Chapter 282: Chapter 282: "Call Me King" - Is He the Wedding Partner?

The guard's eyes, which had instantly turned red, began flickering uncertainly as if he couldn't make up his mind.

"Heru..."

After turning around, he hesitantly scanned the golden-clad figure up and down with visible uncertainty. A meaningless low growl emerged from his throat, resembling a beast clearing its throat.

Seeing someone emerge without servant attire, he had initially wanted to attack immediately - finally getting a chance to discipline these low-status individuals. But the other party's words made him hesitate.

Of course, the most crucial point was... he genuinely couldn't sense any "servant" aura from the person before him. The guards possessed certain innate abilities allowing them to identify servants regardless of clothing.

But Lu Ce hadn't read the manual.

Probably even the game designers never imagined someone could enter the game without reading the basic rules literally placed right before their eyes! Players like Xie Antong would have the rules imprinted in their minds after reading them thoroughly.

But not Lu Ce!

Thus, while the guard instinctively knew only servants should emerge from that room, Lu Ce's lack of servant aura combined with his words left the guard momentarily frozen without clear reaction.

Glancing up at the guard, he spoke: "What? Don't you understand human speech?"

"Hmm, makes sense... security here probably doesn't require much intelligence... what a bother." The golden mask tilted at a 45-degree angle as he slightly lifted his chin, then pointed at the guard before gesturing to the ground before himself - clearly ordering the guard to approach.

Despite the mask, the guard felt this person was treating him like a slave...

"I understand and can speak human language."

After a stunned pause, the guard - unsure how to handle this unprecedented situation in the sunless palace where he only knew how to interact with princesses and attendants - finally approached due to the other's imposing presence.

"Oh?" Lu Ce looked surprised at the response. "Quite civilized for your kind."

"I am human originally," the guard replied with an ugly expression, his thick facial muscles twitching. Normally in the palace where they rarely saw the princess, guards tyrannized freely without anyone daring to speak like this.

"You—"

He was interrupted again by Lu Ce.

"Do you know who I am?"

Guard: "......"

Ironically, that was exactly what he'd been about to ask.

The abrupt question left him speechless.

"Hmph." An aura of extraordinary authority suddenly erupted from the golden mask as Lu Ce slammed his hand heavily on the guard's shoulder with a thunderous impact!

Boom!

The unprepared guard was smashed onto the ground, body contorted in a kneeling position! His eyes flashed red as he tried to rise, but the overwhelming power and majestic aura pressing down made resistance impossible.

Like an aggressive psychiatric patient unfortunate enough to encounter someone far stronger, his violent impulses were suppressed. In all his palace service, he'd never encountered such noble presence.

Was something wrong?

"Don't stand so tall. Looking up tires me."

Lu Ce pressed down on the shoulder, speaking calmly.

The guard lifted his knee slightly into a half-crouch, gazing up at the dazzling golden reflection like staring at the sun.

He desperately wanted to say...

Damn it! You always look down on people with your nose in the air! Even now with me kneeling you're still looking upward to speak!

But what came out was:

"You... who are you? I don't know."

"You truly don't know?!" Lu Ce's shocked tone made the guard instinctively question if he'd committed some grave error.

The golden mask surveyed the surroundings, examining the palace with a critical gaze.

"How utterly foolish - servants absent, even security ignorant of their master's identity."

Bewildered but lost for questions, the guard listened as Lu Ce declared:

"I am the Supreme Will here!"

"The princess is supreme will here!" the guard instantly retorted reflexively, an indelible impression that triggered instinctive opposition to any challenge.

The shoulder pressure intensified dramatically as the guard's earlier reverence transformed into resistance.

"Don't address me so henceforth. Regardless of your customs, never call me princess," Lu Ce instructed.

This single statement short-circuited the guard's brain.

The guard felt like a naive child before this person. Was... was that really how his words had been interpreted?

Since when was I calling you princess?!

His rebellious energy dissipated completely, leaving him powerless.

Unconcerned, Lu Ce continued:

"By my standards, you should at minimum address me as King. Change that unpleasant title henceforth."

Guard: "......"

Too exhausted to retort, the overwhelming pressure from the golden armor and mask instinctively compelled obedience.

Then inspiration struck - something was wrong!

In two days was the princess's wedding!

This person's imposing manner, masked face, and claim to supreme will...

Could it be?!

King...

Was he the princess's marriage partner?! But why no prior announcement?