I blinked my eyes multiple times as I tried to process what is happening in my mind.

According to some of my glimpses of the past, I met my mom when it was my 8th Birthday. She happened to pass by the palace where I live, and there it started.

Now, did I do something wrong to change how things are supposed to happen?

"Not much of a talker?" The female had a grimace on her face as she tilted her head to the side, eyes closed, the fringes of her bangs almost covered her eyes. "This is boring. I should have not come here then."

Wait, what..?

"S-sorry, Clydeur was surprised," I lied, forcing a smile at her. "How did you come here?"

"Through the door," she answered flatly. I mentally frowned at her response.

I tried my best not to throw a pillow at her. Ofcourse, it was her. The Empress. If I did, my execution might even happen today.

There was a brief moment of silence. She was just sitting on the edge of my huge window, staring at me. While here I am, like a poor prey being stared at by a predator.

"What's your name again?" I almost flinched when I heard her talk again. "Clydeur is it? What a name."

Oh really? But you're the one who named me that. So stupid.

"Hehe." I had nothing to reply, and so I just giggled like an innocent kid who knows nothing about a thing she's talking about.

Anyways, where's Jamie? I really need her right now.

The Empress stood up as she went towards my direction. I lowered my head as I held on my blanket tight. Is she going to kill me? Strangle me to death? Stab me? Poison me? Or assasinate-

Wait..

Wait a minute..

The Empress grinned as she seems to see my surprised expression. She carried me with one hand and went out of the room.

What the..?

And I thank the heavens, Jamie has appeared!

She had this surprised look on her face as she quickly bowed, both hands on her skirt. "May time make haste to the Vermillion Empire."

"Jamie William, is it?"

My loyal nanny nodded her head. "Yes, your majesty."

"I shall take him with me," The Empress stared at me, her silver eyes made me cry for my life. "There's a lot of questions running in my head."

"You may, your majesty.. but not in that way of carrying his highness."

Empress Aureus Lillith Xi Vermillion raised a brow. "Really? How should I carry him?" She raised me up and I almost cursed at her.

"Y-your majesty, you are carrying his highness like a pet," Jamie told her slowly, afraid to anger my mother. "Instead, try to carry him like this."

Jamie held me in her arms as she carried me, way way way more comfortable than Aureus did!

Aureus the Empress doesn't deserve my respect!

"Now, your majesty-"

Before she can give me to my demise, I quickly protested. "I want nanny to carry me!"

A moment of silence blew upon us as I felt an unexplainable tension. "O-oh, I'm flustered, your highness." Jamie replied. "It is an honor."

But just when I thought the tension had already blown, another voice interrupted the scene. My eyes widen as I whirled my head towards him.

"Nanny? Hyung?" Klydeur looked clueless, as he looked at me, then to Jamie, then to Aureus. "Who is she?"

Oh my word! He really is clueless!

The Empress' eyes turned into slits as he glanced towards Klydeur. "And who are you?"

Her cold voice must have made him flinch. "I-I'm Klydeur Aurarius Xi Vermillion."

I looked at her, and she just stared at him. "You still haven't answered Klyde's question, miss." My brother smiled, a very blinding smile that can make anyone pinch his cheeks.

My eyed almost bulge out of my eye sockets as I saw how the Empress grinned at him. No, no, no! This is it! I'm gonna die! She likes him now and I'm being ignored, my life will be thesame as it is! She'll have me executed and have Klydeur as her favorite son-

Jamie stood frozen as she carried me. My silver eyes stared at Klydeur who seems to be confused. Even I am confused at her blunt response. Looking back to Aureus, gone now is the grin replaced with an emotionless expression.

"Just who are you to make me answer your petty question?" Klydeur looked down, lips quivered as he mumbled a sorry, which she seems to hear. "Hm? What is it?"

"K-Klydeur's sorry."

"What?"

I almost scowled at them. Why is this Empress making life miserable to innocent kids?

"I'm sorry." Klydeur says as he bowed down. Jamie was still shocked at the scene as she didn't had the courage to speak.

The Empress turned back at him.

Staring at my brother, other maids went towards him as they bowed down to the Empress to give respect.

"Now," Jamie and I both looked at Aureus at thesame time. "Let me have him."

I quickly held tight at Jamie as I protested. "No thanks, I'm safe here-"

Jamie nervously chuckled as she looked at me, as if she's telling me to go on. I had no other choice but to let her carry me and atleast, she's carrying me better than earlier.

I can sense the other maids staring at me with both disgust and despise. As if I heard them say, "Clydeur is so mean. To have him liked better by the Empress than the cute angelic Klydeur."

But with one glance from my mother, they quickly left as they spoiled Klydeur to brighten his mood.

Behold, the great comparison of me and my brother right now.

I'd like to be killed again than have this mother of mine carry me around as if we had a mother and son moments a lot of time.

Why did she even visited me in the first place? Why not visit Klydeur instead? Afterall, he was her favorite son and I am the spitting image of a demon, she says.

"The sunset is near." She says, making me snap out of my thoughts. "You're too young to have deep thoughts."

I forced a smile. "Clydeur's just..." If Jamie is only here, she could help me think of a lie to save myself from her interrogations! Until an idea striked me. I looked at her with a smile.

"Clydeur is happy that mama is here!"

She stopped walking, making me shut my mouth pretty quick.

Please don't tell me she wants to kill me now. She won't, right? Jamie why did you leave me, I'm gonna get killed by this-

"Hm, what is it again?"

Seriously?

The inner me breathed hard, as I spat those words again.

"Clydeur is happy that Mama is here!" I smiled again, and I felt the angelic vibes around me. The sky is getting darker as she started walking again, and there we reached the garden.

This is our favorite spot, don't we?

"Mama, huh?" Her voice was kind of lower than I expected it to be. She must be indeed a very serious Empress. "Just at one glance, you already called me mama."

My silver eyes stared at her serious silver eyes. "But you're really my mama. Clydeur also have silver eyes just like you mama!"

She didn't respond as she looked at the sky. How dare she ignore me.

"Look," she raised her finger up, and I looked up as well. I gawked at the thing above me, as my mother placed me on the bench.

Is this the epitome of cuteness?