The Escape Route 2

It has been a few days since the last time Georg has reported to me about Juri. I know how he works ever since he was assigned as my personal aid when I was fourteen. This has been the first time for him to take this long to finish what I have commanded him.

"Open the door."

"Prince, however his majesty said that…" I threw him a glare; without any words the guard cower and opened the damn door of the office. Is this what you call loyalty? You back down from the emperor's order just because you were threatened? I shook my head at how rotten this monarchy has become.

"Prince, I have no notice of receiving an audience today." The man takes a hint of my presence.

"I have submitted a request to fly back in Amsonia and three days have passed. A royal request usually has been taken as a priority so you should have received it the same day."

He kept his eyes on the pile of documents, the parchment used by royals are different from the ones of the official and those comes from correspondence.

"What happened?"

"I will check the documents again; I must have overlooked it."

"There's no way!"

"Since the health of the previous deteriorates and the rushed coronation, I have been busy with a lot of work." The same features, those dark brown orbs that look into the same eyes, look more indifferent than ever.

"Prince, I think it is about time for you to take the title of the heir, we'll have the successorship ceremony so please avoid leaving the protection of the Sangue Empire."

"Amnosia is a neutral country, you know how I have lived in there for several years, isn't it enough?"

"I know, but you know well the fact of how people may take advantage of your position and deceive you."

"I know my people."

"How can you say that? A prince who has been protected behind the walls? And only a few years you were given freedom, you thought you knew everything?" I clenched my fist.

"Have you not gotten enough? If they knew your identity, would they have treated you the way they wanted?" What is this to this point?

"Kallistos, you are my first-born son and shall be crowned as the heir."

"And if I don't?"

"Do not waste my patience, I have been lenient enough for you since you were a child. However, you are no longer that feeble child that needs protection, you have to build your foundation."

"If you knew that, then you should not push your ideals to me, 'emperor'" I emphasized his title to make him know that I won't back down.

"This and that is different, you say it is for my own being however it was your very own interest and not mine." I could see clearly that his face started to flush in anger, father has always dreamed of the throne. He is a true royal by blood and was born and lived for the sake of it. It is etched to the very roots of himself.

One of the remaining monarchies is the Sangue, despite the innovation and changes of each country's ruling government, this empire has remained their prestige. The royal family down to its descendants will be chained by their blood. Just like father, who has experienced the curse of his royal blood, he made sacrifices for our sake. However, it is not what I wanted, I know how much it will hurt him, but still, he is the emperor and his first interest would be his people.

I turned my heel to leave, and before I completely went off, he spoke for the last time.

"Who was it that you wanted to go against me, not as an emperor but your father, tell me?"

With his words, only one face that comes up on my mind, that brilliant and unpretentious smile. I have to go and find her, I was able to grasp her, now I can't let it fade away this time.

"You being quite mean, there really is…" a bitter smile curved on my father's face. I casted my eyes down, without uttering another word, I left his office. I am determined to meet Juri once again, the warmth and the gentleness, the serenity I've found within her embrace.

"Jaden…" The emperor's aid came in with a single call of his name.

"Yes, your majesty."

"Find out who Kallistos has been running after."

"I take your command, your highness." After bowing his head, he left the man alone in the quiet room. The sunset has bled the sky red, a glimpse of once a good family reflected in his mind, as he closed his eyes, he repeated the same question over a hundred times already.

In the distance a pair of almond-colored eyes has been observing alone, without their notice, a smirk has formed on the lips that has been kept silent.

After a few days…

"Sir! Please wait for me!" Georg was running after Kallistos upon their arrival at Amsonia. He waved on the cab and opened the door.

"Sir, please spare me a breath!" he pleaded.

"Take me to Cobalt estates." Kallistos already sat, so he followed him immediately before he lost him again.

"Who are you visiting there?"

"You're already on the dead end so I have to get the information myself." Kallistos was never a patient person, he would have hissed at him already, however he answered him this time. Just who is that woman that the prince has been trying so hard to get a grip of her?

"I apologize, since the Emp—your father's aid already made their move."

"I know."

"I apologize for being incompetent sir…" Georg bowed down his head with shame, he had only one task and that was to be the support of Kallistos, at an early age he was trained and etched on his mind his sole purpose and role. Not the Emperor or the empire, only Kallistos.

"Yes, you are." He prepared to be scolded and as soon as Kallistos opened his mouth to speak, he felt so emotional.

"Yes, you are, so you should exert more for I have another important task to assign that you can only do." if it was the prince before, he would have told him off, however, this is a totally turning point of his old self, whoever this 'Juri' woman who got tamed this 'predator prince', Georg is already thankful of her.

Upon arriving at their destination, the Florakis estate, they are the nobles from the Sangue Empire, during the old times, the previous Marquis was able to flourish a textile business with the Amsonia traders. Since then, the rest of the predecessors have lived in the foreign country like it was their mother's home and gained dual citizenship.

"We greet the first prince of La Sangue, Alexio Kallistos" The head butler of the Florakis, recognized the arrival of the royal prince and welcomed him.

"No need for formalities, I wish to speak with Ellenor." He said the intention and the butler nodded. He was sent to rest at the drawing room, the maids were quick to prepare tea and snacks.

"Sir, what is it that we are doing here in Florakis household? You know that the senate has a bad taste with this house." Georg carefully whispered to him.

It was an open debate when the Marquis Florakis demanded to negotiate the textile business by settling in Amsonia, Sangue is closed with the foreign idea, specially the ill-willed old houses of the senate who wanted to procure the wealth of the Marquis that time. Despite the opposition, the reigning emperor that time, granted the plead of the young Marquis.

It was the time when an opportunity to have a treaty of protection for the Florakis with Amsonia was established. It was a great opportunity as the emperor embraces the changes about rulings and relationship to the neighboring countries.

"It was only the senate who was threatened by the power of Florakis, the Sangues are on good terms with this household, they can say nothing against this." Kallistos knew that the time the senate let him slip to study abroad was to get hold of the Florakis. However, he is not a doll prince and will let them use them. Instead he is using them for his very own intention.

"Kallistos!" Instead of Ellenor, a screeching shout of a woman blurted the room, this surprised both men and turned their heads at the woman.

"Liezl? What are you doing here?!" He was surprised, with a long stride Liezl got to them close and she sat across them.

"Lizzy!" Ellenor, who ran after her, is catching his breath.

"Now let's get into the talk!"

It was so intense that the three men gulped hard.