Lativ''s 13-year-old mind started to overthink.


    "Refreshments."


    Larak wanted to say something but bowed.


    Archduke Larak immediately bowed as he called for a servant to bring refreshments.


    "I didn''t know you have this type of innocence."


    Guren uttered as he observed Lativ. Other than his attentive eyes, he could sense the fear that he usually sees in most nobles.


    "You''re M-Majesty?"


    Was that even a compliment? Larak sweated.


    Hearing a sign, Lativ immediately bowed. He doesn''t know what is wrong, but something must be wrong!


    "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I have misspoken. Please grant me death!"


    Goodbye, mother, goodbye, father. Your son will proceed first. *internal cries*


    Stupid, you don''t even know if you''ve made a mistake.


    Guren fiddled with the tassel on his coat.


    "Death, huh?"


    An imperceptible emotion passed Guren''s eyes. "Indeed, death is such bliss for those who long for it."


    “…”


    "If you wish to die, die somewhere else."


    What? Does that mean he survived? Hooray!


    "…I will do my best, Your Majesty!"


    "I''m not deaf."


    "Y-Yes…"


    Larak lowered her voice.


    "What takes precedence, family or the Empire?"


    "Uh…"


    Lativ gulped.


    Erm.


    This is a rather sensitive question, especially since his father made him aware of how the Adiand royalty view… family. But for him to have grown up in a beautiful environment where his parents cherished and loved him, he would have done anything for his family.


    Thus, facing the young Emperor who holds every family in this Empire and his father''s warning just before he came here, he needs to watch what he should say.


    Firstly, how does he view it if he was in His Majesty''s shoes? What''s the benefit? No, in the first place, does he have the mind to be merciless as his Majesty to think about it?


    "Your M-Majesty, I think it would be bes--- "


    "Your Majesty, I''ve brought you some refreshments that go aside with this tea."


    Xiwen''s voice from the outside midway interrupted his struggling thoughts.


    Wow, what a relief!


    "Serve it."


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


    Two teacups were placed before Lativ and Guren, and some sweets were laid out. Lativ, an avid lover of confectioneries, was eager to savor his most favored cake yet couldn''t bear to do so.


    "Strange, I thought you like cakes as well."


    Eeep!


    "Ah, forgive me, Your Majesty, I like cakes. Ah no, what I mean is, it''s undeserving to not eat such delicacies with the Adiand Emperor even though I''m not yet an official."


    Guren glanced at Xiwen, who in turn pushed the cake onto Lativ''s side.


    "Please have a taste, Young Master. The Emperor himself likes this cake."


    The Emperor also likes this cake? Lativ could not help but compare Guren''s facial features and the still expression of the mannequin he sees in clothing shops.


    "Then I thank His Majesty''s generosity!"


    Isn''t it said that the best desserts and foods are always in the Imperial Palace? Yum!


    "Then tell me what you think."


    Lativ paused, gulping down his cake in one go; he could not avoid this topic.


    Placing the half-eaten cake on the table, he tried his best not to loudly clink his cup against the saucer, sipping his tea like an adult.


    "Answering the Emperor, in some ways, each land is divided into groups of people, each having a ruler. A nation could be seen as one family. Therefore, the Empire is more important in one singularity."


    "Then can you kill your little family for the sake of being one with the empire?"


    "I … I," Lativ laughed nervously, "Of course!" Not! I can''t bear to do it. But I don''t know? I must? Father, I''m not eloquent enough. No, I''ve been so rattled that I can''t think straight!


    "Is your family from the Noble Faction?"


    "Y-Yes…"


    "Do you think an Empire with two divided families is also important?"


    Lativ''s fingers dug into the fabric of his sleeves.


    The answer was clear as day. Although his father did not dive in further with him with these complicated details as an heir, it has been going on that the Imperial Faction and Noble Faction had been in each other''s throats, hidden under the guise of a harmonious veil.


    Don''t even talk about the Neutral Faction.


    "I, Your Majesty, whatever you will, I-I will do it. You are my Emperor."


    "It''s just a simple question."


    It''s not a simple question! Lativ wanted to cry. It is like asking him to kill his loved ones specifically and choose who to kill first. His mother or father? Aiya, he needs to think of an advantage for the Emperor. Think…


    "N-No. But if I may be bold enough to say … uh, this can be used as an advantage to know who is conspiring against who, and if the nobles are affiliated with the neighboring nations, we could take advantage of this. Who knows if someone is a double-edged sword?"


    His voice faded in the end.


    Come on, puffin up your chest, Lativ!


    Seeing that the Emperor was still silent, Larak continued, "It can be assumed that not all the supporters of the Emperor or dedicated to their faction are trustworthy. Other empires and kingdoms are watching as well."


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "Hmmm."


    "O-Of course, our Empire is powerful enough even with it''s just its terrain, so there''s no need to do that! It would be easy to w-weed out those planning a coup in one strike..."


    To think it was good to listen to his father''s words, Lativ hoped it would satisfy the Emperor.


    "If I kill your family right now for being one of the betraying family, what will you do?"


    It seems it''s not working…


    "Err."


    C-Calm down! This is just situational! Think, think like father! No, as an Emperor.


    Lativ exhaled deeply and looked into the Emperor''s eyes, "I will find out who the betraying families are and present them to you with evidence. I will do my best to know who is the most loyal to His Majesty the Emperor for my family''s survival. My, my…"


    Ah, forgive me, Father, please forgive me. I am truly sorry. I''ve set a huge boulder in our family.


    The Emperor''s pressure is very heavy; I can''t.


    Lativ bowed lowly before Guren, "We will forever be on Adiand''s side. If Adiand royalty lives, we will live; whoever wants to escape their faith, I, as the future heir, will do my best—no, I will absolutely hunt them down and...kill them."


    "You sound reluctant."


    Mommy, can I just be a strategist on the sideline?


    "I will use my hands to make them disappear, and they will never see the setting sun."


    For the sake of trees and grass, he is the same age as the Emperor.


    Even so, he had never killed a person or slapped a bug, and he never even killed an animal. How pathetic he must have looked in the Emperor''s face that commanded numerous legions, destroyed citadels, and killed countless people before coming here.


    "For someone who hadn''t witnessed death and hasn''t killed someone, you''re quite foolish and bold."


    I know it already; please do not add salt to my wound. Sob.


    "Y-Your Majesty, I''m sure Father would understand."


    "For the sake of your family, huh?"


    As Guren looked at the kneeling Lativ, he remembered the dream he had seen.


    A scene filled with fire and blood, and his frightened eyes now were so different from that dream. He roars cold and full of hatred, in the sky, attacking his enemies. The look in Lativ''s eyes in that dream was filled with raw anger, so different from what was presented before him.


    Would it regard his family that he became so in his superficial dream?


    "I was merely asking."


    Lativ, "…"


    When royalty merely ask especially if it''s His Majesty the Emperor, it isn''t the same as asking. Nevertheless, Lativ does not regret what he said. He might be weak now, but he will train hard! There are still people that he needs to protect.


    Lativ mulled over his next action so the Emperor''s interest in his family would fade until he was not concerned about them anymore. Wait, but if it will be like that, then does that mean their family would be listed among the people to die out of His Majesty''s indifference? He won''t get any prestige for his family.


    He snapped back from his reverie.


    "…Eh? Where? Where is the Emperor?"


    "The Emperor already left."


    Even Archduke Froiz was gone with only Butler Xiwen, who waited for him patiently and with a smile.


    "Eeek!"


    Lativ jumped slightly from his seat, hearing a voice behind him.


    Mother! Why must you scare this child inches away from my ear?


    "Ah, I''m sorry for being in a daze in front of His Majesty."


    Lativ tapped his beating chest, which had just returned to its heart.


    "You did well."


    Butler Xiwen spoke kindly, his face lit up with a soft smile.


    Seeing how empathic Butler Xiwen is, Lativ''s anxious face broke, and a tear slid down his face when he felt the Butler''s gentle hand on his shoulder. Someone was able to empathize with my difficulties! Ah, mother, father, I survived!


    "Thank you! Thank you! Sob."


    His parents will not be ordering the servants to make his coffin at this juncture.


    "One of the servants will guide you back. May the heir of the Duke of Yushon enjoy the remaining time in His Majesty''s banquet."


    "Ye-Yes, thank, thank you." *sniffle*


    Lativ nodded enthusiastically while bowing deeply. You must be having difficulty serving the Adiand royalty, too, right?


    "Then I''ll take my leave."


    Butler Xiwen also bowed and replied. "Take care, young Duke."


    "Hik."


    My goodness, to think there is someone so nice to serve this scary, ehem, unfettered Emperor… Ugh, there is no time to dwindle over these kinds of things. Right now, he must return to his parents and discuss something important. He just sold their household because of his cowardice.


    As a man, he should take responsibility for his words. But before stepping out, he turned back and went closer to Butler Xiwen.


    "Sire, is it worth it to serve His Majesty?"


    This a passing question of a curious child who knows it will get him and his entire family in trouble yet still dares to ask. He does not know why, but this Butler seems kind. Exceptionally considerate.


    When Butler Xiwen heard the question, he was taken aback before a grin lit up his face. When he smiled, Lativ knew what his answer was.


    Yes.


    "Ahaha, apologies. My curiosity got the best of me."


    "It is nothing. That''s normal to ask."


    Normal… I don''t think so.


    "Yes, thank you once again."


    "It is an honor to talk with the young Duke."


    "Hehe, it''s my pleasure to meet you, venerable sir. Then I''ll go ahead first!"


    Maybe it''s not a bad idea to come here when there is someone like Sire Xiwen.


    Xiwen the Butler observed Lativ, who slowly disappeared in the corridors aided by a servant; eventually, Xiwen also made it to another entrance leading directly to the balcony.


    The soft, melodic music from the Baquet Hall could be heard in the distance, and the bright, twinkling lights illuminated the opulent gathering, a stark contrast from its dark and closed-off state in previous years. It''s strange to see such a gathering for the first time in years.


    "Your Majesty, I am here."


    "What did he say?"


    "The youthful duke was intrigued by the thought of directly assisting His Majesty."


    "You phrased it well."


    "This servant doesn''t dare to mix flattery in his words."


    Guren just waves his hand.


    "When he arrives, accommodate him."


    "Your Majesty?"


    Xiwen thought he took an interest in that innocent youth. Was he wrong?


    "That person is too lively."


    Guren cannot endure such a person. Why would he take this fellow if not for the strangeness of his dreams? Just thinking about those colorful expressions on his rabbit face, ugh.


    "Understood."


    Xiwen hid his smile. Isn''t this a wonderful situation for this gloomy place?