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Since I've been putting up with Klydeur and Ashley's annoying remarks the past few weeks ago without Eldest, I got too lax.

"Permission to cause havoc."

I managed to hold back the latter before she rages at the oblivious duo infront of us. One thing I almost forgot is her anger issues.

"Ssh! Let them be." Since there won't be any good to come if we talk back and fight here, I wanted to excuse ourselves to leave these lunatics atleast.

"Let them be?!" Eldest hissed, golden eyes flashed menacingly. "These people should go to hell already!"

I shook my head. "Will Satan even welcome them there? I doubt it."

She blinked, processing my words. "True."

I sighed. Facing my brother once again, I cleared my throat before speaking. "It seems you're having fun, brother. We'll get going—"

"Ah, is the crown prince upset?" Ashley blinked her eyes and once again, interrupted me.

"No, I..."

Ashley crossed her arms. "You'll need to be emotionally stable in holding such conversations. Afterall, you'll be under these circumstances once you grow older. And also..."

As she continued rambling as if she's very helpful in educating me, I was almost at the end of my last thread of patience. If I snap and Eldest does as well, nobody can stop me nor the deity here. I'm trying so hard to keep calm and the peace—

"Oh, I heard you frequently left the palace. That is so irresponsible in my humble opinion."

That's the last straw.

Hanging my head low, I took deep breaths before looking up to her. Klydeur seems to be watching our every move and reaction, but I won't give them the reaction they wanted.

Not yet.

Instead of fuming in anger, I flashed a smile. "That is very thoughful and generous of you, princess. You are so wise in my humble opinion. This must be why my brother has you as his assistant."

Ashley stared at me suspiciously, but decided to play along. "But ofcourse, your highness. It is talent."

I hummed. "I thought you were just a spoiled princess who likes causing troubles and be over dramatic about everything."

She and Klydeur glanced at each others, before she asked. "And?"

""

It was now my turn to smile widely, satisfied with the reaction I got. Poor prideful princess, now have an embarassed look befitting her face.

"And thanks to your brilliance, my brother now got a bit of your so-called-talent." I emphasized, no longer up for peace.

The least I can do right now is to hurt their ego with words. If I end up losing my rational and calm self, I have no idea what might happen. If Eldest has anger issues, I do too!

Klydeur looked at me with a hurt expression. "Brother, that's a bit..."

Now he is trying to play the victim card and point fingers at me? Well, I suppose the truth hurts.

I gave him a cold stare. "I do not tolerate such insolence, even if she's royalty in her empire. Remember," as I leaned forward to them, I could sense how tense he suddenly become. "This isn't her empire. She's not top priority."

"But she's a princess, and the Empress chose her to be here!" Klydeur argued, not wanting to back out. "Why else would she be here if she's not top priority?"

"Dear brother, she is here not because she is prioritized, but because she is used." I responded in a matter of fact tone. "Had she been useless, she wouldn't be here in the first place. And fret not, I am not concerned of what will become of her, so pardon me."

Eldest unexpectedly cackled, as if she's enjoying the situation. "So this is how an intellectual fights back. My anger issues are getting satisfied. Go on, slap them more words!"

Here I thought she'd join me. She's better at dissing people. The battle will surely be legendary.

"Why is it that you always fight whenever you see us?" Ah, look at this kid. Now he's using the guilt-trip and uno reverse card.

Maybe I was a little too harsh? Should I just let this slide again? But if I do, they'll think I'm this easy to manipulate.

"."

From the last statement, it somehow triggered something within me. It felt offensive, and I don't know how to explain it. Strange. Maybe that's why I felt myself moving on its own to strangle him.

Klydeur looks surprised, and soon my hand gripped his neck tightly, slamming him down the floor. None of them was able to react faster than him.

"ACK! What—"

"Before accusing me, try to look for your faults." I kneeled down as I hissed at him. I can feel my heart beating too fast for some reason.

"If you can't handle the aftermath, do not provoke me beyond this matter, Klydeur."

He struggles to break free from my hold, eyes squinted at me and forehead creased. "Even if...you are the crown prince, harming me...is still punishable!"

"One more thing," I let go of his neck, but before he can sit up, I held his jaw tightly, making him look at me. "You say I wasn't like this before as if you know me well enough. Too bad, that statement applies to you."

His silver eyes, however, stared at me with such hatred and malice. I couldn't even compare mine with his, but I can say we are equally frustrated at this point.

" weren't like this before, Klydeur." I remarked, before tilting my head on the side. "Or have you always been like this?"

He didn't respond, so I can't conclude it as a yes or no answer.

Harshly letting go of his face, I stood up and looked down on him. Only then did I realize that Ashley was screaming so loudly that it attracted the maids and other knights' attention. She hurriedly helped my brother, glaring at me.

I felt a pat on my shoulder, noticing it is Eldest. With a sigh, the situation only dawned on me this late. I'm glad to be able to vent out my pent up frustration, but I'm so screwed.

I smiled at her awkwardly. "Any tips how to redirect this mess?"

Haha. I got physical there. No lie.

"Your highness!" The best actress awards probably goes to Ashley, if the Oscars existed in this world. Not only did she look pitiful, she even effortlessly shed crocodile tears!

Dang it, if Eldest were to put up an act like that, I'm not sure if everyone would believe it. I mean, no offense! She'd probably be the one to make others cry!

But if it is Ashley?

She did a good job trying to act all goody shoes around others that I can't possibly accuse her to be the starting point of this mess.

And Klydeur has a point. Assaulting an imperial member is still punishable, even if I am the crown prince. My rationality got pushed down and my emotions poured out unknowingly.

But do I regret it? Well, I'm not sure.

I don't know how to explain it. The rage within me felt really strange. In one hand, it feels offensive that I got frustrated. While on the other, it feels like a pent-up anger of someone who wasn't able to vent it out for so long.

Is it, perhaps, the real Clydeur's emotions?

The knights carefully approached us as the maids tried to help Klydeur to stand up. Geez, he got choked, not disabled. You should worry for his head slammed down the floor and not his damn legs.

And as if the heavens is mocking me, all the maids are from Klydeur's side. Which means whatever happens here will probably go to my brother's favor.

But certainly, those eyes and ears must be on their way to inform that person. I just have to hold on a bit longer.

"I-I'm alright." Despite the look of pain evident on his face, he flashed a smile at them. This gave him plus innocent points, while they're probably suspicious of me.

"Crown prince, please tell us what happened." One maid, whom I'd assume is bold enough to question me, dared to even narrow her eyes at me.

Looking back at the pitiful duo, I sighed. "An imperial slander and assault."

Everyone gasped at my response. Klydeur went stiff, silently glaring at me for a split second. He must have not expected that I'd answer the question honestly.

"Tend to the 2nd prince, and," giving a meaningful look towards Eldest, she looked back at me before giving me a firm nod. "Make sure you don't bring the princess with you."

As soon as Eldest went her way to what she needs to do, silence ensued in the hallway.

The latter froze on her spot, and instinctively, the maids look hesitant as they blocked my view to the princess. "M-May we know why?"

"We need to talk. Afterall, she's the one who, once again, slandered a member of the imperial family." I reasoned, which is valid anyway.

However, the maids got the gist of the situation. Klydeur glanced at them, and the maid who questioned me, once again, asked a question. "If we may give our opinion, it seems there is a misunderstanding on this matter."

Despite feeling annoyed, I wanted to hear their reason. "And that is?"

"The princess is still young and stressed to be far away from home. She must have rebelled and said words she truly didn't mean." The maids then all bowed down.

"Please have mercy and forgive the princess."

"Brother, I am at fault." As if the maids didn't get into my nerves, he becomes an addition to it. "I should have taught her better. No, I should have stopped this mess from happening. I am so sorry, forgive me brother."

With the situation infront of me, my emotions are now in a mix. They were the ones who always plotted the disasters in my life. Not only do they harbor ill intentions towards me, they also openly insult me and then act as if they're the victims.

So much so that right now, I feel like a villain. Was speaking up and talking back to them a bad idea? Or should I have stopped myself, no matter how strange it felt, from strangling Klydeur?

I thought we could be good now. I thought maybe I'm wrong. That maybe there's a chance...

"Your highness, please be wise as to not choose violence."

Hearing that was enough for me to confirm that the maids knew what happened. Did they expect me to physically fight back? Or was it just coincidental?

Right now, I feel powerless. Even with my title as the crown prince, the moment I face the enemy without any of my allies around me, I feel trapped and cornered.

The knights, however, silently stood in a corner. Must be nice to stay neutral in this mess.

Before I can say anything, I heard the clacking sounds of someone walking down the hallway. They must be wearing heels for it to sound like that.

The vibes mysteriously turned even more sour and gloomy the moment they realized who it was. The knights saluted and bowed, while the maids remained bowing down.

Ashley had no choice but to curtsy with a bow as well, while Klydeur and I looked at the person who have control and power over us.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Empress, Aureus, finally showed up to stop the dispute between brothers.

Haaaa, took you long enough.

"M-Mother, I—" before he can say more, the Empress walked past him and went straight to the princess. The maids didn't dare protect the latter anymore as she was forced to look up by the hair.

"Your majesty..."

Aureus stared down at her pathetic state. "I believe I gave you a final warning. Don't take my words lightly." As she caressed the latter's face, Ashley could only stare at her. "Even a princess like you could lose your title."

"Your majesty, please, I do not mind getting punished! But please, hear me out!"

My chest suddenly felt heavy. Do I feel nervous, you ask? Hell yeah! That's the Empress right there! We don't even know whether she's really in favor of me or Klydeur.

Aureus squinted her silver orbs. "Why should I? You already lied once, it wouldn't be a surprise if you lie again."

"Please! The crown prince himself stated that the situation is because of an imperial slander and assault!"

Once again, the Empress nonchalantly responded. "I know. News get through me faster than what you think. I'll be hearing everything from him." Glancing at the knights, she gave them a signal.

"Ah!" As soon as she released Ashley's hair, the knights grabbed her, before dragging her into the place probably called dungeon. "No! Let go of me!"

Her red and orange eyes suddenly brighten, and I realized it too late.

An explosion was enough to blow away the poor knights who were only doing their job. I almost forgot, this Florida princess can control the element of the fire. She's fierce as a fire, indeed.

Klydeur looks pale. "Wait! Please, listen to me, mother! I beg of you." His worried look made them feel pity for the white prince.

And here I am, silently groaning on the sideline. How long am I gonna stand here for?!

The Empress briefly glanced at him. "Speak."

"Ashley only talked back to brother, b-because he started it first."

Dafuq?

Everyone soon landed their judgemental gazes at me, that includes Aureus whose eyes are fixated at me. I stood my ground, not showing any hint of nervousness despite feeling like I'll almost faint.

Klydeur continued his smooth lie. "We met at the hallway as we were walking, and I greeted him. He only smiled at me sarcastically and didn't greet back, so I let it slide."

Oh, so I looked like I flashed a sarcastic smile. My bad, how would I know when I've dealth with enough bullshit for a day?

"Ashley also inquired about brother's condition since he looked pale, but he dismissed it and offended her first. She only fought back for both our sakes!"

Uh, but my response was normal? She's literally the one who claimed to be not concerned. Spouting nonsense and treating me like an idiot. Well, I did went overboard afterwards, I guess.

"Brother, please don't abuse your authority." Klydeur pleaded, teary-eyed. "I won't put punishment on you for strangling me, so please help me spare Ashley! She's my only friend!"

Silence ensued, with everyone believing his scripted lie. I'm not certain if it also applies to the Empress. I stood there, still and silent, speechless from how he can easily deceive others.

And now I had a thought, did the original Clydeur went through this shit too?

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