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After one problem comes another one. It was just awhile ago that I had a pleasant mother-and-son moments with Aureus, but now I'm debating to myself whether this is fine or not at all.

I would have thought of the situation as a normal scenario between a mother and a son. Obviously, whatever happens or may happen, Klydeur is still the Empress' 2nd son.

But hell, to be greeted with that kind of smile from my brother tells me that he have something up his sleeve!

Good grief I was not noticed by the Empress, and Klydeur didn't bother acknowledging my presence nor telling Aureus about it either.

"What the hell." I muttered to myself, eyes narrowed suspiciously at the doting scenario infront of me, with my fist clenched tightly that almost crumpled the dirty purple ribbon.

I never knew this kind of cliche will ever happen to me.

Turning my back behind the suspicious situation, I decided to sort out my thoughts. Klydeur seems to have the upper hand for now, since I am clueless as to what he is thinking since this never occurred to the glimpses I've seen before. And not like I have any memories of it happening to begin with.

Besides, I've just finished turning the tide. If I act out now and lash at him, rumors will circulate again and my reputation will just go down the drain, as it should.

Is this finally going down the original fate of Clydeur? I was lucky enough to live better days the past few years, so I can somehow endure the fact that I'll end up going the same path as the original Clydeur.

But I wonder, did he do the same thing as I did? Or was he too timid to try to appeal to his own mother? I can definitely see the difference between me and—

"Ow!"

"Ack!"

I almost stumbled backwards the moment I bumped my head to something. Or maybe someone is the right term.

The moment I looked down at the person who fell down the floor, my eyes widened at the person whom I have bumped into.

"Lady Lethilde?" I acknowledged the black-haired girl whose a few years older than me, the same lady I've met back at the tea party I had with the Empress and Klydeur a few weeks ago.

The said lady looked up to me, unlike Lady Mia who must have caused a ruckus at me, she politely smiled. "I apologize for unintentionally inconveniencing you, your highness." Briefly glancing sideways, she raised her arm as if offering her hand.

I glanced at her hand, and so I understood the fact that she took the initiative of asking to be helped up her feet. "I believe I'm at fault as well, my lady. Pardon me as well."

As soon as I helped her stand up, she curtsied at me and so I did the same formal greeting of bowing down as response. "If I may, can I have a walk with his highness?"

Glancing behind, I offered my arm in which she gladly accepted. "As you wish, my lady."

Her emerald eyes have a little bit of similarity to Archduke Shaman. The only difference is that hers is somewhat a lighter color and a mixture of lime green, whereas the Archduke has a deeper hue of emerald orbs.

I suppose she's turning 13 years old now, as I heard of her birthday celebration that will be held in a few weeks. While Klydeur and I are turning 11 in just a few months. Which means this young lady is 2 years older than me.

"I was looking forward for his highness to participate in the hunting event." I snapped out of my trance, focusing at her who suddenly started a conversation. "Sadly, the event was cancelled due to political problems."

"Indeed." I replied shorly, feeling a bit pressured as my arms are all stiff with my other hand clawing the poor tainted ribbon I've yet to give back or just throw away.

Unlike Lady Mia whose persistent enough to continue talking unless I visibly show her that I'm not interested, Lady Lethilde seems to understand that I am not in the mood. "Has it been a rough day, my prince?"

"It has." As I replied shortly, I decided to keep my voice low. "And I suppose you noticed someone behind our tail, for you to start such a friendly conversation with me, young lady."

"Please, you can call me Beatrice." She smiled, as if to reply affirmatively to my response.

Smiling back, we walked into the corner and continued our path towards the place where other noble kids are gathered. "Very well, Lady Beatrice."

"I had no idea you have such a loyal maid tailing behind you." Beatrice commented, althou it was obvious what her words meant, her facial expression tells me otherwise. It was as if she's concealing her message if ever someone is indeed watching us.

And so I decided to go with the flow, smiling politely. "Such a loyal servant makes me happy."

She nodded. "And so do I."

As soon as we reached the swarm of other younger nobles, they all stared at us with wonder in their gazes.

"Woah, isn't that the crown prince?"

"You're right, the brilliant prince who solved the problem earlier that none of the elder nobles were able to comprehend the situation."

"With a crown prince like him, the future of this empire is surely bright!"

"Is that Lady Beatrice Lethilde with the prince?"

Instead of playing the cold-hearted-prince card, I chose the approachable-nice-prince method. With a smile unwavering my face, I bowed down. "Greetings to all of you."

In a blink of an eye, they all curtsied and bowed down to me as I straightened my posture, looking down at them whose stiff in their greetings. "We greet the crown prince, the next sun ruler. May time make haste to the Vermillion Empire."

"You may rise." I told them in a calm tone, not wanting to get into their bad sides today. "It is such a dismay to have the event cancelled, but maybe some other time, we can all participate somehow."

As they straightened their postures, the other noble kids seems to be in awe, looking at me with wide eyes. Heh, guys, it's just me.

"Oh, would you mind if I'll ask why Lady Beatrice is with you?" Surprisingly, the very person I was comparing to the future Duchess stepped up and dared ask a question.

Her cherry-blonde hair is braided and hanging on one shoulder, wearing a pink dress with a shade of red, and adorned with jewelries that fits her attire. Ofcourse, that is to be expected from a daughter of the Marquess.

"I happened to meet Lady Beatrice on my way here, so we decided to go together." I answered calmly with a small smile, with Beatrice smiling gracefully at them which affected the boys mostly.

"Oh, that's very kind of you!" Lady Mia commented with a forced smile, which makes me want to narrow my eyes at her but chose to control my facial expressions. "That is the complete opposite of your treatment with me, your highness."

Excuse me, what?

The noble kids soon started to gaze at me, then back to Lady Mia, ready to murmur gossips again when thankfully, Lady Beatrice interrupted.

"I believe the prince has had enough of those who slanders his name." The authority the young lady had probably shook Lady Mia to the core. "There must have been a misunderstanding of how you interpreted his highness' action towards you before."

"H-how could I?!" Lady Mia exclaimed, staring daggers at Lady Beatrice. "Are you saying I'm the one who misunderstood? I'm clearly humiliated by the prince!"

Now this is getting out of hand. I need to step up.

"Lady Mia Marveil." Everyone who were busy gossiping about the situation went silent. The tension between the two young ladies died down as they all stared at me.

Especially Lady Mia. "...."

I sighed, not wanting to humiliate this lady further. "If I had offended in some way, then I apologize."

Upon hearing my statement, her face brightened and before she can even boast about something, I continued on with my words.

"However, I did not imply my words harshly before. I simply adviced my lady not to wander around aimlessly at the main palace, for you may get lost without a servant." Her face turned pale as the tables have turned, other noble kids started giving her stares which made her flinch.

"If you had misunderstood my worry for humiliation, then I'll take the initiative to apologize." I finished, savoring the look of defeat plastered on her face.

I'm certain she didn't have the guts to start a scene on her own. So I can only think of one person who may have told Lady Mia to do it.

Silently glancing behind me, there I saw a familiar brown hair with the color of red on its tips, red eyes staring at the scene with a smirk.

Ha, this Floridian Princess never learns.

One maid is also standing behind her, which is the very same maid that gave me the ribbon. It must be them whom Lady Beatrice noticed behind our tail earlier.

"I-I'm sorry, I must have clearly misunderstood." Fortunately, Lady Mia owned up to her mistake and decided to save face somehow.

Since I'm not as rude as the Empress who bullies even her own kids, I chose to forgive and forget. "Let's just bury it all in the past, young lady. The misunderstanding has been solved, has it not?"

"Ah, yes! Yes it is!" She quickly replied happily, her expression surprisingly did a 180° turn.

And so, we continued our conversations as if nothing happened, just to start gaining connections with the future nobles.

~*~

Dinner. I never knew dinner would take this long.

The whole interior may be different from the main palace, but the dining table is still splendid as ever. But not only that, aside from the Empress whose seated on the middle, just on the end of the table with me and Klydeur seated on opposite sides, there are also other nobles on his side and on my side.

As I sat on the left side, I recognized Duke Lethilde and his daughter Beatrice, Marquess Marveil and his daughter Mia, and the Viscount Fregossa together with his son.

Ah, that must be the rumored genius of the Fregossa family. Sir Richard Fregossa, age 15.

I thought it would only be the nobles the Empress is close with since even Lady Mia and Lady Beatrice followed me all the way here. Turns out even the Viscount and his prodigy son is present, including the unfamiliar faces of aristocrats on Klydeur's side.

On the other side where Klydeur is seated, I eyed the nobles sitting on his right side, which are the individuals who supported him. Indeed, they are mostly aristocrats, such as the Lord of the East of Vermillion Empire.

"It is an opportunity to be invited, your majesty." One man around his 40's stated respectfully, his jetblack eyes gazed at the Empress who didn't bother entertaining him. He is the Lord of the East of Vermillion,

"Such a delight it is to see the future of this empire is in good hands~" a lady around her young adult years gracefully spoke with a small smile. She have a cream-colored styled-curl hair that reached her waist, her violet obsidian eyes blinked a few times.

She's the most famous lady among the aristocrats,

Glancing on the last person of the faction of aristocrats who supports Klydeur, one young man who must have just recently obtained his authority and took over their family business sat quietly, orange eyes staring down at his food.

"You seem quite shy, Sir Rayne." Lady Cyranil commented, earning the attention of the said person.

Glancing sideways towards her, he focused his gaze on the utensils again, his silver bangs covered his eyes. "Not at all." This guy must be the eldest son of the wealthiest aristocrat,

"Aha! We shall have a toast for this wonderful event!" Viscount Fregossa joyfully announced as he raised his glass. The Duke grinned as he raised his glass as well, urging the stoic Marquess who is forced to do the same thing as well.

Lady Mia glanced at me, as if telephatically asking whether we'll get involved with this whole toast situation. And so I responded with a nod. I mean, why not, right?

And so I also raised my glass, with Lady Mia, Lady Beatrice, and the Young Master Richard doing the same. Klydeur seems surprised with our action.

Even the aristocrats seems displeased, but didn't show it in their faces as they all raised their glass when Klydeur did as well. "May time make haste to the Vermillion Empire!"

Glancing towards the Empress, she noticed their stares as she looked up to them, as if asking telephatically, "what now?"

"Mama, you raise your glass as well." I whispered, in which she listened to, or maybe just got forced somehow out of her will. Almost lazily raising her empty glass, the aristocrats smiled from ear to ear.

"May time make haste!"

Aureus just nodded her head. "Indeed." Then there was silence, the aristocrats awkwardly put their glass except the nobles on my side who are used to the Empress' nonchalant attitude.

"My, with such an attitude, I may have a strong authority." Lady Cyranil smirked, with the Lord beside her stiffling a laugh and the young man unbothered on the other side.

Ha, aristocrats sure think they have greater power than royalty, huh?

Did they not see what the Empress did to a Count earlier?

Just when I thought everything is finished, the lady added to her words. "A piece of advice out of worry, your majesty, you must be as gracious as a flower to remain the Empress~"

It was at that moment that she knew, she's dead meat.

The glass Aureus was holding ended up cracked and broken in a split milliseconds, earning a displeasing sound of shattering glass. Well, thank goodness we were able to finish our meal before any shards of glass could end up in our stomachs.

Silence. Right after the mess, silence has ensued. The only thing that I was able to observe is the fact that they angered the demon inside Aureus.

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