In the Empire of Aradhya…

  “Your Majesty, though we can agree that the First Prince has some great capabilities, that’s only when it comes to conquering lands. However, his reckless and tyrannic behavior proves him unfit to rule!” said Duke William, the head of the Council of Nobles.

  “I agree, your majesty,” Countess Victoria seconded. “I heard he went to a foreign land to chase after some woman, completely neglecting his duties as a prince!”

  The Emperor’s eye turned grim as he listened to the council member's grumble. It was always like this. In the absence of the prince, they boldly criticize, but in his presence they turn into meek lambs.

  Duke William bowed deeply towards Emperor Marius. “If I may be so bold to say, your majesty. I think the second prince is better suited for the crown rather than the first prince. Though the second prince is still young, he has exceptional virtues that make him a better fit for the crown.”

  “Preposterous! Have you all forgotten the law?” joined yet another noble. “Only the offspring of the empress can inherit the throne. Which means there is no other rightful heir than our first prince!”

  Though he sounded like he was siding with Prince Aleric, the emperor knew he knew better. He couldn’t help his disappointment with his subject. They would even use an innocent eight-year-old child to further their gains without batting an eye.

  “That is why we propose that Lady Fabia be conferred as the new empress,” retorted Countess Victoria. “Lady Fabia is a respectable and kind lady. She will do nicely as the mother of our empire.”

  As expected, this was their real intention.

  The emperor pressed his throbbing temple. They had been pressuring him with the same request every day, to the point that his ear ached from listening.

  How he wished the first prince would soon return and relieve him of these insufferable crocodiles in his court.

  Meanwhile, Lady Fabia, who was sitting on a distinguished seat below the emperor and an empty empress’ throne, shifted in her seat at the mention of her name. She tried to retain a humble attitude as if all of these didn’t matter to her.

  “Your majesty,” Countess Victoria continued and softened her voice in an attempt to sound as emphatic as she could. “We are well aware that the first prince loved her mother, the late empress, quite dearly and doesn’t want anyone else sitting on his mother’s throne. But he is no longer a child that we need to coddle. We’ve already left the empress’ throne empty for quite a long time.”

  Emperor Marius’ eyes flashed red at the mention of his late wife, whom he dearly loved. He glared at Countess Victoria.

  Emperor Marius was about to speak when the giant double doors swung open.

  “I just left for a few months, and already this council has become more audacious.”

  Everyone’s eyes almost fell out of their socket at the sight of the person whom they never expected to see. On the other hand, Emperor Marius' face instantly brightened.

  The room fell into uncomfortable silence with only the sound of the man's footsteps echoing on the marble floor could be heard. He walked up the steps to his father's throne and sat on the bottom step at the emperor's feet.

  Prince Aleric's gaze swept across the people of the room.

  The then-righteous-sounding individuals, when arguing their case with the emperor, had their heads bowed like guilty criminals.

  Prince Aleric's gaze landed on a woman whose face had become as white as a sheet. Cold sweats trickled down her brow as she felt the prince's piercing eyes on her.

  “What was it that you suggested to my father, Lady Victoria? I couldn’t quite hear it from behind those thick doors. Reiterate it for me,” he said with a playful smile that sent chills down everyone's spine.

  “Your Highness, we merely proposed that the empress’ throne not remain empty. It’s been years since the late empress left this world, and there are certain things in the empire that can only be done by an empress.” It was Duke William who spoke, saving Countess Victoria, who seemed to have lost her tongue.

  Aleric nodded his head as though thinking. “And you think Lady Fabia is the right person for this role.” He shot Lady Fabia, who was sitting meekly below him, with a condescending look.

  Lady Fabia remained silent while the council spoke for her sake. She maintained a benevolent facade, expressing her contentment with her current position. But Prince Aleric wasn't fooled. He could smell the scent of greed from her from miles away.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Of course your highness!" Duke William responded with his chest puffed. "Lady Fabia is—”

  "The prostitute who climbed my father’s bed while he was drunk in his sorrow for my mother’s death,” Aleric said, cutting Duke William off. “If that is what you are trying to say, Duke, then I agree.”

  Lady Fabia's face blazed crimson at the prince's coarse words, the insult of being called a prostitute leaving the others speechless.

  “Mind your words, first prince. Ehem, you’re still a prince.” The emperor coughed, partly embarrassed by his mistake that led to this current situation.

  Aleric ignored his annoying father and looked at the cowardly council.

  "You’ve already forced my father into making her a concubine in the name of the so-called law. And now you wish to make her an empress equal to my mother? I must've been very nice lately.”

  Prince Aleric rubbed his chin, gloating.

  The anxiety in the room surged. They all knew how cruel the first prince could be.

  “ My mother was intelligent, wise, beautiful, and respectable. To allow a wench who coveted her husband's bed a mere week after her death to sit on her throne is despicable. The whole lot of you just love disrespecting the late empress, don't you?” Aleric’s voice became colder and colder the more he spoke.

  Even the emperor felt a slight tremor in his heart when he looked at his son, who seemed ready to massacre everyone in the room.

  At that moment, however, Lady Fabia, for a lack of better judgment, stood up and faced the prince.

  “Your highness, I know that you hated me, but apart from bearing another child for your father, what wrong have I exactly done against you?” Lady Fabia spoke, with tears brimming from her eyes, making her look small and pitiful.

  But Prince Aleric did not respond to her provocation and simply looked at her as though she were dirt under his shoe.

  Countess Victoria, who finally found her courage to speak, interjected, “Your highness, how can you bully your father’s concubine like this!” She then looked at the emperor. “Your majesty, are you just going to watch while your son bullies your wife? Even if you don’t love her as much, she is still the mother of your child!”

  The emperor’s eyes darkened. “It is because she is the mother of my child that her head is still intact despite my eldest son aching to tear it off her neck, Countess Victoria,” he responded dryly.

  Lady Fabia shivered as he looked at Prince Aleric, whose cold and emotionless eyes stared back at her. She unconsciously touched her neck and looked away.

  “It is best for you to remember that I only have one wife, and that is the late empress, no one else!” The emperor warned. At that very moment they saw a glint of resemblance between the vicious prince and the emperor.

  Everyone inside the room fell silent. They had never seen their emperor be this furious before. It was also because they knew that the emperor was extremely kind that they had the audacity to take advantage of his kindness. But they should have known that the late empress was a landmine they shouldn't have carelessly ventured.

  Countess Victoria quickly spoke in a stuttering voice, “Y-yes, your majesty.”

  Aleric looked at the trembling countess and commanded, “Leave us. I want to speak with my father alone.”

  The council members wanted to argue with Aleric that only the emperor can dismiss them, but they swallowed their words and retreated.

  The emperor’s shoulder sagged the moment the council members left.

  “When are you planning to let me retire?” he sighed.

  “Why the hurry? Don’t you like being the emperor?” Aleric smiled wickedly.

  Emperor Marius glared at his son. “You ingrate! You saw what happened just now. Do you think that was enjoyable? All I want is to rest in your mother's garden and await our reunion.”

  Though his words were the truth, they were also meant to console his son, who can be quite petty when it comes to his mother.

  Emperor Marius still remembers when Aleric made all his attendants take a vacation after he once sided with that concubine. That horrific week still makes him shiver every time he remembers.

  “I don’t think Mother will accept you with how you betrayed her,” Aleric said sarcastically.

  The Emperor sighed in frustration. “How many times do I have to tell you it was a mistake! I was mourning your mother and got drunk. The next thing I know, I woke up to that hateful woman lying by my side! Though the law forced me to make her my concubine after bearing my child, I never accepted her, nor did she have any space in my heart. I am, and will always be, loyal to your mother!”

  Aleric nodded his head as if thinking about it, then smiled and said, “I think you can serve a few more years as an emperor to show your sincerity towards Mother.”

  “My son,” Emperor Marius held Aleric’s hand. “How about I just go and kneel in front of your mother’s grave? Just relieve me of the burden of this crow. I’m going crazy just trying to remember the number of territories we have, and yet you keep adding more. Do you really plan on working me to death?”

  Aleric placed his hand on top of his father’s hand and said in concession. “Just until the future empress can get used to her responsibilities. How about it?”

  Prince Aleric is well aware of his father's effort all these years. Thanks to him. The empire remained stable despite the fractures between the culture and beliefs of the people in the territories they conquered.

  The emperor’s shoulder eased. “Alright, that’s a deal.” But then his eyes went wide when he realized something. “Wait, future empress? You finally found a suitable wife?”

  Aleric gave him an ambiguous smile. “If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

  “Hey you ungrateful son! You can’t just say something like that and leave!”

  Aleric simply waved his hand and left through the side door. He was met by Vernon, who was patiently waiting for him on the other side.

  But the moment Aleric closed the door, he quickly fell on his knees. The color on his face completely vanished, and his legs shook.

  Vernon quickly ran to his side and helped him stand. “You forcefully traveled such a long distance, completely draining your mana. Yet you still went and attended the morning assembly just to be petty,” he lectured.

  “Well it was worth it…” Prince Aleric coughed repeatedly.

  Vernon rolled his eyes and helped the prince to a secret chamber under the palace. It was a room Prince Aleric often used to recuperate from his wounds without anyone knowing. He helped Aleric on the bed and quickly turned on all the mana lamps.

  Aleric gradually felt better as the mana from the lamp replenished his lost energy.

  “It seems that they forgot to replace the Mana lamps after we left for Learia,” Vernon said when he noticed the dimming lights of the lamps. “Stay here. I’ll get some new ones.”

  Aleric waved his hand and shooed Vernon away. “It’s not that I have a choice,” he said in a weak voice and closed his eyes.