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Breathe in, breathe out. There we go, all good.

Instead of panicking and screeching with bloody murder, I chose to remain calm and composed. If I were to cry out about the missing book, the Empress might get suspicious and inquire about the book that I'm talking about.

Besides, I can always ask Eldest for help later.

I also made sure to double-check the filter in my thoughts. I've been too comfortable the last times, who knows whether the Empress was able to read my mind or not. Raising my guard up won't harm me anyway.

The Empress seems oblivious to my mental debation and panic attack. I stood still, hands clasped behind my back. Am I just going to stand here while she seems to be busy with paperworks?

Aureus looks calm for an Empress who almost lost a heir to the throne. She did seem worried earlier and asked where I went, but her mood instantly reverted back to her usual poker face the moment I replied back.

They said I was gone for 3 days, and I thought she would scold me more about my sudden dissappearance. She doesn't seem too concerned to know where exactly I was nor what really happened. Or maybe she was? Her expressions are quite hard to analyze.

And who knows whether I got hostaged or something? Would the Empress still have this same reaction?

I guess it's because she still have Klydeur?

The thought made me feel...I don't know. Sad? Dissappointed? Or insecure? I may not be the real son, but imagine the original Clydeur be treated this way?

It's way worse than I expected.

For such a child to be given the pressure of a future heir, losing their chance to have a proper childhood, only to be discarded and watch as your brother takes everything you worked hard from you. Bonus, he doesn't have any idea why everyone hates him, nor why his own mother killed him!

Haaa, what do I do? The suffocating silence is killing me. Should I act all fluffy and child-like and become the most try-hard mama's boy this year?

Before I can even try to speak about anything, I saw the Empress staring at me. My shoulderblades shook as I flinched from her gaze, blinking my silver orbs curiously. How long was she staring at me like that? I patiently waited if she have anything to say to me.

"..."

"..."

"Mama?"

"..."

Silence.

The staredown between us was just so intense. I think I understand the nobles who gets stared down by Aureus now. But hey, who am I to back down? I stared back just as intensely as she did!

Is she trying to read my thoughts? Well, too bad, I filtered it up with a lot of fake thoughts. Althou it embarasses me since she would only see me thinking about childish thoughts a 10 year old kid like me would think about.

Seconds passed, until almost a minute. I maintained eye contact, noticing none of us ever blinked our eyes. I'm trying hard not to blink, and this caused her to sneer.

Wait. The Empress did what?!

"It seems you're a gutsy kid as well." Uh, thanks? And wait, was that the same to what she told Klydeur a few chapters back? "If you don't mind me prying, where exactly have you been these past few days you were missing?"

No matter how I want to deny it, my guts is telling me that Aureus

Woah, I'm not even sure if she was able to read my mind or she just really wanted to know out of curiousity. "I don't mind at all! That's—"

Oh wait a damn minute. I may be happy that she's now concerned about it, but what am I supposed to tell her? Would she even believe me if I told her everything?

If I do, the words that will escape my mouth will probably be some rambling of my summarized journey without any proper punctuation marks.

I breathed in, a very deep breath.

"I just got sent to another dimension where the other Clydeur is dead and my brother usurped the throne and you got assassinated all the while had the attempt accused to my poor nanny but I was sent back here anyway by a deity named Eldest as well—"

"So who sent you?"

"...Ashley Florida."

"And who are you?"

"Um, definitely not Clydeur."

"Then perish."

"GAH! WAIT!"

I slapped my face with both hands, shaking my head to clear off those thoughts. That's close to what will happen if I do tell her the truth. But am I prepared to face the risk?

Well, hell no! I'm not saying that!

My imagination is getting weirder than I expected. What if the Empress sees?! Looking back to Aureus who seems confused with my weird action, I gave her a smile. It seems she didn't see, good news then.

"Aha, actually, I have no idea." I decided to respond with a white lie. I won't be telling her what exactly happened, but it's true that I don't have a definite idea about it.

Hearing this made the Empress narrow her eyes at me. Not like she finds it suspicious, but because she's intrigued to hear more about it. "Go on."

"Well, I just went out with Eldest for a bit, and that was 3 days ago. But we went back here as well that same day." I narrated carefully. "So I have no idea why 3 days already passed, and..."

"A date?" The Empress questioned before I can even trail off with my words, which made me shake my head vigorously.

"NO!"

That was a bit too defensive, but what can I do?! I got surprised with her question! But it seems she didn't mind my outburst as her expression remained the same, yet it somehow shows relief. Well, I'm relieved as well since she doesn't seem offended with my raised voice.

"Ehem. Shall I continue?"

"Go ahead."

I was able to explain how I got into my palace, but then it all started going wrong with everything seemingly empty. I didn't give her the exact details since it won't make any sense.

Then the fact that I wandered off into her own palace as well but still saw no one familiar to me.

Even tho there really is, but not familiar to me in this world since they came from a different dimension. But ofcourse, I didn't include that part.

"So you're saying, that some wicked sorcery got in the way and made you trapped somewhere parallel to the palace?" Aureus tapped her fingers on the desk, eyes closed as she seems to be in deep thoughts.

I nodded, atleast that's what I think. And that's what I was told by the other Eldest either. But I'm not going to spill about the rat in her circle, the Florida princess, who was actually behind my sudden dissappearance.

First, I'm not sure what is her reason for sending me away into a different dimension. Second, I want to use her against Klydeur for a bit. Third, if the Empress learns about the different dimensions, she might also know the truth.

The truth that I am not Clydeur.

I'm certain that Aureus is quick-witted. For an Empress, that's a given. Even if I don't share the keywords and main points, she's able to see the dots and connect them somehow.

"This is quite serious than I thought." The Empress stated as she leaned her back into her chair calmly. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "I thought you won't believe me and I might just get scolded sooo..." I can't believe I have the guts to talk casually with the Empress. That word speech just suddenly went out of my mouth!

"Ack, I mean!" before I can try to rephrase my words in a nobler way, a hand ruffled my hair that made me freeze from my spot. Looking up, I saw Aureus standing up as she pat my head. Her eyes fluttered to gaze down at my smaller form despite being taller than I was 4 years ago.

"I didn't inquire about your exact whereabouts earlier since I thought you needed time to recover." Hearing that, I blinked my eyes in confusion.

"I was certain something serious happened. You can't simply be playing a prank of hide and seek for 3 whole days. But I thought you might need some space."

Wait, so she was staring at me intensely because she was analyzing if I still need time to recover from where I went to, despite her suspicion of my sudden dissappearance and reappearance?

And did she purposely asked where I was and what happened because she thought I got upset when she disregarded me earlier?

Now it makes sense!

But, I mean, it's my fault! The moment she asked me where I wandered off to, I simply responded with just somewhere and shrugged it off. That must have had an impact telling her not to ask more about it.

I unconsciously smiled, appreciating the Empress for being concerned with my well-being.

"I'm okay now, mama!" I beamed, finally able to clear the misunderstanding. I guess I also misunderstood her consideration for ignorance. She was just being careful as to not ask me questions when I just returned, especially with the rumors going around that I'm dead.

Is it possible that everything that happened between the original Clydeur and the Empress all rooted to a deep misunderstanding? It's not impossible, since both of them can also be easily misunderstood.

Aureus has always been unexpressive. And even if she did, her way of expressing herself with a cold demeanor makes it difficult for anyone to know whether she's ignorant or just trying to analyze more of the situation.

And with the personality of the original Clydeur whom I replaced, it seems he was also misunderstood. He was always timid and blank, a bit dull of a replica of the Empress.

What was the reason the Empress killed him? Why was he hated, not only by his own mother, but by the whole empire? And how come Klydeur let it all happen without a care for his own brother?

"You're deep in thought." Hearing the Empress' voice, I snapped out of my trance. I massaged my temple, letting out a stressed sigh. It feels as if I've been dozing off in deep thoughts these days.

Truth be told, I never knew everything could ever end up complicated than now. Before, my only problem is not to die and get the same fate my memories and glimpses had shown. But now I'm slowly uncovering the truth.

But am I ready to know the truth?

"Mama, can I ask a favor?" I sound a little serious from my tone of voice, since I'm about to take a step to changing my path in a better way. "Can I learn swordmanship?"

I got locked into another round of staring contest with her. If anyone was to watch me and the Empress' conversation, they'd think were not a mother and son. Just complete strangers who seems to be staring at each others.

"You don't have to push yourself too hard. Be at ease." She responded, and I'm not sure whether that's her way of saying no in a not-so-blunt way.

I frowned, making her raise a brow. "But I really want to learn! I promise I'll be good!"

Her eyes twitched, her expression suddenly cracked as if she unnerved a displeasing memory in her mind. "Do not." The nonchalance in her voice almost sent shivers down my spine.

But my confusion and curiousity got the better of me. "Do not...be good?" I awkwardly asked, tilting my head on the side.

"Promise." She clarified shortly with a rather displeased look in her face. Her forehead creased. "Do not promise anything."

Another silence occurred, but this time, it wasn't awkward nor suffocating. It was a bit...solemn, if I were to describe. Did Aureus dislike promises? Does it have something to do with her past experiences?

In the end, I gave her a small smile. I may not be good at judging nor doubting, but I'm good at understanding people. "I understand, mama. I won't promise anything then! I'll just do it!"

My energy doesn't seem to affect her badly. If anything, it made her look amused. "Why so? Because I said so?" She returned to her seat, an arm rested on the armrest as she looked at me calmly. "You don't have to always bend yourself to my will. Consider it a test."

"It's not only because you said so, your majesty." My sudden formality made her narrow her eyes at me. "It's because I don't need to promise anything when I'm sure I'll do good!"

It may be a little difficult to wield a sword, but it is only natural for me and in this era. I'm sure there are younger people who learned swordmanship than me. Even I learned how to use my guardian and even simple magic!

If I make myself a better fit to my title as a crown prince, not only do I need to stabilize my authority which I am slowly getting at. I also need to be capable with my physical duties. Magic and guardian alone won't suffice, I want to gain something on my own.

Swordmanship is important. And so does knowledge.

Aureus smiled, a sight that made me blink my eyes. I'm not sure how many times I've seen her smile before, but it still feels new to me. The atmosphere drastically changed as the rays of sunlight passed through the window, showering us with its bright light.

"Then do as you please, crown prince."

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