POWERLESS ONE

"General Vargas! Nice to see you again!" greeted Cedric, the First Prince to the armored elderly woman.

"I believe the last time I saw the general was during that party in the Najma embassy." said Jasmine, the Third Princess.

"Pleasure to see you both again, Prince Cedric, Princess Jasmine." replied General Vargas. "Do have a seat since we'll still wait for your other siblings before we start the briefing."

The two royalties obliged to the elderly woman's proposal. As they sat, the two took notice of Aristo sitting right across them on the round table.

"BROTHER! I can't believe I just realized you were here!" greeted Jasmine with a smile. Though one could sense the expression had a hint of mockery to it.

"Well, who could blame you, sister?" joined Cedric. "It is difficult to notice a nobody like our Second Prince here."

"Cedric! Isn't it rude to call your brother that way?" replied Jasmine with a reprimanding tone. Though it did not seem she was genuine about telling Cedric off. "But I disagree! Aristo is not a nobody!"

"Oh? What makes you to disagree with this older brother of yours?" asked Cedric with curious tone. Something tells that he already knew the answer but wished for his sister to speak it aloud nonetheless.

"Didn't you know? Our brother Aristo here is famous!" proclaimed Jasmine while extending her hand toward the Second Prince as if presenting an art piece. "The whole Empire knows him as the Doomed Prince."

"Ah! That's right! I've heard people calling him that." replied Cedric nodding his head. "Would you tell this older brother of yours why Aristo is being called that way, Jasmine?"

Once again, from the sly grin on Cedric's face, he already knew the answer to his question. He just wanted to mock Aristo further by making someone spoke of the reason aloud.

Also enjoying the sport of killing their brother socially, Jasmine obliged to Cedric's taunt.

"I'd be happy to, brother!" replied the Third Princess with excited tone. "Considering Aristo was born through the womb of a humble maid, he was then rendered powerless upon birth. He had no power to back his royal title, unlike us with the power provided by our own mother's family. Surely you don't need me to elaborate further, Cedric?"

"Oh but please, sister! Unfortunately, I hit my head this morning and apparently I've turned a bit dumber." said Cedric with a silly smile. "Do tell me why does Aristo being powerless led him to be called the Doomed Prince."

"Since you insist, the prophecy did tell us about the ancient prophecy and that one of us will be respected lower than even dogs and suffer the most horrible death." told Jasmine. "Think, Cedric, which of the seven of us would most likely ended up with such a fate?"

Cedric immediately raised his eyebrows for he had come up with an answer.

"The most powerless one of us all, right?"

"Correct!" nodded Jasmine. "And who is the most powerless one of us all?"

"Well that would be Aristo right here!"

"Hence he is called the Doomed Prince." ended Jasmine on her small lecture.

Cedric immediately turned to Aristo.

"My apologies, brother! For I have done you wrong by saying such awful thing to you." said Cedric with the most heartfelt-sounding voice.

Jasmine suddenly raised her eyebrows upon the First Prince's action.

"An apology, brother? Have you had a change of heart?"

"Why, yes, Jasmine! I must correct my errors and make amends with Aristo!"

Cedric turned back to the Second Prince and bowed his head.

"Forgive me, brother! Turns out you are not a nobody. You are, after all, the Doomed Prince!"

The fact that the First Prince apologized for saying Aristo a nobody instead for calling him the Doomed Prince was a big insult someone could give to the Second Prince. Nevertheless, the Third Princess who also showed no remorse of insulting Aristo by bringing up his cursed title.

Such action of great mockery was nothing new to Aristo. In fact, he was already used to such treatment. Which was why he did not bother to be upset nor react in any way toward everything Cedric and Jasmine just said about him. He just sat there in his chair and stared quietly as his siblings made a fool out of him.

Lance who was nothing but Aristo's humble guardian could only stare at his master with pity. For he had no power to reprimand the two royalties that just insulted his master.

"(Oh goddesses….)" prayed Lance in his heart. "(Please don't let His Highness suffer in slander any longer. Please allow him the chance to stand up for himself!)"

More footsteps were heard from the door. The guardsman then announced another arrival to the meeting hall.

"Presenting Her Highness the Second Princess, Vivienne Goldia Doulosaima, His Highness the Third Prince, Josiah Victorio Doulosaima, and His Highness the Fourth Prince, Chono Revollius Doulosaima!"

Entered the hall were Vivienne and Josiah who Aristo had met in the Crimson Castle when he just departed for his quest. The two were each accompanied by their own guardian knight and mage. Again, the same two mage Aristo had met before, the pale-skinned blindfolded man for Vivienne while the armored giant bearded man with skull necklace for Josiah.

There was a third dignified person accompanying the two royalties this time. It was a man with long dark hair which was tied together with a red ribbon. He had a fierce and intimidating face, one that resembled a wolf. His purple eyes were cold, sharp and piercing, a gaze one could not stare at with ease.

This particular man was indeed yet another of Aristo's sibling. He was His Highness the Fourth Prince, Chono Doulosaima.

Accompanying the Fourth Prince were two people. One was a strong-looking guardian knight, but comparatively normal to the other guardians in the room. The other person though was a bit more peculiar.

Another person accompanying the Fourth Prince was a grey-haired elderly woman. She was wearing this loose purple tunic made out of cotton. The design looked foreign to the ones worn in the Empire. Her tunic matched one worn by the nomadic tribes that settled at the northern region of the continent. There, the wear was called deel.

And just like the mages accompanying the other royalties, this elderly woman was oozing with intense mana. There was a reason why such an old person was accompanying someone as noble as the son of the Emperor.

The three royalties then grabbed their seat. Vivienne and Josiah took the ones closest to Jasmine and Cedric. The fourth then engaged on a polite exchange with each other.

Chono on the the other hand sat next to Aristo.

"I didn't think you'd come, brother." said the Fourth Prince. He eyed Aristo's only aide. "Though I expected that if you would brave yourself to join this quest, you'd at least bring a mage with you. Not this worthless knight of yours."

Aristo immediately turned his gaze to the Fourth Prince right next to him. His eyes were stern and sharp. It was clear that he did not welcome Chono's comment lightly.

"I don't mind if you mock me endlessly, brother." said Aristo. "But don't ever insult my people! Just keep directing your foul opinions toward me instead!"

Chono simply snorted at Aristo's meager threat of a powerless prince.

"Well, if you insist," replied the Fourth Prince. He leaned his head closer to Aristo and whispered. "I really hope you'll meet your end in Grimcloud, you Doomed Prince. That way I'll be one step closer to the throne."

Once again, Aristo did not bother to look angered and reply his siblings' insult with vengeance. He simply stared at them with accepting gaze.

For he knew it was useless to be taunted by their provocation. For there was nothing he could do in order to retaliate. For he was, indeed, the most powerless Little Sun of them all.