General Bezos of Ambrose had been so impudent when it came to the third battle of Karam with the barbarians at their border, such that when Emperor Heun was poisoned, the general took time to dispatch his soldiers and even a while longer to reach actual war scene to aid the men at border. Yet not only Ambrose was turned completely turned upside down, Gaerin too had become a playground for devils.

King Fleunix was killed by his own empress- Daphne and in turn her eldest son, the crown prince Kyzm sat on the throne yet what looked a magnificent victory was in reality a conspiracy to make the new King an escape goat.

"His highness Prince Vzeus, what must be done now?" Minister of War and several others like him had swore their allegiance to the eleventh prince in the battle to the throne yet it almost came as a shock to the old men when Prince Vzeus who had his men ready ordered to have them stationed at rest.

"Ambrose and Barbarians of the north are at war but one would want the officials to observe closely, the barbarians never had resources to fight a battle in the first place yet now they come forward to challenge Ambrose's mighty army......isn't that too strange for those coarse men who live in mountain to come up with such tactics, it is very much understandable that someone else if fanning the flames behind the scenes."

"The prince means?"

"Gaerin had long wished to acquire and unite the two lands from ancient Heriodonus, this prince fears that my dead father had too such foolish aspirations looking at his actual power. It must be my dead father- King Fleunix who had provided weapons and finances to the barbarians yet no matter how one looks at this.....its too impudent."

"The noble prince must forgive this official yet even if the late King had done such, it will only be beneficial for all of us.....Ambrose will never know that it was Gaerin, they wouldn't know King Heun was attacked by our weapons....after all they do not have the sight of holy Saintess."

When a member of council spoke as such Prince Vzeus threw his head back and laughed merrily.

"Holy Saintess?" Another round of laughter echoed making chills creep down the spine of the men as if in the laughter there was no humor but a whirlpool of wrath.

"It isn't as such?"

"Till Ambrose was attacked her highness Saintess would not even lift a finger but those foolish creatures had to go after the monarch- Emperor Heun. You all have spies surrounding every part of the empire yet you stay unaware of the workings....haven't we all heard a rumor that her highness has a child?"

"I-IMPOSSIBLE!" The ministers trembled being apprehensive of the words that might leave the mouth of the prince.

"That's right, Emperor Heun is the beloved of her highness Saintess and after attacking him a bloody war is knocking at our doorsteps. Emperor Zexzerus of Eastern deserts has also fallen into a state where even imperial physicians are rendered useless and there is a dispute with Daxtros.....this time those who shall be in power would have to pay a hefty prince. The commoners would be tortured the most for food is going to be scarce in the upcoming days and would eventually develop deep-seated hatred for the imperial family of Gaerin.....and eventually a rebellion.

This one must not act rashly and let Crown prince Kyzm carry all the sins on his head for this one, let him be an emperor for he is the one who would fight wars and lost his soldiers and honor....you all remember- retreat for now."

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PRESENT

"El-Elder brother...this..this has p-prepared a silk souvenir to tie around your sword for y-your victory." Princess Lilith was too little to grasp that why she had been sent to the Eastern deserts by her imperial father and mother when she was six yet as the years passed the mention of the birth parents also decreased and the honey-glazed eyed Lilith now avoided their names as much as she could.

As if a wound that hasn't been filled with time was again and again scratched to produce blood

General Casagon held the nine year old child's tiny fingers as he bent on his knees to peak into the shy irises of a sleeping dragon. As if the onslaught of events had crumbled the confidence and imperial grace of the princess, she looked at the ground observing leaf patterns not daring to meet eyes of her elder brother. Casagon sighed, he could not explain and elaborate on the events that the stubborn girl refused to acknowledge.

He could very well see that she was still fearful that he might abandon her thus tried to showcase her gratitude and behave well, stay farther away from mayhem and maintain her dignity and elegance......it was as if she wasn't a child and someone who had gone through various painful events of life and gained silence and wisdom.

"Last year you prepared an embroidered ribbon for your imperial father, would my precious sister give me a similar one this time too? What about Prince Vzeus?" Lilith did not replied for a moment, with fragile fingers an azure piece of sequoia silk was bound to the lethal double sided sword that quenched its thirst only with vermilion blood.

"E-Elder brother can request anything that you want this one to do, it took this princess almost a month to prepare a gift worthy of brother yet one believes that imperial father does not requires such lowly made fabrics from this servant......this one does not dares overstep boundaries and establish relations with his highness."

Those words were spoken with a melodic voice yet each syllable was akin to deep sorrowful tale. Prince Vzeus visited his daughter six times for Lilith only to bow down till he sat and refusing to say a word.

"Lilith.....you are his highness's precious daughter...if not you then who shall give him such intimate gifts?" Cocoa sun irises that were not looking at Casagon suddenly raised their stature as if a deep gash bared naked.

"Imperial highness Vzeus has no daughter, who is this lowly servant to establish relations. His highness has a son...prince Yialos who was born a month before this servant was thrown out of the manor."

Prince Vzeus who had brought a thousand brocades of silk fabric and several gifts was standing outside the chamber against the wall, listening to the conversation between Lilith and Casagon the one who could never be defeated in the world felt such excruciating pain that it brought tears in his eyes.

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Prince Yialos is Lilith's true sibiling❤