Lucien blinked as he was lifted effortlessly into his mother's arms.
Warm.
His small fingers curled into the soft fabric of her coat, feeling the steady beat of her heart beneath it.
Diana carried him with ease, as if he weighed nothing, and yet, the way she held him—secure, protective—made him feel safer than he had in a long time.
The wind played with his dark hair, ruffling it gently as they moved through the grand halls.
He could feel the stares.
The horrified whispers of the palace staff.
"The Empress is carrying the Prince!"
"His Highness isn't even dressed properly!"
"Look at Her Majesty's clothes—what is she wearing?!"
Lucien stiffened, instinctively lowering his gaze.
He was used to this.
Being watched. Judged. Compared.
Usually, he would try to make himself smaller, try to be the perfect prince, the way everyone wanted him to be.
But today…
Today, his mother was different.
Lucien buried his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling the faint scent of something unfamiliar—steel, leather, and the crisp scent of the morning air.
She wasn't wearing her usual heavy perfumes, her suffocating gowns, or the thick makeup that always made her seem like someone else.
No.
Today, she looked like herself.
A deep blue coat with golden embroidery, tailored to perfection. A crisp white shirt tucked neatly into fitted pants. Her silver hair tied back into a sleek ponytail, revealing her sharp, regal features.
She looked…
Strong.
Lucien's heart thumped in his chest.
His mother always tried so hard. Tried to be beautiful. Tried to be graceful. Tried to be what everyone wanted her to be.
But now?
Now, she wasn't trying at all.
She simply was.
And Lucien loved it.
He clung to her a little tighter.
Diana glanced down at him, her expression unreadable. Then, without a word, she pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head.
Lucien's breath hitched.
It was such a small thing.
But it made something warm bloom in his chest.
By the time they reached the banquet hall, the sound of laughter and conversation filled the air.
Lucien tensed.
He recognized those voices.
His father.
The Queen.
His older half-siblings.
They were already there, sitting around the grand table, chatting and laughing as if they were the perfect family.
Lucien knew better.
He had always been an outsider in that laughter.
Even when he was seated among them, dressed in fine clothes and adorned with jewels, he had never truly been one of them.
And yet, as Diana reached the entrance, she didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
She walked forward with the same calm, confident stride, her grip on Lucien steady and unwavering.
The moment they entered, the room fell into stunned silence.
Lucien felt every eye turn to them.
The Emperor's golden gaze narrowed.
Queen Liliana covered her mouth in delicate surprise.
Roan and Elysian, his older half-brothers, stopped talking mid-sentence.
Lucien instinctively braced himself.
Would his mother apologize? Would she set him down and pretend as if this never happened?
Would she revert back to the woman who clung to the Emperor's side, throwing childish fits whenever she was ignored?
But instead…
Diana gently set him down.
Lucien stood still, looking up at her.
She didn't turn to the Emperor. Didn't pout. Didn't complain that Liliana was here.
She simply looked at him.
A small, soft smile on her lips.
And for the first time, Lucien realized—
She had never smiled at him like that before.
Not in his entire life.
A lump formed in his throat.
Slowly, hesitantly, he reached for her hand.
She took it without hesitation.
The Emperor's sharp voice cut through the silence.
"Diana. What is the meaning of this?"
Lucien flinched.
But his mother?
She merely lifted an eyebrow. "I don't believe I need to explain anything, Your Majesty."
Her voice was even. Calm.
Not the whiny, coquettish tone she usually used around the Emperor.
Not the overly sweet, exaggerated way she spoke when she pretended to be the perfect Empress.
Just… Diana.
The Queen gave a light, musical laugh, touching her lips delicately. "Your Majesty must be in a playful mood today," she said with a demure smile. "But it's quite a surprise to see you carrying the young prince like that. It's… unbefitting of an imperial mother, don't you think?"
Lucien stiffened.
Here it was.
The reminder that he wasn't good enough. That his mother wasn't good enough.
That they were lesser.
But instead of reacting with anger, instead of throwing a tantrum like she might have in the past…
Diana merely tilted her head.
"Is that so?" she mused, as if genuinely considering the Queen's words. Then she smiled. "Well, I suppose I've never been one to care much for what's befitting."
Lucien's mouth fell open slightly.
Liliana's perfect smile faltered.
Even the Emperor looked surprised.
Diana turned back to Lucien, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
"Are you hungry, my love?" she asked.
Lucien blinked up at her.
She had never called him that before.
"...Yes," he whispered.
Diana smiled and led him toward the table.
The Emperor's gaze darkened. "Diana," he said coldly. "I don't recall allowing you to change your attire so drastically. That outfit is hardly appropriate for an Empress."
Diana picked up a teacup, inspecting it as if the Emperor's words were barely worth her attention.
"Then don't look," she replied simply, taking a sip.
Lucien nearly choked on his breath.
Silence stretched through the room.
The Emperor's expression darkened dangerously.
Liliana let out a delicate laugh. "Your Majesty must be in quite the rebellious mood today," she murmured, eyes twinkling with something unreadable.
Diana set her teacup down with a soft clink.
"Rebellious?" She tilted her head. "No, I don't think so. I'm simply doing what I should have done long ago—being a mother to my son."
Lucien's fingers curled around the edge of the table.
It was different.
Everything was different.
For once, he wasn't an afterthought.
For once, his mother wasn't fighting for the Emperor's attention.
For once…
She was fighting for him.
A small, hesitant smile formed on Lucien's lips.
And for the first time in his life—
He was happy.
*****
The palace was too quiet.
The Emperor frowned as he sat at the head of the long dining table.
Something felt… wrong.
Usually, at this hour, he would hear Diana's voice—her endless nagging, her childish pouts, her desperate attempts to cling to his attention.
She would whine about how he spent too much time with Liliana.
She would throw a fit over the smallest things, demanding his affection like a spoiled child.
But now?
Nothing.
The silence was almost unsettling.
The Emperor stabbed his fork into his meal, barely paying attention as his beloved daughter, Elysian, carefully cut a piece of fruit and lifted it toward him.
"Father, here," she said sweetly, offering him the bite.
His sharp features softened as he accepted it. "Good girl."
Elysian beamed.
Beside her, Roan—their eldest son—ate quietly, his posture perfect, his presence dignified.
A perfect prince.
A stark contrast to Lucien.
The Emperor's gaze flickered toward the empty seat where Lucien should have been.
Usually, Diana would drag him here, dressed in ridiculous, suffocating outfits, trying too hard to make him look like the perfect imperial son.
But today…
Nothing.
No Diana. No Lucien.
Liliana noticed his distraction and touched his hand gently. "Your Majesty, is something the matter?" she asked in a soft voice.
The Emperor exhaled, shaking his head. "It's nothing."
But the quiet…
It was too much.
Then, as if summoned by his thoughts, the grand doors creaked open.
Diana walked in.
The Emperor's fork paused mid-air.
For a moment, he almost didn't recognize her.
Gone were the heavy gowns, the suffocating jewelry, the thick layers of makeup.
Instead, she wore a newly tailored white shirt, crisp and fitted, tucked neatly into dark, well-fitted pants. A navy coat with gold embroidery draped over her shoulders like a knight's mantle, emphasizing her sharp, regal features.
She looked… different.
Calm. Collected. Cold.
Like an ice statue.
The palace secretary faltered. The butler hesitated. Even Liliana blinked in surprise.
But what struck the Emperor the most—
There was no warmth in Diana's gaze when she looked at him.
No admiration.
No longing.
Just… nothing.
His brows furrowed.
Before he could speak, Diana's cool voice cut through the silence.
"I want a new tutor for Lucien."
The Emperor scoffed. "We've already assigned him the best instructor."
Diana's expression didn't change. "No. You assigned him an incompetent one."
Liliana gasped softly. "Your Majesty, surely you don't mean that—"
Diana didn't spare her a glance.
The Emperor frowned. "Diana, don't be unreasonable. Lucien has an excellent tutor. If he's struggling, then perhaps he simply isn't trying hard enough."
Lucien's fingers tightened in the fabric of Diana's sleeve, but he said nothing.
Diana's silver eyes remained unreadable. "I will not allow Lucien to be beaten into obedience."
The Emperor exhaled in irritation. "You're pampering him. If we replace every teacher he dislikes, he'll never learn proper discipline."
"He's five," Diana said flatly. "Discipline should not come at the cost of his well-being."
"Then what do you propose? Coddle him? Shelter him?" The Emperor leaned back, crossing his arms. "The empire doesn't need another weakling, Diana. I will not allow you to turn him soft."
Lucien flinched slightly, lowering his gaze.
Diana's jaw tightened.
For a brief moment, something flickered in her eyes.
But when she spoke, her voice was cold. "Then don't bother."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Diana straightened her posture, meeting his gaze without fear.
"I will raise Lucien myself," she said, her tone as steady as steel. "With the ways of the Hinsdale."
Silence fell.
Liliana's hand trembled slightly against her teacup.
The Emperor's expression darkened. "Diana, do not be ridiculous—"
"It is not a request," Diana interrupted, her voice firm. "You and your court have already shaped Roan and Elysian into the heirs you wanted. You have your perfect children. Leave Lucien to me."
A small, sharp breath escaped Liliana's lips.
Elysian, still in the Emperor's arms, clung to his chest, her small fingers trembling.
The Emperor glanced down at his daughter, then back at Diana.
She had never spoken like this before.
Never so detached.
Never so unmoved.
"Is this some new way to seduce me?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
He expected her to react. To blush, to stammer, to look away with embarrassment.
To be the Diana he knew.
But she didn't.
She simply stared at him, unreadable.
Then, without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Lucien immediately followed, stepping in line beside her.
He didn't even look back.
The Emperor's fingers curled into a fist.
Something was wrong.
Something was changing.
And for the first time in a long time…
It unnerved him.