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It's not clearly impossible to time-travel and go back in time, so maybe Eldest was actually in the memories I've seen. But was she already a deity at that time? Maybe. Maybe not. No clue.

"You don't have to guess it right now. There's always another day." Eldest deadpanned as she noticed how I went silent from thinking deeply about it. "Just enjoy your remaining vacation days before you go back to your usual routine as the crown prince."

With a sigh, I can only nod at her words. Right, what good would it do to me if I worry about everything today? I'll just get stressed in no time.

"Well, one last question." I raised a hand to gain her attention, in which she frowned at.

"I told you not to bother anymore—"

"I'm asking this question out of pure confusion." I cut off her words and honestly, it took me a whole lot of courage to talk back to a deity. Now that I recall, all this time I've been rude to a deity!

She fought the urge not to snarl at me as she crossed her arms. "Fine. That should be the last one."

Sighing in relief, I asked away. "Are those nobles who opposes us Imperial family actually an aristocrat?"

"As you know it in our lessons before, I've discussed the difference between the nobles and the aristocrats." Eldest commented, before sitting down the silver chair again. "Let's say there are other nobles who are against you, and there are also other aristocrats."

"I figured," I held my chin in thought. "But why did they decide to act out right now? Why not before? Is it because we've grown up already?"

Eldest scoffed. "What do you mean right now? They've always been acting out."

I whirled my head towards her, confusion evident on my face. "What do you mean?"

"Since you and whitey were babies, the Empress had to keep up with both nobles and aristocrats." She remarked, her golden eyes twitched. "They're annoying, really. Don't they know their ranking of nobility and aristocracy is just below royalty?"

I blinked my eyes, my mind buffering and processing what I heard. So, ever since day one of our birth, they already started to act out?! Now that just made me pity Aureus. It must be stressful!

"Oh don't be sad," Eldest nonchalantly commented with hand gestures. "Those who threatened her were end up killed by the Empress anyway."

Okay. I take it back. Killing must be her stress-reliever.

Since I was never a historical fanatic, I only know a few things about the difference of a noble and aristocrats.

The aristocrats are people who is in the highest social class in a society. They are mostly influential and powerful people.

While the nobles are people who are given special privileges and titles by the Imperial family as a reward for what they may have contributed to the Empire.

And I know for sure that mostly aristocrats opposes the Imperial family. And maybe 3/4 of the nobles are loyal to us, yet I've seen more of those who are against us.

"I assume that's indeed the last question." Eldest then stood up, fixing her white robe. "It would be best for me to take my leave."

"Alright." I watched her bow down to me like she usually does before dissapearing, golden light flashed around her before it vanished.

Wow, when can I do the same teleportation spell anyway?

Now that I'm left alone for good, I feel kind of lonely. Should I go around the palace for awhile?

It's not yet that dark, considering that it was near evening. But still, there are lights around the ruby colored palace, so I don't have any worries.

Standing up, I grabbed a new coat, which is somewhat colored platinum with brownish bronze linings, before opening the door. Silently peeking around, I immediately closed it as soon as I saw a whole lot of maids and knights standing outside in line.

I almost got caught off guard by their sudden stares!

Geez, I guess my option of walking around is no more. I wonder what Klydeur is doing?

How about Lord Aquabelium? He was there at the scene earlier, but then I lost sight of him when I went there. Maybe he was among the crowd of the nobles back then?

Also, the Archduke Shaman. He doesn't seem bad, but not all too nice either. Everyone seems to be not trustworthy, or is it because I have trust issues?

Yeah, that would be the case.

Taking deep breaths, I chose to just stay inside my room for a while and wait for dinner to be served. I wonder if I'll have to eat here in my room or the Empress will hold the dinner with us together with my brother.

If it was my past self, my sister would nag me for being lazy as if I'm only waiting for food to fly near me. Now I'm starting to miss my good old self in the modern days.

Life without internet is painful.

Now that I got to be alone, I had the time to think about simple things. My guardian must be upset for not being able to participate in the hunting event. We can call and summon them however and whenever we want, but I don't see any reason why I should today.

Also, my black kitten I had before named Kuro must still be having his luxurious life in the main palace. My man's living the life of a royal cat.

I'm sure both the Duke Lethilde and Marquis Marveil are nobles who are personally rewarded by the Imperial family, hence their steady connection with the Empress.

And I can fully say the Count who dared to poison me before is the same, since he's been stripped off his title and had his whole family banished.

How about the Count who got beheaded by the Empress earlier? Maybe he's just an aristocrat, judging from the way he was brave enough to talk back to royalty. Can an aristocrat have a title like nobility? That's one thing I'm confused but oh well, I'll get used to it.

Eldest told me that the aristocracy has been expanding their power and authority ever since the Empress started working alone without the Emperor. They took that disadvantage of the Imperial family to their advantage in an attempt to dethrone our family line and replace it with a new one.

Too bad for them, for only our family who is pureblooded and blessed by the Gods, is allowed to sit on the throne and carry the weight of the crown.

Why do they want to achieve higher ambitions anyway? Being part of the Imperial family is stressful.

Not just stressful, but also dangerous. My life's always in danger ever since the incident of the attempted poisoning of the Count to me. Fortunately, Eldest arrived on time that day.

"Your highness."

I stood up, glancing at the door that opened. Why didn't I hear them knock?

"The Empress has requested for your presence." One maid announced with her head bowing down. I gazed at her with my silver eyes, before I wore my coat and fixed myself.

"Lead the way."

"As you wish, your highness."

As soon as I left my room and followed suit behind the maid, I sensed some of the knights followed me behind for security. Well, this is much better than I anticipated.

This crimson palace is quite huge, but not as wide as the main palace of Vermillion nor the palace for special banquets and occassions. But still, all palaces here are quite big.

I realized that we already reached the path towards the crimson palace's rose garden, tall castle walls on the side and a stony pathway on my sight. The sky is a mixture of red and orange, as if the sun is near to set.

But what made me notice more is the fact that the Empress stood there, staring at the garden, her sideview sillhoutte is all too familiar for my keen silver eyes.

She's no longer wearing the same outfit earlier. Instead, she's wearing a purple gown that seems simple yet elegant, with her black long hair draped over her shoulder.

The maid then gave way for me to go forward, and so I had no choice but to become the ever-loving son of the Empress. Smiling, I waved a hand at Aureus. "Mama!"

Her silver eyes gazed at me, as if knowing that I was already here. I walked towards her, before holding her hand. "Were the nobles and aristocrats all have been dealt with what happened earlier?"

She glanced at me momentarily, before we started walking towards the pathway of the rose garden. I can hear the maid and the knights walking behind us, but there's a few step distance so I don't feel uncomfortable with their presence.

"You seem too pre-occupied with what happened earlier." Aureus spoke, responding to my question earlier, as if telling me why I was worrying about something unimportant.

I blinked my eyes in surprise. "Not at all, mama! I'm more worried about you!" I protested, giving her a firm look in the eye, but in reality I'm mentally sweat-dropping at the moment.

Surprisingly so, her lips tugged upward and formed a grin. Something that I've seen only a few times, which makes me wanna frown but I held myself out.

This Empress makes me age so fast.

Now it seems like were having our usual routine of walking together, if not, maybe a tea party would do. Only if it was still early thou, but maybe dinner will be served together instead.

"I need not your concern. This kind of nuisances doesn't bother me." The Empress stated, answering my question rather late again. I wonder why it takes her long to reply, is she savoring the look of embarassment on me or she's just playing with me?

What a weird mama. Or maybe I'm a weird son. Like mother like son.

"Still, I worry about mama all the time. Dealing with them may be something you are used to, but they can also be stressful." I continued, crossing my arms. Just accept my concern and be showered with care for once, Aureus.

"Heh." My silver eyes widened, hastily looking up to the Empress whom I heard to have laughed or sneered. But nope, she have this straight stoic expression, gone the ghost smile she had earlier.

Or maybe she did laugh but was fast enough to change her facial expression. I guess I got that trait from her too, since Eldest commented I can change moods as fast as I can blink my eyes.

If the Empress and I have this much of similarities, why did she loathed Clydeur?

I almost tripped down the stones when the Empress halted from her tracks, making me glance at her in confusion. "What's wrong, mama?"

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. "Nothing."

Not convinced, I decided to just hold her arm so I can support her. What if she stumbles down later due to fatique?! Or a headache, or just because she's clumsy? Oh well, as long as I'm here then she'll be fine.

I was so distracted with my own thoughts that I probably didn't hear what the Empress muttered to herself. I just decided to let it slide, since Aureus is the type to mumble things to herself, but not most of the time.

And so, we finished walking around the rose garden and soon found our way towards the crimson palace. "Dinner shall be served later on. The maids will personally escort you." The Empress told me, in which I responded with a smile.

"Okay mama! See you later!"

Her expression remained, as if not affected by my jolly personality. That's fine, I still have a long way to go but atleast she favors me at the moment.

We soon parted ways as I walked towards my room near Klydeur's while she went on the opposite direction. Some of the knights followed suit behind her while the maid and the rest of the knights all followed behind me.

"Your highness." Looking behind, I saw the maid holding out a purple ribbon.

Huh, where did she get that?

"It seems that her majesty dropped her ribbon."

I mentally grimaced. No matter how much I look at it, that ribbon didn't belong to Aureus. She's an Empress, not a spoiled noble girl! I didn't even see any ribbon designs in her gown earlier, so what the hell is this maid scheming?

In the end, I decided to play along since they may spread rumors about me again. Besides, they know me as the Empress' favorite son, so I need to live up to their claims.

"Thanks for telling me! I'll go give it to mama." I smiled, and the maid politely bowed at me as she handed me the purple ribbon. "You all can stop following me. Just go guard my place."

The knights bowed down in respect to my command, before they all walked ahead with the maid.

Heaving out a sigh, I hurried my steps. I'm certain we didn't part ways for that long, so Aureus must still be near the hallways.

Since it was just the opposite direction, I didn't get lost.

Walking around the long hallway, I looked around the walls where some portraits are displayed. There were portraits of the previous Emperors with some of the Imperial princes. I think they all put some of the portraits in this area instead of having it in the main palace, since they were just the previous ones to rule the Empire.

That's understandable.

I halted from my tracks the moment I heard a familiar voice.

"What a gutsy kid you are."

Was that the Empress? Who is she talking to? Where is she exactly?

Roaming my silver eyes around, I observed the area and walked silently near the corner that leads to another hallway. Sneakily peeking, my eyes fluttered close and open, in a state of confusion.

Klydeur smiled, the same smile I've seen in my glimpses which won over the heart of the unbothered Empress. "As I should be, mother."

The Empress grinned, patting his head. "."

Allow what?!

Surprisingly, Klydeur briefly glanced at me even if I'm hidden perfectly in a corner. He flashed a triumphant grin, before hugging the Empress. "Thank you, mother!"

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