Cathain's Pov ~
W-What?
I stared at the duke's walking away figure as his words kept ringing in my mind.
What does he even mean by those words?
I never knew something like that in my past life.
Then again, if there was no reason then the duke wouldn't agree to let her marry me either.
He has enough power so a political reason is not an option, and the prophecy which said she is my bride?
That's also impossible…
He doesn't give a shit to the temple, otherwise he would have named her Ariande like the temple wanted according the prophecy.
But the words he said just now mean he doesn't want us to be together even if she loves me.
Then why did he really agree for this marriage?
I just stood all dumbfounded before a familiar voice called for me from behind.
"That was a wrong move, son."
My father spoke with a sigh and I was somewhat surprised to find him behind me.
Did he hear our conversation?
I didn't even sense him behind us, how long has he been here?
"The topic about the duchess is a sensitive topic for him. And you just poked on his sore spot."
My father spoke and I couldn't deny that he was damn right.
I shouldn't have talked to him like that.
But I just couldn't control myself when he again bought up the topic to break our engagement.
I just... I had just lost it.
"So you have heard everything?"
I asked and Father nodded his head.
Our relationship has improved much in just a few days.
I am closer to him more then I was in my past life, and he seem to be really like the changes in me… which makes me wonder if I was like this in the past then maybe everything would be alright and all of us would be happy.
Then again my heart clenched in pain, and father started to speak in a low voice.
"Can you imagine how dangerous someone can be when he could actually forge the emperor's signature and succeed in fooling the wisest man in the empire?"
He spoke and I stayed silent.
I don't know much about this topic in the first place as this matter was extremely confidential and handled in a short time.
The duke wanted to drag this matter to trial but something made him stop and then four years later when she turned 10, we got officially engaged.
"We couldn't even prove that signature wasn't mine, the knights who informed the duke about that order disappeared like he never existed. All the evidence we would find meets with a dead end. There was no way to prove anything and then I made him stop using the blood oath."
I turned my head to glance at my father who was looking better than before.
It's only been a few days since I started to change his poisonous food and he already started to look healthy.
Just how deadly the poison was affecting him?
"The duke hates me because of that and I know it even if he doesn't say anything or tries his best to hide it. I just couldn't let him be like me..."
Father speaks as we start to walk in slow steps and he kept looking forward; trying to hide something in his eyes.
This is the first time he is sharing this topics with me.
And I felt guilty... Why did I never try to understand him better?
"You know how your... mother died right?"
Father asked and I could sense the hesitation in his voice.
It was full of pain.
I know how she died... no, how she was murdered.
But the 16-year-old Crown Prince shouldn't know it so I lied.
"Yeah, she died during childbirth...after giving birth to me..."
I replied and a painful smile appeared on his face.
"She was poisoned... they killed her using me."
Father spoke in a low voice as he paused on his steps before looking down.
"I was stubborn like the duke. I wanted to prove them guilty. I stopped at nothing and almost succeeded, but it caused me a huge price and made me stop."
I looked at my father with a confused gaze as this was something I never knew.
What is he talking about?
"…You were poisoned at the age of three, almost died... just a day before I could announce the news of the trial."
My eyes widen as I stare at him with shock.
I was poisoned at that age?
"The empress was murdered, and the crown prince got poisoned even after being heavily guarded all the time. That was when I knew a trial would be of no use. The power behind them was greater than we can imagine."
He briefly paused at his word before he continued after taking a deep breath.
"We have already lost one person, we couldn't afford to lose the thing they left for us to protect either."
So that was it... my father stopped the duke because he was afraid that what happened to me could also happen to her and not everyone is lucky enough like me to survive.
"But about the engagement..."
I asked lowly and Father started to walk again.
"I had suggested that to him that as anyone can harm the princess of the Dalton Duchy but no one can touch the crown princess, who is also the lady of the prophecy. She is the highest authorized woman in the empire now; supported by the temple and the imperial family. Not to mention her being the daughter of the empire's hero."
"Harming her abruptly would be a foolish choice as they can't face three powerful forces at once."
He is right.
I thought deeply.
The temple, especially the high priest is really fond of her.
Her mother was the princess of Arndell and if something happens to her, at least the priests of that kingdom won't tolerate it because of her identity as the lady of the prophecy.
They are really sensitive about this kind of matters.
So they planned to make her untouchable so that people think twice before trying to harm her.
"We planned it in detail and by letting them think that the duke didn't care about his daughter, all of their attention shifted towards the duke. Removing him from the path makes it clear for them to harm us easily after all."
"The duke didn't want this engagement but after he caught an assassin trying to harm her, he agreed. He never let her understand that he knows she is following him because that was better than letting her stay alone and let the others only think of her as a foolish kid who just wants her father's attention."
Father finishes speaking and I nod a little.
Now everything is making sense.
Why the duke ignored her, why my father never acted close to me despite them loving us so much.
All they wanted was to protect us but this protection ended up harming us instead.
And why choose to make me their puppet to harm her…
Because no one can question the emperor and when they do, that's mean the emperor has lost his powers and people's trust.
They removed Prince Dominic first so that they can control the priests by colluding with the first prince.
Then they wiped out the Dalton duchy and the empress to make my already worsened image to the public, before finally taking over the powers completely.
Making me the emperor in name only, but their plan failed as we sacrificed ourselves to turn back the time.
As it was getting late, I escorted my father to his room before I came out again.
The sky was ablaze with the fire of the setting sun; casting long shadows of the tree's on the ground.
Birds were returning home and the officials were also going back after finishing their shifts.
The tree leaves sways as gentle breeze passes through them and I look up at the sky.
Where should I return?
Unlike them, I have no place to return… but can I fancy the thought to make a new one?
Will she agree to make a new home with me this time?
Then my eyes fall on a person with beige colored hair, running towards me with a panicked face.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!! WE-"
His purple eyes were full of anxiousness and I had the feeling that something bad has happened.
And my gut feelings are always right…
"WE LOST TRACK OF PRINCE DOMINIC!!"