What does it mean to be strong?

The question lingered on his mind like a seed planted in fresh grains of soil. As the needle in his arm pricked into his skin, Daniel could feel little to no pain when Tieve inserted the antidote serum into his stream of blood.

Ever since his conversation with the white-haired girl, whose pushy attitude and insults seemed to give him a great push, her words hadn't left his mind. By now, two weeks had passed since the banquet, and Daniel focused on steadily regaining his health — but he was noticeably quiet and always thinking about something.

His scarlet-haired attendant only watched on with concern, but could never bring himself to ask about what was on the prince's mind. Prince Daniel hasn't been the same ever since the day of the banquet... Tieve sighed to himself softly, disinfecting the needle's incision whilst preparing a little bandage. He remembered finding the prince in a state of reverie, in the midst of the long and endless mess of a labyrinth - and he hadn't gotten out of it since.

"That's the last of the antidote, Your Highness." Tieve spoke calmly whilst tidying away the tools he had used to treat Daniel. The raven-haired prince observed his aide cleaning things up, a faint series of clatters and clinking with his elegant movements.

Although the servant was chosen by his uncle, and would likely follow the orders of the man who hired him over his own master, Tieve Cevalier was a good person who diligently cared for Daniel - and not just because of his sense of duty. This young man had the eyes of someone who cared, and Daniel was rather good at discerning people like that, from people who only pretended to act selflessly.

"Tieve," He called out, catching the red-haired young man's attention. "Just out of curiosity, but what do you think makes a person strong?"

The butler blinked in confusion, unsure of where this sudden question sprouted from, but he didn't question it. Tieve raised a hand up to his chin in consideration. "Hmm... I suppose being able to stay rational in dire situations? Or being someone who's able to protect others weaker than themselves?"

Not a bad response, he thought. But Daniel wasn't entirely sure about how to simply become those things. The more he wondered about it, the more difficult it seemed to achieve those standards.

"I want to be strong..." He whispered, and Tieve's eyes widened at the look of determination in the boy's eyes. "I don't want to be a coward who hides in fear of getting hurt anymore. I don't want to let others control me like a puppet..."

The servant could tell Daniel was likely referring to Duke Atlan, during that last part. Ever since moving into this estate, the first prince had experienced torturously strict rules and lessons. Even though it was his own uncle he was living under, Daniel was learning nothing but pain. He had been so overworked and drained from all the poison intake, there were many times he even felt his body would suddenly die from the stress.

Daniel was aware of his limits. He knew there was no way he could keep this up without hurting himself as a result — and doing so could end in a fatal way. He couldn't keep up with his uncle's impossible workload.

Tieve surveyed the prince's troubled expression for a moment, before offering him a small smile. "If it's about strength, I think you should look at the Duke of Cherliann," he began to say, and the mention of Mikael's current guardian caught his attention. "That man singlehandedly won every war he's ever fought in — the people respect and revere him, and it's said that the knights he raises are always the strongest."

Daniel considered it for a moment. "Duke Cherliann, huh..." It was true that the man achieved many great feats — in fact, he was most qualified to rule the Empire because of his illustrious prowess in many fields. Although Rudien was infamously known for his murderous, baleful and heartless 'grim reaper' personality, rumours about him had changed from before. It seemed ever since his daughter — Irene Cherliann was born, the man developed a human, loving side to him.

"Mikael has been living under Duke Cherliann... And I've only been hearing good things about how he's improved," Daniel sighed softly. "My brother even protected the daughter of the duke from a wild maid and awakened in the process... I think being there has been better for him than the life he lived with me."

Tieve was silent for a moment. As Daniel continued to wonder about the duke of Cherliann's methods, he became aware that his own uncle could never measure up to the war hero's achievements.

Daniel was going to have to go visit his uncle, who called him to his office the moment he heard recovered. The prince soon came out of his thoughts of admiration toward the Cherlianns, realising he had other things to worry about right now.

After having Tieve check to ensure there were no more symptoms of feverishness or illness, the young prince was made to head to Duke Atlan's office — hands clenched with apprehension about what the cruel man wanted to say.

As Daniel entered the office, he noticed Karvus was sat at his desk again, as usual. He didn't even cast his nephew a glance, and simply instructed him to take the seat opposite his desk upon his arrival.

"You wanted to see me?" Daniel asked, his brows lowered with little expectation. He had a feeling Karvus was going to be as curt as he always was.

The man gingerly set down his pen, and silently faced the prince with apathetic, dull green eyes. He then produced a giant stack of paper from one of his drawers — and Daniel surmised it was another list of things he was going to have to learn over a short amount of time.

...I'm tired of this.

"The time limit is the next three months. Finish learning these before your exam," Karvus instructed, his monotonous voice filled with no remorse. He then set another large box of bottled poisons and antidotes in front of the young boy. "You'll also be conditioning yourself to tolerate these. Make sure you don't overdose this time-"

"I don't need any of these."

His sudden interruption caused Karvus to face Daniel with a piercing gaze. "What?"

What caught the man off-guard was the fact that there was a completely dull expression on his nephew's face. Contrary to his demeanour, Daniel's heart was racing and mind a hurricane of fearful thoughts. But not a single one of those feelings seemed to betray the resolve in his eyes, when he stood up confidently from his chair, and used his arm to roughly shove the box of poison and stacks of paper in a single motion — off the desk so that they would crash to the ground.

Karvus stared at his nephew in complete awe, a loud thud resonating through the room, as the layers of parchment fluttered to the marble flooring.

"I'm sick of this," Daniel started to say, his voice low and quivering. Those blue irises were concealed by the long bangs falling over his eyes, as his hands clasped the edge of the desk. "I'm tired of simply doing what I'm told, especially if it's killing me. I'm done with putting up with everyone's expectations of me."

"Daniel. Sit back down this instant." Karvus ordered, his voice cold and gaze piercing. "I am not a patient man and will not tolerate or forgive any little acts of rebellion. If you want to avoid being punished for this, sit down now."

Daniel was frightened of the look in his uncle's eyes. A huge part of him was screaming to listen to his uncle. But the larger half of his mind — was simply disappointed in himself for trying to run away again.

In that moment, her words came rushing through his mind. "If you can't even protect yourself from your uncle, how do you plan on protecting an entire empire in the future?"

The boy only smiled wryly. "Just because I'm young, you adults seem to think you hold something over me..." His visage became shadowed by those long, dark strands of hair as a feeling of loneliness clutched his chest.

Daniel was aware of the lies he had been told from a young age. The loving smiles and fake adoration he would be showered in — whether it was the maids who raised him or the people around the mansion. Empty praise and flattery were the only things he'd ever heard, from these people who simply wanted to curry favour.

But when it came to it, he could never reveal weakness to them. Because the moment he did, their opinions of him would change. There wasn't a single person in this world who truly loved Daniel for himself — other than his brother. Despite that, even Mikael held some ill feelings toward him, and understandably so.

In the end, Daniel was only alive today because he was a prince with the blood of the previous emperor. If he were born from any other person, it was likely he'd be left to rot.

Karvus clearly didn't care about his nephew — that much was obvious. He showed no concern for the boy even when he was starting to slowly die from the poison he was told to eat. Even when Daniel vomited blood during dinner, or passed out from how strong his fevers got, the stony look of indifference never once left Karvus' face.

"...From today onwards, I refuse to follow any demands you make of me." Daniel clenched his fists tightly, fingernails digging into his palms as the lonely reality of his situation truly sank in. "Sorry, Uncle... I'm simply done with living like a pathetic pawn."

Karvus shot up from his chair with aggravation in his eyes. Yet even in this situation, he managed to keep his cool. The duke leaned forward, glaring threateningly into Daniel's eyes. "Are you disobeying me right now? I am the only source of guidance you have," his voice was dripping with venom.

"You are nothing without me, boy. If you want to be overthrown by that bastard brother of yours who will try to take your place, you'll become the laughing stock of Laydel, and drag us down with you."

Daniel didn't flinch. He wasn't even surprised any more. In the end, Karvus Atlan was heartless and fuelled by superficial things like titles and reputation. As a man who neglected even his own children, whilst using a prince bound to him by blood to grow in power, Daniel only felt pity toward the life his uncle lived until now.

"...Do you really think I give a damn about all that? I don't care what happens to this house, it was a mess to begin with since you ruined it yourself," Daniel faced him with an equal amount of vigour, and there was a searing glare beginning to light up in his icy-blue eyes. "You think I'll become nothing unless I'm emperor? Then go ahead and place Mikael on the throne. I'd rather be nobody than live like this. Oh wait — your pride won't allow that."

Duke Atlan became lost for words for a moment, but a crease had already formed between his brows as he glared at his nephew whilst withholding his anger. Daniel was only fanning the flames by fighting back, but he didn't care. Although he was inwardly frightened, the larger part of him became strong with resolve.

If I don't jump over this hurdle, I'll never be able to grow. Daniel thought, confidently to himself. If I have to start from square one, so be it. I'll grow by surrounding myself in the right environment.

"Daniel, stop this futile act of resistance at once. You're a child and you don't know how to live your life without someone to guide you," Karvus sighed softly, letting go of his anger and now seemingly trying to deem this argument as a little act of rebellion from a child who didn't know any better. "If you follow the path I've laid out for you, you'll prosper as the next emperor. All of this work is for your own benefit."

The prince was silent for a moment, amazed at the audacity of the man in front of him. With such a straight face, Duke Atlan was able to try and convince a person he was filling with poison and overworking to death, that his methods were the right ones. It was so ridiculous, the prince almost laughed.

"No! I've already told you," Daniel smiled wryly, his eyes piercing and stony. The look on his face was not that of a weak, frightened child anymore. Instead, he wore the expression of someone who had just about enough. "I refuse to follow you. I am a prince and you are a duke, there's a difference between the power we have, regardless of whether I'm a child or not."

Daniel leaned over the desk, peering with hostility into his uncle's face and causing him to move away in startlement. The look in the prince's eyes in that moment — sent shivers down Karvus' spine. And as a man who was not well-versed in physical combat, he felt himself shrinking beneath the young prince's gaze.

The boy had never worn such an expression before. But in that moment — Karvus was strangely convinced Daniel would kill him.

"...You will support me financially and offer me the support I ask for — but I'll be the one to find my own path towards becoming the ruler of this nation," Daniel instructed, his voice low and dripping with murderousness - despite him being a child who would quiver in fear just a while ago.

"You need me to succeed, in order to maintain the Atlan family's honour. So it's in your best interest that rather than using me as a puppet to control the throne, you respect me as the future emperor who will not tolerate being someone else's chess piece."

Silence befell the room for a long, endless moment after that. Karvus hadn't realised it, but he had firmly been put in his place by this young prince - who he once saw as easy to manipulate, and incapable of achieving anything on his own.

Although this side of Daniel would be problematic for him later, Karvus was aware — for the sake of his reputation, he would need to follow the prince's demands when he was like this. In a way, Daniel greatly resembled his late father for a moment. A man who people tried to manipulate, but he would shoot them down like this the same way this prince did to his uncle.

... Just what exactly got into him? Karvus wondered, watching as Daniel promptly took his leave without another word. The boy disappeared through the door, his dark hair a blur as he paced out of the room.

The duke's gaze shifted to the broken box of poison on the ground; pools of variant liquids and shattered glass scattered across the floor, as well as papers which were now soaked from the deathly fluids. Clenching his teeth, the green-eyed duke heaved a sigh.

Daniel was a cowardly child incapable of achieving things because of his own weak nature to follow others around. And he as his uncle, wanted to take advantage over that to solidify the Atlan's glory. Since House Cherliann was most famously revered because of Rudien's great feats in war, not many people were vaunting the same way for the other dukes. In that way, the Atlans were starting to lose face.

All they had left to bolster favour from the people now, was the first prince. Losing Daniel would surely put a gaping hole in the Atlan's honourable history.

In the end, he's just a daft child... Karvus thought, gazing down at his desk in irritation. He'll run back to me the moment he realises, he's nothing without a guide.

However — from the way his hand was quivering ever so slightly, and the image of Daniel's cold, lethal expression earlier, the Duke of Atlan wasn't entirely convinced of this thought.

A little while later, Daniel made it back towards his room in complete awe of what just happened. He couldn't believe it himself — but he actually stood up to his uncle and even managed to somewhat threaten him, in a way.

Bursting into the room and collapsing to the ground, Daniel's sudden state of shock caused a flustered Tieve to hurry over to him in bewilderment. "Are you alright, Your Highness?!" The servant asked in a panic, but he paused at the sound of the young boy laughing vaguely to himself.

It scared the crimson-haired man a little bit, watching the prince laughing like that whilst facing the floor and clutching the plush carpet with his hands. But when Daniel turned to face Tieve — he realised the smile on his face was the same kind of look a person would make, when finally jumping over a large hurdle in their life.

It was visible in Daniel's aquamarine eyes — a look of clarity and triumph, as if he had just won a battle he had been fighting for years.

After helping his master up, the servant prepared a cup of warm honey milk to settle the boy's nerves. Daniel was quiet for a while — still in a state of deep thought, but he didn't seem affected in a negative way.

That was the first time I felt I had control over my own life... He smiled to himself, gazing down at the warm drink in his palms. The tinge of gold mixed in with white milk, reminded him of the girl he met at the banquet — who fuelled his little act of rebellion. A part of him felt if it weren't for her encouragement, he probably wouldn't have acted out and would be drinking poison instead of this sweet, soothing honey milk.

"Become a selfish man, and find your own strengths..." He whispered to himself, recalling the words she said to him. His susurrations elicited a look of confusion from Tieve. Just as the scarlet-haired servant was observing the prince, Daniel turned his head to address him.

"Tieve, you said earlier... That the Duke of Cherliann is the strongest man in the nation, right?"

The question caught him off-guard, but he nodded his head hesitantly. "Well, yes..."

Daniel thought deeply for a moment. There was an enigmatic glint in his eyes, making him inscrutably difficult to read. But what Tieve could see, was a strong sense of resolve and motivation for something. It was as if the previously miserable and meek child, was beginning to fade away and giving room for a new side of him to emerge.

The look on his face was akin to one who was finally prepared to move on with their life.

"Bring me some paper and a pen. Oh, and some wax." Daniel instructed, and although Tieve struggled to understand this sudden request, he didn't refute him.

The servant rapidly went to procure what Daniel asked for. He brought several parchment papers and a fountain pen with dark ink to his master, allowing him to write what seemed to be a letter. Tieve then went and acquired some sealing wax, and a metal stamp with House Atlan's unique seal. There was one for every member of the family — and since the first prince was an important figure, he had the power to use it.

Daniel began to write without hesitating. And although Tieve was curious about what he was saying in his letter, he couldn't get a good peek at the words written in the note.

It was a relatively short letter — with only a single paragraph of writing. Albeit few in words, Daniel didn't seem to struggle when it came to thinking of things to say, so Tieve surmised he was keeping things rather straightforward.

After he finished writing, the prince gingerly folded his paper and neatly used a larger square of parchment to create an envelope. Daniel then carefully dripped some midnight-blue wax in a small circle over the edge of the letter, before stamping it with the crest of House Atlan. And with that, his letter had been sealed.