CH 52.1

“Your Highness, Prince Kyle, Pei Zhaozhou has captured one of our men. What should we do? If he finds out it was me who sent them, it will be a huge trouble.”

Charles Claude, with an anxious expression, rushed to Prince Kyle immediately after receiving the informant’s report. He wanted to discuss how to deal with Pei Zhaozhou.

Prince Kyle’s gaze turned cold as he stared at Charles, reprimanding him with an intimidating tone, “Didn’t I tell you not to do anything unnecessary? How could the trash you sent handle Pei Zhaozhou? Your actions have only alerted him and ruined my plan.”

Sweat dripped down Charles Claude’s forehead as he humbly tried to please, “I was afraid that Pei Zhaozhou would find the stolen artifacts and discover the deal between the Claude family and the King of Star Pirates, Ke Yan. I never expected Ke Yan to die, and now Pei Zhaozhou is persistently pursuing this kidnapping, as if he senses it was directed at him…”

“Now that Ke Yan, the King of Star Pirates, is dead, I have no idea where the rest of the star pirates have gone. Although I had contact with Ke Yan, there is no guarantee that other star pirates might know. If Pei Zhaozhou manages to turn them against us, with this high-profile kidnapping case and the assassination attempt targeting him, those damn star pirates have already killed numerous passengers. If by any chance… all the blame falls on the Claude family, we will lose our titles and be exiled to death.”

Charles Claude said with a worried expression, “At that time, the Claude family will intervene and ensure that Prince Kyle is not implicated. I hope Prince Kyle can spare our family.”

These days, Charles Claude had been watching the news, seeing the names of the dead and missing passengers. Normally, Pei Zhaozhou would remain indifferent and cold towards the provocations and assassination attempts. But suddenly, he became obsessed, as if he was a terminally ill patient. Why didn’t he just die?

It made him lose his appetite, unable to sleep properly. When he closed his eyes, he could almost see the deceased passengers haunting him, and he constantly felt sharp eyes watching his every move. It sent chills down his spine, fearing that if he were discovered, his head would be in danger. After all, the Odysseus Empire still retained the death penalty.

These days, Charles Claude looked haggard and nervous. Even the slightest noise from the outside would startle him, causing his wife to wonder if he was suffering from mental exhaustion.

But only he knew the secret behind it all. When Pei Zhaozhou, once a formidable general, became his enemy, it was a terrifying existence. The same blade that had slain countless insects was now pointed at him.

So, when Prince Kyle failed in the hijacking incident, he secretly sought out inconspicuous figures within Pei Zhaozhou’s rescue team, but he still kept it from the second prince. Charles knew that Pei Zhaozhou suffered from pheromone disorder, even a slight dosage of pheromone stimulants, even if devoid of toxins, would be highly poisonous to him.

However, it ended in failure. Pei Zhaozhou completely captured those people, and now Charles feared that Pei Zhaozhou would trace them back to him.

As a nobleman, Charles Claude was completely panicked by a commoner like Pei Zhaozhou. 

In Prince Kyle’s stern eyes, there was disdain. Unfortunately, he didn’t have many people at his disposal. The King held the power and surveillance over the entire empire, and as the crown prince, Prince Edward was always accompanied by his father to handle important matters. Many noble families sought refuge with Prince Edward, but he rejected most of them.

Prince Edward, the first prince, was a love-deprived coward. Yet, this coward had obtained everything he desired: a gentle and kind mother, a revered and caring father, and the future position of the next Emperor of the Odyssen Empire. In contrast, he had nothing.

Even the reasons given by Prince Edward for rejecting the noble families seeking refuge were laughable. He claimed to desire a harmonious family, hoping to peacefully coexist with me, his half-brother. He portrayed himself as a member of the royal family who valued loyalty and affection. However, in his eyes, it seemed like charity. What he yearned for was what Prince Edward casually discarded.

Although Charles Claude was a waste who achieved little and failed more, he excelled in loyalty.

When his mother asked her brother to find him assistance, he had his eyes on the Claude family. Their inherent foolish loyalty, like a dog bowing down to its master with unwavering loyalty, ensured that betrayal was not a concern.

While dogs may be a bit dim, they are at least useful.

Prince Kyle, the second prince, revealed a little, his gaze cold and fierce as he said, “I have already asked my uncle to deal with this matter. Pei Zhaozhou won’t be able to return to the imperial capital this time.”

In that instant, Charles Claude’s mood soared. Prince Kyle’s uncle was no ordinary person. As the Duke of Basalom, Katie Princess’s younger brother, he belonged to a prominent noble family. Duke Hanfrey Basalom was no trifling figure, some of his methods were enough to make one’s hair stand on end.

Charles Claude recalled those elusive star pirates, fearing that if they were captured and interrogated by the Imperial Army, it would expose them. Anxiously, he asked, “Second Prince, how should we handle those star pirates?”

“They will be dealt with. Charles, have your eldest son join the mission as well. Your eldest son has spent too long as a lieutenant. It’s time to hunt down star pirates, earn merit, and promote him to captain.”

In truth, there was another reason: Charles was too mediocre and incompetent. In comparison, his son bore some resemblance to the Claude family. Prince Kyle wished to groom the next heir of the Claude family and gain a useful assistant.

Charles Claude beamed, eagerly saying, “The Claude family is grateful for the Second Prince’s cultivation. We shall devote our utmost loyalty to Prince Kyle!”

“Good.”

Prince Kyle naturally accepted the Claude family’s allegiance, but then the summon from his mother interrupted their conversation. He waved his hand, allowing Charles Claude to leave first.

“Your Highness, Princess Katie is waiting for you in the Rose Garden,” said Megan, a maid by his mother’s side.

It seemed she had just come from the Rose Garden, carrying the scent of splendid roses mixed with a hint of decay, which reminded Prince Kyle of that place…

Blood-red roses, the decapitated little white sparrow, and that timid and weeping boy.

Prince Kyle’s brooding azure eyes were like a gloomy sea covered in black mist, his pupils stagnant, conveying a lifeless silence.

The palace was immense, occupying half of the imperial capital’s land, a testament to the Odyssean Empire’s wealth accumulated over thousands of years of expansion. It even boasted a meticulously groomed palace forest. Led by Megan, the second prince, Kyle, wore an expressionless gaze, suppressing the disgust hidden deep within his sea-blue eyes. He stepped onto the path that had awakened him from countless nightmares.

The smooth, translucent cobblestone road, paved with rounded pebbles, branched in two directions—one leading to the rose garden of the queen mother and the other to Queen Vanessa’s lily garden. 

As a child, he had treaded this forked path countless times. He would joyfully and naively rush toward the tender and caring Queen Vanessa, despite his father’s disapproval of his proximity to her. Not only because he was not Queen Vanessa’s biological son, but also because the possessive and paranoid King Edward monopolized her affection, unwilling to let them get close. 

Yet, he unabashedly evaded the watchful surveillance cameras, turning a deaf ear to his father’s words. It was because Queen Vanessa would gently stroke his head, hold his hand, introduce him to the fascinating plants and small creatures in the forest garden, and shower him with love and care like a true mother. She even gifted him a clever and lively little white sparrow…

On the contrary, Kyle Odysseus walked into a rose garden with a vacant gaze. The rose garden was beautiful. Vibrant roses flaunted their enchanting petals, coquettishly swaying under the sunlight streaming through the glass windows. Dewdrops slid between the alluring petals, evaporating under the rays or piercing through the hidden thorns of the roses, bursting and scattering into pieces. 

The second prince, Kyle, remained impassive, paying no attention to the nearby roses, no matter how alluring they appeared. His gaze was fixed solely upon the woman before him, who exuded more charm and allure than any rose.

“Mother, good morning.”

The surroundings were so quiet that not a single chirp or insect sound could be heard. It was eerily silent, unlike a rose garden, even a cemetery seemed more lively. Amidst the lusciously blooming rose bushes, a glamorous lady with elaborate purple-red nails casually trimmed away the excess roses with a pair of scissors. 

Princess Katie’s seductive gaze delighted in her carefully nurtured roses. Her luxurious lace court gown, a rich and indulgent shade of purple-red, accentuated her voluptuous figure, making her even more enchanting. Despite her son’s arrival, her gaze remained fixed on the beautiful roses.

“Kyle, look at the new variety of roses the queen mother has recently cultivated— Margaret’s Maiden. Isn’t it beautiful and captivating?”

The intensely crimson Margaret’s Maiden rose displayed layers upon layers of exquisite petals, vibrant and resplendent, with a blush of bashful innocence at its core, resembling a shy maiden in a splendid red gown.

Indeed, it was beautiful.

A passing glance from the second prince, Kyle, however, was pricked by the blood-red tint clinging to the rose’s roots, causing a sharp pain in his eyes.

Princess Katie’s seductive eyes slightly narrowed.

The dyed scissors were brimming with rose juice, which dripped down the handle, landing precisely into a pair of bright round eyes. The eyes remained motionless, accompanied by protruding teeth and fluffy white fur.

Kyle Odysseus’s gaze locked onto the white rabbit specimen with its wooden red eyes, hiding beneath the rose bushes, its fluffy white paws curled like a real live rabbit.

However, Kyle Odysseus knew that the rabbit was stuffed with preservative cotton, emitting an odor of decay and forcibly masked with chemical agents.

Perhaps the rabbit’s entrails were buried beneath the roses, serving as fertilizer for the flowers, while its body was transformed into an eternal specimen.

As he stared at the blooming roses, stepping on their entrails, he realized they were all trapped here after death.

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