"Yes, your highness." The maids felt relieved looking at their master smiling again.
Thalric nodded at them and entered. but looking at him going to his father's study, the maids looked at each other anxiously.
When one of them took a step toward him, others stopped her.
"Daisy, this is not a place where commoners like us could meddle. Let's return this portrait to his highness's chamber and help in cleaning. There is a lot for us to do." Daisy looked at The Lyric with worry before nodding and leaving with them.
Thalric could see many maids cleaning the palace, removing the paintings he had chosen, his wardrobe and other things belonging to him. But he walked past them as if he could not see them even when he could feel their stunned eyes full of worry for him.
When he finally reached his father's study, the knights looked stunned and uneasy too.
They used to look at him with joy and enthusiasm. How the look was changed into wariness and uneasiness in a single night. Thalric felt like many needles were piercing his heart, but his face stood stoic and indifferent.
"I am here to see my father." he waited for the knights to open the door for him. But they kept staring at him awkwardly as if he was not welcomed here.
"Sir Theodore!" as if his voice had broken their stupor.
"Your highness, his majesty is busy in a meeting." he spoke in an evasive tone making There's eyes hardened. The uneasiness on their faces, he would be a fool to not know who was inside.
"Is my brother inside?" His words made the knights flinch. But he feigned ignorance, "that is great! I have wanted to greet him since last night and have been looking for him. Now I can meet both of them at once." The knights still looked unsure.
"Then… I shall go and get permission from his majesty." Theo bowed and went inside. When he returned, he allowed Thalric to go in but his face was ashen that made Thalric uneasy.
When Tharlic entered, the room was heavy with a gloomy silence.
Ethan was sitting with a dark face. He stared at Thalric with unhidden hostility.
"Welcome brother!" Thalric started. "I am happy that you returned home." he forced a friendly smile on his face for the stranger but Ethan only gave a mocking laughter in return.
"Ethan!" his father warned the stranger but there was no censure in his voice. Ethan eyed father with a raised brow.
"Do you still not believe me when I have given enough proof? Have you ever cared for my mother or do you even care about my presence or like others, you are disappointed that I ruined a special moment for your son. If not for me, he would have been announced the 75th emperor of the empire." The voice was full of venom.
Thalric had told himself that he would not react no matter what happened but now, it was hard to keep his composure.
"Brother, I am sure father is happy with your arrival. If not, he would not have cancelled the crowning ceremony." Thalric pushed away the bitterness. He could not let others know that he hated it. And… if he really was his brother, it was normal for him to be angry after being away for a long time. He would have felt the same.
"That crown belongs to me since I am older." his brother announced in a provoking voice as he challenged Thalric. "Even if father had not supported it, I would have challenged you and taken it back from you." he stood up, not hiding the hatred as he stood in front of Thalric with just an inch of distance.
"You have snatched my place for a long time but do not let the illusion stay. Now that I have returned, I will claim everything back." he looked around meaningfully.
"The position of prince could have belonged to you, but that did not mean it did not belong to me. There is nothing you can snatch from me, Ethan." he spat back with an eerie calmness.
"That is enough!" William slammed the table with force.
"Ethan is new and did not know the etiquette yet. But Thalric, you have grown in the royal palace following the rules on your back. Have you forgotten the rules too? Is that the way a prince should behave?"
"....." Thalric was stunned. He did not show his hostility at all. It was Ethan who challenged him again and again. Yet.. his father was scolding him?
"Father. I.." but before he could explain, his father raised his hand with impatience.
"I do not need an explanation. You are still upset because of yesterday. But you have to understand, Thalric. The crown did not belong to you. Your brother had an equal chance." his stern voice left Thalamic baffled.
Did he even say that he wanted it? He noticed Ethan's cold smirk and it took all in him to keep his sanity.
"I did not come here to talk about last night, father. I only wanted to welcome my brother and your son." He explained in a calm voice despite the tempest hitting his chest.
"With this attitude?" his father raised a brow looking amused. And he wondered was his attitude really the problem here? Or his father did not like his presence because he was hiding something?
"Thalric, you may leave. I will call you once I am done with this meeting." he waved his hands once again without giving Thalric a chance to explain.
Thalric watched his father with a stunned look before nodding and bowing his head.
"This is just the start, Thalric." a low voice whispered in his ears when he walked toward the door. Thalric held the door tightly before opening it and leaving.
This was going to be a war!