"So, who are you?" The Emperor glared at me.
It seemed like he was exerting some kind of invisible force. My body felt like it was about to collapse. Is this... the reason Liona was scared of The Emperor..?
I put on an act. My posture remains unchanged and to him, it must've looked like I was unaffected.
"I am Sorrel Valdren, The Third Prince, and your son." I said with confidence.
The Emperor glanced up and down. He was inspecting me. After a few seconds, the pressure was gone.
I sighed internally.
"Did you sleep well?" What? The Emperor is also quite sarcastic himself.
"It was a splendid sleep, sir." I shot back.
"I am thrilled to hear that you've woken up." Phew, I was wondering what he was gonna say.
"It seems my memory is quite fuzzy, sir." The Emperor raised an eyebrow.
"What do you remember clearly?" He asked.
"None at all, sir."
...
He looks quite shocked. Was the answer too short? Do I have to elaborate further?
The Emperor quickly regained his composure.
"Well, that is only naturally. You were hit on the head, after all." Now that's surprising. Who would dare hit a prince? Unless—
—Knock knock
"The Second Prince, Ranchael Valdren, requests permission to enter."
He sounded quite young. But wait, Ranchael Valdren? I've heard of that name before. He's one of the side characters from [How To Save The World]. Could it be—I'm really inside a novel!?
I glanced at The Emperor to see his reaction to Ranchael.
"You may not enter, for now. I am speaking to your brother, Sorrel."
Sheesh, does he have to be so stiff?
"I understand, sir." Ranchael responded but I didn't hear any footsteps. It seems he's waiting for the conversation to come to an end.
From the way The Emperor told him about me, I'm assuming Ranchael was the one who hit me.
That bastard!
If that really is the case, I should start plotting for revenge.
"Sorrel," I froze up, realizing I was making a weird face the entire time I was thinking about it.
"Take a rest. Try to remember as much as you can." He added.
"Yes, sir."
I bowed in respect before turning to the door and leaving.
"It seems I hit you too hard." Ranchael spoke.
"I apologize for that." His lips were curved into a grin. He wasn't sorry at all—He was mocking me for my frail body. Disgusting bastard.
"You don't have to, brother." My lips unconsciously said the word 'brother' bitterly.
"When the poisoned flower blooms, its breath turnsdeadly" I muttered under my breath.
Ranchael looked at me in disbelief but I didn't pay much attention to him. I walked towards where Liona was resting and,
"Hello, Miss-Scared-Of-The-Emperor~" I said, teasingly.
Liona shot me with a glare.
Yes, I've lost...