MMORPG: Crowd Control

Although the tracks of the black mage were highly suspicious, Lei Zhen didn't have the time to ponder over it when Kate forced him to wear some proper noble clothes for the mourning ceremony.

"Is it really necessary for me to dress up?" Lei Zhen complained, feeling it was unnecessary to dress in some other clothes for a mourning ceremony.

In his mind, as long as one is sincere in his mourning, then that was all it matters.

Who cares if you are dressed appropriately or nicely in a mourning ceremony?

"Of course, it's necessary, Lei Zhen," Kate said adamantly.

"You may deny your position, but in the eyes of many, you are already a respectful chancellor. Therefore, how can you be so casual on such an important day?"

And with that said, Kate grabbed some newly refined clothes just for Lei Zhen, almost as if she was ready to help him change.

"It's fine, I can dress it on my own." Lei Zhen said awkwardly, prompting Kate to blush and nodded her head.

"Right… you can go back to your room to dress. I'll meet you near the gate." Kate hurriedly said and dash out of her own office.

Seeing how fast she had run away, Lei Zhen twitched his mouth. 'Did she really need to act like some young girl and be embarrassed?'

Although he was a bit awkward about the interaction, he didn't really pay it to his mind since he thought she was just excited about him wearing some new clothes.

Shaking his head, Lei Zhen grabbed the clothes and returned to his guest room.

Sometime later, Lei Zhen met up with Kate at the gear with his new refined clothes.

"Wow, you look like a real nobleman now," Kate's eyes were sparkling as she admired Lei Zhen from head to toe. As for the previous embarrassment, she had long forgotten about it.

"Though your mask is kind of ruining it a bit." She added.

"It's better to keep my identity hidden for now," Lei Zhen replied, making an eye glance at Griselda who was already waiting at the sideline alongside Chris.

Tracing his sight, Kate understood he was still wary of Griselda even though she had earned a lot of merit in the war.

"I see…" Kate mumbled, waving her hand for a guard to come over.

"Yes, Princess Kate?" The guard came over and bowed his head.

"When will my father arrive?"

"King Francis Norton instructed that he will be there soon after the beginning speech and said Princess Kate should be the one to make the speech."

"Father won't make the beginning speech?" Kate raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Normally, the king would make the beginning speech for every national mourning ceremony to establish his position.

Yet Francis Norton was passing this duty on to her.

The guard kept silent, but secretly, he knew what the implication meant.

Besides setting Princess Kate as his next successor to the throne, there was no other reason why Francis Norton would tell Kate to do the beginning speech.

Kate was in a daze, so Lei Zhen dismissed the guard and instructed the other to get the carriage ready.

"I see you're still wearing a mask," Griselda said when they entered the carriage.

"Are you really that shy to show your real face?" She continued to ask.

"Tsk, him being shy? More like him being a shameless bastard." Chris crossed his arms and scoffed. He still hadn't forgiven Lei Zhen for forgetting about him.

Meanwhile, Griselda raised an eyebrow in surprise, "You've seen his face before?"

"Obviously, he was nothing but a-"

"Cough, what should we do in the mourning ceremony?"

Before Chris could finish words, Lei Zhen faked a cough and asked Kate about the process, subtly hinting to Chris to keep his mouth shut.

And although Chris was displeased with him, he knew better than to reveal someone's secret.

With the topic changed, Griselda was quickly left sitting at the corner of the carriage alone, her mind wandering around.

'Why is he being so secretive? It's not like I would devour him alive if I knew his real name and appearance.' She cursed inwardly.

Sometime later, the carriage stopped and upon opening the door, Lei Zhen could see a large crowd of people.

Some of them were crying while some were laying on the floor in a lifeless manner.

The mourning ceremony was a somber event held in the wake of a devastating war.

It was a time for the survivors to come together and remember those who had been lost, and honor the sacrifices of those who had fought and died for their cause.

And as Lei Zhen and Kate headed toward the stage, their emotion wavered a bit, especially Kate.

"None of these tragedies would have happened if it weren't for my two elder brothers," Kate mumbled, feeling depressed that the cause of this event was someone from her family.

"Although it's a tragedy, this can also be a new beginning. Where there are losses, there must be wins somewhere." Lei Zhen said, patting her back and reminding her to make her grand speech.

With that said, Kate walked forward where everyone else could see her figure and clothes that are all colored black as respect for the dead.

Seeing Kate standing in the center, the ceremony officially began with a moment of silence, during which the attendees paid their respects to the dead.

"Hello everyone, I'm Princess Kate and I wished to say that for the brave soldiers that fought in this war. We shall remember them for their bravery and honor in protecting Yors Castle." Kate started off with this in her speech and continued to discuss the events of the war.

Of course, she made sure to leave out details of the two princes' crimes.

The citizens also knew that they should keep silent about this matter as well since Kate comes from the royal family.

After Kate finished her opening speech. It was followed by a series of speeches, in which the speakers remembered the bravery and sacrifice of those who had died in the war.

At the same time, Lei Zhen was surprised to receive a title achievement.

Ding!

[You have obtained the title: Hero of the Siege]