Upcoming celebration

"Yes, I was just coming back from a gathering when I heard murmurs coming from here. I thought it was Mother since she painted in her free time," Novalie said.

"Oh, I was just passing time by playing with the brush; how was your gathering today? Any suitors who have caught your interest?" Amira asked.

"Even if some did, Mother would never let me mingle with a common man; she wants me to be the next queen of some kingdom," Novalie said.

"Well, it's your choice, not hers; you have always been a filial daughter. I am sure the heavens are on your side," Amira told Novalie.

"Have you prepared a gift for Father yet? Is birthday just around the corner"

"A gift for the king, am not so sure either what to get him"

"No need to worry; we still have time. But before anything else, we should arrange for the seamstress to visit the palace and tailor our clothes for the upcoming birthday celebration," expressed Novalie.

Amira, with a thoughtful look, responded, "I have many unused clothes in my wardrobe. I can put them to good use for the occasion."

Stopping in her tracks, Novalie turned to Amira with concern.

"Please don't tell me you plan on wearing those for Father's birthday. There will be a large gathering, and everyone will expect us to look our best. Otherwise, they might turn their attention to you as the next subject of their gossip."

Let's make sure everything is perfect.

Novalie pulled Amira along.

Zyran casually pushed aside the scroll that lay in the middle of his cluttered desk.

The room was the imperial military office, and he had been poring over reports all morning, absorbing the details of the fallen troupe from the east.

"My Prince, urgent news from the East," Aaron announced with a sense of urgency as he entered the room.

"They report that they are unable to advance any further and have no choice but to retreat."

"After analyzing everything, I have a strong feeling that something is amiss, my prince. It seems like someone is leaking information to the East Army about our troop movements.

"Our forces stationed in the east should not have been defeated so easily. Our troop is twice the size of the east army. It is baffling how we could have been ambushed and overrun without putting up a fight," expressed Aaron.

Zyran pressed his hand firmly against his temple as he massaged it back and forth, trying to ease the tension that coiled within him.

Suddenly, the heavy wooden door creaked open, and Lloyd entered.

"Zyran, I've just received news about the fallen troops in the east. We can't afford to lose any more of our men. You need to march to war," Lloyd stated firmly, his voice filled with urgency.

Zyran slowly raised his head and fixed his piercing gaze on Lloyd.

"I wasn't aware that I take orders from you now, brother," he retorted, his tone heavy with skepticism as he reclined into his seat.

""Orders? In no time, Father will order you there. I believe you know how much Father trusts you to win his wars for him," Lloyd said.

Lloyd's jaw clenched as Zyran let out a derisive chuckle.

"Of course, I am the great son who goes to war and brings him his trophy, and you? You are just a filial son whose responsibility is to give orders around on the war ground and play the kind role of a good crown prince," Zyran scoffed.

Enraged, Lloyd slammed his hand on the table, his eyes shooting daggers at Zyran.

"You think you're high and mighty now just because you lead a few men to war; you should know your right place, brother. No one cares if you die in the frontier or not. You are just a son whose existence doesn't matter," Lloyd retorted before storming out.

Zyran expression remained a poker face.

"I don't understand why you are still being lenient to him, Your Highness," Ali said.

He was hit on the head by Aaron, who glared at him, "Shut up, you fool. He's the crown prince," Aaron told him.

"How's the investigation coming up?" Zyran said, turning to Aaron, who stood straight.

"The physician hasn't been located but we are currently tracing his last location, Aaron replied.

"My last visit to my uncle, there weren't many results uncle parker didn't know what happened twelve years ago; he wasn't sure about mother's death," Zyran said.

"The death record said she died of heart disease, but she has never been sick, not once," Zyran said.