In middle of the night, A tall middle aged man with strong build walked in the Palace hallway, heading towards a certain room.
Candles flickered in a dimly lit room,
Screams of a woman echoed in the room, before they abruptly stopped.
A few women stood surrounding the bed and a woman lay still on it... Motionless.
"Waaaah... Waaah..."
Soon, a newborn baby's sound emerged breaking the eerie silence of the room.
Doctor took the baby in her arms and checked his health. After confirming that the newborn boy was safe, she instructed one of the servant in the room to convey the news to the emperor, who was about to arrive there.
One of the female servant hurriedly left the room after receiving orders.
...
Emperor of Aegis Empire, Devis Morgan, arrived in front of his second wife's quarters.
Not long after, a maid came out of that room, as soon as her gaze fell on the Emperor, she lowered her head and greeted him.
"Speak! How is my wife and child?" Emperor asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Y-Your Majesty..." Maid spoke without lifting her head.
"Her majesty... She couldn't survive, but prince is not in any danger."
Emperor's eyes widened in shock as soon as he heared the ominous words coming out of maid's mouth.
"T-This can't be..." Emperor staggered on his feet and felt strength leaving his legs.
But he still gathered his energy and stormed towards the room.
As soon as Devis opened the Door and entered the room, he saw the lifeless body of a woman lying on the large bed.
Devis walked to the bed and without caring about etiquette, sat at the side of bed near the body of his wife.
Black strands of hair, damp with sweat, clinged on her face. Her once beautiful face now expressionless.
Tears streaming down from Devis's face as he hugged the lifeless body of his wife.
Although, Devis had two wives, it was no secret to anyone that his first marriage was just a political marriage and his true love was his second wife.
Once, Devis was gravely injured and lost in the Dark Forest, when a woman saved his life and later they fell in love.
Devis recalled the memories he made with his wife Lily.
The newborn baby in the embrace of female doctor was looking at the emperor without any emotions, not knowing what was happening in front of him.
....
One hour later,
Emperor Devis looked finally calmed down a little and stood up.
He walked towards the doctor and took the baby from her.
Devis observed the baby and touched his forehead with some kind of stone, but nothing happened.
Emperor frowned but waited for some change to appear in the stone.
After a few minutes,
'Why is testing stone not reacting.' Emperor thought as doubt appeared in his eyes.
'This has never happened in the long history of Imperial family. Is this boy really... A cripple.' thought the emperor as doubt transformed into disgust and disappointment.
At the same time, the newborn baby was also looking into the emperor's eyes with curiosity.
Disappointment gave way to rage and enraged Devis threw the newborn baby on bed.
"Why did you kill my wife you bastard! You powerless cripple!" Emperor scremed at the baby.
"Waaaah... Waaaah..", baby fell on bed with a strong impact and started crying in pain.
Maids and doctor watched this happen, wanting to help the baby but not daring to move without order in the presence of emperor.
"Sigh... Even if a cripple, he is still my wife's last gift for me. Heal his body." Emperor controlled his rage and ordered the doctor to heal the baby.
....
After five years,
In the Imperial palace of Aegis Empire.
"Your highness, Wake up. It's 10'o clock already." A middle aged woman's in maid's clothing shouted, standing in front of a room, irritation evident in her voice.
Inside the luxurious room, a little boy with petite, weak looking body, and neck long black hair was laying on his large bed.
Sunlight entered through the curtains, falling on his pale white face.
"Sigh. Your highness, atleast opened Your door from inside so i can deliver your breakfast." Maid shouted again with helplessness as she didn't hear any answer from inside.
'Why is Third Prince, Leon, so useless. He was born cripple and if that was not enough, he is extremely lazy and spend most of his time sleeping inside his room.' thought the middle aged maid.
After hearing the loud Voice from outside, Leon didn't answer the maid, instead he grabbed a pillow and buried his face inside it.
'What a fucking nuisance,' Leon thought as he covered his ears with pillows.
'She must really think that I don't know her real identity.'
A smile formed on Leon's lips as he thought of something.
"Hey bitch! I'm sleeping." said Leon before a wave of sleepiness hit him.
"So, let me... Sleep."
'Anyway... It's... Not like I'm lying... Or anything.' thought Leon.
Lia, the middle aged woman stood in front of Leon's room.
'Haa... I don't even feel angry hearing him cursing at me, afterall it's prince Leon we are talking about.'
'Let's see how long you can postpone your death.'
Lia walked away from the room with the food she prepared for Leon.
Twelve hours later,
Leon's eyes opened slowly, revealing his blood red pupils.
He sat on his bed and streaching his hands to the sides, yawning lazily.
After climbing down from his bed, Leon took a bath and changed his clothing.
Standing in front of a large mirror he looked at his reflection,"This is not good." Leon said as he touched his face with his right hand.
"Tut Tut, No wonder that people think i'm weak, because i really look too weak."
Cold wind entered through the open window and brushed against Leon's face.
Leon walked towards the window and looked at the garden outside,
"Heh, It's winter... my fifth birthday was today, but nobody cares about it."
Leon was not sad because he already knew what everyone thought about him, Disgrace of Royal family, Failure of millennium, Cursed child, Trash of Empire.
That's why he never bothered to maintain etiquette and lived as he willed.
It's just that... He felt lonely. No matter what, he was just a five year old child.
"Emperor don't want me to appear in front of other people."
Leon knew he couldn't get close to anyone in the Palace. Those who tried to get close to him...
"Those poor maids also lost their jobs because of me."
Leon looked at the darkness of night outside his room before he suddenly started laughing madly.
"Haha... Hahahaha.. Hahahahahaha..."
....
After laughing for a while, Leon stopped and returned to his bed, grabbed a rope from under his bed.
Leon climbed down through his window with the help of rope.
After reaching the ground, he rested for a bit, then ran towards the garden.
"Time to secure today's meal."
Soon, Leon stood before a big apple tree, stars twinkle in his small beautiful eyes.
"I heard maids talking that eating apples make our body healthy. Maybe, i will also get healthy after eating these."
Leon was used to climbing trees, so he climbed and picked some apples then returned to his room.
"If nobody else celebrate my birthday, i will do it myself... Happy birthday Leon."
Not having a knife to cut, Leon ate them directly after washing.
"Hmm... Handpicked apples are still better than those poisoned meals hehe." Leon said while laughing dryly.
Just like that, Leon celebrated his fifth birthday and five more years passed.