Crown prince dilemma

The Emperor was silent for some time. I guess he was trying to formulate a good reply to what I said. I mean, if he's still trying to be adamant about me having to apologize to the families of the people that I ordered to kill, then that would basically mean that I was right about him being a hypocrite. After all, it's not like the mighty Emperor has apologized to the families of the people that he killed as well.

"Umm, what you said makes sense I guess, but Grand Duke, a lot of blood was shed in a place where the slightest amount would have been enough. I mean, wasn't it intimidation that you were looking for?" The Emperor asked.

I scoffed as I heard him say that. "Intimidation? No. It wasn't intimidation that I was looking for. It was complete and total suppression and subordination." I replied with a smile on my face.

"Oh, I see." The Emperor mumbled as I succeeded in completely shutting his mouth.

"So, I presume that you have now learned that I had done nothing wrong and you're gonna let me go back to my place?" I asked.

"Well, what's the hurry? You have returned back to the palace for the first time in a long time, right? Why don't you stay back and talk to your mother and your brothers?" The Emperor asked.

"My mother? My brothers? The same people who didn't even care to send a letter when they realized that I was poisoned and stuff? Then why should I go to them on my own volition?" I asked. I didn't get why this person was acting like that to be honest. 

"Well, they were quite busy at that point, so don't take it to your heart now." The Emperor spoke.

For some reason, I felt really annoyed at that point. Like, I can't even tell you how annoyed I was.

"Are you done? I'm not going to meet them. So, can I leave now?" I asked.

The Emperor sighed as he finally gave up on his tries. Or so it seemed. "Well, it just seems like he doesn't wanna meet you guys." He spoke looking somewhere else at that point and out came the current Queen and the crown prince.

It took me a single glance to realize that the guy in front of me is supposed to be the protagonist of this world. After all, he looked like one. Golden locks, bright face, he literally looked like every author's description of their protagonist in a historical drama and stuff. And that means one thing. I'm either the main villain of this world or I simply die early letting someone else fill that role of being the villain. Anyhow, it's not like I didn't expect this is or anything. I mean, I'm the Grand Duke. I expected myself to have a main role in this tale.

"Well, brother. Why are you being so distant to us?" The crown prince asked.

I was confused at that point. I mean, he sounded so sincere as he said that as if he wanted us to be close or something. Is it the virtue of the main character or something similar to that? 

But something was off. My senses were tingling. It was so unnatural. Look, I've had the chance to take a look at men from a female standpoint in my previous life and what that has taught me is that whenever a man acts too nice, he is probably hiding something, whether it is something sad or sinister. Although the crown prince's looks made me wanna believe that it was something sad, but looks can be deceiving.

"When were we ever close to begin with?" I asked, but I guess I made a mistake with that cuz he looked really dark at that point. 

"Umm, you're right. We were never that close to begin with." The crown prince sighed as he said that.

"You still have that spiteful tongue, huh? Just like your mother." It was the Queen that spoke this time around.

"And you still look poor even after getting to rule an entire kingdom. Are you trying to whitewash people's minds into making them think that you aren't a bitch by looking this poor? Wait, I guess I'm wrong about what I said. You don't look poor. You certainly look rich, you're just butt ugly, I guess." I shrugged as I said that.

Look, I don't resort to playground insults, but for some reason, I really felt the need to do that. And so I did. Anyhow, it's not like I regret doing that or anything, so there's that.

"Ha, it's my fault for coming to visit you." The Queen stormed off as she said that.

"Umm, I wish you stay healthy." The crown prince looked like he was in an awkward situation as he said that before leaving. Although, I still don't know whether that was a threat or genuine well wishing.

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"So, how was the palace?" Jerome asked as we were on our way back home.

"Well, that is a question and a half. I guess, underwhelming is the word I should use? I don't know, man. I expected more hostility, I guess?" I shrugged as I said that.

"Hmm, I mean, people in the palace are quite skilled in hiding their real feelings, so I guess you are telling about that." Jerome spoke.

"Yea, maybe it's that. But you know, I expected more of an open hostility of sorts." I replied.

I mean, I can't blame them for being so covert with their hostility. Like, that's how your should actually show hostility towards someone, right?

"Jerome, can I ask you something else though?" I asked.

"Whatever you want, my lord." Jerome smiled as he said that.

"What do you think about the crown prince?" I asked, which wiped the smile out of his face.

"You sure asked me a really difficult question this time around." He sighed as he mumbled that 

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