Chapter 23: The Troublesome Prince

GENERAL KANGS POV

It was midday and the sun which was directly overhead was beginning to scorch the skin. I waited by the estate entrance driveway to receive the emperor who would be arriving at any moment. Behind me stood my 2 chosen wives Samira and Laika who would help me host the emperor for the day. I had actually wanted to pick Ayan but I had to wait until our dinner before I could lift any more punishments, despite the fact I was starting to like her a bit more. That, and I doubt Laika would be happy to be in close proximity to her.

Multiple servants also waited not far from the 3 of us ready to attend to the Emperor. The entire week I'd had them go the extra mile in preparing the estate. I know I was probably going too far but I just wanted everything to be perfect.

Soon the gates were opened signaling the arrival of a carriage. Two carriages entered the driveway. One was for the emperor and the other probably had servants he'd brought with him. They came to a stop in front of us. One of the imperial knights riding the carriage came around and opened the first carriage door.

His Majesty stepped out of the carriage and came towards me. He was dressed in casual robes and his long dark hair was loose and came over his shoulders.

"Your majesty, it is an honor to have you here at the estate once again." I welcomed the emperor with a bow as he reached me.

"There's no need to pretend Zaryn. I know you're not happy to see me. Don't worry I have lots of work for you to do," he said as he grabbed my shoulder and gave it a squeeze before he laughed.

I laughed nervously as well. Please be joking, I thought. I turned to face Samira and Laika who stood close behind me. "Your majesty, I would like to present two of my wives Samira and Laika who will be joining us this afternoon."

They both bowed before him. "Good day, your majesty." They said in unison their voices shaking slightly.

"Pleasure to see you two again." He said

My wives looked slightly nervous as he addressed them, which was understandable. The emperor had a bit of an intimidating aura about him, not to say that he looked angry or cruel. It was hard to explain, but it was partly due to the fact that he looked exactly how you'd expect the emperor of one the strongest empires on the continent to look; powerful, confident, honorable, and a little scary. I suppose that made his presence a little overwhelming. I'd known His Majesty for a long time so I understood him a little better now and wasn't intimidated by him anymore.

As my servants went towards the carriage to help His Majesty's servants who were coming out of the second carriage taking materials out with them. I noticed a second figure had come out from the 1st carriage and was coming up behind the emperor.

It was a young boy who was very similar in appearance to His Majesty. My eyebrows shot up in surprise. The Crown Prince. I wasn't aware he would be coming as well.

The emperor followed my eyes and realized what I was looking at. "Ah yes, I didn't inform you beforehand, it was a last-minute decision, but I brought the crown prince as well." He told me. "Teon, greet the General." He ordered the boy.

Teon had his usual scowl on his face, his eyes looked down, and his hands which were down on either side of him balled into fists. You could tell he didn't want to be here. "Good day, General." He reluctantly greeted me.

"Good day to you as well your highness," I responded back to him with a smile.

Arsen looked displeased by Teon's behavior. The Crown Prince was troublesome often causing the people around him problems. There was only one person he listened to and that was his father. Even though Teon actually hated his father he was afraid of him and so that's why he listened to him despite wanting to resist. Believe it or not, but this snotty rude demeanor of his was actually him on his best behavior because of his father.

"He would cause the servants too much trouble if I left him at the palace so I brought him along with me." The emperor further explained to me.

"I understand, your majesty," I told him. I knew he would most probably cause some kind of problem today but with the emperor present, I knew he would deal with him.

"Well, then shall we go inside?" I then suggested.

"Of course, lead the way."

I turned toward the direction of the main house and directed everyone to follow me.

Once inside we went to the largest sitting room of the main house. Which is where I usually hosted guests.

Teon was going to be taken care of by his governess, who had come along as well. She was currently taking him for a walk around the estate to keep him company other servants were going to be keeping watch of him from afar.

We were served refreshments and began to have a casual conversation. My wives poured us our drinks and began to order around the servants to get us what the emperor and I needed as was the custom. Usually when a married man (whether they had a harem or not) had guests over his wife/wives would help in hosting the guest and organizing everything they would need to be comfortable.

As His Majesty and I continued our meeting and began to talk about work-related things, an imperial servant came in and whispered in the emperor's ear. To which a displeased expression appeared on his face. "Excuse me for a moment General." He said as he stood up from his position. "I have to deal with my son. He ran off from his governess."

How unsurprising I thought. He was bound to cause some trouble. "Has he run off from the premise? Do you need me to help I c-"

"Don't worry about it, I can handle it." He interrupted me. "It would be impossible to leave the premise unseen in broad daylight. He's still here"

That was true I thought. All the other times the prince had run away from the palace was at night.

"I'll return shortly." He told me as he left the room.

Once the emperor left the room. I heard Samira and Laika who were nearby whisper amongst themselves. "So the Crown Prince is as troublesome as the rumors say?"

"Now, now my dears, it's not polite to gossip." I told them.

"Yes, my Lord." They shyly responded.

It was about 15 to 20 minutes later that the Emperor returned with the Prince beside him.

"You found him." I stated. "Where had he gone?"

"He was hiding at Ayan's house."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Ayan?"

"Luckily, he hadn't done anything yet." he elaborated as he roughly pulled the boy. "By the way are you punishing Ayan by making her garden?"

"What?"

******

AYAN'S POV (when the emperor was still at Ayan's house)

"Crown Prince Teon. Come here now." The emperor ordered the boy.

Teon was the Crown Prince!? I didn't know which was more shocking for me the fact that the emperor was standing before me or finding out that the brat was the Crown Prince.

Now that I looked at him the resemblance was uncanny. They had the same tan skin and dark brown hair. The crown prince literally looked like the emperor.

And since he was the prince, was he the same Teon I'd learned about in my own time at high school? The historical tyrant emperor Teon that was famous for his cruelty and heartlessness.

Then I realized I was just standing staring at the emperor. How rude! I immediately bow my head down low. "Your majesty. I apologize for my rudeness."

"What are you waiting for? Go." I whispered to Teon who was still behind me.

Teon who still had his eyes on his father slowly stepped away from me and went towards him. I felt Teon place something in my hand before he left. I wanted to check but would do so after the emperor had left. His Majesty stared Teon down for a moment.

His majesty then looked at me again. "Ayan, correct?" he asked addressing me.

"Y-yes, your majesty." I stammered, surprised he knew my name.

"I apologize on his behalf for bothering you."

"Not at all your majesty. He didn't do anything." I reassured him.

"Thank you for being so understanding then."

Though he appeared a little intimidating and seemed like he could be scary at times, he appeared to be kind as well.

"I apologize for losing the prince your majesty." The rude servant lady who was close behind him apologized. Then I realized something. How come that woman who was clearly a servant called Teon by his first name when he was a prince? It made no sense. In fact when she arrived Teon quickly came to stand behind. He didn't seem to like her. I was suspicious of her but it's not like I could do anything.

Then the three of them proceeded to leave with the emperor reprimanding the prince on the way. He looked terrifying now. I stared in awe as I wondered what had just happened. I had just met the emperor.

How come I couldn't tell that Teon of nobility? Typically you can tell when someone is a noble, there was an air about them that let you know who he was. I didn't get a sense of nobility coming off the boy because... he had only just recently become a noble, I realized.

Then I recalled from Ayan's memories all about the emperor and theCrown prince. It was a complicated and sad story.

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