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If only I had known that locking my door would have secured our privacy, I would have done so before this man could appear before me.

Ofcourse, there'll be a lot of nobles who'll try to keep me in check as the crown prince, since some of them is in favor of my ever beloved brother, Klydeur.

"I hope I didn't disturb your highness, the prince, and the young lady from their study." A man around his 30's stood tall infront of us, an annoying smile plastered on his face.

Ha. Where are my maids outside anyways? How could they let this noble enter my room with no permission from me no less?

"No, not at all, sir." I politely replied through gritted teeth. I tried so hard not to look inferior, but not like it can cover my annoyance.

Eldest didn't bother hiding her true reactions as she scoffed at the man. "Sir Duke of Lethilde. What important matter do you have to even have the guts to barge inside the prince's room without prior audience nor permission?"

The man, Duke Lethilde, bowed down his head. "Apologies, young lady. But I must ask you to leave us for a moment. I have an important matter to inform the young prince." I won't lie, but chills went down my spine when I saw him smirk. "."

Glancing towards Eldest, I gave her a knowing look, telephatically telling her not to leave me. Thankfully, she glanced back and nodded, which she understood. Looking back at the Duke, Eldest stood up.

"Apologies to you, Duke Lethilde. But the prince is tight on his schedule, and learn how to ask for a proper audience next time." She blankly stated before escorting the Duke towards the door to exit.

"But—"

"Oh, I forgot," Eldest managed to cut his words. "There will be next time. And I feel rather generous to not inform the Empress about this ludicrous attitude you have shown towards the crown prince."

The Duke stood stiff before sighing in defeat, leaving the room on his own before Eldest closed the door, the clack sound echoed inside the silent room as she locked the door.

I never knew a Duke would be this confident to just waltz in inside my room. Even the Marquess of Marveil had shown little respect, but this Duke of Lethilde is just all greet and that. He'll be one of my targets one day.

Eldest then whirled her head towards me and grinned. "Now prince. What can I get in return?"

I blinked my eyes, confused for a moment. "What do you mean? Shouldn't we go back to studying—"

"That can wait," she waved a hand to dismiss my suggestion. "I need my reward. Didn't I do good in keeping the annoying Duke away from you, just like how you wanted me to?"

With a frown, I crossed an arm. "I did gave you a please-help-me look. But I never realized that the Great Eldest would actually want a payback for such a simple thing." I acted as if I was dissapointed at her, making her stare at me blankly.

She grimaced. "Nevermind. I'll take my reward someday." And so she went back to the couch and we continued studying like nothing happened. But who knows.

I have a lot of questions in my mind today. About the Empress without an Emperor, the Ahrams, the war, and even the nobles who kept on pestering my peaceful childhood.

"Eldest, I have a question."

"You always do."

Ignoring her remark, I showed her the history books about the Imperial family. In which shows the Emperors of the Vermillion Empire together with their Empresses and Royal Concubines.

"Does the Empress have an Emperor?"

She squinted her eyes at me. "The Empress? You didn't call her majesty as with a loving voice like you always do?"

Blinking my eyes, I tried to hide my flustered face. "I-I mean, yes I do call her that but—"

"Nevermind," she nonchalantly cut off my words with a frown. "So you're wondering where the Emperor is?"

I nodded my head in response, covering my face due to embarassment of being known as a mama's boy. Damn, all this humiliation just to survive.

She leaned her back on the couch. "He's dead."

Silence. I was at a loss for a moment.

I mean, I already had a hunch that the Emperor is dead, which I can consider as my father. But I never knew it was true! If that's the case, shouldn't there be a new Emperor? Or maybe have the Empress be crowned as the Emperor instead?

"You might be thinking about the Empress being an Emperor." Eldest managed to voice out what I thought in mind. "I think that should be also the case. But no. The Empress can't be crowned the Emperor of Vermilion."

"Huh? But why? Isn't she the only daughter of the previous Emperor?" I stood up from my seat, surprised. "Is it because of the nobles again?"

She shook his head. "It's because she's actually an illegitimate child of the former Emperor from his exiled former Royal Concubine."

Silence again. I closed my eyes as I try to understand all of this new informations. So the Empress did have an Emperor, but he died. Then she can't be crowned as the Emperor because she's an illegitimate child of the former Emperor and not the legitimate child?

That means the Emperor have other children? But who?! And does that mean my hunch before is right?

If you don't remember, Jamie first introduced the Empress to me at chapter 2. It could be fake news if Eldest here is telling me a different side of the story. While Klydeur and I discussed about it as well at chapter 5.

"Wait. Does that mean mama's father is her Em—"

"No!" Eldest histerically yelled as she closed her eyes. "I should have explained better. Her majesty's father is the Emperor before her husband, who is soon to be an Emperor."

"Oh," was my only response as I try to buffer everything on my mind again. So the Emperor did have a son and not just Aureus. "Then, I still don't get it. What was the Emperor's position as a noble before?"

Eldest ducked her head on the table. "I really hate your family. They're all so complicated than math."

Well, I do too! I just need more information to survive from my execution soon!

"Well, ofcourse he is the crown prince. And your mother is his half-sister so—"

I lost sense of hearing as my eyes widen in shock. What the hell!?! I thought it wasn't the case but maybe it was real!

My parents are incest!?!

"Hey hey, what the hell are you thinking about?!" She glanced up to me with a frown, fighting the urge to hit me with the book. "I really hate explaining but I guess I suck at it for you to have so many misunderstanding."

"Then why don't you explain it properly?" I asked, irritated.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Listen, okay? Jusy listen and don't interrupt." Taking a deep breath, she sat straight before crossing her legs. "Your mother and father are half-siblings from the Imperial family. They played the role of Emperor and Empress of the Vermilion Empire. But here's the twist; One of them is infertile."

Before I could even say anything, she gave me a piercing gaze and I remembered that I'm not allowed to say anything. But aren't I the crown prince? Why am I being under her anyways?

"You probably know who it is. The Emperor. And since he can't have kids, he let the Empress have children from another man, and he'll take them as his own."

I nodded my head. With a clear and calm mind, I can actually remember everything that she tells me.

"And so, the Empress had a harem of her own concubines. They also changed the news about the Emperor's well-being. Instead of being infertile, they made it look like he isn't interested to bear children with the Empress. Ofcourse, they cannot take the risk of every nobles knowing the truth."

So it's clear that my mother and the Emperor didn't have children from one another. So the Emperor isn't my father all along, which means my hunch and my vague memories is right.

"The Empress was still young back then when she got married to the Emperor. And more so, at that same age she also had to fulfill her duty of giving birth to successors. So she had to choose which among her concubines shall bear a child with her."

Wait, I'm sure I know that part months ago. What was it again?

Ah, that! The Empress, Aureus, became the Empress at the age of 16. Then she got married at 18. I think she married the Emperor at the age of 16 when she became the Empress. This was on chapter 9, by the way.

And maybe she married the chosen one among her Royal concubines, which is probably my father, at the age of 18. But did the Emperor approved of it? Maybe the marriage is just signing documents and saying that they're married for the sake of having successors.

"She managed to find the perfent man to bear her children. And ofcourse, it is your father. A silver-haired noble from the family of Count Latiz who became the chosen Royal concubine. I can say that he was a living replica of your younger brother. They look very alike."

So that's why the Empress liked Klydeur from my glimpses before. But what now? Why like me all of a sudden?

"And so at the age of 20, she got pregnant and had you and your brother. The Emperor was also busy signing documents for the future event and problems that may arise about his succesors. He has also gone frail and weak due to a disease, so he made sure everything was already planned out. And to make sure of it, he ordered your father for an alliance with the Caners."

I remember that part very well. Never thought that Eldest knew almost everything about it, even tho I didn't see her in my glimpses before.

Now this is a legit information.

If you ever wonder about our Imperial family's complicated background again, just be sure you're here at chapter 22. We already have the summarized story in courtesy of Eldest.

"That's where and how your father died, the same time you and your brother were born to this world, and same time where the Emperor was rendered comatosed."

Now that must have really taken a toll in Aureus' mental state. And for the Emperor? "C-comatosed?" I covered my mouth as she frowned at me. "Sorry. Continue then."

Eldest sighed. "And so, the Empress stayed as an Empress. Everyone else knew about the Emperor's illness. Until he passed away, but it was still kept hidden, and up until today, everyone thinks that the Emperor is still just comatosed."

I held my chin, with a train of thoughts stucked in my mind. Eldest is right, our family is indeed complicated. Way worse than math!

The history books Jamie read to me must have been all a lie! It even said there that the Empress is an only daughter of the Emperor and had no difficulty in usurping the throne, but what now?

She can't even become the Emperor after the Emperor passed away and had that fact kept hidden. Once the nobles learns that he is long dead and she faked the fact that he's comatosed, it might bring ruins to the Imperial family.

And from that dream of mine before. The silver-white haired man must be indeed my father. It seems like the Empress did loved him more than she did to the Emperor. And our father cherished her the same way.

I suddenly felt sad, my chest felt heavy as I closed my eyes. Why do I suddenly feel sad for the Empress? She'll kill me the moment I turn into an adult! Now that I think about it, I had little resemblance to the Emperor. Is that why she hated me in my glimpses before?

What changed her now then? She should favor Klydeur right? Since he looks alike to our father and I look like the demon she described me to be!

"Clydeur." I flinched, opening my eyes. Eldest sighed as she stood up from the couch.

"Oh, s-sorry. I-I spaced out and—" I paused as I was engulfed into a hug. A warm and comforting embrace, different from the suffocating hug of some certain young lady I met before.

She didn't look like she wanted to give me a hug, obviously since she's frowning, but she still did. "You're probably confused now. A 6 year old kid like you shouldn't be having a conversation like this." Eldest sighed. "Sorry. I should have told you when you grew a bit older."

I closed my eyes. "I asked for it anyways. The more I know while I'm young, the more I'll be ready when I grow up." Opening my eyes, I stared at the Emperor's picture on the book laid down on the table. My silver eyes glowed.

"I'm the crown prince afterall."

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