On the other hand, the Yushon Duchy, where Lativ is located, are more anxious and worried for their son, who will now be forever locked up in a castle full of beasts. Ehem. This poor child, how easy for him to become a prey? Her mother's eyes reddened.

"Ah, my son, I am so saddened; this can't be!"

Lativ's mother sobbed.

"Ugh, Mother, I'm not a princess locked in a castle!"

"But you will be!"

"…" I'm a man! A man! Not a soft boy! Not a girl! A man! Sobs.

"Aiya, my poor child!"

Sniff.

"…"

Lativ looked at the maids behind them; they were crying along with his mother.

"Young Master, you are so dear to us. Why must you leave!"

"Such a sweet boy. How unbecoming!"

"..."

Ahhhh. I'm not dead! Father! Father will surely--whiff.

"…"

His father just calmly sips his tea on the table. A blatant gesture he is ignoring him.

"Father~."

This is unfair! He should be more reasonable than me; why doesn't he help me, his son? After her mother cried her heart out for about an hour or so, making him stiff and rigid, her mother finally stopped. Feeling exhausted, she returned to her quarter and slept.

Only then was Lativ left alone with his father.

"I hate you."

The Duke Yushon smiled gently, "My son is still adorable."

"…"

Lativ gritted his fist. "Father, aren't you worried I will sell our family?"

"No."

What's that bland answer?

"Aren't you worried that your son pledged allegiance to the Emperor?"

"No."

"…That we are now from the Imperial Faction?"

"No."

"Ahh! Your son is serious! I sold our family! That wicked Emperor is too strong! I'm worried to death, and that's only your reaction?!"

Lativ wants to rip his hair in frustration. Why is this old man unreliable these days?

"Father, why don't you advise me like you did before?"

"Didn't you handle it properly?"

"Huh?"

His father put down the paper in his hands containing the events of the next banquet.

"You didn't do wrong. You were conned by the Emperor, but you handled it well to survive. That is enough for now."

"…"

So, his father really thought he couldn't make it and was preparing a coffin for him in advance?

"Gahhhh."

The Duke laughed.

"Don't be so upset, my child. It's not your fault; you did the right thing to help our family survive."

"Father…"

He is so useless. He needs more experience!

Seeing the worried expression of his son, Duke Yushon sighed in his heart. He and his wife had always kept his son in a quiet place, behaving as unrecognizable as always and always succeeding. It was appalling to him when his son was directly called to meet the Emperor. Now, not only the Six Officials have their eyes on their duchy, but all the nobles.

"To be honest, I already know there will be a day when we must choose which side we should belong to."

But not the slightest bit would be the direct calling of the Emperor.

"What do you mean by that?"

The Duke glances at Lativ slightly as if looking at an ignorant student.

"Even though we say we are neutral, we often have another option in mind. That is our last resort if neutrality is broken."

Just like now, at first, as a Duke, he feels it's more beneficial to side with the Noble Faction. Well, it abruptly changed.

"It's not bad."

"It's…It's not bad? Not bad?!"

Lativ flailed his hands. "What if the Noble Faction will be losing? We are dead!"

"Fathe--! That hurts!"

Duke Yushon playfully knocked his head.

"You stupid child, how dare you shout at your father. You dare to even be outspoken about two different factions?"

"Apologies…"

"Hmp. Raising you well was not in vain. Just do what you're told to do; however, if you need help, just send me a letter. Hmm, it's tough when you live in the palace. Be patient; the letters might be taken for verification in a long time."

"But, but what did I do? Was he moved by my words?"

Lativ asked anxiously.

"The way you explained how you spoke to him a while ago, not an ounce. Did you add another word, even your manner of gesture?"

"Of course not!"

"Then he was moved by how foolish and quick-witted you are. To think the Emperor likes that effect, or was it on a whim?"

"Wha?"

Lativ was devastated. He has always practised speaking intelligently and wisely like his father and acting like an adult, but it seems in the eyes of the Emperor that he is just a harmless and clumsy bunny. Wahh.

"You did well, my son."

"…" Hic. No, I felt insulted.

"Don't be saddened. It was exemplary to avoid being a threat to his rule."

The Duke said, patting Lativ's back. "You should go now. The carriage is waiting; do send my regards to the Emperor. It's a great honour to serve him."

Lativ made an ugly face at his father, who laughed it off, touching his son's shoulder, his face turning serious. "My son, no matter what happens, you must, you must always survive first."

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Father?"

"As long as you survive, nothing else matters."

Lativ doesn't understand what his father is implying; all he knows is that it must be grave, and he needs to dig his own graveyard to lay his coffin comfortably in it.

"I will!"

"Mhmmm."

Yet Lativ didn't know when his father hugged him, a shadow cast in Duke Yushon's face.

***

"This would be your room, young Duke."

Butler Xiwen was guiding Lativ to the East Wing, where the Emperor was. Keeping his distance, Lativ was curious and amazed by the palace's architecture. Excluding how gloomy it is, as if it were an extravagant palace in a graveyard veiled in deathly allure, the structures and precious things here were quite the sight.

"Why don't I see any servants?"

He mumbled.

"We have few maids, footmen, and valets in the palace, maybe just five hundred."

"That's…"

He forgot that the Butler was a pretty fearsome person in the past. His sense of hearing is as sharp as he heard.

"Less than your household, you may say?"

"Um."

This Butler just read his thought! Was it so obvious? They have about a thousand servants to manage their estate; how much more does the palace, which is the largest household in this empire?

"They're all capable and not much to be taken care of in this palace anyway."

"Oh, hehe. I see."

Lativ sweated a bucket.

It was known for nobles, the more you have a connection, and closer to the ranking of aristocrats, the more you would know much his father had tortured him for three days as soon they went out of the banquet to know everything about what had happened in and out of the palace, separating rumour, truth, and unsure of how accurate the information is.

One of the truths is that all the palace servants are from pureblooded noble lineage from the three highest ranks: Duke, Marquess, and Earl. Even though they are maids, they still are one of the social standings and are an honour to each family.

The Archduke is distinctive because he is above all the highest ranks under royalty.

"Pardon, if it is alright, I have a question."

Butler Xiwen glanced at Lativ, and a small, lopsided smile appeared. Hah. What a curious child.

"As long as it's not too burdening."

Not too burdening… How does the Butler know if it's too burdening? Lativ racked his brain, thinking about how his father did it.

"Can the palace's servants leave when they want to or if their family encounters something dangerous?"

Butler Xiwen stopped walking and faced him, frightening Lativ as if he shouldn't ask. "I'm sorry, I just asked something I shouldn't! Please don't tell the Emperor."

He's dead! That didn't last half a day on the first day, and he'll be returned as a corpse. No, no.

"I…I can keep my mouth barred till death!"

Butler Xiwen pursed his lips, chuckling a little bit, "I must have scared you."

"No, not at all."

Even though the Butler didn't say anything, his body already felt like he had an instinct that he shouldn't ask. Goodness, such a reaction should be done beforehand rather than after blurting it out.

"I won't ask such things again."

"Why? Would you know such questions before it was being said?"

"Uhh."

Well, no. Not really.

"Young Duke."

"Please call me Lativ."

"Then Young Master Lativ, as the one the Emperor has chosen to accompany him, you will know more about this kind of metiers. Can you bear the weight?"

In other words, the Butler is telling him about secrets he shouldn't know, secrets that mustn't be said to anyone, even his father and must be kept till he lives.

Lativ didn't expect to be the Emperor's companion, this cruel kid younger than him. It was a fact that anyone would fear to be even close to His Majesty, and he had killed many people. But so what? He is the Emperor, and… he doesn't seem to be an unreasonable person. It's alright, yeah, it, it's alright to follow him. I think...

"I will." Try...

His two words were laced with sincerity, and he smiled shyly at Xiwen, with the last one unsaid. "Besides, Butler Xiwen thinks serving the Emperor is worth how heavy the weight is, right?"

Lativ still remembers the day he asked the Butler to serve the Adiand royalty, and he believes he is telling the truth.

Xiwen chuckled, "Indeed, you're right." Then he leaned in and whispered in Lativ, "The servants can go out if they will to."

Wills to.

Either they are permitted but still want to stay in the palace or…Lativ stiffened. Part of the uncertain paper he read is they were brainwashed, and even though they are out of that stage, they think it's expected to stay here forever. The fullness of his heart to serve the Emperor turned cold.

Mother and father, would he turn out like that? No, he shook his head. It would be better if he showed that he, the son of the Duke of Yushon, was more worthy than when he was brainwashed! Yes, we can do this. Hold your horses, Lativ, and brace the fullness of this darkened palace.

Lativ didn't even notice Butler's amused smile.

"Ah, apologies. I wan not in my sanity for a moment."

Recovering his posture, Butler Xiwen continued to guide him as they went along the aisle.

Uck, these walls and halls are ominous.