In the Empire of Aradhya...

“Your Majesty, though we all agree that the current Crown Prince has some great capabilities, that’s only when it comes to conquering lands. However, he doesn’t seem to have any talent for ruling one,” criticized Duke William.

“I agree, your majesty,” Countess Victoria seconded. “I heard that he went to a foreign land to chase after some woman, completely neglecting his duties as the crown prince!”

The Emperor’s eye turned grim as he listened to the members of the Council of Nobles grumble. It was always like this. In the absence of the crown prince, they criticize him, but in his presence, they were as meek as lambs.

Duke William bowed deeply toward Emperor Marius. “If I may be so bold to say, your majesty, I think the second prince is better suited for the crown than the first prince. Though the second prince is still young, he has been showing a rare intelligence that makes him a better fit as an emperor.”

“Have you all forgotten the law?” joined yet another noble. “Only the offspring of the empress can inherit the throne. which means there is no other rightful heir than our current crown prince!”

Though he sounded like he was siding with Crown Prince Aleric, the emperor knew he was actually on their side. He couldn’t help but be disappointed with these subjects of his, who, because of greed, would use an eight-year-old child to further their gains without batting an eye. From there, Emperor Maruis could already guess where this argument was heading.

“That is why we propose that Lady Fabia be conferred as the new empress,” said Countess Victoria. “Lady Fabia is a respectable and kind lady. She will do nicely as the mother of our empire.”

The emperor held his head as it throbbed. He wished they would shut up, or he might really end up acting in a way unbecoming of an emperor.

Meanwhile, Lady Fabia, who was sitting on a distinguished seat below the emperor and empty empress’ throne, shifted in her seat at the mention of her name. She tried to retain a humble attitude, as if all of these didn’t matter to her.

“Your majesty,” Countess Victoria continued, softening her voice as she tried to look as empathic as she could. “We are well aware that the crown prince loved her mother, the late empress, quite dearly and doesn’t want anyone else sitting on his mother’s throne. But he is no longer a child, and we no longer need to give in to his tantrum. We’ve already left the empress’ throne empty for quite a long time.”

Emperor Marius’ eyes flashed red at the mention of his late wife, whom he dearly loved. He glared at Countess Victoria. He was about to open his mouth to speak when the giant doors of the throne room were pushed open.

“I was just out for a month, and already this council has become more audacious.”

Everyone’s eyes almost fell out of their socket at the sight of the person whom they never expected to see. The room fell into silence.

Only the sound of the person walking, his footstep echoing on the marble floor, could be heard. He paused when he reached the place where Countess Victoria was, whose face had now turned deathly pale, and smiled.

“What was it that you suggested to my father? I couldn’t quite hear it from behind those thick doors. Repeat it for me,” he commanded with a smile that did not reach his dangerous eyes.

Relief washed over the emperor’s face when he saw his son. Had he not arrived, he might’ve ended up blowing up after what the council had just suggested.

“Crown Prince Aleric, we were merely suggesting that the empress’ throne not be left empty. It’s been years since the late empress left this world, and there are certain things in the empire that can only be done by an empress.” It was Duke William who spoke, saving Countess Victoria, who seemed to have lost her tongue in the presence of the crown prince.

Aleric nodded his head as though thinking. “And you think Lady Fabia is the right person for this role.” He shot Lady Fabia a glance, who was sitting meekly below his father’s throne.

She kept her silence while the council debated for her sake. She maintained a benevolent facade to show that she was content with her position and only wished to serve the emperor out of love—a farce that often makes Aleric want to puke.

“Of course, your highness. Lady Fabia is..."

“The woman who climbed my father’s bed while he was drunk in his sorrow for my mother’s death,” Aleric cut Duke William off. “If that is what you are trying to say, I agree.”

Their mouths fell open at the crown prince’s coarse words. Meanwhile, Lady Fabia’s face turned bright red at the mention of the shameless deed she had been trying so hard to bury.

“Please mind your words, your highness. Ehem, you’re still the crown prince.” The Emperor coughed, embarrassed by his mistake that led to this current situation.

Stolen novel; please report.

Aleric ignored his annoying father and looked at the cowardly council. “You’ve already forced my father into making her a concubine in the name of the so-called law. And it seems that gave you the confidence to further push your luck. Now you want to crown her an empress and make her equal to my mother?”

He swept his gaze toward the crowd. The guilty ones quickly averted their gazes, unable to look him in the eyes.

“My mother was intelligent, wise, beautiful, and respectable. To allow a woman who snaked her husband the moment she left this world to sit on her throne is nothing but despicable. The whole lot of you seem to really love disrespecting the late empress.” Aleric’s voice became cold and dangerous, causing everyone to shiver.

Even the emperor felt a slight tremor in his heart when he looked at his son, who seemed to be ready to massacre everyone in the room if they continued to force their way.

“Crown Prince, I know that you hated me, but apart from bearing another child for your father, what wrong have I exactly done against you?” Lady Fabia spoke against her better judgment, her eyes teary, making her look small and helpless against Aleric, who was famed for being a tyrant. This caused the surrounding people to pity her.

Seeing how poor Lady Fabia was being treated, Countess Victoria finally found her courage and spoke, “Crown Prince, how can you bully your father’s concubine like that?" She then looked at the emperor. “Your Majesty, are you just going to watch while your son bullies your wife? Even if you don’t love her as much, she is still the mother of your child!”

The emperor’s eyes darkened. “It is because she is the mother of my child that her head is still intact despite my eldest son aching to tear it off her neck, Countess Victoria.”

Lady Fabia shivered as he looked at Crown Prince Aleric, whose cold and emotionless eyes stared back at her. She unconsciously touched her neck and looked away.

“It is best for you to remember that I only have one wife, and that is the late empress. No one else!” The emperor warned. At that very moment, they saw a glint of resemblance between the crown prince and the emperor.

Everyone inside the room fell silent. They had never seen their emperor this angry before. It was also because they knew that the emperor was extremely kind that they had the audacity to say what they had previously said. But who would have thought that Countess Victoria would end up stepping on the emperor’s sore spot?

Countess Victoria quickly spoke in a stuttering voice, “Y-yes, your majesty.”

Aleric looked at the trembling countess and commanded, “Leave us. I want to speak with my father alone.”

The council members wanted to tell Aleric that they could not be dismissed without the emperor’s command, but they swallowed their words and retreated.

The emperor’s shoulder sagged the moment the councilors left. “When are you planning to let me retire?” He sighed.

“Why the hurry? Don’t you like being the emperor?” Aleric smiled mischievously.

Emperor Marius glared at his son. “You ingrate! You saw what happened just now. Do you think that was enjoyable? All I want right now is to sit idly in your mother’s garden and pass the time until I can be reunited with her.”

Though his words were the truth, they were also meant to console his son, who can be quite petty when it comes to his mother. He still remembered how Aleric made all his attendants go on a holiday while giving him more work after he once sided with that concubine. That horrific week still makes him shiver every time he remembers it.

“I don’t think Mother will accept you for how you betrayed her,” Aleric said sarcastically.

The Emperor sighed in frustration. “How many times do I have to tell you that it was a mistake? I was mourning for your mother and got drunk. The next thing I knew, I woke up to that hateful woman lying by my side. Though the law forced me to make her my concubine after bearing my child, I never accepted her, nor did she have any space in my heart. I am and will always be loyal to your mother!”

Aleric nodded his head as if thinking about it, then smiled and said, “I think you can serve a few more years as an emperor to show your sincerity towards Mother.”

“My son,” emperor Marius held Aleric’s hand. “How about I just go and kneel in front of your mother’s grave? Just take this crown off of me. I’m going crazy just trying to remember the number of territories we have, and yet you kept adding one after another. Do you really plan on working me to death?”

Aleric placed his hand on top of his father’s and said, conceding. “Just until the future empress can get used to the culture of the palace and get ready for her responsibilities. How about it?”

He knew how much his father worked his hardest all these years after he threw one land after another to add to their territory. Thanks to his father, the empire was stable despite the fractures in culture and beliefs between some of their acquired territories.

The emperor’s shoulder eased. “Alright, that’s a deal.” Then his eyes went wide when he realized. “Wait, future empress? You finally found a suitable wife?”

Aleric smiled mysteriously. “If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave. There are still a lot of things I need to do and so little time.”

"Hey, you ungrateful son! You can’t just say something like that and leave!”

Aleric simply waved his hand and left through the side door. He was met by Vernon, who was patiently waiting for him on the other side.

But the moment Aleric closed the door, he quickly fell on his knees. The color on his face completely vanished, while his legs trembled.

Vernon quickly ran to his side and helped him stand. “You forcefully traveled such a long distance. Your magic is completely drained, yet you still went and attended the morning assembly even when you didn’t have to. For what? Just so you could spite them?" He lectured.

“Well, it was worth it…” he coughed repeatedly.

Vernon rolled his eyes as he helped the crown prince to a secret chamber under the palace. It was a room he often used to recuperate from his wounds without anyone knowing. He helped Aleric on the bed and quickly turned all the Mana lamps on.

Aleric instantly felt better, his breathing slowly going back to normal.

Mana lamps aren’t simple lamps. When used by magicians, it can help them advance faster in their cultivation, heal their wounds, or restore their magic quickly. But some merchants also sell them as luxury goods to rich nobles as some sort of eternal lamp that does not die out.

However, only if it is used by a person without any magic will it last for eternity.

“It seems that they forgot to replace the Mana lamps after we left for Learia,” Vernon said when he noticed the dimming lights of the lamps. “Stay here. I’ll get some new ones.”

Aleric waved his hand and shooed Vernon away. “It’s not that I have a choice,” he said in a weak voice, closing his eyes.