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"Greetings, your majesty. Greetings to the prince and the future sun, his highness the crown prince."

"May time make haste to the Vermillion Empire."

"I greet her majesty, the Empress, and his highnesses, the prince and the crown prince."

A lot of nobles started to swarm around the area where the Empress is seated to watch the event. Klydeur and I are seated on each side, with the Empress between us, as we looked down on the field near the forest where some participants are already preparing.

Only a few nobles were able to get up to our spot and greet us with either sincerity or fake smiles. "It has been a while, Viscount Fregossa." Aureus, the Empress, replied nonchalantly with her eyes narrowed at the nobleman bowing before us.

"Indeed, your majesty. And as you may know, my sons have arrived to participate in this event. If possible, I would like them to be introduced to the princes and be friends." The viscount joyfully announced, beaming an innocent smile.

The Viscount doesn't look like a fake noble, if anything, he seems kind and joyful. And in case you're all wondering, days had passed so fast that it was already the day of the hunting event.

Klydeur was so excited earlier and even up until now, his smile never faded in his face, making me amused. Is his jaw doing good? I can't even last that long beaming a smile.

Besides, it's not like I have any reason to be excited either. With all the problems I'm facing left and right, I can only feel nervous. Eldest reassured me that she'd take care of the false rumors that is now silenty circling around the nobles, but I still can't help but get nervous.

My reputation is at stake here. If this drags on even longer, it might even reach the Empress' ears. I just do hope she won't get swayed by the rumors.

"Prince Klydeur, apologies for my tardiness."

"It's a shame I've arrived later than I'm supposed to, crown prince."

Klydeur and I whirled our heads towards the door, there entering Eldest and Ashley at the same time. Even their greetings were on time with each others, making them silently glare at each others. The Viscount smiled awkwardly on the side.

The Empress cleared her throat, making them bow to her quickly. "Greetings to her majesty, the Empress, the moon of the Empire. May time make haste to the Vermillion Empire." Both curtsied and greeted in unison.

"Ashy!" Klydeur broke the tension between the two girls as Ashley herself walked in first to stand beside him with a smile. "It's okay. What matters is you arrived safely."

I squinted my eyes at them. They seem closer than what I anticipated. Eldest then sulked her way to stand beside me, making me glance up to her with curiousity. "What's with the face?"

"That trash ruined my entrance." She complained, a grimace curved in her lips and brows furrowed in annoyance. "And I don't see any reason why I should be present here either. I'm halfway done handling the rumors, but I guess the Empress can solve it."

I looked beside me where the Empress is seated, and she have her eyes narrowed and focused on the field, even tho we were quite noisy. If anything, she can hear everything that either Eldest of Ashley is saying, making it a bit awkward in the area we are in. Even the Viscount can't get the proper timing to leave.

Ashley glanced towards us with an annoying smile. "Ah, right. I almost forgot. Greetings to you, your highness."

Not bothering to get annoyed since I don't want my day ruined, I smiled at her. "Greetings to you too. It seems like you just got out of the library to arrive this late."

"I—how did you know?"

I stared at her blankly, a bit surprised at the situation. I don't even know if she's acting dumb or she's really dumb. "Oh, I was just guessing. But I guess my hunch got the nail right, all thanks to your slip of tongue."

"Oh, I see." Ashley had no other words to say, her face flustered on how she made a mistake. She could have just said "how do you say so?" but I guess it's more better that she obviously gave away the fact that she came from the library.

"I don't mean anything harmful, just so you know." I added in case someone adds fuel into the fire. I've got no time for drama right now, especially that I am more focused on the hunting event.

Afterall, Klydeur doesn't seem bothered. Or maybe he is? He still have a smile maintained on his face. "" He commented, making me flinch in surprise.

Is he trying to start a war right now? With the Empress in our presence no less?

The way he said that was emphasized, as if he wants to slap me with his words. Eldest probably noticed too, as she glared at him and was about to rage away, but I managed to hold her back while shaking my head.

I don't see any reason why he'd get mad in the first place. What's so insulting with being able to guess it right? Did he feel offended or something that I seem to be mocking his friend? And I even told them that I don't mean any harm from that moment!

Looking back at him, I gave him my brightest closed-eye smile. "Is that so? My apologies if you got offended in behalf of her. But I must say this clearly," opening my silver eyes, my blank stare pierced through his lifeless silver eyes. "."

I thought I could win him over and be a nice brother, but maybe I'm too late for that. Not when he already hates me to the point of not pretending to be nice anymore. There was a heavy tension around us, with everyone silently watching the scene unfold.

"What are you meaning to say, brother?" Now he managed to act like a victim, a confused and hurt expression on his face. "I was just worried that your words may have made her uncomfortable." He then gestured to Ashley who hid beside him, acting pitifully while hanging her head low.

The Empress didn't bother stopping our bickering. Maybe she thought it was only normal for kids our age to get into a fight. But heck, I do hope she'd try to stop us right now!

"Then if it did so, I apologize." I replied for the sake of ending the conversation. But it didn't look like he'll be fine with just an apology.

"If I were to say that Eldest is a bad person and she have a slip of tongue, wouldn't it make you worried?" Klydeur questioned, his silver eyes seemed to glow as he stared back at me. "Especially if I also said that I was only guessing."

A vein in my forehead probably throbbed in annoyance. He had the guts to set an example just to prolong our nonsense arguement? I'm already having a bad mood dealing with my stress works and problems, and he's here trying to be special and get rid of my remaining peace.

It was at that moment that I noticed I was about to rage at him, if it weren't for Eldest who blocked my way while slowly shaking her head, just like what I did earlier. The Empress and the Viscount silently stared at the situation.

...I don't even know who to get annoyed at.

Breathing in and out, I was able to calm myself from bitching at him. Everytime I get annoyed, I would feel weird. Literally. Like I'm burning in fire and I could care less whether I bitch slap him or not.

"I already said I apologize." I firmly told him, glancing from Klydeur then towards the girl whom I am apologizing to. But before I can even say anything else, my eyes twitched when I saw Ashley trying to hide away her grin, probably enjoying the fact that I'm getting humiliated by being pushed to apologize for nothing.

This is it. I don't care anymore.

"Even so, your apology did not sound sincere, brother. As expected, you must have been influenced by the bad nature of Eldest—"

"" I asked to cut him off. Eldest slowly looked down at me, her golden eyes showed confusion yet amused. My question made Klydeur, Ashley, the confused Viscount and even the Empress surprised to look at me. You see and read that right, even the Empress!

"So what if she is bad?" I asked, emphasizing the word he described the blonde girl beside me."Everyone have their bad sides. You're a hypocrite to say that, at the least. No one is pure white nor black. We are all tainted ."

Before he could attempt to talk back, I raised a hand. "Shut up. I'm not done yet." He blinked his eyes and had no choice but to remain silent. "And I am not compelled to say sorry. I did apologize, and I guess it won't matter of how you thought of it as fake or sincere."

Silence. There was a very weird and confusing silence. Even the person with highest authority, Aureus the Empress, got surprised at my statement. Her silver eyes went round as she stared down to me, looking towards my brother, then staring back at me.

It's not totally like she's surprised tho. It was more like she's expecting Klydeur to provoke me and my outburst, and she must be waiting for another round of trading barbs between us. But why is she even letting this situation drag on? The Viscount is still here!

....wait. Maybe...she wants him to see the situation?

"Brother, you could have explained it carefully." Klydeur sniffled, making my forehead crease. What the hell is this cry-baby dramatic actor planning right now? "You need not to be blunt and hurt my feelings."

Before I can talk back at him again, Eldest decided to butt in, in an attempt to defend me. "Listen here whitey, no one could care less about your so-called-feelings, you sly bitch."

I sealed my lips awkwardly when the Empress got confused who Eldest is referring to, since she casually called my brother, a prince, as whitey! When she glanced at me with a questioning look, I gave her an I-don't-know-so-don't-ask-me look.

"I'm more suspicious of your friend here who must have started the false rumors about the crown prince." She added, crossing her arms. "No matter how many times you deny it, I have gathered enough data and evidence that the princess who assists you has crossed the line."

Klydeur narrowed his eyes. "But—"

"Slaundering a member of the Imperial family is a crime and therefore, punishable." Eldest finished her sentence with a serious look in her face. "I have told the Empress about this beforehand, but she felt rather generous to let this slide as she had already dealt with the false rumors."

Looking beside the Empress again, she surprisingly glanced back to me. I didn't even know Eldest already told the Empress! Is that why she's silent this whole time?!

At that moment, I decided to just go with the flow. "Uh, then they won't say bad things about me anymore, mama?" I asked with teary eyes, reversing the uno card. If Klydeur is good at playing victim, then I can too!

She then reached for my head, patting it gently, making me smile triumphantly while Klydeur didn't bother putting his mask. His dislike to me is now evident while he glared at me.

"Don't worry. Another word about the rumors, and another nobles to badmouth you, I'll make sure to sew their lips and have it sealed for the rest of their lives." The Empress blankly yet seriously stated.

This made me beam a wider smile to annoy my frustrated brother. "Thank you, mama!" I guess her violence is kind of helpful at times.

"I'm guessing you'd know your place now, too, Ashley." The Empress then glanced towards the said girl who can only nod her head, biting her lower lip to refrain herself from frowning.

"I do not wish to be on bad terms with the Florida Empire. If that were to happen, I'd have no choice but to get rid of you first."

She nodded once again. "I understand, your majesty." Looking towards me, she bowed down, almost unwillingly but still forced to do so in order to live with her neck still intact in her body.

"I would like to apologize to the crown prince. It was my mistake. I do not wish to slaunder you for I have been blinded by my misconceptions about his highness."

I can only nod back, not daring to comment about her fake apology. If anything, she is only compelled to say sorry for the sake of forgiveness. Just when I thought everything is finished, Klydeur suddenly butt in.

Is he not done yet?! Just let me have fun in peace, come on!

"You said that slaundering a member of the Imperial family is a crime." He directed the question towards Eldest, making me a bit nervous at what he's about to say. "By means of slaunder, it could be ruining their reputation by false rumors, or by calling them with unbefitting names with such disrespect."

Glancing towards Eldest, I refrained myself from talking back to my brother in an attempt to help her get away from the same crime as Ashley. Klydeur has a point, especially that Eldest called him whitey and a sly bitch. Was he holding back from that moment until now to use her nicknames to him at his advantage today?

I feel a bit pressured, not until I saw the calm look in her face. Did Eldest already plan this ahead? Even the Empress seems calm!

Or is it because she could care less about the punishment since the Empress has her back more than her own son?

She then stared down at my brother with her golden eyes piercing through his silver eyes. "Ah, is that so? Then, since Princess Ashley was able to get away from her crime through apology," she then bowed down, making Klydeur flinch.

"I apologize to your highness. I am willing to take any punishment if you see fit. Afterall, names are more less of a crime than false rumors, but since you got hurt then maybe I can just respect it as that."

The way Eldest nonchalantly apologized made it even better, making me fight the urge not to laugh at how pathetic the sly duo looks right now.

And it may seem like the Empress is calm and composed, but I can imagine Ashley being summoned to her office for a personal punishment.

Also, I guess my drama plan still worked. Even if it's only one noble who witnessed the scene, which is the Viscount Fregossa, it is still beneficial to fix my reputation and make them realize who the real victim is.

It is all thanks to the Empress who also let the situation get dragged on longer. I thought she was such a bad mother to let both her sons to fight, but maybe she also wanted to see the truth.

Now all I have to hope for is the Viscount telling the other nobles about this situation. He definitely had a face to face conflict, like a VIP ticket to watch a drama spoiler unfold.

And if what Eldest said is true about the Empress dealing with the false rumors about me that was spread because of Ashley, then I can just rest easy and enjoy the hunting event.

I guess it's my day today, huh? Too bad for you, Klydeur.

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