Emperor's POV-
The emperor pushed the blanket closer, tucking in the two sleeping children. His movements were gentle, careful to not awaken the duo.
'Back then, the children weren't frightened by the disordered room, but by me.'
Was he truly so fearsome as to invoke such a reaction?
He stared at the children, who were sleeping peacefully. The two, despite being five, seemed almost invisible under the blanket.
He frowned.
'Has the bed always been so large? Is it because they're only five?'
However, when he thought back to the princes when they were five, this hypothesis was quickly dismissed.
He continued to observe them, taking note of the skinny appearances of the children and the scars littering their arms.
Arden was like this as well. Though he had no scars, his appearance revealed his fragility and delicate state.
Had the child care funds he had provided been insufficient in providing even a primitive level of comfort? Or had they been wasted away supporting Rurahel's extravagant lifestyle?
'Not only are their bodies tiny, but their hearts are also deeply scarred.'
He recalled Arjen throwing up, as well as Arien's trembling body as she expected to be hit.
'They had no one but each other to rely on, and when they were approached by others, the could only cower in fear and hide.'
'I don't know how I should treat these children...'
The window opened briefly, and the voice of a man appeared close to it.
"What are you acting all troubled for? After all these years, do you finally feel sorry for those children? Emperor."
A man with red hair entered through the open window, revealing his disapproving expression as he stared at the emperor.
The emperor opened his mouth.
"I thought I told you to not enter the palace so freely. Jason."
Jason smirked, then sat down on the bed beside the children. Then, he glared at the emperor.
"You forced them to come here. They were so terrified to the point where Arjen fell ill."
His eyes twitched in anger.
The emperor took a breath.
"You must know that there are people after these children."
"The anti-emperor faction."
"It isn't safe for them, even in the palace."
Jason remained seated.
"If only you had protected them from the beginning. Then, this would never have happened."
The emperor was left looking at the children remorsefully.
'I know...'
[369 words]
YOU ARE READING
The Invisible Prince
FanfictionArien and Arjen were reborn as the princess and prince of the Yuriana Empire. Born as royalty, they expected to live luxurious lives. However, they were abandoned by the emperor and forced to live with their abusive mother and negligent maids in a r...
