Chapter 28: New ve


    Who knew that man would actually keep his promise.


    Damian fulfilling his promise meant that ady acquainted with the Crown Prince had high value for him.


    I immediately left my room and arrived at the mansions main entrance, where the gift was said to be.


    Thump!


    What was ced there was an incrediblyrge box covered with a ck veil. The workers were breathing heavily as they wiped away their sweat.


    Wow, thats really heavy.


    My shoulders feel dislocated after carrying that here.


    I cant straighten my back.


    All of the workers doused their throats with the water canister hanging from their belts.


    Were you sent by the Grand Duke?


    The workers bowed to me, then questioned me in return.


    Are you Lady Aren Serkia?


    Yes.


    Its a pleasure to meet you, Mdy. We were indeed sent by His Grace.


    I see. Is this the gift?


    When I pointed to the box, the workmen exchanged nces with each other, then they removed the ck veil covering the box. What I thought was arge box was actually a cage with thick iron bars.


    !


    Inside the cage that should have contained a wild beast was a ve with tanned skin.


    His long, disheveled brown hair was the first thing to catch my eye. There were ropes binding the ves hands and feet. They were tightened to the point that I could even see traces of dried blood on his wrists.


    Damian had put on new clothes on the ve to make him seem more like a gift, but his arms, with bulging muscles and veins, had horrible wounds.


    Not to mention, the ve had a ck cloth over his eyes and a gag in his mouth. The gag was drenched in blood.


    He was really nning to gift this ve to the Crown Prince?


    It was to the point where I wanted to see what thoughts had been going through Damians head when he nned this. The more I stared at the ve in the cage, the more I could feel Damians cruelty.


    Master said to deliver this message along with the gift.


    ?


    That he wishes to meet Mdy as soon as possible.


    I felt nauseous as soon as I heard the workers message. But it was none other than me who approached Damian. I could no longer avoid my meeting with Damian.


    Damian, just as you have turned the crisis I have given you into an opportunity, I will also use this to my benefit.


    Its a difficult one to handle. Will you be alright, Mdy?


    I nodded to the worker.


    His Grace has also provided this along with the gift.


    ?


    The workers brought in arge box about half the size of a human.


    ck.


    Inside the box were dozens of containers with sharp needles attached to their ends.


    Theyre tranquilizers. Even the most savage of beasts turn into harmlessmbs with these. The effectsts 10 hours.


    The effect will take ce as soon as the needle enters its body. Of course, it wont harm its strong body in any way, so theres no need to worry. The tranquilizer is merely used to calm it down momentarily.


    This is too cruel.


    Feel free to visit the duchy any time you run out. Hes no different from a wild beast, so please be careful. Then


    Damians worker dumped the ve into my hands and left.


    Then I crouched down to take a better look at the ve trapped in the cage. At the same time, I heard Cassadins voice call out from behind.


    Sister.


    I flinched in surprise at the warm breath that grazed my ear, then I turned to look behind me. At some point, Cassadin approached me without making a single sound.


    Can you at least make a sound when you walk?


    Im afraid I cannot.


    Why?


    Because then I cant see Sisters surprised face.


    Cassadins eyes curved beautifully as he said so. His smile was so radiant that Cassadins smile was brighter than the sun in the sky.


    Is he, him?


    Cassadin looked down at the ve in the cage. His expression as he gazed down at the cage was so cold that for a moment, I was so confused about whether he was the same person who was smiling at me just a moment ago.


    Was he afraid a different ve might take his ce?


    I didnt n to adopt this ve into the family as I did with Cassadin. I didnt need another younger brother other than Cassadin.


    But it was because of the fact that this ve was caught by Damian, out of all people, that I felt a small amount of empathy for him.


    Damian had mentioned he struggled to prevent the ve from killing himself by biting his tongue. To think he attempted to bite his own tongue to die. How much did he suffer for him to make such a tragic decision?


    Just switching my gaze between the sharp needles and the figure in the cage made me feel like I was doing something cruel.


    What do you n on doing?


    I contemted Cassadins question for a moment before answering.


    Well, hes a gift.


    I called for some servants, the ones with especiallyrge and muscr bodies.


    So Ill get him washed and a change of clothes.


    Cassadins expression hardened. He must be worried that this new ve would endanger his status. In order to ease Cassadins concerns, I gently patted his wide back and said to him,


    Youre my one and only younger brother. So you dont have to make such an expression.


    Alright.


    After giving Cassadin several more pats, I ordered the servants to take the new ve into the most secluded room in the mansion.


    Clean him up as much as possible.


    Yes, Miss.


    <hr>


    While Aren was washing up the new ve, at the imperial pce


    Leon!


    The Emperors angry voice filled the entire throne room. In front of the Emperor, who was fuming with a reddened face, Crown Prince Leon looked incredibly bored.


    Why did you go to the Earl Serkia Family a week ago?


    Did you already hear about that?


    It hasnt been long since the poisoning incident. Just how much do you have to make me worry


    Wasnt it Father who ordered that woman to stay with me?


    Leons mouth curled up into a nt.


    Which is why I proposed to that woman to be the Crown Princess.


    Hearing Leons answer, the Emperors eyes widened significantly. The golden eyes that were identical to those of the Crown Prince trembled uncontrobly in anger. With shaking hands, the Emperor grasped his temples as he shouted,


    Are you truly out of your mind? One may think that the Crown Princesss title is for a pet dog. Do you think that is the reason why I ordered Lady Serkia to keep yourpany?


    Leon just shrugged at the furious Emperor.


    ording to Your Majesty, then Im just a dog that holds the title of Crown Prince.


    What?


    I always follow Your Majestys orders, and I cannot leave the pce without Your Majestys permission. The most I can do in this pce is hold banquets, isnt it?


    Leon scoffed. He had been filled with the Emperors affection since a young age. But that love was fake.


    What the Emperor gave to him as love was just affection out of duty for the Empress, who had passed away giving birth to him.


    Aware of this fact early in his life, Leon considered the Emperors attention troublesome.


    So is it your spite against me that you said such nonsense to Lady Serkia? You have gonepletely mad. It was my mistake making you Crown Prince.


    Your Majesty. Did you know? Lady Serkia rejected my offer. Isnt she such an interesting woman?


    Leon snickered to himself as if he found that funny.


    I would have actually lost interest in her had she epted my offer right away. And so, I have be interested in that woman.


    Then Leon approached the furious Emperor with his long legs. After stopping right in front of the Emperor, he whispered into the Emperors ear.


    The crowns prestige has already fallen due to the poisoning incident. In addition, Ive heard Grand Duke Daeus also filed awsuit not long ago.


    !


    To think that the mighty Emperor had chosen an innocent man as the culprit. The real culprit has still not been found, and only the crown was rendered a fool. Dont you think this could possibly ce the throne in danger?


    Leon! You dare!


    Unable to withstand his remarks any longer, the Emperor grabbed Leon by the cor. His golden eyes, zing with fury, reflected the Crown Princes cid expression.


    Your Majesty, take into consideration that someone may witness this sight.


    You dare say such things to the one who has raised you? And you call yourself the Crown Prince of the!


    I never wanted it.


    Leon responded coldly.


    Neither the title of Crown Prince nor your love.


    With those words, the strength in the Emperors hand clutching Leons cor disappeared. Instead of an expression full of rage, the Emperor seemed like an empty shell with his now despondent expression. It was as if his soul had slipped out of his body.


    Dont you think its about time you quit projecting Mothers image onto me?


    As soon as Leon mentioned the deceased Empress, the eyes on the Emperors wrinkled face trembled faintly.


    Taking onest glimpse at the Emperor, who was now lifelessly looking out into the void, Leon walked out of the throne room. But just before hepletely left the room, he turned his face and spoke to the Emperor.


    Ah, and I n to hold a banquet in the near future.


    Then the Emperors unfocused eyes fell toward Leon.


    No matter how far the prestige has fallen, I will need to show that Im well and alive in order to affirm to the people that the empire stands strong.


    If we dont have anything else to talk about, I will now take my leave. I request that you no longer call me for such trivial matters, Your Majesty.


    Without waiting for the Emperors response, Leon left the throne room.


    The Emperor merely helplessly watched Leon walk away. A singr sigh filled the silence of the throne room.


    Immediately after talking with the Emperor, Leon returned to his pce. Ignoring the various golden decorations and jewels that decorated his pce, Leon entered his bedroom.


    On the table right next to him was a sky-blue forget-me-not in a vase. It was the same flower that Aren healed with her abilities.


    Honestly, it didnt matter much to Leon whether the Emperor projected the dead Empress onto him or not. He just needed an excuse to hold a banquet.


    Lying down on his bed and staring at the forget-me-not with a gentle expression, Leon quietly muttered to himself.


    Aren Serkia.