"Baekhan, wake up. Open your eyes!"

Ancia who was waiting outside, hurriedly ran towards them when she heard Eunhan's voice.

"Is Baekhan in a critical condition?"

"It's okay. I will save him."

He would save Baekhan. He would protect his family.

"Your Majesty, I'm going to go back to Chang..."

Looking at Eunhan's determined expression and Baekhan's body, Ancia realized that this situation was unusual.

"Is it because of Baekhan?"

"Yes."

"Okay, go ahead."

Eunhan lowered his head in respect. A black fog suddenly surrounded Eunhan and Baekhan's body and they quickly disappeared.

Eunhan didn't come back.

***

Tenstheon looked at the papers piled up on his desk.

Most of them were from the nobles' protesting him going to the Crown Prince's Palace.

Tenstheon had been walking on a tightrope for the past three years.

He pampered Ancia but showed no interest in the Crown Prince.

However, it was all revealed to be false because of this incident. Tenstheon stopped going to the Crown Prince's Palace for a while and observed the situation.

'Starting a protest against my entry to the Crown Prince's Palace, complaining about Ancia, and demanding Blake be exiled. It's all Arnold's doing.'

The Duke of Cassil didn't do anything himself, but looking at the list of aristocrats that protested, Tenstheon could see that Arnold was behind them.

Although Arnold didn't have that much power, it was also because of the public's aversion towards the Heir to the Curse that gave them a reason to protest.

Tenstheon was looking at the papers when Eunhan came in.

"Eunhan!"

"Your Majesty."

Eunhan kneeled on one knee and greeted him.

"Get up."

"I'm sorry for leaving without a word."

"I heard everything from Ancia. How's your brother?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. He's fine."

Eunhan carried Baekhan's body as they returned to Chang. Fortunately, Baekhan was saved, but he didn't wake up immediately.

Eunhan remained by Baekhan's side, and nursed him as he gradually recovered, and then woke up.

"That's a good thing. Everyone was worried about him."

"And..."

Eunhan looked straight at Tenstheon's face.

But he hesitated to say the words that he wanted to say. Seeing him, Tenstheon smiled softly and said, "Did you only think of coming to greet me today?"

"...."

Eunhan bowed down his head.

When Eunhan returned to Chang, rain began to pour on the land. It was the rainshower that marked the end of the long drought. People welcomed Eunhan amidst shouts declaring that he was the vassal of the Heavenly Dragon.

The Emperor was also happy about this.

Yet, no one reflected about their past behaviour towards Eunhan nor did they apologize. It was very disgusting.

Eunhan wanted to go back to Asteric right away, but he couldn't because of Baekhan.

Eunhan found out about how Baekhan had been treated when he ran away. Baekhan was locked up in a prison because he was close to him. Even after he was released, he'd often be threatened by the princes because he was chosen by the White Dragon.

The royal family hated Baekhan because he waited for Eunhan and refused to choose a Crown Prince from among them.

Baekhan was secretly abused in his residence and people would also steal his treasures.

Hence, Eunhan decided to stay in Chang to protect him.

"I'm the only one who can protect my brother."

Tenstheon was a strong Emperor, but he was lonely. He missed his son but couldn't even see his face.

Eunhan wanted to help Tenstheon, so he swore his loyalty to him and didn't leave his side.

"You have the Crown Prince and Crown Princess beside you now, so you won't be too lonely."

"You impudent child."

Tenstheon said, but he was smiling.

"I want to protect my brother because I'm the only one who can do that and he's my only family. So I've decided to leave Asteric. I'm sorry I couldn't continue to protect you. I will never forget the favor you've done for me."

Eunhan bowed down.

Tenstheon came close to him and said, "If you want to repay my favor, then become a Great Emperor. You should work hard until your reputation can be heard in this far West."

"Yes, your Majesty."

Tenstheon patted his shoulder and gave him a white envelope.

"Take it."

"What's this?"

Eunhan opened the envelope.

Inside the white envelope, he found a type of paper that was used in the East. He was shocked when he read the contents of it.

It was the deed to a gold mine.

"Since most of the mines are owned by the country in Chang, I bought a mine from a nearby country."

Eunhan saw the purchase date of the mine. It had already been purchased a few years ago.

Tenstheon prepared in advance in case Eunhan wanted to go back to Chang.

Eunhan gave the title deed back to Tenstheon while holding back his tears.

"I can't. I'm ashamed to leave so suddenly. I can't take something so valuable."

"Take it. Didn't you say you want to protect your brother? It will take a lot of effort to do that. Most of the princes must've worked hard to become the Emperor while you left the country. Even though you were chosen by the Heavens, they're not going to step down that easily."

It was as he said.

The other princes had also been competing for the Crown Prince's position. They had already invested a lot of efforts in it.

Although Eunhan was chosen by the Heavenly Dragon, he would lose if he didn't have anything to support him.

"You'll need money to win the fight, so take it."

"But..."

"There's no need to feel pressured. Just think of it as your wage."

"Thank you for giving me this, master."

"I'm not your master now."

"No, you're still my only master."

Eventually, tears began to roll down Eunhan's face asTenstheon patted him on the back.

"I'm sorry to have caused so much trouble. If you need any help, please tell me."

"No, I've never had a hard time because of you."

Eunhan nodded his head as he held back tears.

Now that he was returning to Chang, he'd be by himself.

"I only dropped by to greet you. I think I've been away for too long. I should get going now."

Baekhan hadn't fully recovered yet, so he felt uneasy about leaving him all alone.

"Yes, go ahead."

Eunhan took something out of his sleeves and gave it to Tenstheon before he left.

"This is a gift from Baekhan to Her Highness. He said it will bring her luck."

"Why don't you give it to her yourself? Both Blake and Ancia are worried about you two. Why don't you visit them for a while?"

"I'd love to but I've been out for too long."

Eunhan liked Ancia, but she was his master's daughter-in-law. He had to get rid of his feelings.

Ancia was his first love. He didn't want to go back to Chang because he didn't want to leave her side.

But he had to move on.

"Please invite me to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's wedding. I will definitely attend."

In the Asteric Empire, people usually got married informally when they were young, and once they became adults, they'd register it at the church and have a formal wedding.

The royal family was no exception.

To have a formal wedding, Blake needed to live until he became an adult and the curse would have to be lifted.

Tenstheon smiled and nodded.

"You'll be invited."

"I'll be waiting, master."

Eunhan bowed to Tenstheon and disappeared in a flash.

After he left, Tenstheon looked at the papers piled up on his table.

"That child will do his best to protect his family. What am I worried about?"

Blake and Ancia were precious to him so he was very careful. If this went on, he wouldn't be able to protect his children.

Tenstheon regretted so much when Blake passed out, so he promised to protect them more carefully this time.

He picked up the bundle of papers and threw them into the fireplace.

He was the strongest Emperor in history, Tenstheon Rhodis Geracillion.

He couldn't show any weakness.