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I guess my hunch was right.

Not totally right, but still, it was an unfortunate decision, really. The Empress blinked her eyes, staring down at me as I tried to maintain a shivering smile in my face. She then parted her lips and a depressing word escaped. "I do not allow it."

"But mama, we are required to participate." I argued, trying not to be annoying but still be persuasive. "The Imperial Family has done it every single year. The hunting event may be dangerous, but there is nothing to worry about!"

I'm just currently trying to persuade Aureus in allowing me and Klydeur to participate at the said occassion of hunting. The moment I told her about it earlier, she narrowed her eyes at me and immediately said a solid without even asking why and how I knew about it.

And now I've been trying to persuade her or else Klydeur will be sad. He was even excited about it last time!

"The occassion isn't important to begin with." The Empress said, making me almost drop my jaw at the floor of her throne room. "If you only want to attend due to formalities, then rest assured, I will handle it."

"Ah, but mama, I really want to go!" I insisted, blinking my puppy-like eyes, pleading as if I'm begging for my life. "Klydeur and I are really interested to participate! We were even excited about it! Pleaseeee~?"

Her reaction didn't escape my observant eyes. As soon as I acted cute and continued to persuade her, she flinched as her eyebrows twitched in confusion. The Empress must be clueless to my sudden personality, but I thought she would be already used to my cute self?

Even I am embarassed! But I have to!

Aureus sighed as I continued pleading, blinking my eyes cutely like a mama's boy. "What is so fun in participating in such an exasperating event?" She asked while closing her eyes.

"It's not that tiresome at all, mama! Besides, you're just going to watch us take our hunts!" I stated, beaming a smile at her when she opened her eyes to look at me.

She then opened her eyes, but still narrowed while staring at me. "I doubt a mere 10 year old prince can hunt alone. If anything were to happen, I might become the cause of animal extinction."

I tried not to quiver at her rather malicious comment. Cause of animal extinction? Is she saying she's going to kill those innocent animals if something goes wrong!?

"Don't worry mama! Klydeur and I have our guardians, so we'll be safe. Pleaaasee? I promise I'll hunt the best animal there is!"

Not totally a promise, since I have no idea wether I'll be able to hunt one or none at all like she said. But whatever, I'll just have to do my best. And it's true that my guardian can help me as well, which will make it easier for me to participate.

"Alright."

I dramatically sighed. "Really, mama, you're so hard to-" when I realized what she just said, my eyes shot wide as I slowly glanced up to her. "-did you just say yes?"

She then narrowed her eyes at me once again, confused at my behaviour as I almost slapped my mouth shut. "Uh, I mean-thank you mama! Your the best! Ehehe."

"You are rather odd today." The Empress commented bluntly, but that didn't hurt my ego at one point. All that matters is she gave us the permission to participate.

And so, the problem is solved.

"The hunting event is just around the corner, your highness." Jamie, my ever loyal nanny, informed me as she prepared me my snacks. "I heard her majesty will be present."

I nodded my head excitedly. "Yep! I managed to persuade her and she allowed us to participate."

"That's good to hear, your highness." Jamie smiled brightly at me. "Have you decided on who to gift your hunt, my prince?"

The question then lingered in my mind, which made me think deeply. Ofcourse, how could I forget about that? If I participate in the hunt, I should have a lady in mind to give my hunt as a gift.

I'm not particularly close with the other noble kids at all. Aside from memorizing their names, I no longer have access to their own personal and private lives. If anything, Klydeur is the one who befriended most of them before!

The only ones that I know of is, ofcourse, Eldest.

And then there is Lady Mia Marveil and Lady Beatrice Roa Lethilde. But I don't think I'm close enough with them to the point of gifting them my hunt.

If I were to give a gift to Eldest, I'm not certain on how she'll react to it. Would she boast with confidence? Or will she get all flustered again?

But if I give it to Lady Mia-uh, well, I don't think she likes me anymore. If anything, she might not accept it and that will be a big slap of humiliation for me.

And if it's Lady Beatrice, I don't see any reason why I would choose her. We just met once at that time when we first had our tea party with Klydeur and the Empress.

But I guess she's the only decent one to not cause a fuss, but the issue is her father which is the same Duke who disrespectfully barged into mu room last time.

"Hmm, I'm not sure, nanny." I responded with a sigh. "I guess it didn't cross my mind, but I'll think more about it."

"It's alright, your highness. You have all the time you need." Jamie replied reassuringly, before she started cleaning the other side of my room.

In the end, I focused on the snacks infront of my table. It was a chocolate mousse cake, and not like I'm complaining, but I really don't enjoy eating too much sugar. "Well, I'm a kid. And they think I'm a kid." I muttered to myself as I sliced a cake and took a spoonful bite.

"Not bad."

I still have around two months at most as vacation, since this week is the final week of the month where the vacation has started. And also the very day where the hunting event will begin. Many nobles had decided to preside in the given location as early as possible to be able to monitor the place.

Since they must have heard that both me and Klydeur will participate, and the Empress herself will be present to watch, many of them had scattered to prepare themselves and their children to participate as well.

Either they want to look good infront of the Imperial Family, or they want to leech off us again.

I wonder if I'll get to see the other future heroic nobles that I've seen in my glimpses before. Before I can even forget, I wrote down every possible scenario that I've dreamed of in my past life and the glimpses that I am still seeing until today.

It was troublesome, really. If anything, I hoped that all this information came from a certain novel I've read before but since I don't remember any story with the same plot as this, it was hard to put my finger into it. Also, the rest of the other novels my sister used to read is where the female always gets reincarnated.

I barely see any male ones get reincarnated. And with that same trope in historical fiction, no less!

Surprisingly enough, my dreams would always look like a series of episode from a historical korean drama. But since they are dreams, I would mostly forget half of the contents. But still, it's fine as long as I can remember some of the tidbits and details.

Like the names, identity, and fates, ofcourse.

It didn't even occur to me that I already finished the chocolate cake that was supposed to last for atleast a little more minutes if I'm eating it alone. But I guess this is what we call stress eating.

"Ah, good afternoon, my lady."

"Yes, yes, you too Jaime."

"Um, it's Jamie, my lady."

"Is that so? They sound the same."

I blinked my eyes and snapped back to reality, putting down my fork and staring at the empty plate before me. In the other side of the table, there stood a certain blonde girl who have this usual grin plastered on her face.

Huffing out a sigh, I waved a hand as permission for her to sit down and have a chat. Well, not like she ever ask for my permission, but I guess she somehow learned how to not overstep her boundaries.

"What is it you are here for? I doubt you're here for studies, not when I'm on a vacation." I started as soon as she plopped down the chair comfortably.

Stretching out her arms, she sighed in relief before crossing her fingers on the table. "Clydeur, you are in big trouble."

I raised a brow at her sudden statement. "I'm always in trouble anyways. But how bad is it now?"

She raised her hand and raised it on air, as if to show the level of something. "Around this big? I'll fill you on with the details if I wanted to, but it's too long so I'll make it short."

I suddenly felt nervous, maybe this has something to do with Klydeur or the event just in a few days?

"You're losing support from the other nobles."

Jamie, who seems to hear the conversation, looks somewhat worried. I gave her a nod and she understood, leaving the room for me and Eldest to chat privately right after she folded the blankets.

"I assume they all went for Klydeur?" I asked calmly, since I don't have the power to control the nobles in supporting me. If they don't want me then don't. Not like I'm picky, but I have a plan in mind already.

Eldest nodded her head, golden eyes squinted at me. "Because of the rumor that you brushed your brother away every time he wanted your time, other nobles pitied him and immediately judged you as a future tyrant. They're stupid." She huffed out, a little annoyed.

That made me grin, which made her a little confused. "A rumor, huh? I'm not surprised that whoever behind it is someone who is close within the palace."

"I thought so too. It could be one of the maids, the attendants, few nobles who visits here or-" she raised a brow at me. "Why are you so happy about this anyway? You looked nervous earlier, why the sudden change of mood?"

"That's because everything is on set, all according to my plan." I replied, my grin not fading in my face. "Do you wanna know my plan?"

Eldest scoffed, trying hard not to roll her eyes at me. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Well, I'll tell you then." Leaning forward, she nodded her head as I whispered to her the details of my plan. How I'll execute it, how it will benefit me, and how it will be a success. The moment I finished, I leaned back into my chair and smiled. "So? How was it?"

She blinked her eyes. "Insane."

That made me scoff. "That's harsh."

"What do you expect me to say?" Tapping her fingers in the table, she swirled her other finger in the air, making the room soundproof. "That you'll do good in playing damsel in distress? Cly, you do know your opponent is , right?"

I nodded my head in understanding. "Yes, I do."

"Then why the brash decision?" She retorted, closing her eyes. "Don't get me wrong. I'm a supporter, but won't that backfire?"

I grinned again, making her frown. "That's where you are wrong," I raised three fingers infront of her. "First, I am not playing damsel in distress. I only need to have a moment of space from the spotlight before I enter again."

"What's a spotlig-"

"Second," I cut her off, not wanting to explain the answer to her question. "The moment my first plan succeeds, I'll continue on into the stage and get either positive of negative attention. Whatever it is, as long as I get their attention then I am all good."

She massaged her temples, muttering words to herself while patiently listening to my seemingly nonsense plan. "I have faith. I have faith. I have to believe."

"Third and lastly, that's when I'll uncover the truth with my real supporters." The moment I mentioned that, Eldest glanced up to me.

"Uncover the truth about the rumors and gain more authority through your chosen nobles in your support and faction." She stated in a matter of fact tone, in which I nodded my head back in response.

"Even if the nobles will be divided from their faction, it won't change the fact that the other side purely supports me, the firstborn child of the Imperial Family." I explained, resting my arms on the table. "But the most important part is, the Empress shouldn't get involved."

Silence brewed upon us as she held her chin in deep thoughts. My plan sounds easy, but too complicated. If it goes wrong, my reputation will go down the drain and Klydeur will be supported as the next Emperor.

And if the Empress were to know my plan, she might decide to choose Klydeur either. That would be a loss for me, and I cannot allow that to happen! My first priority might be my survival, but without a position or authority, surviving in this world would be hard.

I already expected all this to happen right from the start. But where from the start exactly?

The moment the Empress announced our 3 months vacation.

Klydeur is a nice brother, I'll admit that. He might even be seen by other nobles as a humble future leader and easy to manipulate because of his kind and naive nature. But what they don't know is that he is . Fitting for the guardian he had, he is sly as a .

In short, Klydeur is a person who is very crafty and dishonest. From the very start, that point when we first met as babies, I already noticed how experienced and cunning he is. If this goes on, he can get whatever you want even by underhanded means.

To think that even the nobles had fallen prey to his cunning personality. There is no one to blame but him only, since I almost get trapped into his trap as well.

"I'm not gonna lie, but your brother gives me the chills." Eldest commented, breaking the moment of silence inside the room. "He sure is sly. That speaks the reason why Ashley chose him too. They are both cunning and wise."

I hummed in response. "That's right. Sly as a fox. We may be twins, but I am different."

"A ." Eldest pointed out, making me flinch in surprise.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked, feeling nervous at her serious expression. Did she caught up to the fact that I'm only pretending or something?

Seconds passed until she slowly replied. "Your guardian is a wolf right?" That made me sigh in relief.

I nodded my head. "Yeah, it is. But what about it?"

"Now that I think about it, the Empress probably knows of your true nature." Eldest stated, leaning her back on the chair. "Both you and Klydeur, I mean."

Upon hearing that, I crossed my arms. "What is that supposed to mean?" Is she saying the Empress knows I'm reincarnated!? Well, what about Klydeur's? Does he have a secret as well?

"Don't joke around. It's not funny."

"I'm not, and why are you defensive?" She countered, grinning at me as I lowered my gaze. "You said someone who crosses their arms is defensive, and you did now. Does that mean there is a truth in what I am saying?"

Sudden tension filled the room, I gazed up at her and she stared back at me. "Then, what is it that the Empress knows?" I mustered the courage I had to ask.

"Not like she knows, but she predicted." She responded with hand gestures. "Remember that the guardians were gift for your 6th birthday? The Empress didn't attend, but she was the one who sent them."

I nodded my head, remembering that day and scene. "Are you saying that it has something to do with her prediction?"

"Exactly." Eldest raised two fingers. "A wolf, and a fox. Never did the Imperial Family have those two as their guardian. It will mostly be a lion, a tiger, a leopard, an eagle, or anything more majestic-like in the animal hierarchy."

"That makes sense." I commented. "Is it possible that the Empress is wary of us? Wolves and foxes are both sly and untamed. Just like the saying, sly as fox, Klydeur is indeed sly. And like the saying, wolf in a sheep's clothing-"

I stopped. She stood up, snapping her fingers before a gust of wind whirled around the room. The windows in my room immediately closed and the only light emitting inside is her power.

"I guess it's too early for you to hit the realization, but the Empress seems to be right." Eldest said as she sighed, craning her neck left and right. "You are smart for your age that it is almost impossible to believe wether you are real or not. So tell me, Clydeur."

I gulped, finally realizing the trap that I unconsciously set myself into.

"Who are you?"

Haha. Shit. Too much knowledge can actually kill. But I guess Eldest managed to outsmart me today. Do I have to act like I don't know what she's talking about, tell her the truth, or lie straight in her face?

"I'm...."

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