Emperor's invitation.

It has been five years since I came to this world.

For me everything is the same. I mean suffering, it isn't new for me. Like my past life I'm going through the same situations. Only difference is that the level of misery is less here.

Even though I'm trapped into a similar cycle again. Still I don't have any dejection because in this life I've met a beautiful soul and a friend. 

My twin brother, Ethan and our friend Lexi. 

My brother Ethan. When I opened my eyes. The Very first person whose face I'd seen. It was him.

At that time, He was such an adorable creature. He was smiling at me. His big round golden eyes were like fireflies. His face was plumpy and lovely. 

Even after five years he still has that captive face and glorious aura. Unlike me his face is too radiant and bright. Compared to him I have the hollowness and gloominess around me.

Although we are twins. But we have different appearances from each other. He has golden hair and eyes whereas My hair was black and eyes are too dark. 

If I talk matter to factly, He attracts light Whereas I, I'm the symbol of darkness. When I'm a dark black night then he is the first warm ray of the sun. 

Still, I couldn't deny that he is the brightest star of my life. He always comes to me whenever he is happy, sad or hurt. He talked with me for hours though he knew that he would not get a single proper reply.

Honestly having him is a blessing and I'm really happy with this little creature.

…

Though he has always been a high-spirited little thing. But Today his excitement was touching the sky. 

The reason behind his stimulation was the invitation which we got from the emperor. He ordered us to visit him and had dinner with him.

However, it made me worried. The Emperor has no interest in us. Why does he suddenly want to have dinner with us? It was suspicious.

When I was doubting the emperor's intention, Ethan was overwhelmed with excitement. His action was obvious. 

He is a kid. So naturally he had a soft spot for the emperor because he was our father.

Sadly he wasn't aware how many times his father attempted to kill him. He didn't know how many times he sended Yama to us. 

But, I couldn't blame him for his silliness because he was a simple child who was longing for his father's affection. His excitement wasn't unexpected. Moreover it was me who didn't tell him the truth. I never mentioned him. How many vicious ways the king held to finish us off mercilessly. 

"Charlotte! Are you not happy? He invited us finally to meet him." Ethan's voice ringed in my ear. 

I turned her head towards him and saw his golden eyes. They were shining. 

I nodded while looking at the coat which he held in his hand. It was brought by the head maid a year ago. It was a little dirty and some holes were there. 

'Ethan! You are gonna attend the dinner with this? Though they are thinking of filthy bastards, if you go with them they will definitely think us more heinous than filthy bastards.' I wanted to explain the reality to Ethan. But I swallowed her words, I didn't have the energy to speak this much.

I looked at the coat again. To think the emperor wasn't interested in us. He was still spared the same amount of money as other princes and princesses. 

Actually, The head maid was the one who supervised our custody while the budget was provided by the emperor every month. She worked under the empress. Hence everything was indirectly handled by the empress. 

Because the empress usurped all the money, So  it was so hard to do the basic needs. Hoping to get some clothes was like hoping for pigs to fly. 

Thinking about the empress, She didn't hesitate to devour the money of two children. 

What a corrupt empress.

I wonder how she ran the country?

"Charlotte! Hadn't I said, he loved us.  We are his children and he is our father." He continued.

His voice seemed full of confidence as if he was certain of this point that the king would welcome us with his open arms. 

I really wanted to allude to the father he was talking about, he saw us as the pathetic illegitimate things. However I kept my mouth shut like I always did and nodded. 

"After this meeting I will show Lucus that father cares about us as well." He opened his mouth again. 

I looked at him. The words he said were simple. After all, He is a five years old child and his sentence matches his age. If he has a little more mindset like an adult then he would have assumed that if the king had a tiny level of concern towards us then he would have neglected us for five years. 

He suddenly ran close and grabbed my hand. "Charlotte! Let's do our best to win his love. He is our father and he can protect us." 

'Protect us!' this buzzed in my mind. At first I was thinking he was happy because of his father's invitation. But after hearing him I'm certain, it was definitely Lucus who put some weird ideas in his mind. That's by, He is saying we should win the emperor's love. 

Lucus, he is the fifth prince. He is two years older than us. Even though he is just a seven years old child. I could say he had an evil mind. He loves to mislead Ethan. 

"Don't listen to Lucus. Ethan" I opened my mouth. I'm not able to describe how hard it was for me to speak those words. Actually in this life, I didn't know why but I was unable to communicate with someone. I had a nauseous feeling whenever I spoke. 

"He said if we get father's favor then we will receive good food and the head maid will not beat us." 

I could read hope and earnestness in his eyes. I don't get it why? Why does he always believe Lucus? Because of him we have gotten beat many times by the head maid. Couldn't he understand Lucus had ill intentions towards us. 

I was about to speak further but All of sudden a voice interfered. 

"What are you two doing?" We both turned our heads and looked at him. It was Lexi who had just entered the room with his mother Mona. 

Mona was our neny. She and his son were the only ones who had sincerity for us. Well all other maids also behaved with us nicely and the reason was, Ethan's beauty.

"The Emperor invited us for dinner." Ethan reported.

And I nodded. 

"Why?" Only one word came out from Mona's mouth. 

Lexi was also staring at us. He was surprised as well. Since he was four years older than us and had a good ability to observe situations. Thus  he could assume how implausible our father's summon was. 

Mona dashed towards us. I was sitting on my bed and Ethan was sitting right next to me. She came close and sat on her knees then hugged us. "Why? Why so suddenly?" She muttered. Her voice sounded as if someone bad was coming.

"Is there something wrong? Mona." Ethan asked first. His voice was too bland while his eyes filled with innocence.

However Mona didn't pay attention to his demeanor. Since she was too anxious to see his cuteness. "We couldn't help it. if this is order for His mystery then we have to follow it no matter what." She membled. 

"Mona! What are you bubbling?" Ethan questioned.

"Listen to both of you carefully. Try to speak less in front of him and don't complain about anything  to him. Behave properly and be aware of everyone." 

Mona words are hard to understand for Ethan but I deemed them perfectly. She was emphasizing to not complain because he knew everything about us. Yet he decided to overlook it. Hence there would be no point in kicking up a stink in front of him. 

Moreover she was warning us to be alert from other members of the royal family. 

I nodded while agreeing with her each term. 

"You should be more careful. Ethan." Lexi joined.

And Ethan pouted as he heard them. There were so many 'why' written on his face.

They were about to explain him further but in the middle the head maid had popped up. "Prepare them. I will take them to the emperor." She roared with her haughty voice. 

Mona and Lexi bowed their heads to her, then Mona took me to bathe and Ethan was taken by some other maids.