We arrived at the dining hall. We eat the food served to us, then after eating the main dishes. The butler asked me if they will bring the desserts.
"Later, when the empress wakes up and eats her food," I said. He bowed down, then left the room.
"But I want to eat dessert," Jason said.
"Later son… remember that this is not our empire," uncle Kayden said. Jason pouted.
I sighed.
"Butler Seb, kindly give prince Jason's dessert," I said.
"Right away, your highness," Butler Seb said. Jason's mood lights up again that made us shake our heads. The head butler served the dessert to Jason, then left the room again.
"Why are you here? You set a schedule next week, so why did you visit this empire today?" I asked them.
Yes, I'm just a prince here, but this empire is under my supervision until she's able to control her demonic side.
"We're here to have a chat with our future daughter-in-law about this empire and to know your sister's condition," mom said.
"I told you that you should not call her your daughter-in-law yet," uncle Zane said.
"But that is what will happen in the future, so why not call her like that now?" mom said.
"Enough, we're not here to argue about that daughter-in-law thing… we are her to provide security in this empire to save Yui," dad said.
"You can't stop me… I'm the prince of this empire and not just a knight! Step aside or I'll use this sharp blade in my left to cut you into pieces!" someone shouted from the opposite side. I think I know who it is.
"What's going on outside?" they asked.
"Your grandson is here," I said. I did not bother to stand up because I know that he can manage it himself… and it's disrespectful to disobey your superiors.
"I said get out of my way!" Stephen repeated.
"Louis! Why aren't you helping your nephew?!" mother asked. She stood up, but I pushed her down gently.
"Don't worry mom… he will teach that guard a lesson for being disrespectful towards your superior," I said.
The door bursts open, then it reveals the guard who is now laying on the ground due to Stephen's kick, I think?
"Do you think that you can be disrespectful towards me, a prince, because you're my colleague? Then let me tell you this… no one in this world can stay alive after preventing me from eating whenever I'm hungry," Stephen said while emitting a dark aura. Opss, I may have sitted for a longer time than I expected.
Stephen pulled out his sword then pointed its end on the knight's neck.
"I-I'm s-sorry y-your h-h-highness," the knight said.
"Sorry not sorry… see you in hell," Stephen said. He was about to cut off the knight's head but I stopped him.
"Stop Stephen… why not let him live for now… you know that your aunt Yui hates it when you use your sword to kill innocent people… we will lock him in the dungeon and the rest will be decided according to the knight's law," I said. He looked at me emotionlessly.
"Why would I?" he replied. What the… this kid… He's not yet fully recovered so I know his body's weakness. I elbowed him on his right abdomen gently because that wound might open up if I hit him too hard.
The sword fell on the floor. He's kneeling on the floor now because of the pain.
"Take this knight to the dungeon," I said. They hold the knight who was kicked by Stephen, then left the room.
"What the heck uncle!! Do you want to do an operation on me again? That's why you're trying to open up the wound that I got?!" he said.
"No dear nephew… but do mind your manners in front of your grandfathers and grandmothers," I said.
"Who?!" He said. I pointed my index finger towards mother, father, and uncles and aunties.
Stephen bravely stand-up, picked up his sword, then put it away. After that, he then kneeled in front of them.
"Greeting to his and her highnesses, sorry for what you witnessed a while ago… I'm Stephen, the prince of this empire and the commander of the special forces of knights," he said.
"You don't need to be so formal towards us… just call us grandmas and grandpas," mom said.
"I'm sorry, your highness, but I am an illegitimate child, I don't have a father, but I do have a mother… also, I'm always like this so please forgive my actions," he said.
"And who's your father? We will make him marry our daughter… that person should be responsible for this," dad said.
"Pardon me, your majesty… but my father never accepted me nor my little sister… I hate to have a father who will just abandon his childrens," he said.
"By the way Stephen, why are you here and making a fuss?" I asked him.
"Are you deaf uncle? I just said it awhile ago… I'm hungry that's why I am here," he said. This little brat. Calling me a deaf.
"Prince Stephen, your food is here," butler Seb said, then they started to fill the table again.
"Can you finish all of this?" mom asked him. Stephen stands up then sits on his chair. I also sit down.
"Yes, your highness," he said, then he started eating.
"By the way, where's aunt Yui? She's never been late when it comes to food," he asked while eating.
"She's resting in her room," I answered.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because she went out of control awhile ago… the dark empire is on their moves… they kidnapped Hailey, Brandon, and Thomas… luckily, your grandparents know what happened so they're now inside the infirmary," I said. He stopped eating then looked at me.
"They're what, uncle?" he said.
"They're starting to move," I repeated. He clenched his fists that made the spoon break. He's also beginning to be a cold Stephen again.
"Oh dear~" mom said when she saw Stephen's hand that was now bleeding.
"They're moving earlier than the expected date," he said. I think he is planning to be reckless again.
"Don't you ever think of doing what you're currently thinking right now," I said. He stood up, then headed towards the door.
"Didn't you hear your uncle telling you not to be reckless again?" Yui said who came from the other side of the dining hall.
"But…" he said.
"Say another word and I'll literally make your days worse than you've ever experienced during training," she said. Stephen's shaking from fear of dying. Well to tell you the truth, she's the worst instructor that you'll encounter in your life.
"I-I'm just joking, empress," he said then he went back to his seat and continued eating.
"Sorry, ma, pa, for not telling you about this," she said.
YUI's POV
I woke up then I got off my bed. Maybe I've gone too far. The needle that uncle Lukas shot at me will not make me unconscious mentally so I still knew what happened. I'm Physically unconscious a while ago, but mentally awake. I heard that they're the 5 empires' heads that came here. Mama and Papa are also one of them, so I don't know how I would explain this to them.
I got off the bed, then went out to head to the dining hall.
I entered the other door because that's the nearest dorr to my room. When I entered, I saw Stephen pointing a sword towards the knight's neck.
"I-I'm s-sorry y-your h-h-highness," the knight said.
"Sorry not sorry… see you in hell," Stephen said. He was about to cut off the knight's head but brother Louis stopped him.
"Stop Stephen… why not let him live for now… you know that your aunt Yui hates it when you use your sword to kill innocent people… we will lock him in the dungeon and the rest will be decided according to the knight's law," he said. Stephen looked at him emotionlessly.
"Why would I?" he replied. I want to laugh on how he replied to brother Louis. Brother Louis elbowed.
The sword fell on the floor. He's kneeling on the floor now because of the pain.
"Take this knight to the dungeon," brother Louis said. They hold the knight who was kicked by Stephen, then left the room.
"What the heck uncle!! Do you want to do an operation on me again? That's why you're trying to open up the wound that I got?!" Stephen said. I think I should stay here quietly for a few minutes, I love this play that I'm watching.
"No dear nephew… but do mind your manners in front of your grandfathers and grandmothers," brother Louis said. He's right.
"Who?!" He said. Brother Louis pointed his index finger towards mama, papa, uncles and aunties.
Stephen bravely stand-up, picked up his sword, then put it away. After that, he then kneeled in front of them. I might've gone too far from teaching this boy about etiquette.
"Greeting to his and her highnesses, sorry for what you witnessed a while ago… I'm Stephen, the prince of this empire and the commander of the special forces of knights," he said.
"You don't need to be so formal towards us… just call us grandmas and grandpas," aunt Serenity said. She's right, because she's his grandmother in the first place.
"I'm sorry, your highness, but I am an illegitimate child, I don't have a father, but I do have a mother… also, I'm always like this so please forgive my actions," he said.
"And who's your father? We will make him marry our daughter… that person should be responsible for this," uncle Lukas said.
"Pardon me, your majesty… but my father never accepted me nor my little sister… I hate to have a father who will just abandon his childrens," he said. I'll kick that bastard's but if I see him one of these days. I'll make him regret that he abandoned his childrens and future wife.
"By the way Stephen, why are you here and making a fuss?" brother Louis asked him.
"Are you deaf uncle? I just said it awhile ago… I'm hungry that's why I am here," he said. Pfft nice one Stephen. I really want to laugh because of their relationship as uncle and nephew.
"Prince Stephen, your food is here," butler Seb said, then they started to fill the table. Foods. I think my eyes are shining now.
"Can you finish all of this?" aunt Serenity asked him. Stephen stands up then sits on his chair. Brother Louis also sat down.
"Yes, your highness," he said, then he started eating. To tell you the truth, aunt Serenity, that's still too little for him, but I made them do it like that because he might get sick after fighting those bastards.
"By the way, where's aunt Yui? She's never been late when it comes to food," he asked while eating. Oh~ my dear little prince is worried about me.
"She's resting in her room," brother Louis answered. No I'm not there because I'm here.
"Why?" Stephen asked.
"Because she went out of control awhile ago… the dark empire is on their moves… they kidnapped Hailey, Brandon, and Thomas… luckily, your grandparents know what happened so they're now inside the infirmary," Brother Louis said. He stopped eating then looked at him. I'm sorry for getting out of control. You know that I hate traitors, so I'm like that a while ago.
"They're what, uncle?" he said.
"They're starting to move," brother Louis repeated. He clenched his fists that made the spoon break. He's also beginning to be a cold Stephen again.
"Oh dear~" aunt Serenity said when she saw Stephen's hand that was now bleeding. I think I know what will happen next.
"They're moving earlier than the expected date," he said. I think he is planning to be reckless again.
"Don't you ever think of doing what you're currently thinking right now," Brother Louis said. Stephen stood up, then headed towards the door.
"Didn't you hear your uncle telling you not to be reckless again?" I said, then went out of the hiding place where I was hiding just a seconds ago.
"But…" he said.
"Say another word and I'll literally make your days worse than you've ever experienced during training," I said. Why is he shaking?
"I-I'm just joking, empress," he said then he went back to his seat and continued eating.
"Sorry, ma, pa, for not telling you about this," I said.
"Are you okay, Yui?" Liam asked. I smiled a little then nodded.
"It's okay Yui… we knew that you're visiting this empire in the first place," papa said. Wait what? They knew?
"You knew?" I said.
"Yes, the previous empress informed us about this… we also know the dangerous missions that you're taking when you're still a secret agent, and also your training here in this empire every night," mama said. I can't believe it. They knew everything for such a long time yet I did not tell them the truth.
"I'm sorry for not telling you the truth," I said. They just smiled at me.
I went to my chair then I ordered the butler to bring my food here.
"Your highness!" someone shouted. We looked at the door of the dining area and we saw a maid running towards us while holding something in her hand.
"What is it?" I asked. She handed me my necklace. When did it get lost? As far as I remember, it was on my neck.
"Thank you… but where did you get this?" I said then get the necklace from her then put it on my neck again.
"I saw it in one of the assassin's pockets, I carefully pulled it out of her pocket, your highness," she said. I emitted a dark aura. So there's still a traitor other than Julia?
"Who is the assassin?" I said.
"She's the one who pointed your sword in the main hall, your highness," she said. So, there's only one traitor.
"You may leave, thank you for giving this back to me," I said.
"I'm just doing the right thing, your highness," she said then she went out of the dining hall. I looked at brother Louis.
"What?" he asked.
"Kill her," I said. They seemed shocked except for Stephen.
"No!" he said.
"Why not? Once is enough to have mercy, but twice is unforgivable," I said.
"I'm still not going to do it," he said. I sighed. I stand up, then flare a light to summon Fire.
"Your orders, your highness?" he said.
"Kill her," I said.
"You'll receive our update later, your highness," he said then jumped off the railings again.
"Yui! That's too much!" brother Louis said.
"Let me give you choices, brother Louis… First you will not interfere in this matter just this once or I will tell sister Lea what happened to me, then she will handle everything about that traitor?," I said. If sister Lea will handle this matter, she will torture that assassin until she's satisfied and she's pregnant so I'm sure that he will choose the first choice.
"You're always such a pain in the ass," he said.
"Thanks for the compliment," I said. He gave me an unbelievable look.
"Yui, why do you want to kill her?" Emperor Zane asked.
"Sorry I did not greet everyone… I'll introduce myself again for the sake of formality… I am Yui Chua, the empress of Flame Medusa, the adoptive daughter of Emperor William and Empress Amanda, the sister of Prince Gian Chua and a legendary secret agent of Emperor Zane," I said while doing a curtsy.
"No need to be formal towards us, you can just call us aunt and uncle just like you usually call us outside," uncle Lukas said.
"Very well then," I said, then I sat on my chair again to eat.
"Stephen, why don't you tell us what you saw in their empire?" I said.
"Later, aunt Yui," he said.
"You really don't like to talk about something other than foods whenever you're eating," I said.
"Because that's me," he said.
"Then how about this… I'll let you have another bowl or two of the food you're eating now, dessert is not included in that," I said.
"Sure aunt, but what's the condition?" he said.
"Inform us about the things that you saw in their empire, also some gossip if there is," I said.
"They said that they'll declare a war next year… they'll use the poison that you discovered as their new weapon… they will reorganized the ingredients to make it twice as its effect in the first place… they also said that they're holding someone precious to you and someone you're longing for… other than the previous empress of Flame Medusa that was also being kept as a hostage in their empire," he said.
"Say what?! She's alive?" I said.
"Yes, aunt… I also saw it for myself," he said.
"Then what about that thing about who I'm longing for?" I asked him.
"I heard them say that they have your real parents," Stephen said. I looked at aunt Serenity and uncle Lukas.
"They're deceiving me, aren't they?" I asked them.
"Absolutely," they replied.
"I didn't even feel a bit worried for those impostors, but I'm worried about aunt Jei-Jei," I said.
"Aunt Jei-Jei?" aunt Yasmine said.
"She's your sister, Yasmine… she's the previous empress of this empire," mama said.
"What? But I thought she died in that incident when she's 35 years old… I thought she died on that ship," she said.
"Actually, about that… the previous emperor before her was also in that ship to kill a certain person… he saved aunt Jei-Jei then he married her after a few years. He then died without announcing that he's married, so the dark empire thought that they defeated this empire easily, but no… the empress continued to run this empire… she seeks for brother Louis who doesn't want to get involved in this mess, but because of me, he was dragged to this, so do sister Lea," I said.
"Why?" aunt Savannah asked.
"I also don't know why did she seek for brother Louis and sister Lea just because of me, but I do know that it's related to my real parents," I said.
"You don't know who your real parents are?" aunt Jin-Ae asked me.
"Unfortunately, no… but I hope someday, I will meet them… not the day I will die, but the day before I die or earlier if possible," I said.
"I know who your real parents are, but do you want to meet them now?" uncle Zane asked me.