❝ 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴. ❞
Park Ye-jun was a quiet kid. Smart, but reclusive. And one in his life was his eter...
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12一and the growing pit of dread became oppressive
༻𖥸༺
HE STOOD BY HIS FATHER'S THRONE, his eyes trained on the two figures standing before him, his little half-sister and一
"Lillian York, long time no see."
Athan spared a glance in his father's direction and took note of the mischievous look twinkling in his jeweled eyes一 like a cat playing with its prey before deciding to either consume it or release it and renew the chase.
"Blessings and glory upon the Sun and Rising Sun of the Obelia Empire." As the lady bowed to the two imperials, the little girl standing by her side looked on nervously at the scene unfolding before her, her small body trembling with trepidation.
"I haven't been able to pay enough attention to my one and only daughter due to my duties at court." (Athanasius was really, really having a hard time holding himself back from laughing at the way his father was bullshitting his excuses.) "But still, Athanasia has grown into such a healthy child. The credit belongs to you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As Lillian raised from her bow, yet did not meet the emperor's gaze, the one teenager present in the room couldn't help but take note of the smug look that took hold of his father's face.
'Ah.' He couldn't help but internally sigh. 'What schemes are you plotting now, dear father of mine?'
"However, from now on, I will be looking into the princess' well-being, as I've done for the crown prince. There will be no need to worry."
'Oh...' Athan was clearly intrigued by this, his sight falling over the sole child in the room who failed to hide her internal turmoil.
"Starting today, Princess Athanasia will be treated as a proper princess."
Suddenly, Athan understood the method behind his father's madness.
Strife in the court.
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AS THE WOMAN AND CHILD PAIR left the room, the father and son duo were shrouded in silence, neither of the two royals daring to break apart this deafening stillness.
...
"The trip?"
Brought out of his stewing thoughts, Athan leaned his back on the armrest of his father's grande chair and softly sighed. "I've received a full report detailing the state of the barier. It's..." gloved fingers threaded through silvery blonde strands and his shoulders sagged, "Bad doesn't even cover it. It's horrendous."
