1 week later
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Bad news has arrived!" A maid of the Empress' Palace cried out in a hurry
The maid even forgot proper etiquette as he hurriedly rushed into the Empress's chamber
"Masta, what are you making a ruckus for?" The Empress - Navi Morningstar questioned with a frown on his face
Currently, the Empress is in his chamber, drinking his afternoon tea. His mood for the past week has always not been great because of a certain 'disobedient' child
In the past, he could always vent his anger into his son but now that Keon was given his own Palace, encountering him has become a hard thing to happen
As such, now that his personal maid is shouting this loud, the Empress's mood was further ruined
"Forgive me, Your Majesty but I come bearing bad news!" The maid apologizes and Navi waved his hand
"Speak, what is the news you are talking about?"
"T-the Princess... the Princess is discussing his engagement now with His Majesty!" The maid said grimly and the Empress placed his cup of tea on the table
"Whom among the Imperial Moons?" Navi questioned and Masta gulped first before answering
"I-it's the 1st M-Moon, H-His Highnes K-Keon!" He answered fearfully and a drastic change in the mood instantly appeared from the Empress
"What?!" Navi shouted loudly while banging the teacup into the table, strong enough to crush it into pieces
The broken teacup even gave the Empress wounds but he acted as if he can't feel that as he clenches his fist hard
"Keon?! That bastard?! Are you telling the truth?!"
"Y-Your Majesty, I-I wouldn't dare lie!"
Navi's eyes trembled in rage and in anger, he threw the table away from him, scattering its contents into the ground
"That bitch, he dared discuss his engagement without talking to his mother first?!"
Navi rose from his seat and the fearful servants lowered their heads. "To the Main Palace!" The Empress ordered but Masta steps forwards
"Y-Your Majesty, your hand. Please let us treat Your Majesty's wounds first" Masta pleaded but Navi just pushed him away and insisted on going to the Main Palace despite his bleeding hands
——-
"Your Majesty, please allow His Highness to be betrothed to my son" the current Duke of Ybra - Victor Ybra stated in a humbled manner
Inside the Emperor's workroom were the Emperor, his loyal aide - Marquis Rezen, the 1st Imperial Moon, the Duke and Duchess of Ybra, and also the Young Duke of Ybra
Today was the day that the Ybra Family is formally asking for the Emperor's permission to have Cain have an engagement with Keon
Although rumors about it has already spread that entered the Emperor's ears, he was still a bit surprised at this development
Prior to this, Javier knows that Keon and Cain almost never interacted with each other much aside from the past week. But now, they are actually asking for his child's hand for marriage? Aren't they moving too fast?
"I understand, Duke. However, an engagement between a Ducal House and the Royal Family is a big matter. Wouldn't it be better for the Princess and your son to know each other better first instead of rushing their engagement?"
The Ybra Family is too powerful but if they were to be tied to the Imperial Family through marriage, that should lessen the chances of them plotting a rebellion, right?
After all, wouldn't a Royal stop them from doing that, and wouldn't Keon find some clues if the Ybra Family ever tried to do something horrible?
Although the Ybra Family never showed signs of wanting to usurp the Throne, a powerful Noble House will always be a threat to the Royal Family. That would always be the case with almost no exemption
At normal times, the Emperor should agree with this easily but to have his child taken away from him...
Despite not giving Keon even a hint of affection because of the Empress, Javier still doesn't want his child to be taken away from him
The Duke and Duchess was about to negotiate when Keon speaks up first
"Your Majesty, please allow this engagement! The Young Duke has always been singing his love and praise for me! He even said that he feared he would go crazy if I get snatched by other people"
"He can't take the loneliness of not being with me and the Young Duke wishes to spend more time with me as soon as possible in our future home!"
Keon pleaded and the people with him can't help but blush. They don't know whether they should look at Keon or Cain
'T-this villainess!' Cain thought while gritting his teeth. His whole face was crimson red in color due to immense embarrassment
When did he utter such ridiculous words? Why does this villainess make it sound as if Cain couldn't continue living without him?
"Y-Your Majesty, I-I also have some feelings for the Young Duke, and seeing him get swallowed by loneliness every time we parted is... breaking my heart. Please allow our engagement!"
Keon continue his acting and the Duchess Qain look at his child with tears gathering around his eyes
"C-Cain... m-my baby... i-is that true? Is that the reason why for the past week, you almost never want to leave your father and mother's side?" The Duchess asks tearfully and Cain almost passed out
It's true that Cain decided to spend a lot of time with his parents as in the original timeline, they met a tragic end
Cain wants to cherish the beautiful time they have together and he also has some trauma from losing his loving parents
That was the only reason why he did that and certainly not because he felt lonely without Keon's presence!
As much as Cain wants to scream the truth, he could only swallow this humiliation. If he were to disagree then wouldn't it look like he was merely deceiving the Princess and he really doesn't love him?
If that happens, the Emperor certainly wouldn't accept the engagement and Cain might even be punished!