Meanwhile, within the Emperor's office, four figures sat together—Justin, the Emperor; Olive, the Empress; Grand Duke Ryan; and Dante, the young prince (unofficially).
The atmosphere in the room was suffocating.
Justin's face, once regal and full of authority, was now worn with regret, his gaze distant as though he wished he could turn back time. If there were a way to undo his actions, he would have taken it in an instant. But no Sovereign, no matter how powerful, could reverse the past. He knew that.
Initially, the meeting had been convened to discuss troubling reports regarding certain nobles. Investigations had revealed that some were involved in the underground slave trade, supplying the market with elf girls who had gone missing from within the empire itself. It was a shocking and vile revelation—one that had forced the imperial family to take immediate action in secrecy.
Justin and the Grand Duke were only told, this was a matter that could be dealt by others. While the worth of Nobles was high, they were still quite weak, too weak to warrant his personal intervention, even the Grand Duke's. Moreover, they were of the other faction. What happened to those guys was no true downside to the empire
Yet, Dante had entered the chamber and spoken seven words that shattered Justin's already fragile composure:
"I wish to leave the palace soon."
Silence had followed, thick and deafening. The weight of those words settled heavily upon the three adults. Justin, despite all his power and wisdom, could do nothing but sit there, feeling as if his very heart was being torn from his chest. He had failed his son in a way that could not be mended with apologies or reassurances.
Ryan and Olive were now staring at Dante, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion. A friend? He had a friend? Not only that, but this friend was his subordinate?
And she had been injured? By Justin and Aurora?
Why?
Was there a valid reason for this?
Olive and Ryan exchanged glances, both processing the revelation at the same time. It was clear that Dante cared deeply for this person, yet something had happened that caused him great pain. And from the way he spoke, the blame fell upon Justin and Aurora. The Empress and the Grand Duke both had a sinking feeling that whatever had transpired had left a wound in the young prince far deeper than they could understand.
Justin, feeling his own emotions spiraling out of control, finally exhaled a heavy sigh and said, "Let's call your mother and see what she has to say."
Dante nodded but remained silent, his small hands resting in his lap, clenched ever so slightly.
A few minutes later, the door to the office opened, and Aurora entered. Her usual grace was dampened by an air of anxiety. Her heart clenched when she saw Justin's expression, and when her son merely glanced at her before looking down at his hands, a sharp pain shot through her chest.
She listened carefully as Justin explained the situation, and by the end of it, she felt a mixture of anger, shock, and heartbreak. She took a step closer, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"Dante, I understand how you're feeling, but you cannot simply leave the palace so young. Am I just supposed to live the next years barely seeing you?" she pleaded, her tone desperate. "You'll gain your independence at eighteen, just like your siblings. At that time, we will rarely see you. Are you truly going to do this to us?"
Olive and Ryan observed the exchange with complex expressions. While they had not been aware of what had happened before now, they could see that Dante's emotions were not coming from mere childish anger. The boy was highly intelligent, observant, and perceptive beyond his years. This was not a decision made out of impulse—it was something deeply rooted in pain.
Dante let out a soft chuckle, though it was void of any joy. "Do you really, Mother?" The words sent a chill down Aurora's spine.
He continued, his voice steady but laden with sorrow. "Mother, you were a commoner. You know how difficult life was before your talent was recognized. You must remember how many fake friends surrounded you once you gained power. But you had Aunt Olive, Father, and Uncle Ryan. They supported you. They made sure you didn't have to struggle alone."
He swallowed hard, his next words coming out in a whisper. "Do you know what Vexion went through?" Aurora stiffened, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"She was left untouched, yes, but she was abused. Physically. Mentally. For years."
'Im gussing'
"She was hunted by her own kind—by elves—our people. Imagine being told, as a woman, that you are worthless, yet still being used as a punching bag for entertainment. Imagine running for your life, over and over again, with no one to help you. No one to save you."
The room had grown eerily quiet. No one could bring themselves to interrupt.
"When I met her, she was broken. But I saw strength in her. I gave her something to believe in. I let her stand by my side—not beneath me, but beside me." His hands clenched tightly into fists, his small frame trembling. "And how was she rewarded for that loyalty?" He lifted his gaze, his eyes burning with unspoken fury and grief. "She was nearly destroyed, her body pulverized. And for what?" Aurora had no answer.
Justin looked down, unable to face his son's piercing gaze.
Dante inhaled shakily, his voice growing softer. "Father, you might believe that such methods are justified, but why her? Why so soon? I thought she would find warmth in this palace, as I did. But I was wrong."
Tears slipped down his cheeks, but he did not wipe them away. Instead, he clenched his tiny fists tighter, his nails digging into his skin as he forced himself to continue. "I hear the whispers, Mother. The maids, soldiers they say I am nothing more than a leech, lucky to be related to you. They call me a burden."
Aurora's breath caught in her throat. "Dante—"
"I understood it," he interrupted. "This empire will never see me as a prince. I am merely a citizen." He wiped his face, forcing back more tears. "I cannot change the traditions of this kingdom, nor do I wish to make you rebel against the system for my sake. I do not wish to be a burden to you, nor do I want to disrupt your lives." He lowered his gaze once more. "But I met a friend, someone who suffered more than I ever did. And I thought I could give her a better life." A deep silence filled the room.
Dante closed his eyes, exhaling shakily before whispering, "I love you both. I will never abandon you. But I need time to grow—on my own. I'm not saying now, but maybe in a few years, I just wanted to tell you now. If I become like my siblings, nothing will change, I have no royal rights so I want to be different. I want to be myself. Away from the empire."
He hesitated before looking up once more, his expression pleading. "Please."
Justin and Aurora sat frozen, their emotions warring within them. They wanted to refuse. But deep down, they knew… They had already lost the right to stop him.
Justin sighed, his voice breaking as he finally relented. "If this is what you want… if this is what it will take for you to forgive me… then so be it."
Aurora, silent tears streaming down her face, could only nod as she wiped them away.