The people below the stage saw this scene, and for a moment, no one could react.
No one had expected the Assassin to die so easily.
After a brief silence, the scene descended into chaos. Amid wave after wave of screams, soldiers from the Royal Guards rushed onto the platform.
The cabinet members and House of Lords nobles either instinctively sought cover or gathered their courage to follow the guards and inspect the scene.
Audrey watched in a slight daze, feeling that everything had happened so suddenly, so unreal.
She had long guessed that something major might happen during the king's speech, but she had never expected Mr. Devil to make such a drastic move. She did not believe Mr. Devil would simply die like this, yet the mind island that had completely collapsed kept battering her confidence.
Soon, a figure whom many present knew very well, yet found utterly astonishing, appeared on the platform where the king had fallen. He wore formal court attire and carried an air of iron and blood. Reaching out to grasp the microphone, he said:
"Citizens, I am the Third Prince of the Loen Kingdom, Edsac Augustus. Now, I must announce some grievous news. At 9:27 a.m. on December 3rd, 1350, our king, George Augustus III, was assassinated during his speech at Memorial Square and succumbed to his injuries. The assassin has been shot dead on the spot. Next, the cabinet will temporarily take charge of war-related affairs. We will release our food reserves to stabilize food prices, establish relief agencies throughout the country to provide basic living assistance, and punish unscrupulous merchants who profiteer from the war and drive up food prices. Although we have lost a king, please believe..."
Prince Edsac, who should have committed suicide for disgraceful reasons such as "keeping