Cassius pov.

"Your highness, her highness had left for the royal palace" said Francis with a face full of relief.

It only indicated that he was successful in doing his task, and if not that his beaming smile was sure indication.

"Is there any other task for me today."

"No, you can take the leave"

"Yes your highness"

I looked at the files hoping all the work was done before she came back so that we could have a long discussion. I would tell her the truth about Isabella and her father in case she would be given anything else too. The matter was turning more risky than I had thought.

"Father, may i come in?"

"Yes, Killian, you may come in"

I looked at the boy who was looking gloomy and I did not need to be told why!

"Father, mother already left for the palace '' see, he did not even ask me how i was like always, he was too upset to care about the etiquettes.

"Ah, yes. The palace is far and they have to go to other places too, so she left early. She could not let the empress wait. Could she?" I said feigning ignorance.

"That's not the matter, I was ready early this morning. I have even planned to spend the day with mother protecting her from his royal highness Philip"

"Oh, is that so? Maybe there was some miscommunication then"

"But father mother had promised me to take with her"

"Maybe she was upset with you, Killian. She is human too. You rejected her to be your mentor and guide in education while you know that she knew sword wielding and horse riding too.

You even accused her for being harsh with Isabella, when everything she did was to protect you. Yet you expect her to fulfill all your wishes. Don't you think you are being selfish here?" i asked as i knew she wanted to make him realise her importance.

His brows furrowed as he looked at me with an accusing glance.

"You told my mother that I denied her to be my mentor and master."

Though I had not yet, I nodded.

"Well, she asked me when I will transfer the rights to her? What could i have done except telling her the truth that you did not want to learn from her."

"That is not a true father. I want to learn fencing from her. I want to learn other things too. I just feel that she is soft hearted to be the head of education. She loves me a lot and has a heart to punish me." he stated and I really wanted to beat him to put some sense into his mind.

"Killian, punishing is not the way to teach. Elizabeth had used the wrong way of teaching you. And it's time that we change it for better"

"Father, you can't blame mother. Whatever I am today is all because of my mother. She was the one who took care of me and made me worth standing here, she used to aspire me to be the duke, when all i wanted to do was to play and have fun" his voice turned protective and sharp like an animal behaves when he was being cornered.

Only then did I realise that he still had a perfect image of his mother in his mind. And he was the one who was protecting it. Would he ever be able to accept the truth behind that beautiful facade of his mother!!

"Father, since mother is upset with me, I will organise a special dinner for both of us to get an apology with her. So, I apologise we would not be able to have dinner with you tonight" he stated and I raised a brow.

"Pardon, son, but your mother would have dinner with the empress. She is going to return late night.'' I added and his face turned dark.

"Your highness" greeted a guard entering in

"Yes"

"Your highness, Sir James Essendson is here. He is asking for an audience with you." he said and I could feel him shivering.

What did that brute was doing here, that also in the absence of his sister!! I pinched the gap between my brows and thought was it possible to reject his request and ask him to return.

Then my eyes fell on the brooding kid and my eyes sparkled as the brilliant idea hit my mind.

"Killian, you wanted to make your mother happy so that she would forgive you."

Though he was confused with my sudden question, he nodded his head.

"Then go and greet your uncle. Your mother loves her brother a lot, and he had come after a long vacation from the borders. So he would be very happy to see you too" i coaxed and the face of the boy sparkled.

"Oh, you mean the first in commandant of the knights who had won all the battles. The most powerful man of the empire.'

"The emperor is the most powerful man of the empire, and then I am. He is just a brute who knew nothing but to use force on everyone around him. I didn't even know how he took birth in a businessman family '' I rebuked as I still remembered the way he had attacked me when I went to the marquess palace.

It was my first and last time there, but still I felt the horror by remembering it. His bloodlust was strong enough to even make my soul vanish.

He smiled as he looked at me.

"Mother would be very upset when she would come to know that you have called her precious brother a brute and I could even add other things that you have ever said about sir James and tell him when I go to greet him."

"Are you trying to threaten me, my son?" I said through gritted teeth as I could not believe that the kid was using my words against me.

[Don't stop voting and comments, i don't know why but these days there is heavy downfall in comments and voting. I hope you will leave a comment and i promise i will try to improve. PS unlock the chapter with coins if you can]