?"
With just that statement, these two smart people had a conversation that is longer than it looks like
With just those three sentences from Keon, the 7th Prince already has a general idea of what is happening
The first is that this place is not an illusion but reality. Keon is almost 18 and Lawrence is around 16 right now. Meaning, they both returned to the past
Although Lawrence already kind of expected that that is what happened, he was still surprised after receiving confirmation from Keon
Lastly, Keon reminded the 7th Prince of how he should act. Right now, he is not the Emperor but merely the weakest Prince
"All of you leave. I have something to say to the Princess" Lawrence ordered the maids
He was originally always acting kind and gentle to hide his capabilities but right now, he has to gather more information
As if they were given a pardon, the maids hurriedly run away unless they want to be punished too
"Keon, are you planning on going against me?" Lawrence questioned and the 1st Princess circled around
"Hehehe what do you think, my dear brother?"
This side of Keon is something that many people hated. He was always playful even when facing enemies
"Don't you dare, Keon! It was my fault for imprisoning you but you also have to understand my position! You are a great schemer and I was the Emperor. Won't you feel threatened if you were at my position?" Lawrence tried to reason but his reason is not a valid one from Keon's perspective
"Pfft! Hahahaha, I didn't know that you have such a funny side. Would you ever forgive me if the situation was reversed?"
No matter how great of a schemer he was, Keon still always made sure that all control and power will fall into his brother's hand
He doesn't need the Throne nor any high position. He merely wants his brother to be happy and treat him like a family
That was his only wish, to have even a single person treat him good. In the end though, what he received was a great betrayal
"Keon! You know my capabilities, don't stand in my way and we could still return back to normal!" Lawrence tried again and he saw Keon looking at him with utmost disgust that enrages his pride
"Dear brother, if I want to, I could easily kill you right now. I might be an unloved Imperial Moon but I am still the union between the Emperor and Empress. Not to mention, my mother's family is also one of the strongest Nobility. With a few schemes here and there, you would easily die in my hands" Keon spoke the hard truth
In the past, he was too meek and weak. Even if he is unloved, there are still several moves he could take to gather power in his hands
It's just that he was too thirsty for familiar love. But right now, with a bit of effort, he could use a lot of people to kill Lawrence that is still at his early stage
The Imperial Family is not to be treated lightly. Even the Twighlight Demons couldn't easily penetrate the Palace that is still under the current Emperor's hands
"So? Are you threatening me right now?"
Lawrence can't believe it. The Princess that looks like would die without him is actually threatening him?
If he doesn't have the memories from the future, he would simply endure this without showing any negative emotions
After all, at this time, he was still a Prince that is completely hiding his true nature. But since he already spent years being in power, his arrogance was affecting his mind
"No, no, don't think like that! That is silly. Don't worry about your life, I wouldn't kill you, at least for now. But do you know what I would do?" Keon questioned, deliberately trailing and the Prince's whole body trembled from rage
Seeing that reaction, Keon was delighted. "Your dream is the Throne and to be above everyone else. It would be too lackluster to simply kill you. What I would do is to crush your dreams right in front of you!" Keon loudly declared while his eyes slowly gained a crazed light
"I will make sure that no matter how hard you struggle, you would stay at the bottom. Right now, you are still an Imperial Prince and you'll try to take the Throne. Even without the Throne, you are in a high position but that wouldn't be for long. I'll make sure that not to mention the throne, you will lose even your privilege as a member of the Imperial Family!"
The Princess looks crazy right now. His body trembled in excitement while stating how he would enact his revenge
"Keon!" Lawrence spat out that name angrily but the Princess is still not finish
"No matter what move and schemes you make, I'll make sure to thoroughly crush them. Brother, do your best to increase your status since I'll make sure that instead of rising, you will fall into the pits of hell with me!"
The 7th Prince finally loses his temper and a burst of fire exploded from his body. His eyes were bloodshot, reflecting all the rage he has as he charged at the 1st Imperial Moon
Lawrence's palm was burning with fire as he grabs Keon in the neck. He thought that he succeeded but he only felt like he only grabs on an empty space
Keon's twisted face smiled before his body dissipated into black smokes
"Shadow Clone" Lawrence muttered while gritting his teeth. It was an ability of the Princess that was a headache of the numerous assassins that tried to kill him
"Oh my, is my 7th brother trying to take my life? What if I scream and ask for help. What would you do?" Keon's playful voice entered Lawrence's ears and when he turned his head back, he saw the Princess behind him with a smile
The Prince was about to attack Keon again when he stops
"You bitch, you are making me lose my patience on purpose!" Lawrence realized what is happening
Keon wants him to be as angry as possible! In that way, arrogance would cloud his judgment
Lawrence would unconsciously think that he is still above everyone and no one could stop him. That is detrimental for his growth as underestimation and carelessness could lead to death
Keon was trying to mess with his mind so that he would be drunk from the future's glory!
"Sigh... you are really smart, brother" Keon said with a sigh
As of right now, Keon could take the easy route. He could have Lawrence assassinated
His rational side also wants him to do that. His brother is a source of great danger, it would be better to kill him early
However, what Keon wants to happen is to see Lawrence struggle raising his position to reach the throne. He wants his brother to put in a lot of effort and use every means he could think of but in the end, he would be pulled down by Keon
Seeing the despair and struggle of Lawrence is the sweet revenge that Keon wants to have
However, even then, Lawrence is still a dangerous man. As such, Keon wanted to lower his brother's skills by affecting him mentally but he failed
The two of them really aren't the top 1 and 2 schemers of the Empire for nothing
