The Fifth Prince is back
Chapter 26: The Fifth Prince is back
It's been more than a week since the events in the Dream Wall.
Vis and Miku had been adventuring with a clear goal in mind which was the Merthic Empire. They were already used to life outside and no problems other than some pests stopped their adventure.
Those pets were often people who just wanted to try their luck and get some free money from a feeble-looking man.
Not only was Vis small, but he also had a fragile-looking woman next to him. Both of them were clad in cheap clothes, so bandits and similar people had tried to get money from them.
All of them turned into zombies, then disappeared to the black book.
"We are much faster than before, so we will be in Merthic Empire's provinces soon enough," Vis uttered after drinking cold water. He and Miku became stronger after the events in Lula Tribe, their bodies so strong that Vis had been feeling like their adventure was on teleport mode.
Although he was far from actually teleporting, Vis became stronger and the already falling snow was even more nonsignificant than before.
"Master, I found a familiar face," Miku soon pointed her finger at the group far away from them. She had better eyesight and easily spotted the army's camp.
The army belonged to General Tomb and they were outside the Merthic Empire's provinces…
Vis sighed, "They must be looking for me then… Why would they leave their lands and camp here?"
He was so sure that Vis just didn't waste any more time, "Miku, return to me," Vis pointed his hand at the white-haired lady, then she disappeared to the black book. He then hid it in his sleeve and stomped his way to the army.
The goal was to return to the empire anyway and those people should tell him what was going on here.
If they weren't here for the fifth prince, then Vis would just use his royal status and use them to return…
They shouldn't be enemies, but if they were by any chance, then he would escape through his zombie army.
"Who is here?!" The closest soldiers roared in unison, then pointed their weapons at Vis.
Such a loud question and their vigilance forced Vis to take off his hoodie as fast as possible. After he displayed his face, the soldiers dropped their weapons and turned their eyes to General Tomb who finally showed off some relief on his face.
"It's you, the fifth prince… How could you just run away from home? It's too dangerous for a person like you…" There wasn't even a shred of respect the royal children would normally get from the soldier and general.
General Tomb just invited Vis to the camp and took out the hot coffee. Next to him was a comfortable seat made out of the wolf's fur that should warm anyone within.
Since Vis didn't expect any royalty treatment, "Yeah," He took the invitation and the seat next to the general tomb.
No one could sit next to this person like that, so Vis was someone between royalty and a normal person!
"Tell me who issued this search party," Vis asked, then took a sip of hot coffee. It shouldn't have any poison inside and if it were to have anything, then it should have some sleeping drug at most…
In this way, the fifth prince wouldn't escape away or he wouldn't throw any tantrum.
However, Vis was calm and didn't show any signs of escaping. He also approached the army first, so General Tomb just passed pure drink.
But inwardly, he was amazed that Vis could stay all in one piece in this cold environment.
The general answered, "His Majesty, The Emperor."
It was just an answer, but Vis felt his body shivering. Was it because of the general? Probably, but Vis also began to think a little too much.
He just hoped that The Emperor didn't plan anything.
-
[Merthic Empire's Capital - Tatee Capital.]
"It's just like in the memories," Vis had uttered this to himself after going through the capital's gates.
His soul assimilated with the fifth prince, but his memories were just too much for the nineteen years old soul. Not only that, but the fifth also gave up on his life, so Vis just relied on those if necessary.
His memories now flashed with the black castle, its capital, and people looking at him with disappointment and disgust…
This happened so suddenly that Vis stood in a daze while looking forward…
"The fifth prince?" General Tomb asked, his voice suspicious a little. He imagined the fifth suddenly turning around and doing its best to escape.
No one would find this surprising, but the prince just stood in silence.
It ended up with the general pulling Vis to the black castle.
"His Majesty, The Emperor can not receive any people right now," The old man with wrinkles all over his body announced before the emperor's chamber, then glanced at Vis with sheer disgust.
Just now, the old man checked Vis' bloodline and it barely got stronger! The awaited development in the wilderness didn't happen at all, so both the general and prince got coldly sent away.
On their way to Vis' mansion, the maid with black uniform appeared before them, "Miss Celes has called her son, Merthic M. Vis to her room."
"This is where we part," General Tomb nodded to the maid and said to the fifth prince who didn't show any emotion on his face. Many would think that the prince was exhausted from the long adventure, but General Tomb thought otherwise.
Although Vis' bloodline didn't increase nor his strength, the prince's personality changed greatly.
"Thanks for bringing me here," Vis nodded, then followed the maid.
Looking at his disappearing back, General Tomb added, "You have changed, so you want to change your weakness. If only the world and fate weren't so cruel…"
-
"I have walked for too long today," Vis laughed to himself.
He stood before the doors to his mother whose name was Celes. He knew her name and her personality well now.
Of all his memories, the cruel mother was the most vivid one.
He sighed and cheered himself, then opened the doors. There was no need to respect this woman or be even gentle with her.
In this room, there was only Vis and her, so he finally could speak what lay on his heart.
"Hi there," Vis smiled.
His casual greeting already brought displeasure to Celes' face.
She was a beautiful woman with sharp eyebrows and mesmerizing eyes that had a nice contrast. Such a contrast often charmed the emperor in the past, but the failure called Vis completely overshadowed her looks.
What he saw in those eyes was just the word 'Failure'.
Her appealing body also was nothing more, but just brief pleasure for a night…
All because of the failure…
Celes glared at Vis, noticing that he became a little higher. But what about his bloodline? As expected, it was as weak as ever. She couldn't tolerate it and turned her eyes to the window.
A faint breeze caressed her beautiful face, soothing her pain, "You can't even greet me anymore. What did you do after escaping? Did you turn into a bandit and live a lowly life? If yes, then kneel, touch the floor with your forehead and apologize a thousand times. Then, clear the floor, you're a failure."
"I had a great life, to be honest," Vis didn't move, his eyes just looking at the woman he should call 'mother'.
He noticed her round belly, so he quickly added, "You too must have been having a great time. Do you believe you will give birth to a descendant better than a crown prince?"
"I don't believe it. I am sure of it," Celes answered, "My whole misfortune had turned into you. Now, all I have left is the promising future… Don't you ever dare to come close to this child in the future?"
"Why the future? I can come closer to the co- Ah, what was your title?"
Celes turned her eyes to her son, glaring at him with hatred.
She was the concubine of the emperor, his beloved!
"Ah, I remember! Cocksleeve." Vis raised his finger as if he finally answered the right question.
"..." Celes' face paled, then distorted into the beast as even her hair seemed to move on its own. She was about to snap, but Vis already came closer to her. He put his hand on her belly, then looked deeply into her eyes.
She was taken back by such fast movement from the failure.
"I think hatred can negatively influence your pregnancy, am I right?" He asked, but it was more like an order for her to calm down.
For her child, Celes indeed calmed down, but her heart was still pounding with fear…
What was this failure doing? How could he just come close to her and touch her belly and make her feel fear at the same time?
Vis then uttered quietly, "Promising future, you said? All you have been doing is spreading your legs for the emperor. Other than this and being just a good-looking woman in the background, what are you? How can you give birth to a promising descendant when you are that trash? Compared to the empress, you are no more than a shit woman."
"Are you… Vis?" Celes asked just that, her voice shivering.
"Did I just use an overly vulgar word? I am sorry, I also heard it just a few times in the past. If it's too vulgar, then I don't mind calling you something else." Vis answered her.
He then grasped her hair tightly and raised her eyes, "I can do whatever I want now… And all I did was just go on the adventure… How about you finally start working as well? If you lack discipline, then your good soon will show you the way."
Celes felt like she fell to the demon's hands right now, "L-let me go!" She tried to push Vis away, but no strength could come out from her body.
Just a mere glance from Vis to her belly was enough to stop her.
She suddenly lost her whole appeal and became a lost woman that needed someone to guide her.
She needed someone to save her… She needed her beloved!
"Your beloved needs a strong woman and descendant, right? From this day, you will work and become a woman worthy of being the titan's mother," Vis announced, "All my achievements will be your achievements. All for the royal descendant."
Celes just kept her eyes hovering on Vis' face. She would never imagine her son to look like that nor she ever dreamt of him being that strong. This man who just took his life into his own hands never appeared in her wildest imaginations!
Vis was like a different person!
His last words confirmed this, "Don't ever think of reporting this to the emperor. No one would believe you. Instead, they will think you want me dead or something like that. But what a pity you can't kill the royal blood that easily… You are the perfect proxy. Haha, ~~"