Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Third Person’s POV

And that meant that whatever was sealed inside that coffin was something far more unusual and difficult to categorize, something that had even left her aunt momentarily silent.

That alone made it valuable, or maybe dangerous, or who knew it might be both at the same time.

With such thoughts driving them forward, they hurried toward the island with visible eagerness, though Uncle Caspian struggled noticeably as he carried the unconscious body of his grandson.

His steps were slightly unsteady as he tried to keep pace with the others despite the burden in his arms.

When they finally reached the island and approached the coffin, the blue-haired woman raised her hand slightly and halted them before they could step any closer.

Turning toward them with a serious face, she spoke in a low and firm voice that carried a clear warning.

"Remember not to touch anything... not even the coffin, let alone the person inside it."

Her tone was calm but absolute, leaving no room for carelessness.

Arlene nodded immediately, though the sharp gleam in her eyes betrayed the excitement she was trying to suppress, something that did not escape the experienced gaze of her aunt, who observed her young niece quietly without commenting on her behavior.

Beside her, the young maid clutched the edge of Arlene’s dress tightly, her face pale with lingering fear as she followed closely, clearly unsettled by everything that had unfolded so far.

But the moment their eyes fell upon the figure within the coffin, both of them froze.

The crystallized young man lay there, clad in silver-black robes that seemed to shimmer faintly beneath the icy sheen that covered his body.

Even though he was still like a dead body, his entire presence exuded a strange and captivating stillness that immediately drew their attention.

The young maid’s jaw dropped slightly as the fear that had gripped her just moments ago vanished as if it had never existed, only to be replaced instead by a bright and almost dazzled expression as she stared at him without restraint.

"So handsome..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet in the silence of the cavern, it echoed loud enough for everyone present to hear it.

Uncle Caspian and the armored master did not react at all, as such a comment from a young and inexperienced girl was not unexpected in a situation like this, but the blue-haired woman, on the other hand, turned her gaze toward the maid with a faint shift in her expression.

For a brief moment, she found the remark unexpectedly amusing, as it cut through the lingering frustration and unease that had been building within her mind ever since she had first laid eyes on the strange young man.

"Ohh... so out of all the mysteries surrounding this person, the only thing you found worth noticing was his handsome appearance, is that so?"

Her tone carried a light teasing edge, but the underlying authority and the slight disdain in her voice were enough to startle the young maid instantly.

The color drained from the maid’s face as fear returned just as quickly as it had disappeared.

She lowered her head hurriedly and began to stutter nervously,

"N-No, my lady, I-I did not...."

The young maid, in her nervousness, tried to justify her impulsive comment but only ended up embarrassing herself by speaking gibberish in a poor attempt to cover herself up.

Finally, she stopped speaking and took several rounds of deep breaths, calming herself before she said with an expression of shame and regret.

"Claire apologizes for her immature behavior, Mistress..."

Interestingly, she did not attempt to deny her earlier words or defend herself, choosing instead to accept the reprimand directly, which caused the blue-haired woman’s expression to soften slightly as a small smile appeared on her lips.

"It’s not a big deal. Calm yourself... I am not going to do anything to you for something petty like this."

Hearing this, Claire visibly relaxed, though a faint blush spread across her cheeks as embarrassment settled in.

She turned her gaze back toward the coffin and tried to compose herself by putting on a serious expression, as if she were analyzing something with great focus.

However, her wandering eyes betrayed her completely, as her thoughts were clearly still occupied with how striking, mysterious, and otherworldly the young man appeared, pulling her deeper into her own imagination despite her efforts to remain composed.

Meanwhile, the blue-haired woman shifted her attention toward Arlene, who had remained unusually silent throughout the entire exchange, her expression unchanged from the moment she had first seen the crystallized figure of the young man.

She had not reacted to her maid’s comment, nor to the brief interaction that had followed, and had stood there, staring.

Sensing that something was off, the blue-haired woman turned toward her more seriously, and this time, a subtle trace of her cold soul power was infused into her voice as she spoke softly,

"Did you notice something unusual, Arlene?"

Her voice carried a faint, penetrating quality that reached directly into Arlene’s mind, breaking her out of her daze almost instantly as she blinked and turned toward her aunt.

Her expression was still filled with shock as she responded in a quiet, uncertain tone,

"I think... I have seen him somewhere before, Aunt..."

Hearing this, the blue haired woman raised one of her brows slightly, and a clear look of interest appeared in her eyes as she waited for her to continue, while the armored master and Uncle Caspian also turned their attention toward Arlene, their curiosity piqued by her statement.

Arlene took a slow breath and forcing herself to calm down as she turned her gaze back toward the motionless young man within the coffin, her eyes scanning his features carefully as she tried to recall the fleeting sense of familiarity.

"I mean... his facial features, and even his hair color... they feel familiar to me," she said slowly, her voice thoughtful and uncertain.