Chapter 94

Matteo disliked his older brother.

If his brother didn't exist, he wouldn't have to put on a headache-inducing performance in front of the emperor.

'He's so annoying.'

"Second Prince, how was your meeting with the young nobles today? I heard they are all very wise and talented."

At that moment, Cartia asked affectionately. Matteo quickly wiped his expression clean.

"It was good. It's a pleasure to meet and converse with so many young nobles."

"Oh, I hope you didn't have any deep conversations. They are still too young for that."

When Cartia said this in a feigned disappointed tone, Ventus chuckled.

"Is it already time to prepare? The Empress must start preparing her mind early."

"I'm disappointed, Your Majesty. Second Prince, this mother cannot bear to send her son away yet. You understand what I mean, don't you?"

Cartia said playfully and chuckled.

Their conversation over the meal made them look like a very harmonious family.

Cartia's gaze fell on Fabian, who was sitting in front of them. As always, Fabian's face was expressionless.

A contaminant that could never truly blend in, even though he was present.

Cartia wished for Fabian to deeply engrave her reality in his bones.

That was why she had only invited Matteo among the noble children.

The noble children she invited were all from prestigious families with long histories and values.

When crowning the Crown Prince, the approval of the noble council was required, and public opinion often followed those with strong influence.

It was a given that Matteo would ascend to the throne, but it was better to solidify his position early.

Among them, there were a few who were not up to the standard, but they were invited to help them understand their place.

"Is there anyone who particularly stood out?"

Cartia asked with a smile.

"Someone who left an impression... "

Matteo drew out his words.

He was in front of His Majesty. He needed to think for a moment about how much he could say.

Mother had told him to get close to Adelane, that girl.

But the girl with the green eyes left a much stronger impression.

'But if I bring up this story, she won't let it go.'

After making his decision, Matteo smiled and said,

"There were too many outstanding individuals, so I can't remember them all."

"Haha. For the Second Prince to say that, the Empress's efforts have been worthwhile."

"Your Majesty flatters me."

Cartia laughed modestly.

Their appearance was that of a perfect family.

"Lord Welsh found a new diamond mine, didn't he?"

However, the conversation soon shifted to assessing each other's interests.

"How large is the mine?"

"Apparently, it's still smaller than the mines owned by the Latienel side."

The Latienel family, the Empress's in-laws, owned the largest diamond mines in the empire.

The diamond market was virtually monopolized by the Latienels.

But a new diamond mine had been discovered. If the monopoly was lost, prices would plummet instantly.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty."

Cartia said in a gentle voice.

"Nothing you fear will happen."

At her words, Ventus twisted his lips in a smile.

She was indeed a woman who would do anything to achieve her goals.

That 'anything' might even include the emperor himself.

'If I can use her, I should.'

Ventus smiled generously.

Then he suddenly noticed a necklace around Matteo's neck that glowed unusually red, and his brows furrowed.

It was a gem he had never seen before.

It was clear and transparent, as if no impurities were mixed in.

"Second Prince, what is that?"

"Oh, a young noble I met today gave it to me as a gift."

At Matteo's brazen answer, Cartia's face lit up with interest.

"Oh, who is it?"

"It's, Adelane Riven."

When Matteo mentioned an unexpected person, Ventus's expression became strange.

'Did the Empress invite Adelane Riven?'

Inviting the princess of the defeated Riven Kingdom in the imperial war would bring no benefit.

'Does she intend to show Riven their inferiority, or... '

Ventus's gaze fell on Cartia.

Cartia, seemingly pleased that her son had formed a friendship with a young noble, said brightly,

"What a beautiful gem. Second Prince, be sure to thank Adelane."

"Yes, I will."

She then turned to Ventus with a pleased smile.

"Seeing Matteo reminds me of the necklace Your Majesty first gave me."

"Such old memories."

Ventus chuckled.

It was a tradition for the royal family to give a necklace with a world tree gem to celebrate a new member joining the royal family, and a pocket watch to their children upon their birth.

"I remember it vividly, like it happened yesterday. Once when I got married, and once when Matteo was born, you gave me the necklace."

"Yes, I did."

Old memories soften the heart, for nothing is as nostalgic as the past.

Cartia seized the opportunity to say,

"How precious the Second Prince keeps the pocket watch Your Majesty gave him. He doesn't even show it to his own mother easily."

"Is that true, Second Prince?"

Ventus smiled and looked at Matteo.

For a moment, the look in Cartia's eyes, as she gazed at her son, turned sharp.

'This is also part of Mother's plan.'

Matteo smiled and said,

"How could I ever take it off my body? Of course, it's here... Oh?"

As he searched his pockets, Matteo's face turned flustered.

'I clearly put it in the pocket of my vest. Where did it suddenly go?'

Ventus raised an eyebrow.

"Could it be missing?"

"No, that can't be."

Matteo quickly thought of a plausible excuse.

"Oh, there was a fencing practice before the banquet. I entrusted it to a servant, just in case, and forgot to retrieve it."

"Hmm."

Ventus exhaled slowly.

Realizing that the emperor's smile had cracked, Cartia forced a laugh and said,

"Called to the banquet straight away, it's easy to forget. Second Prince, call a servant to fetch it."

"...Yes, Mother."

Matteo rang the bell to summon his servants.

Since the servants always handled the aftermath, if he had dropped the watch, they would have picked it up.

"Find out who has the pocket watch."

At his whisper, the servant nodded and left.

But when the servant returned, his hands were still empty.

"I'm sorry, but no one has it."

"What?"

Matteo, who had been trying to remain calm, couldn't help but raise his voice.

"That's impossible. If no one has it, where could it have gone? One of you must be hiding it—"

"Second Prince."

At Cartia's call, Matteo closed his mouth.

He almost lost his composure.

If Mother hadn't stopped him, he would have revealed his true nature to the emperor.

When Matteo closed his mouth, Cartia smiled gently.

"Second Prince seems very flustered. Second Prince, you definitely entrusted the watch to the servants at the training ground, didn't you?"

"...Yes, that's right."

"Then we should call those servants, shouldn't we?"

Cartia's gaze fell on the servant who was standing stiffly.

"They should be responsible for finding it."

Her piercing gaze was a clear command to find it.

The servant, trembling, bowed and left.

He had seen with his own eyes what happened to those who fell out of the Empress's favor.

'If I can't find the watch...'

Just as the servants, who were thinking about the worst-case scenario, were about to close their mouths, a voice rang out.

"Watch? Are you talking about the watch?"

It was one of the Empress's servants, Philip.

"I have it."

"Why you...!"

Matteo's servants, who were about to express their anger, closed their mouths again.

The priority was to put out the immediate fire.

"Give it here."

"No, I'll bring it."

Philip smiled.

The atmosphere was clearly tense.

His appearance was a means to defuse the crisis.

'Maybe His Majesty will give me a great reward.'

He entered with an excited heart.

Sharp gazes from the other servants fell on him.

He felt like he had suddenly fallen into a den of wild beasts. Philip, flustered, forced a smile.

"Your Majesty, I have the watch."

Cartia recognized Philip's face. He was always looking around to see if there were any scraps that might fall his way.

'Finally, I can be of use.'

She extended her hand in relief.

"Sure enough, one of the other servants had it. Bring it here—"

At that moment,

"Wait."

Ventus, with a stern face, beckoned with his finger.

"Come here."

Caught off guard, Philip hesitated and approached him.

"The Prince entrusted it to you directly?"

"...Yes, that's right."

"The servant from the Empress's palace went to the training ground..."

As he spoke slowly, Philip's mouth twitched.

Ventus beckoned with his finger, not waiting for an answer.

Philip quickly searched his pockets and paused.

'...Wait.'

He had received two items.

A gem that had lost its value from rough handling and the Second Prince's pocket watch.

'But is it enough to just give the watch?'

What if His Majesty already knows everything?

Then I'm dead, right? Philip's face began to pale.