CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – EUGENE'S PERSPECTIVE
"So, shall we hear what you had to report?"
Chester snapped from his thoughts when he noticed how anxious the Crown Prince's voice sounds like.
'Right! I am the one who requested to the Crown Prince to discuss this matter at his office, and it looks like he is getting impatient as he wanted to check the Fifth Prince's situation as soon as he arrived in the palace.'
He sighed as he looked at the Crown Prince and even though his expression was stoic as ever, Chester could tell in the Crown Prince's eyes that he was worried about the Fifth Prince.
The one who protects the other and the one who suffers a humiliation because of his inability to have an affinity.
At first, Chester didn't want to be involved in the battle of succession of the throne between the royal princes and the Marquis Bonaparte household remains on a neutral faction as they observe everything on the sidelines.
However, that changes when the First Prince, Eugene, became active in the court and display his level of knowledge and skills that makes everyone dumbfounded.
'It feels like it happens just yesterday, but it's already been a year and a half since then.'
Chester sighed; "About the Fifth Prince, there is an incident happen back at the banquet. But…"
He didn't know how to continue without incurring the wrath of a certain prince, but as he looked at the Crown Prince, Chester could see that the Crown Prince's eyes darken.
'Ah. Is he going to make a move at the Duke Albert household? That would incite a war if I didn't stop him.'
Aside from the fact that Duke Xavier is sworn brother to the King, the Duke Albert household is still one of the influential figures within the Empire, so no one dared to make an enemy out of them.
"Let me guess. Jules almost got assassinated at the banquet in broad daylight and none of the nobles dared to act to protect him, at least. Am I right?"
Chester flinch at every word that Eugene said, and he looked up at the Crown Prince with wide eyes.
"H-how did you know…"
Eugene snorted; "It's understandable that someone would target Jules if I were not by his side and those fools dared to make a move inside the Duke Albert household! How preposterous!"
Eugene paused for a minute to calm himself as he continued.
"I won't be surprised if Duke Albert is aware of the situation back at the banquet, but he would likely ignore it and would provide lame excuses If I demand an answer from him. Tsk! Such impertinence display of power! Does he want to change this Empire into Albert?!"
Chester didn't know what to say anymore when the Crown Prince analyze everything as if he had seen this coming but on the other hand, he felt relieve.
Because he made the right choice to support the Crown Prince and he won't regret his decisions no matter what happens.
Since he swore loyalty to the Crown Prince, Chester never looked back at the other royal siblings, even though they were his cousins as well.
Of course, whenever he meets or crossed paths with them, he still maintains a minimal courteous greetings and distance himself with them if they tried to make a connection with him.
Aside from the Crown Prince who Chester gave his full support and help, he would prefer the Fifth Prince Laurence to make an acquaintance.
Or rather, that he could spoil and pampered for a little.
He didn't remember that much when he first met the toddler Fifth Prince, but he remembered on how Chester encountered the said prince.
'Just thinking about that encounter makes me want to laugh. Pffft!'
"—you are listening, Chad?"
Chester nearly choked on his own saliva when he heard the impatient tone coming from the Crown Prince and he didn't need to look up as he could tell that he wasn't looking good.
'Oppps!'
.....
.....
"—you are listening, Chad?"
Eugene could tell that Chester's thoughts is out of nowhere as usual since he is always like this whenever he thinks of something.
'This brat's habit never changes at all, even in the past. Oh well, what can I do? He might be the future Prime Minister, but right now, he is still a brat.'
He looked at his trusted aide slash cousin of his and he couldn't help but to feel guilty as he remembered what happen to him… back from his previous life.
As he recalled every bit of pieces of his memories from his past life, Eugene could feel his own knuckles would rip apart because of the pressure that he was putting into.
In his past life, Chester did everything in his power to support Eugene in his ascension to the throne and Eugene became the new King of Truman Empire at age 21 because of the former King who died in illness.
'That father of mine is so stupid that his youngest favored concubine killed him! Tsk! Just remembering it makes me want to puke! Serves him right!'
During his reign as the King, Chester became the Prime Minister and Eugene's trusted companion. However, because of this, Chester became the target of those rotten bastards who wanted to drag him down and his family.
As a result, they have inflicted the Marquis Bonaparte household with many false accusations on their heads and fall into ruin.
Eugene clenches his fists as he remembered those false accusation statements that were presented to him during his reign and no matter what he does, those bastards didn't leave the Bonaparte household alone!
In order to protect their lives since they supported him from his ascension, he could only make a decree to strip off their noble titles and banished them in the Empire.
At least he could keep them alive and safe from the political war that is happening, and Eugene learned from Chester about military and political tactics that could help him if Chester wasn't on his side anymore.
'It seems like Chester expected that this would happen. That's why when I was still a Crown Prince, he would urge me to learn these things and his teachings had helped him a lot.'
However, what he didn't expect is that someone murdered them along the way during their exile!
He wanted to take revenge on their behalf, but he couldn't do it.
Even though he ascends to the throne, Eugene realized that no matter what decision he makes, it will oppose by the court as he learned how deep and corrupted those officials in the court.
'It's my dear father's fault for letting those rotten councils had their ways! Thank goodness that I regress, but I couldn't purge them immediately. However, I can still weaken their influences that they hold.'