Rumors And Retaliation

The air shimmered faintly as the teleportation circle activated, casting an eerie glow over the small clearing.

A moment later, Diana, Lucius, and Evan stepped through, their surroundings shifting instantly from the frigid plains to the familiar grounds near the Empress's Palace.

The spell had worked flawlessly, but despite the warmth of their new location, Evan remained eerily silent, his small frame still cradled in Lucius's arms.

Lucius adjusted his grip on the boy, feeling how light he was. Too light. Malnourished, with his skin still cold despite the layers Diana had wrapped him in. Yet, Evan's golden eyes showed no emotion, no reaction to the sudden change in environment.

Diana, on the other hand, was lost in thought.

Lucien is going to be mad at me.

She had left without a word. Not even a proper farewell.

A week had passed since she'd slipped away in the night, leaving her son to wake up to an empty bed. He was only five, and she had broken her promise to always stay with him.

As they neared the palace, Diana took a slow breath. Let's just get this over with.

The moment she stepped past the grand doors of the Empress's Palace, rapid footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Then, a small body crashed into her waist.

"Mother!"

Diana barely had time to steady herself before she felt Lucien's little arms wrap around her tightly, his face pressing into her stomach.

She looked down.

Lucien's black hair was slightly messy, his gray eyes filled with barely contained tears, but his lips were pursed into a deep pout.

Diana's heart clenched.

"I'm home," she murmured, kneeling down to his level.

Lucien sniffed but refused to cry. He simply pouted harder. "You left."

Diana gently cupped his face. "I know. I'm sorry, my love."

Lucien huffed, clearly unsatisfied. He crossed his little arms but didn't move away. "You didn't even say goodbye."

Diana smiled softly and pulled him into a hug. "Next time, I'll take you with me. You'll get to see the snow."

Lucien's pout twitched at that.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Lucien finally leaned into her embrace, wrapping his little arms around her neck.

Ellise, Diana's trusted maid, stood nearby with a few other loyal servants. She gave Diana a knowing look but said nothing, merely waiting for her orders.

It was then that Lucien noticed the boy in Lucius's arms.

His small brows furrowed. "Who's that?"

Lucius shifted Evan slightly, allowing Diana to introduce him.

Diana placed a hand on Lucien's back and spoke gently. "This is Evan. From now on, he is your older brother."

Lucien blinked.

He turned his gaze toward Evan, taking in his thin frame, the bandages peeking out from his sleeves, and the quiet stillness in his golden eyes.

He saw the scars.

He didn't ask about them.

He didn't need to.

Pain was something he understood all too well.

Lucien, the little prince, had been born weak, his body unable to properly handle the mana coursing through his veins. Every day had been a battle against fatigue, against pain, against feeling useless.

So, he knew.

He knew that Evan had suffered too.

Instead of questioning, instead of hesitating, Lucien reached out his tiny hand.

His small fingers tugged at Evan's sleeve.

"...Brother," he said softly.

Evan blinked.

His lips parted slightly, as if the word was foreign to him.

Lucien stared up at him expectantly, waiting.

After a long pause, Evan slowly lowered his gaze and gave the faintest nod.

Diana's chest warmed at the sight.

"That's right," she said with a smile. "You're brothers now."

Lucien, seemingly satisfied, turned to the servants. "Prepare a bath and some clothes," he instructed, his little voice steady. "I'll take him to clean up."

Diana chuckled. "Taking responsibility already?"

Lucien gave her a determined nod before taking Evan's hand in his smaller one and gently tugging him along.

Evan followed without resistance, his expression still unreadable.

As Diana watched them walk away, she could already imagine how the palace staff would react.

A second prince, appearing out of nowhere? A boy with blonde hair and golden eyes? The rumors would spread like wildfire.

Diana smirked to herself. Let them talk.

Lucius, still standing beside her, was also watching Evan walk away—though his expression was far less amused.

Diana caught his stare and teased, "You're watching him like a worried father."

Lucius scowled. "Shut up."

Diana laughed.

Then, casually, she mused, "What do you think about the last name Nightbane for him?"

Lucius twitched. "Absolutely not."

Diana grinned. "Why not?"

"Because I refuse to let you name a traumatized child after my underworld alias, that's why!"

"But it has a nice ring to it—Evan Nightbane."

Lucius looked ready to strangle her. "No."

Diana sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But you're no fun."

Lucius exhaled sharply and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Whatever."

With that, he gathered the documents they had stolen and turned away. "I'll start working on this mess. You can deal with the adoption appeal later."

And just like that, he disappeared, vanishing into the shadows as if he had never been there.

Diana exhaled and stretched her arms.

She had expected chaos upon returning, but so far, things were progressing smoothly.

For now.

Still, she couldn't help but wonder…

What would the Emperor think when he found out she had brought home another child?

Diana smirked to herself.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

*****

As expected, the palace was buzzing with rumors.

A child.

A boy with golden eyes and blonde hair—resembling both the Empress and the Underworld King.

A boy Diana had mysteriously brought home after vanishing for a week.

A boy Lucien was already calling brother.

The court whispered. The nobles speculated. The maids gossiped in hushed voices.

It was chaos.

But Diana?

She didn't care.

In fact, she was enjoying the scandal.

If people wanted to talk, let them talk.

If they wanted to accuse her of an affair, let them.

After all, wasn't it funny how the Emperor had fathered two children before their marriage, and no one batted an eye?

Yet her adopting a child caused an uproar?

She found it hilarious.

And so, when she was summoned to the Emperor's office, she went with a smirk.

Gone were the elegant dresses of an Empress.

Today, she wore a knight's uniform—black trousers, a fitted coat, and a sword strapped to her hip.

She wasn't here as Cassian's Empress.

She was here as Diana Hinsdale.

The abandoned Empress.

The warrior.

The woman who had survived death once before

Cassian sat behind his desk, his expression unreadable.

Beside him, Liliana sat gracefully, hands folded in her lap, her gaze downcast.

Playing meek as always.

Diana resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

The silence stretched.

Then—

"Diana."

Cassian's voice was calm. Controlled.

Yet there was tension beneath it.

Diana tilted her head, amused. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

He exhaled sharply. "There are… rumors."

Diana smiled. "Oh? About what?"

Cassian clenched his jaw. "You know what I'm talking about."

Diana chuckled. "Do I?"

Liliana shifted slightly, casting a glance at Cassian.

Cassian hesitated before speaking. "Did you—" He exhaled. "Did you cheat on me?"

Silence.

Then—

"So?"

Cassian blinked.

Liliana's lips parted in shock.

Diana crossed her arms, leaning back against the chair. "Would it matter?"

Cassian's gaze darkened. "Of course it matters!"

Diana raised a brow. "Why?"

Cassian's grip on the desk tightened. "Because you are my wife!"

Diana laughed. "Oh? But wasn't I your wife five years ago when you had children with Liliana?"

Cassian stiffened.

Liliana went pale.

Diana leaned forward, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief. "By my calculations, if I did cheat, it should've been around the same time you cheated on me. Shouldn't that make us even?"

Liliana's hands trembled. "Your Majesty, this is—"

Cassian ignored her. His gaze was locked onto Diana.

His voice was low. "Was it a lie?"

Diana raised an eyebrow. "Was what a lie?"

"Your affections."

For the first time, his voice wavered.

Diana stared at him.

She had loved him once.

She had given him her heart, her loyalty, her everything.

And in return, he had—

Diana smiled. "What about yours?"

Cassian flinched.

She leaned back again, exhaling. "It doesn't matter now, does it?"

Cassian clenched his jaw. "That child. The boy—Evan."

Diana tilted her head. "What about him?"

Cassian's expression hardened. "I want to meet him."

Diana sighed, pretending to think. "Why?"

Cassian's eyes narrowed. "Because I have the authority to do so."

Diana smirked. "Interesting."

She stood, placing a document on the desk.

Evan's sponsorship.

Cassian glanced at it.

"If you don't sign it, I'll take it to the court," Diana said simply.

Cassian hesitated.

Then—

"Why won't you let me meet him?"

Diana's smirk widened. "Why should I?"

Cassian frowned. "Because he lives under the Imperial Palace now. Because—*"

Diana cut him off. "Oh? Then tell me, Your Majesty, when have I ever met your children?"

Cassian stilled.

Liliana sucked in a breath.

Diana's smile was sharp. "Roan and Elysian are my stepsons. Your sons. But have I ever been allowed to see them?"

Cassian remained silent.

Diana tapped the document. "If you want to see my child, then why haven't I been allowed to see yours?"

Liliana's hands curled into fists.

Cassian exhaled, frustrated.

Diana tilted her head. "What? No response?"

Cassian closed his eyes.

Silence.

Then—

He grabbed the pen and signed the document.

Diana smiled.

"Good boy."

Cassian shot her a glare.

But Diana was already turning to leave, her steps light, victorious.

Even so, as she walked away, she shot Liliana a cold glare.

Marquis Evermont is too slimy.

But she would deal with him later.

For now—

She had something else to handle.

When Diana returned to the Empress's Palace, she found Lucien and Evan sitting in the courtyard.

Lucien was talking excitedly about something, his hands waving animatedly.

Evan, as expected, was mostly silent.

But—

He was listening.

Lucien had a book in his lap, and he was pointing at something on the page. "This one! It's a phoenix! They say it can control fire and never dies."

Evan tilted his head slightly. "…Immortal?"

Lucien's gray eyes brightened. "Yes! But when they die, they turn into ashes and get reborn again!"

Evan blinked. "…That's strange."

Lucien pouted. "It's cool!"

Evan stared at the page for a moment before nodding. "…It is."

Lucien beamed.

Diana's heart softened.

Even though Evan barely spoke, even though he rarely reacted—Lucien didn't seem to mind.

Lucien didn't demand anything from him.

He just stayed.

He just talked.

And in return, Evan listened.

Diana exhaled, leaning against the doorway.

Ellise, who had been watching as well, smiled. "They seem to be getting along well, Your Majesty."

Diana nodded. "Lucien's always wanted an older brother."

Ellise chuckled. "And Evan seems… calmer with him."

Diana's gaze softened. Good.

Then—

A voice called from inside.

"Diana."

She turned to see Lucius, arms crossed, his expression grim.

"We found something," he said.

Diana narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Lucius tossed a document onto the table.

She scanned the contents—

Her golden eyes darkened.

The Southern Capital.

One of the cult's base.

Diana exhaled sharply.

So, the game was finally moving forward.

She glanced back at Lucien and Evan.

Lucien was smiling. Evan was quietly listening.

For now, they were safe.

But soon—

Diana's expression hardened.

She wouldn't let the cult take anything from her again.

Not this time.