Her Highness.

"Congratulations, Your Imperial Majesty!" Alan heartily smiled towards the man standing next to the window. He was currently explaining something to a young redhead, but the sound of door opening made their heads turn.

The hall the trio entered didn't seem like a throne room since there was no big chair on a platform, but it was too large for a cozy library or a study. In addition, there were no bookshelves, but only several weapon stands and a couple of sofas.

The white walls were void of any decorations, and windows were wide and tall, allowing for the bright sunlight to shine in, but somehow it only accentuated the feeling that the owner had no time to decorate the place yet.

"Alan! What took you so long!" Seeing the visitors, the man at the window visibly lit up.

Maybe it was only Alan or Tess, or maybe no one had to kneel before His Majesty. It was also possible that the emperor was this easygoing only with the subjects of his inner circle.

"Sorry … we kind of got delayed ..." Alan pointed at Lee lying in Tess's arms.

Lee found it hard to tell whether his stepfather was faking the embarrassment or was actually blushing, but Tess surely was holding breath for a while to get some red color on her face. Of course, the side effect of her not saying anything rude was a bonus.

"How … This is unexpected! Congratulations! Should we celebrate?" The Emperor came up closer to take a look at the child, and Lee could finally observe him better as well.

The tall and handsome man, probably in his forties, did seem to be amiable for the head of the empire. He was even dressed casually and only had a linen shirt and dark trousers on. The sole luxurious item was the sword at his side, or rather, the scabbard, embed with countless gems.

"Wasn't the festival in our honor?" Alan joked in return, but when the redhead at the window loudly snorted, he turned serious, "I'm sorry we interrupted your sword practice. We …"

"Don't worry, it's fine!" The Emperor said, "We were finished anyway. Victoria, of course, gave the report almost two months ago, so I think we can skip that. Although, I must say, I was a bit angry when she told that you two abruptly left. Now, that I see the reason, I'm kind inclined to forgive you. A boy or a girl?"

With the last question emperor playfully pinched Lee's nose, but the victim had no choice and did his best to look adorable. Lee wasn't born for the first time and knew this part well – people will continue to pinch him for years.

Of course, he hated it to his bones, but not as much as the pale bitch at the window. This time her hair was tied in a bun, but the snow-white skin and the creepy red eyes Lee could recognize anytime and anywhere.

"A boy." Alan said, but it sounded more like a sigh.

While the emperor patted him on the shoulder with words not bad, not bad, Victoria gracefully approached the guests. She wore similar clothing to her father and also had a sword at her side, a tad shorter, though.

Standing next to the emperor, she said with a bright smile, "Congratulations! I hope your son will become as accomplished healer as the two of you! With your guidance his future is boundless!"

Lee felt Tess tremble, but then she took a deep breath and smiled back, "Thank you, your highness."

One could only guess how much willpower it took for her to not spout a hearty profanity, but her clenched fists and accelerated heartbeat clearly indicated what actually was on her mind.

"Alright!" The Emperor turned serious, "Alan! There are a few things I want to discuss with you before the next Royal Council … oh, right, it's the Imperial Council now. Come to my study later in the evening, we'll chat."

With that, the meeting was over, and after polite goodbyes, the trio left, but this time they were accompanied by the princess. For a short while, they walked together down the wide hallway, but just when Alan intended to say goodbye to her as well, he was met with an icy expression.

"Listen, Alan! Do not get the wrong idea!" Once again Lee was shocked how the beautiful and melodic voice didn't match the creepy looking owner. It didn't match the contents of her speech even more, "The expedition was a great success, and I conquered the south-east without spilling a drop of blood, understood?"

"Miss …" Alan wanted to say something, but was interrupted.

"It is Your Highness to you!" Victoria snorted, but it sounded as if a nightingale had learned to bark. Her voice, although pleasant, kept piercing the ears of those present like an awl. As she spoke, she slowly drew her sword and began to play with it, "I know you might think you are friends with my father, but there will come a day when I will sit on the throne. And while by then the two of you might be long dead, now there is something you cannot carelessly leave behind."

'Threatening someone with the life of their baby is nothing new.' Lee thought, 'But if I was you I wouldn't have done that.'

Alan wasn't a simple man and all that was needed was for him to make sure she ate some of the herbs he fed to the horses in Maryport. In addition, Lee guessed that both Alan and Tess were superhumans, although he hadn't seen them in an actual combat yet.

The problem was that his stepparents didn't think the way he did. Lee felt how tense Tess became and even Alan blushed red from anger, not faking it this time. But Victoria wasn't done yet.

She pointed her sword at Tess's chest, or rather, at Lee, and said, "Heirs of every member of the Imperial Council were present and took part in the event. And if you think you are in some way better, think of this – you did nothing to stop anyone and that makes you accomplices. And accomplices have to keep their mouths shut, otherwise …"

She abruptly stopped, but then a smile bloomed on her face like a spring flower, and in gentle and friendly manner, she said, "I am really happy I was able to meet the two of you the moment you returned. I wish your son a long and happy life!"

Then she gave both Alan and Tess a deep, piercing stare, with a swift motion sheathed her sword, and left.

The two stood there in the hallway, Tess panting from anger, but Alan seemed to have turned into a deflated balloon – apparently holding back even for few moments took its toll.

"Edward wasn't present …" Was the only thing he managed to say, but it infuriated Tess even more.

"That's what you're fucking thinking about?! That bitch just threatened to kill our son!"

"Teresa, stop!" Alan grabbed her hand and pulled away, "Let's get home first ..."

The two stepparents were furious and despaired at the same time. The show of power didn't really mean anything, but Victoria was right – the day of her rule will come sooner or later no matter what mistakes she had made.

Obviously, thinking about it made them feel helpless, and the most tragic part was – she could've just asked for a favor. And surely her wish would've been granted. There was no need to threaten anyone or make an enemy on the spot.

And the hothead didn't even consider an option that the two people she spoke to might make a move first. Maybe she knew their character too well or guessed, but she was right, the thought never crossed their minds. But there was another person present.

Lee didn't think of himself as a vindictive person – he just had a good memory … and an unwillingness to forgive. The bitch had to die and so the rest of the pack. The best part about the whole situation was that she just told who the responsible people were. All that was left was for him to grow up a bit and kill the bastards one by one.

Last time he took the revenge on somebody, he had to wait for fifteen years. But the fat Russian was really hard to get to and Lee did kind of rush things in the wrong direction, at least initially.

On the other hand, now he was basically living under the same roof as the albino bitch – all he needed was an opportunity. Actually he was really curious whether he could manage to kill her before turning five years old, and this thought amused him.