Help him or face a war

Luci stared at the central palace with a cold look in his eyes. His eyes were glued to the window of the front room of the third floor. That was the place he had killed himself to get rid of this place.

But here she was standing once again on the same road. He had tried so hard to end his nightmare but the god would not let him go that easily. He must have other plans for him.

He gritted his teeth as he walked in. If given a chance, he wanted to burn the whole palace so that it would not haunt him anymore. He would make sure that the palace and the people residing in it would meet a miserable end.

His heart started to fill with darkness as he took each step in.

"Luci! Are you going to meet your father too?"

Luci turned to stare at Len who was walking towards him with a smile on his face. Though it was more of a formal smile rather than a bright one, when he felt the warm touch of his brother on his shoulder, the cold and dark thoughts that were filling his heart started to disappear a bit.

A little bit of warmth took its place and a small smile crawled on his face too.

"Yes, his majesty had called me and mother too but she is sick so she could not come." he whispered as he nodded his head but his brother frowned as a hint of concern filled the clam eyes.

"Why? What happened to her majesty? She was fine when I saw her last time." nothing, she was just acting so that she did not need her cruel and cold husband.

Luci rolled his eyes in his heart as he looked at his innocent brother. No wonder he was a victim of palace politics that even cost him his life. How could he be so naive to believe the excuses made in the palace.

"She.. must be tired with all the work i think. Why don't you go and check yourself. She would be happy to see you worrying for her." it gives boost to her pride that she was the empress. She enjoys gaining all the attention. He muttered in his heart and shook his head when Len nodded.

He was really too naive! I need to teach him a thing or two. And for that he needed to see from his own eyes that her majesty was well, she was just lying.

Poor brother! He had to learn the hard way.

"Your highness the crown prince, second prince. May the glory of the empire will always fall on you. His majesty is waiting for you. Shall I escort you in?" The knight bowed his head respectfully in front of both of them while Luci was sure that he would not have gotten the same treatment if he had been alone here.

"Yes, that would be appreciated." his brother whose face was filled with warmth turned cold and blank again when he looked at the knight.

But his hands that were on Luci's shoulder slid and he held his hands lightly bringing a smile to Luci's face.

Well, the meeting might not be as bad as he had thought.

As they crossed the huge passage and large gallery, they reached the dining hall where there was a large table with more than a sitting capacity of fifty people.

Their father was sitting on the seat of the head and drinking wine while the whole table was filled with dishes that could feed the whole palace.

"You are finally here!" That meant how trashy you are to take so much time in coming here when I was the one who called you.

"Yes, I apologize for being late but I could not skip my classes." Len replied without any emotions as he sat on the right side of his father.

"At least, you have a reason." Chris said with a bored look in his eyes as if talking to them was less important than drinking his wine.

"......" Luci sat beside his brother instead of sitting on the left side and did not state any excuse. It would be better if his father would think that he was useless. That way, Len does not need to suffer any kind of competition.

The maids moved forward and started serving the meal to both of them but before they could raise their spoon and start eating, the voice of their father rang in their ears again.

"I have called you here because there might be a chance that the crown prince of Acelodiante empire would visit us instead of their envoys by tomorrow morning.

He had already reached the boundary of our empire and was resting in the palace of baron Kranford.

He is an annoying prick! So, I did not want to give him a chance to mock our family. Your mother… had already refused to entertain him then you should take the place of a host.

If the matter was not dealt with properly, I have to slash his neck to keep him silent and this may become the reason for another war.

Not that i will not enjoy it but the chancellor said that we do not have the luxury to enjoy another war right now. So, deal with it. If not, I have to force him to grant the budget!"

".........."