During the night when Aria and Shin were tranquilly sleeping, the whole kingdom was lively.

The citizens walking around the streets talking about the newest rumours.

“Hey, did you hear about the Empress found her son?”

“Yeah, it was told that the Empress’s son is only a child, perhaps 11 or 12 years old.”

“What, that young? Hehe, perhaps he would like my youngest daughter.”

“Oy, don’t speak like that! What would you do if someone reported to the Empress?”

“Y-You really don’t think anyone would report me, do you??”

The citizens were in a heated discussion throughout the whole night on the streets and in the taverns.

Unfortunately, seven people got reported that night for badmouthing the Empress’s son. They got last seen dragged by the Empress’s guards.

While the citizens were doing that, the family houses were in a panic when they got the news about the upcoming banquet from the Empress’s own maids.

“Get me all the news you know about the Empress’s son, right now! Tell everyone to find the best gifts we got, even look in the treasure room if you must! Tell my daughters and sons to get ready for the banquet, tell them they are not allowed to speak any ill words about the Empress’s son!”

“What?! The Empress’s son has returned?! Tell everyone about the news in the family right now! Find out what the Empress’s son likes and dislikes before tomorrow! Tell all my children to dress up for tomorrow’s banquet!”

These talks were happening all over the kingdom, while preparing gifts, clothes and talks before the banquet.

The night fell and the sun rose from beyond the mountains.

Shin opened his eyes slowly, he tried to sit up straight before hearing a soft voice near his ears.

“Good morning, Shin. Did you sleep well?”

That comfortable voice, it put Shin’s mind at peace.

Shin slightly nodded.

“Mother”

Aria’s lips curved upwards as she enjoyed when Shin said ‘Mother’.

“Yes, son?”

“Can I take a bath?”

Shin tried to carefully ask his question, he felt his body was full of sweat.

“You don’t have to ask, let’s go right now. I will lead you there, but I have other things to do, so you can take your time there.”

When Shin heard that, his eyes trembled and his hand held Aria’s.

“What is it, Shin?”

Aria face twitched a little bit, trying to understand.

“I-Is the water deep? I-I don’t know how to swim.”

Shin tried his best to explain, while looking away. He has always been afraid of water since at a young age.

Aria knew that what Shin said wasn’t the full story, but she didn’t make him to talk about it. She hoped that he would tell her himself over time.

“I will tell Laura to accompany you to bath. You don’t have to be afraid of her, she has been my close maid since young age. She would never hurt you, alright?”

Shin nodded slightly while thanking Aria in his mind for having someone with him during the bath.

Aria held Shin’s hand and walked to the door, she opened it without making any noise. In front the door, the young maid, Laura stood there patiently waiting.

Shin looked at the maid carefully for the first time.

Her hair is beautiful.

Her black hair which went down to her shoulders were shining because of the light.

Shin ended up staring at the maid – Laura for a moment. Laura on the receiving end, smiled happily.

“Empress, young master, good morning.”

Laura bowed respectfully while staring at Shin in the corner of her eyes.

Aria saw Laura’s methods and nodded before speaking.

“Take Shin to the bath and accompany him.”

Aria said accompany in a stronger tone than the rest and looked at Laura in a way which meant: take care of him. While she spoke.

Laura understood what she meant and nodded before looking at Shin.

“Young master, if you would come with me.”

Laura gestured towards Shin, waiting for him.

Shin looked towards Laura’s actions and then peeked at Aria, he saw her faint smile. Shin breathed in and out before walking towards Laura.

Laura walked at Shin’s side and at a slow pace.

She saw in the corner of her eyes the anxious steps he was taking, the way he looked everywhere and his hands.

She saw his hands fiddling, a faint smile appeared on her face while looking at Shin.

“Young master”

Shin got slightly scared and his shoulders jumped.

“W-What is it?”

Shin looked down at his feet while walking.

“Do you want to hold my hand? It may put your mind at ease.”

Shin curiously looked at the maid Laura. His mouth opened a little, but no words came out.

Even if he couldn’t say anything, his hand already stretched out slightly towards Laura.

Laura on the other hand had her hand close, she didn’t grab his hand. She wanted him to do it himself, she didn’t want to frighten him.

I hope he will do it.

She patiently waited while Shin’s small trembling hand came closer to her hand.

It’s warm.

Shin felt a touch of warmth as his fingers touched hers. Shin closed his eyes as his body became warmer, he walked with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.

Laura smiled joyfully as she saw Shin’s feelings right through.

It has to be said, every feeling Shin is having, it is clearly shown on his face.

They walked leisurely, they passed several guards and maids. There were many which wanted to speak to their young master, but got stopped by Laura’s stare.

Most of them understood when they saw their young master had his eyes closed and a smile of happiness on his face.

Everyone which saw his angelic smile, would also smile in return and become glad.

As they slowly walked, it took over a minute before Laura spoke out.

“Young master, we have arrived.”

Laura informed Shin as they came close to the bathroom.

Shin opened his eyes and nodded.

They entered the changing room and Laura took off her clothes without thinking twice.

Shin’s cheeks turned pink as he saw Laura’s naked body, her skin was white and her chest was large, Shin hurriedly turned his head the other way.

“hehe, young master, are you shy?”

Laura softly laughed while teasing Shin.

Shin didn’t answer her but looked down to his feet. His cheeks were getting warmer and pinker.

Shin didn’t know what to do.

“Young master, it’s time for you to undress, we will be taking a bath together.”

Shin softly nodded while slowly taking off his robe.

When the robe fell on the floor, Laura picked it up, folded it and placed it on the table.

Shin looked down while following Laura into the bath.

When he entered, a hot stream gushed on his body. He looked up and his eyes widened.

The bath was large! It looked like an artificial lake.

Shin’s body trembled slightly when he saw all the warm water. He stepped closer to Laura and held her hand with a little bit of force.

Laura walked closer to the artificial lake, she clearly understood that Shin was afraid. So, she stepped in the water first while holding Shin on the edge of the water. She smiled while looking at him.

“Young master, do you want to enter with me?”

Shin looked at her smile and went in a daze for a couple of seconds.

He slowly raised his foot and dipped his toes in the water, his eyes were closed firmly.

When his toes touched the warm water, he let out a shriek and pulled his toes out.

Shin’s body shivered while tears started to emerge from the corner of his eyes.

“Young master?! Are you alright, is the water hot?”

Laura didn’t know what was wrong, she knew he was afraid of something but she wasn’t sure of what.

Shin calmed down after a few seconds while looking at the maid – Laura again. He tried put his toes in the water again without pulling it out. The water was warm, but not unbearable.

He slowly dropped his body in the water while holding Laura’s hand. His body shivered when he felt the warm water on his body.

Laura and Shin walked a little deeper in the water, till the water reached Shin’s upper body.

Shin had his eyes closed the entire time, but they were trembling fiercely.

Laura tried to do everything slowly, she didn’t want to rush anything!

Should I ask him?

After a couple of minutes, Shin’s shivering became weaker and he opened his eyes.

Sigh.

He let out a sigh as he felt somewhat safer than before.

“Young master?”

Laura probed as she saw him getting calmer.

“Y-Yes?”

Shin’s voice was still very weak.

“If, if I may ask about something.”

Laura didn’t need to say anything more, Shin understood what she was wanted to ask about.

Shin wanted to speak, but his mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out.

Tears started to form in his eyes.

“T-T-They”

A weak voice filled with gloom came out from his mouth.

Laura’s heart pained when she heard his voice, she regretted asking.

Stupid! Why did I ask!?

“They b-boiled water”

Shin’s body and voice shivered while he tried to continue talking.

Laura could most likely fill in the rest without needing him to say. Her heart felt like cracking, she felt anger and rage boiling up her whole body.

“and threw it on me.”

Laura’s mind went blank when he said the last words.

Her body trembled with anger!

Bastards!

Her blood was boiling up! She wanted to slaughter every single person who hurt her young master!

Even if she thoughts of those murderous thoughts, she wouldn’t let Shin see it on her face or aura.

Laura softly hugged Shin while carefully stroking the back of his head.

Shin quietly leaned on Laura’s body while trying to calm down.

Laura washed him slowly and carefully. Her fingers touched all the scars again. Every time she did so, her fingers stopped for a moment.

After half an hour, Laura finished cleaning his body with water and soap.

“Do you feel clean now?”

Laura forced a faint smile on her face as she looked dearly at Shin.

Shin was still looking downwards, but he shakily nodded.

Laura led Shin out of the bath and they walked into the changing room again. She picked up a towel and devotedly dried Shin, she didn’t want to damage his white skin any more than it has been.

Laura wore her maid outfit before looking at Shin.

“Young master, what do you want to wear for the banquet today?”

Shin looked at Laura for a moment before speaking.

“I don’t know, I have never been to a banquet before. Can you pick something for me?”

Shin gazed at Laura, as he hoped that she could help him.

“Hehe. Young master, don’t worry, I will pick something great for you!”

Laura turned and left the changing room, to bring clothes.

Shin looked down, then upwards. His eyes became a little determined.

Shin’s eyes were determined, he went through the memories of the past day when he was with his mother. He let out a bright smile as nothing else mattered in this world.

It doesn’t matter wherever I am. As long as I’m with mother.

Not a minute passed by before Laura returned.

“Young master, I brought it! Hehe”

Laura excitedly walked in the changing room with a robe in her hands.

When Shin saw it, his eyes widened a bit.

The robe was light purple coloured, it had designs on it with a darker purple thread. It had an aura when the light shined on it.

It looked like it was worth a mountain of treasure!

Shin touched the robe, it was soft to the point it didn’t feel like clothes.

“Hehe, young master, do you like it?”

Shin nodded quite a few times while his eyes were glued on the robe.

“Well, I will be putting it on you. Just stay still, okay young master?”

Laura stiffly walked behind Shin, her eyes were twitching when she gazed on Shin’s body.

Breath in, breath out…

Laura tried to carefully breath heavily without letting Shin notice it.

She touched Shin’s back softly.

Feeling every deep scar.

Feeling the pain that has been dealt on the body.

Feeling the emotions of misery and despair.

A single tear ran down from Laura’s eye.

Laura quickly used a finger to wipe it off and dressed Shin up.

“Young master, I will be taking you to the Empress now.”

Even so, Laura’s voice was slightly trembling.

Shin held Laura’s hand gently while walking with her.

“Laura?”

“Yes?”

“Is there anything I can do for you, young master?”

Laura quickly replied after being in a shock. As throughout every meeting they had, Shin had never taken initiative to ask questions without her leading the conversation.

“Why do you call mother, ‘Empress’?”

Shin asked the one question he has been wondering about lately. He could tell that his mother had a great social standing, but he didn’t know anything more than that.

Laura stopped up for a second, looking at Shin, before understanding that Shin didn’t know anything about the place they are in, nor Aria’s standing in the society.

Laura nodded her head before explaining.

“Well, before I can explain that, I will have to tell you a little about where we are.”

“We are currently in the Alizad Kingdom, currently the biggest and wealthiest kingdom of the five on this continent. In the Alizad Kingdom, there exists 9 Guardian Family Houses, they exist to protect the Royal Family.”

“And the Royal Family’s name is: von Meria.”

“Your mother, the Empress, Aria von Meria was the last bloodline of the von Meria family, she serves as the Queen of the Alizad Kingdom.”

“But, now it’s different.”

Laura carefully looked at Shin before continuing her explanation.

“You, the Empress’s son has returned. You are the only descendant of the von Meria family after the Empress.”

Shin listened at Laura’s explanation, word for word. He walked absentminded while holding Laura’s hand. Without knowing of it himself, he squeezed a little harder.

Mother is a Queen?…

Shin looked down with a worried face.

A banquet… For mother, I can’t make any mistakes.

Shin nervously thought of how to act during the banquet.

Before he could ask Laura for a few tips, they came close to a door, which the maids on standby opened.

“Young master, please enter.”

Laura stopped and looked towards the bedroom of Shin and Aria.

Shin walked slowly in the bedroom, while Laura watched his back and sensed his loneliness.

“Son, how was your bath?”

“It was fine, mother.”

Shin walked in the bedroom while speaking with Aria.

When he entered and saw Aria, he looked at Aria in shock.

“Son, what is it?”

Shin’s footsteps stopped and Aria looked up in wonder.

Aria wore a purple dress, the same colour as Shin’s robe. But, Aria’s dress went down to her knees, it had dark purple strings which showed a gothic design, on her legs she wore black stockings.

It easily showed Aria’s well-formed legs and body.

Beautiful.

It was all that Shin could think of.