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Everything is troublesome in this troublesome world. Nothing ever goes my way, even with this authority I have as the Empress, a lot of them have their methods to annoy me.

Aristocrats or nobles, I only have a few I could trust. But none to confide with. Solidarity is somehow appreciated.

I have known for sure that the hunting event would be a mess. But since my son is eager to participate, I made an exemption despite my misgivings. I've seen it as a way for those who opposes me to act out again, but I chose to ignore them for now.

What matters is that child's wish to be fulfilled.

But not only did it stress me out, it ruined my day as well. Here I thought I'd be entertained upon watching him participate in the hunting event, but those sore loser of a noble decided to wage war with me.

How amusing.

Even tending to the problem is a lost cause. They all theorized things themselves in my presence, not minding whether I do want to hear them blabbering nonsense. I silently observed them, not bothering to waste my efforts of silencing them.

I alone had suspected the missing nobles to be a charade. There is no doubt that one of my people would miss the chance of seeing the area as dangerous. Lord Aquabellium knows how to handle his job well.

And so in their dispute, I've reached a realization that some of the nobles are a part of this charade. There may have been some aristocrats, but their value is still the same in my eyes.

Lowlifes.

Their greed for wealth, power, and satisfaction from the life of luxury even exceeds mine, who is titled a tyrant. As an Empire's Empress and not crowned an Emperor, I only have the power of the Empire's Moon bestowed upon me.

Whether I tell them that this is an act of opposition against the Imperial family or not, none of these would matter to them. It will only be a fight against the ones who wants to get the throne, and us who have been the roots of the throne itself.

It is as fast as the tide from the ocean, they'll soon change sides and cling into the side where victory is evident. With the Emperor sick in bed, which is a lie, I have no one to rely nor depend on.

Which is why I need to move forward and instill fear into their minds. That way, they won't dare cross the line.

"Your majesty." Through the dull situation that lingered on me, a voice that once tried to save me yet I failed to notice suddenly echoed in my head. Putting my gaze at him, he reached the front as the nobles gave way for him.

Bowing down respectfully, he greeted me formally, a different way to how nobles and aristocrats greets me. "May I have a word about the situation?" Unlike those around me who didn't ask permission to say a single word about this incident, the crown prince himself is disciplined enough to know his boundaries.

I do hope they see the difference between respect and loyalty.

The higher ranked nobles around us soon gazed down at him. They may or may not have noticed what I wanted to imply in this situation, but the way they looked down on a child who have a higher position than they ever will makes my blood boil.

"You may." I simply responded to him as I signaled for him to rise. There are those with curiousity and confusion in their eyes as to why the young crown prince decided to get involved, but I can clearly feel the stares of daggers they all directed to me, not expecting me to let him be in the first place.

Eldest and Ashley stood there, not daring to say something nor refute my words. He calmly smiled upon hearing my permission, and so he started explaining. It may not be noticeable, but I listened to his every word, internally agreeing to his statement.

This child is intelligent for his age. He had only seen the situation from Eldest's magic, and yet, he was able to connect the dots and reach the same conclusion as I did.

They still have no idea I had the same thoughts in mind, as they all discarded his words and considered it nonsense. Surely they won't miss the chance of dragging my name into the fuel.

"Are you saying the Empress made a rash decision?" One of the elder nobles chose to talk back at the crown prince, obviously using me as an excuse to strengthen his statement's validity. "You may be the crown prince, but this matter is not in your reach somehow."

I had to stop him. I should have...but I chose to watch. I trust this child, and I'm certain he knows how to handle these kind of things.

Indeed, he even exceeded my expectations. He was knowledgable enough to know about the Empire's pillars. This child is of true blood from the Imperial family. But what about the other one?

Glancing up to the area we were in earlier, there stood watching us the replica of the crown prince, the 2nd prince with silver white hair. Just by simply looking at him reminds me of a certain person who died by the hands of the Caners.

"Ha!" I sneered to myself, brushing away those thoughts. A dead man is a dead man, I have no obligation nor responsibility to think about them anymore. Noticing the atmosphere around, the nobles and aristocrats suddenly started whispering to themselves.

Their murmurs weren't silent enough that it even reached my ears. They dare talk about a deity when a member of the Imperial family is speaking?

"Silence." Waving a hand, I casted a spell to force their impudent mouths shut. These insolent fools dare to test my patience? Have I not shown enough wrath and tyranny? Do they ever get tired of these loyalty charade?

"Do not talk when a member of Imperial blood is speaking."

Everyone did so, not wanting to lose their heads the next time they limit my patience. I didn't intend to show mercy and let it slide as is, however, I find it tedious and tiresome to deal with them.

In summary, we reached the conclusion that everything that happened during the incident is a charade. A rebel from a group of traitors. A plan to dethrone the current Imperial family. And a way to worsen my mood, one Count who only ever had his authority due to his family tree, thought it was fine to be insolent.

The discussion was going smoothly. I gave him the spotlight to earn recognition and be recognized as a fitting crown prince, however, it all fell down like a house of cards.

"If that were the case, why would they target the nobles if they are also suspected to be nobles of the empire who are traitors?" Ashley fired a confusing question, making me narrow my eyes at her.

She have nothing to gain with the drama beef of our Empire, but why is she eager to question the crown prince everytime she gets a chance? It's a shame I can't lay a finger on her, not because I'm afraid of a war breaking out, but because it's troublesome.

A war is never a problem to the Vermillion Empire, whose given a talented people of mages. Even a fallen deity secures the empire.

Everyone all shot their stares towards Clydeur, in which he sighed at. "I must have made a mistake. I should have-"

"Yes, you did made a mistake." My eyes twitched when one chubby looking count dared to cut his sentence. He looks familiar to me, I'm sure he's the same Count who opposed the Emperor about me having separate concubines of my own before.

"His highness may look brilliant, but there are many loopholes to what he said. It's starting to make no sense!" He exclaimed.

"I mean, I should have elaborated clea-"

"AND MUST I INFORM YOU ALL, the knights have returned!" He raised his voice to drown his voice. "I'm certain they have found my sons by now. Everything this bratty prince said is a lie to gain acknowledgement! Betrayal? Nobles? How could we? Tsk! What a show-off."

His words echoed inside my head, a sudden twisted feeling forming up in the pits of my stomach. Biting the inside of my mouth, my silver orbs menacingly stared at the oblivious Count, and those around me shivered at the aura I've been releasing.

"What's with the face?! And where are my sons?!"

The knights apologetically bowed down to him. "We apologize, milord, but we failed to search the whole area-"

"Are you blind?! Are you hearing yourself?! Then search harder!"

His attitude is not befitting of a Count. If you're a noble, or even an aristocrat, you should know how to humble yourself. He have the guts only because of his family tree.

"Go back in there and do your job!"

To think he have such high confidence to order my knights like he's the master. It amuses and frustrates me at the same time.

As I expected it to be, everyone soon disregarded my presence and started murmuring their own gossips for the situation. Either it is all about the crown prince or the Count, it didn't matter to me. Everything is indeed troublesome, yet I chose to step up and release all these pent up anger.

Respect begets respect.

If any of them can't seem to do that simple thing, then I shall do the same. A noble will always be noble. An aristocrat stays as an aristocrat. But royalty is royalty.

"." I resorted to initiate a conversation, not wanting to commit bloodshed, however, I chose the wrong option.

The latter furiously responded, probably not knowing he is speaking to me. "WHAT THE HELL IS IT?!"

I stared at him, his eyes suddenly went round and his pupils shook in panic. My silver orbs which devoid of any emotions stared back at his trembling ones, as if pleading for mercy which I am no longer sparing for a lowlife such as him.

The sky got darker. Clouds blocked the only ray of light. The cold air blew around us. Everything and everyone went silent for the first time in my whole existence. No one uttered a single word. The knights remained standing still. The horses didn't neigh.

Everything seems peaceful.

The Florida Princess scoffed, while the Fallen Deity grinned with sarcasm. "Uh-oh."

The Count looks like he lost his soul, as he fell down to his knees infront of me. "F-forgive me, your majesty. I was just far too concerned for my sons' wellbeing-"

I sneered at him. "?"

It wasn't hard to always use magic and cast electrokinesis. In a heartbeat, loud thunder flashed through the dark skies. I directed the lightning's strike towards the forest. The impact was strong enough to shake the whole area. Their reactions of fear and panic satisfied me.

Not so soon, the weather gradually changed. Raindrops started falling down towards us. The impudent Count lowered his head down infront of me. The sight of this pig groveling down my feet, the swarm of both nobles and aristocrats speechless and unable to do anything, everything satisfies me.

Continue doing so. If you want to live with your heads intact in your bodies, that is.

"Everyone here is concerned, you should have atleast thought of that." I remarked at him, before whirling my head towards the commander of my knights. One glance is enough for him to lower his head and offer his own sword.

Everyone held in their gasp of surprise and fear of what's to come. I didn't intend to reach this point, however, it is a must to make a point and use him as an example to those who ever tries to go against the Imperial family.

I turned a blind eye before, but this is just simply crossing the line.

"This isn't the time for this, your majesty!" The Count immediately stood up as he tried to change the topic. To think he's still fixed in saving his pathetic life, I'd bet even his sons would give him up in exchange for power.

Holding the sword by the hilt, I raised it up in the air with ease. All those cruel swordmanship training proved to be worth it. I can feel the fringes of my bangs covering my eyes, but I still focused my cold stare at him.

"I am only doing you a favor to go back to where you belong, trash." I bluntly spat those words at him, ever so wanting to do the same with the other nobles, but I held back myself.

"What do you mean?!" The Count still feigned ignorance despite his situation. Is his pride still important?

"What about the missing nobles?! My sons?! We need to find them! What if the traitors had already killed them?!"

Ha! He worries for his sons, but was it genuine? Or was he using them as a lame excuse to spare his life?

Seeing him act this way made me feel disgusted. And yet, a sudden pang on my chest made me narrow my eyes. It feels like I've come to a realization and felt a pang of guilty conscience.

Is there even a difference between me and him?

To think of using my own children as a means to gain power. It must be a surprise for anyone to know that I'm aware of how I treated the twins differently. It felt like time stopped for me when he died, until that other person came and time gradually moved back.

I believed it was all thanks to Eldest, who is omnipotent enough to bring back someone to life and give second chances. However, I feel like I'm doing the same thing I did before, but to a different child.

Who is trust-worthy?

Why did I have him executed in the first place?

What's the reason I favored Klydeur than Clydeur before?

My head suddenly throbbed. I knew having my memories would be a pain, but I didn't have the heart to forget everything.

The count then pointed a finger towards Clydeur. "This is all because of that garbage!"

My thoughts snapped, the glass of my patience shattered into pieces. I swiftly swung the sword directly on his neck, however, I stopped midair, only to see the impact as it got stuck on his neck.

The pain, the surprise, the fear, the regret. Those emotions evident on his face were enough for me to slightly hesitate and try to call for a physician, but harsh reality slapped me again.

He mouthed words I never knew could arouse my anger. I raised the sword again, and quickly beheaded him, his head bounced and rolled down the grass. Blood trailed from his head and his neck. His body soaked in his own blood as it went limp and fell down.

"You shall not be the Emperor."

I shall not be? I know that fully well, bastard. But his words sounds like he's confident, silenly giving me a warning about the deceased Emperor whom everyone not know of as dead yet.

Raindrops started pouring heavier. Nobody commented nor remarked anything, only the knights who took the Count's body moved.

"Mama, I know where the missing participants are in." Hearing his voice, I suddenly flinched, but it didn't seem obvious due to the rain.

I have shown disdain to this child, and yet, when I glanced at him, a courageous and mature expression is evident on his face.

With half of my face stained with blood and hair soaked in the rain, this child didn't tremble in fear.

"Where are they?" Was the only response I could think of, with my mind having a lot of curiousity and confusion.

Was this child always brave and smart?

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Hi guys! This chapter covers the Empress' perspective, and I left behind quite an obvious clue around here. (۶்ิ▿்ิ)۶่่

(≧∇≦)/

So for now, one truth, fluffy stuffs, then the new season would be the start of the serious game. See ya next week, and this story is officially returning to updating weekly. I changed the day to Saturday since I can't wait another day for Sunday.(΄◞ิ౪◟ิ‵)

That's all for now. Excuse this cute smol author! (*'∀'人)

-ShaneRRR🧁