Fighting is Meaningless

11. Ball

"Your Highness!"

Dan Heng was on his bed, enjoying the cold wind that was coming from the window. He was reading a novel when Layla knocked at the door

"Grand duchess? You may come in" Dan Heng's eyes were filled with beauty when Blade's mother came in. She was wearing a long blue and white dress, her long curly hair were loose with just a simple jewel adorning the side of her head.

"You're really not willing to partecipate to the ball? It's a big feast to honor my husband and my son" she sighed dramatically "They have fought to keep our territories safe..." her eyes were definitely showing off her puppy side.

The Crown Prince looked down and felt embarassed "I've never... been to a ball" he muttered and Layla tried to act surprised but failed miserabily.

She knew everything Blade knew, because her son told her everything. Even if the Crown Prince was trained to be the Crown Prince, he was nothing but a target to kill at the right time for the Emperor, used only as shield in dangerous meetings.

His brother took his place even during his celebration to have come to age. Dan Heng's life has been just destroyed since the start, Layla knew it.

And so did Blade.

Dan Heng didn't expect anyone to be kind to him as since he was little he just had to fight to stay alive and maybe somehow win his family love.

He thought maybe his sacrifice at the right time would make his father and brother love him, that's why he accepted his fate with open arms when Blade came to his chamber to kill him finally.

He was tired to pretend things would have been different.

"Then this is a perfect moment to join!" Layla opened the closet full of clothes the North Family bought him to give him all the comfort he might have needed during his stay. Dan Heng felt embarassed when the Grand duchess started to throw some clothes, trying to find the right suit.

"Fret not, everyone will be too focus on cheering for Blade and Ying. Many noble princess and princes are here trying to steal my son's glance even by mistake, and you're known to be our guest from a simple little noble house of one of our allies from the other territories" she turned towards the Crown Prince "Everyone is sure the Crown Prince would never even step by mistake in the North as we're known with such a bad reputation" she laughed as she laid a white suit on the bed

Dan Heng looked at the suit and it just looked like one of his back to when he was living in the Emperor's palace. It looked really expensive and beautiful. Somehow Layla had surely the eye for the right clothes, after all she was looking stunning, like a fairy.

"So the North Duke expose himself during these events? Nobody of the inner territories know how he looks like because it's told he just wears his armor" Dan Heng muttered and Layla sighed

"Truly, my son tries to keep himself on low profile, but nobody from the Emperor's territory comes whenever we hold these feasts" she did shrug "The Emperor never paid much attention to Blade as Ying is still the fighter and the main commander of the military power" she crossed her arms "Whatever he plans... Surely he gives priority to the head of the family who's still my husband" she coughed "Anyway, get prepared! You will really make me happy if you come!"

Dan Heng looked at the Grand duchess leaving and for a moment he looked at the white suit she did choose personally.

Ah, having someone choosing the best clothes for me like it does matter how I look

Why is she so kind to me?

Why is this family so... different from what I have been told...