*Contents of the letter are depicting these events as they took place*

Prince Vzeus before being banished from the palace had talked to his Empress grandmother, Belithia who looked at him with disappointed and tired eyes.

Face covered in wrinkles and the burden of being the eldest of dynasty weighing down upon her, the Empress grandmother was not even out of her mourning period for her son when King Kyzm ceased the throne and Prince Ragel had all the women of harem that were much younger than him enter into his own household as concubines.

Even though the secrets of the imperial family had always been dirty but this deed of taking in his father's women by force was shameless thus as an elder Belithia had went to seek justice from the newly appointed king.

But not only all relations were discarded in the court infront of all the senior-junior ministers who looked at her in impatience but she was also warned and guided out by a young slave clearly showing the entire Gaerin that she had fallen out of her title and position in imperial family.

The ones that had not even dared to look into her eyes now laughed at her back and the only grandson who was actually filial did not even had the courage to fight against the injustice that was bestowed on his own family.

If he had established a strong hold earlier, his wife and daughter would not be put under constant house arrest by the Empress Daphne, their wages would not have been cut plummeting their lifestyle to that of a slave.

Thus as soon as Princess Lyra and Lilith bowed after saying some words of farewell, the old maid by the Empress mother's side waved them off impatiently and the trio parted off.

There were hopes in Prince Vzeus eyes that maybe the torture and constant sufferings had come to an end but it was only the beginning of a fate written with ink tar.

A long route of journey to the outskirts was accompanied with travelling via mountains and deep valleys with broken roads. Constant fatigue and fear of bandits followed them but the prince protected his wife and daughter. Princess Lyra's family was prohibited from meeting them thus no additional maids or slaves could be given.

Along the twists and turns they encountered many hunter groups and sometimes there were small conflicts and fights but all were sorted and won by the imperial prince, all but one.

On 54th day of the expedition a group of masked men had attacked the simple caravan which only comprised of a wooden carriage.

Unknown to the entire world who had thought that the eleventh prince was living in placidity, that day when he was attacked he not only lost his one leg but his wife was heavily injured thus losing her ability to produce children in future.

The masked assassins were king's soldiers and they had achieved their task: make the prince crippled and his life miserable so that he would never dare to make a comeback.

"King brother, why have we spend so much effort in our useless brother? Why not kill him and his family to solve all the troubles?" Prince Ragel took another sip of wine elegantly before looking at his blooded brother in somewhat impatience.

"Patience would grant you everything imperial brother. Prince Vzeus may be useless but princess Lyra has her grandfather's doting love and support. Although their Foi clan have declined but they still hold merits to cause ruckus in court.

Moreover, now our brother has lost a limb but remember that he has a daughter, we can always make use of a girl with imperial lineage for exchanging marriage with enemy kingdoms to make alliance.

_________________________________________________________________

Azarios did not wished to read the piece of letter anymore, according to the information Lilith never had an easy childhood like his own self. His heart felt sorrow on her behalf. The brown parchment was locked up in his study table before he stood up, a servant coming forward to help him put on the fox fur coat.

"Has mistress woken up yet?" It was his fault to leave her alone, he could not bear to wake her up even though it was already noon because he had tired her out yesterday.

"Reporting to the general, the mistress is still asleep." The agar wood door opened as the general walked out to greet his wife with the servant following him.

"Tell maids to bring sandalwood salve and prepare one hundred imperial dishes that the mistress loves. Later ask the steward to take out the purple pearls from northwestern mountains and silver fox fur to prepare a pair of shoes for her as well.

My wife is frail and virtuous and never asks anything herself, send someone to the best dress making business in the capital and ask the head to sell their chains of shop in her name. This general has heard that there is an auction of the green jadeite from the islands of Grevian, I want it at any cost, once all is done send them to the mistress."

"M-Master-" Wasn't that the purple treasure pearl that once Emperor Alexander carved as an eye of golden swan and gifted it to the Empress when she saved his life from the Gaerin assasins? Moreover why is the general trying to spend all his life earnings on mistress, isn't she cold to him.....

"Remember to use all the ten pearls to make it, otherwise it would become useless." The servant was dumbfounded, his mouth opening and closing as the General walked ahead with his dominating aura oppressing the manor's people.

His one gaze made the maids working outside the mistress's chambers dissipate.

"What master hates the most is slacking off, not only the mistress never greets him in the morning she also is negligent towards etiquettes of bowing down to the lord, now the General has returned from his work but she is still asleep, god saves our grace." A maid whispered to another, her eyes frantic as if she wanted to run and shake Lilith to wake up and perform the morning greetings.

Others had similar faces of fear and apprehension, only the slave following Azarios looked silly as if he was struck by lightning.

😂😂😂😂