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The Empress managed to finish her meeting with the nobles, and the war also came to an end.

To ensure the safety of the empire, the Empress decided to dispose of all the Arhams by using them as a decoy against the Caners. And it did worked! In the end, the result ended up as the Vermillion Empire winning the war. The Caners are definitely in ruins by now.

So far, Eldest and I had a change of pace in studies. She made me focus on memorizing every nobles in the Empire, before learning the political affairs from neighboring countries.

For a 6 year old kid, it was torture. If I didn't even bother telling the Empress about it, I wouldn't have survived.

"Let him choose what he wants to study," The Empress once told Eldest, with me hiding behind to avoid Eldest's glare. "He is still a child, let another year or more to pass before learning trivial matters."

I stick out my tongue towards Eldest, making her look annoyed as she sighed in defeat. "What other choice do I even have? Truly a wonderful mama's boy."

And that comment made me frown as she grinned triumphantly.

In the end, I managed to survive. Klydeur was also quite busy but he wasn't as depressed as me since his lessons aren't as hard as mine. Ofcourse, with his tutor that he calls Ashy, he is always with her so I didn't have much time to see him.

Not like I'm sad about it. It's great. I really didn't like his presence to begin with. Other nobles also started visiting the palace more often, some to make an excuse of greeting me or the Empress, while some are straight-foward with their intentions.

I had no other choice but to accept their request for an audience. Some even brought their daughters or sons for me to meet and befriend. Thankfully, Eldest is always there and Jamie still diligently did her job as my nanny.

And so 4 years passed.

"Your highness!"

I sat on the fountain in our garden as I skimmed through the book's pages. I was already on the list of all the Marquess of the Empire when I recognized the voice that called out to me.

Glancing behind, there I saw three of my nannies running towards my direction. On the lead is Jamie, and behind her is Mia and Ria.

"Your highness, the Count and his daughters are waiting for you at the audience room." Jamie informed with a smile.

I sighed, brushing up my bangs. "Is it time already?"

Mia and Ria nodded their heads. "Shall we help you change into a formal attire?"

Standing up, I gave them a smile. "Ofcourse. I need to look formal, can't I?"

They smiled at me before escorting me back to my room. I laid down the book I was reading as they started helping me in changing my clothes. It looked decent and formal enough, and I just let my hair the way it is.

"Our prince is really handsome~" Mia squealed as she helped me fix my tie. "Soon you'll be the most charming prince from the whole Empire!"

"Correction: the whole world." Ria corrected as she smiled proudly. "Our prince is the most handsome, no one can be compared to him."

Jamie nodded her head. "Indeed. Our prince is absolutely handsome."

I tried to maintain my composure, so as not to get embarassed to their continuous compliments. Unlike the Empress who might have replied that she knew she's pretty, I'm not one who boasts about my appearance.

"What about Klydeur?" I asked to change the topic. "We are twins, afterall."

Mia nodded. "He is also handsome. But our crown prince is more handsome ofcourse!"

I chuckled. My nannies are really loyal to me, and I'm lucky to have them. Three loyal nannies are enough, rather than having more maids who talk shit about me in my back as they wag their tails on Klydeur.

They really have the confidence that the Crown prince position can be transferred to Klydeur even tho it's obvious that it would be me. Even the Empress said so! But again, I'm not putting my hopes up.

This power I hold is only temporary for as long as Klydeur is still a living threat.

When I'm already finished and prepared, Jamie escorted me towards the audience room while Mia and Ria did their other duties.

"Is the Count the one who my mother met at the trading affairs?" I asked Jamie as I walk down the hallway. "Count Benedict."

"Yes, your highness," Jamie replied. "He is also with his three daughters. Do you perhaps remember their names?"

I nodded. "Ofcourse. I had them memorized beforehand."

And they have such bizarre names, I almost forgot their names if only I had low memorization skills. Thanks to Eldest for teaching me strictly by the way.

As soon as we reached the door to the audience room, the guards standing bowed down to me.

"Greetings to the crown prince. The heir of the Vermillion Empire."

I nodded at them and so they opened the door.

"His highness, Prince Clydeur, is now entering."

As soon as my entrance is announced, I stepped a foot inside and walked in, with Jamie politely following behind me. Inside, I saw the familiar chairs and table with sweets and warm tea.

The Count and his daughters stood up as they all bowed down to me, before greeting in unison. "May time make haste to the heir of Vermillion. Our beloved crown prince, the Empire's next sun and ruler."

"Greetings, Count Tadgh Benedict, and young ladies." I greeted back. Jamie pulled the chair for me, so I smiled as thanks before taking my seat. "You may seat."

And so they all sat down, feeling the tension around the room. The young ladies, who I presume to be younger than me, all looked nervous but still maintained their smiles and proper posture.

The Count smiled brightly as he touched his mustache. "It's been a long while since the last time I saw you, my prince. You were small as a bug before."

Jamie flinched at the description of me being a bug as she pour me a warm tea, but I couldn't care less about it. Picking up the cup, I took a sip before putting it down. "Indeed, sir. And it's the first time to see you and your daughters."

The young ladies' faces became flustered, not knowing wether to say something or not. The Count cleared his throat. "Pardon me, my prince. My daughters are quite shy. Let me introduce them to you-"

"The eldest with the age of 9, Lady Penelope. The second eldest with the age of 7, Lady Cristine. The youngest with the age of 6, Lady Wilhelmina." I stated as I cut off the Count's words. My silver eyes glanced at her daughters one by one, before looking at the Count. "Indeed, you have shy daughters."

Silence. The young ladies seems to lost their appetite as they hid their hands under the table. The Count didn't seem to like the tension, so he tried to lighten the mood.

"Aha! As expected of our young prince! He is indeed a genius like the " He laughed joyfully, his daughters forced a smile to ease up the mood as well.

I took a sip from my cup of tea to avoid cracking a smile at his empty compliment. The way he emphasized both the Emperor and Empress tells me that he has something to ask of me.

"So, your highness. May I ask how the Emperor is doing?"

Bulls eye.

Putting down the cup, I stared at the Count before smiling. "The Emperor is still not feeling well. He's been comatosed for a long time, so we don't exactly know wether he is healthy or his health is," I paused. "Deteriorating."

His eyes twitched, lips almost tugged upward, his shoulder blades shook as he put a hand on his mustache. "That is quite troubling, my prince."

"Yes. It troubling." I replied, leaning my back on the chair. "Now I hope the Count is here with something important to tell me rather than asking for the Emperor's supposed to be private well-being."

He flinched at the words I spoke which is seemingly not befitting for a 10 year old kid. But who is he kidding? Age is just a number when it comes to Imperial power and knowledge. And truth be told, I'm older in the inside.

"N-not at all, my prince." The Count managed to reply with an awkward smile. "Ofcourse, I shouldn't try get information that is classified to be private. But you must not hide the Emperor's well-being to the whole empire. He is the father of this nation-"

"Do I have to repeat myself?" I cut him off as I rested my elbow on the table, my chin rested on my palm. "If you want to know more about his majesty, the Emperor, then shouldn't you request an audience to the Empress instead of me?"

"How could I?" He shook his head quickly. "I think you misunderstood, your highness. I'm actually here to introduce my daughters, who can also be qualified to be your future fiance."

As much as I wanted to question him about saying I misunderstood, I let it pass as he was quick to change the topic from the Emperor and fiance.

I closed my eyes. "Is that so? Are your daughters worthy of being the crown princess?"

The question seems to struck him and his pride. "Ofcourse! My daughters are worthy! They studied at such a tender age and are wise enough to stand as your crown princess. You may choose one to your liking for a candidate."

"Knowledge. Power. Wealth. Etiquette. Trade Affairs." I raised 5 of my fingers. "Do they have those?"

He looked pleased as he thinks maybe one of his daughters is classified. "Certainly, my prince!"

"Well, ofcourse, that's to be expected from a Count the Empress had met during the trading affairs several years ago." I nonchalantly told him before taking a bite from the pie.

"You flatter me, your highness."

"But," I put my fork down before smiling at him. "I'm wondering what you were trading that day."

He flinched. "U-uh, well ofcourse they are products from a foreign country. My wife liked their perfume products."

I tapped my fingers on the table, glancing towards Jamie. She gave me a nod before leaving the audience room. The sound of the door closing echoed inside as silence greeted us all.

"Perfume products?" I asked, glancing at him again. "From what I heard, you also got a limited brand of tea."

"Yes?" The Count made a confused look, before nodding his head as fast as he could. "Oh yes! Yes! It was a tea known for its fragrance and unique taste from the South. I actually had one with me, please accept it as a token of my gratitude to the Imperial family."

He pulled out a box where sachets of the said tea is organized. Tearing one, he started brewing the tea before pouring one into my empty cup.

I stared at the cup of tea, chills run down my spine at the thought of it being poisoned. What is taking them so long? Eldest! Jamie!

"Is there something wrong?" Glancing at him again, I noticed his eyes twitched as his lips tugged into a sly smile. His daughters watched me with a wide smile.

"Drink well, my prince."

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