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*Warning content: mentioned of child abuse, sexual harassment*

"Prince Blair! Do not enter!"

"You dare give me an order?!"

"Your Highness, please. It's just that Prince Aeneas' current state–"

"Move! This is an order from me!"

When Blair was only 17 years old several years ago, he heard the news that "Aeneas was seriously injured in the Royal Palace". Blair, who was always overcome with guilt, immediately left his palace alone in the middle of the night and ran barefoot looking for Aeneas. Upon arriving at the place where Aeneas used to live, Blair was actually blocked by many people.

They say that this time Aeneas's condition is severe. Something that would horrify Blair, something he didn't deserve to see. But was it really that bad that Blair couldn't see it?

Aeneas is his younger brother, even though they have different mothers. He had repeatedly looked away when Aeneas was injured, so would Blair be looking away again this time?

The answer: no. Blair was determined this time. Soon he would be made crown prince, so there would definitely be something he could do.

"Prince Blair… We face before His Highness."

Blair cannot return the greetings of the healers and servants who are treating Aeneas. He was too shocked to see the state of Aeneas.

His brother was unconscious.

His long hair was cut ugly. His whole body was covered with bruises and traces of redness. Blair also noticed a rope strangulation mark on his neck. His back was full of scratches. Then the lower body…

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. Right now, Prince Aeneas needs treatment from us. When we are done, we will call you back," said a healer.

"Yes…"

So Blair waited outside. He stood right in front of the door of the room that Aeneas occupied while thinking about many things.

"What did… King Tristan do to Prince Aeneas?" Blair asked quietly to the knight who had tried to block him from entering earlier.

"Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty… it seems he is drunk," answered the knight slowly. "You know when there's trouble with the Tullia Mines…"

Blair looked away. From the beginning, the Tullia Mines did not belong to King Tristan. It was his own fault for trying to seize it. After all, should he also take out his failure on Aeneas?

"Where's… Father?" Blair asked, clenching his fists, trying to hold back his anger.

"His Majesty is in his room, Your Highness," replied the knight. "You won't–"

Blair was about to run, protesting what King Tristan did to Aeneas. Luckily the healer who had come out earlier called Blair in. The treatment on Aeneas is over, but he still hasn't regained consciousness. The healer said that Aeneas might not regain consciousness the next day.

Then, if Aeneas wakes up, there is a possibility that he may become hysterical because of what he has been through. In that case, Aeneas would be given periodic sedatives and follow the trail of Catalina's current condition.

Hearing this gave Blair chills. If that really happened… the Imperial family would…

"Can I… stay here?" he asked.

"Prince Aeneas needs rest, Your Highness. Aren't you the same way?" said the healer softly.

"I will not bother."

"Haaah, all right," sighed the healer. "If something happens to Prince Aeneas, we are in the opposite room, Your Highness."

"Yes, thank you."

Even after the healers and maids left, Blair still stood where he was. He wants to continue to be with Aeneas, but on the other hand, he is afraid to approach him.

What if his movement made a sound and woke Aeneas? What if Aeneas suddenly woke up and groaned in pain? What if-

"Mom…"

Blair held his breath. What he feared had actually happened!

Blair immediately approached Aeneas. Before he didn't realize it, but now he knows that Aeneas is sweating cold, and his breath is panting like he's in pain.

His body is also hot. Infection? Blair thought anxiously as he touched his forehead.

It was at that moment that Aeneas suddenly blinked and opened his eyes. His eyes which were a different color were red now like they had dust in them or something. Those eyes were also very watery. Blair's heart once again squeezed painfully.

"Blair?" whispered Aeneas. His voice was shaky and very low.

"Yes. I'm here," Blair replied in a whisper.

"Sorry," whispered Aeneas. "Forgive me…"

"You didn't do anything wrong. Don't apologize," Blair said. "Go back to sleep. Sorry, I bothered you."

"Blair?"

"Yes?"

"Stay here. Wait for me to fall asleep."

Aeneas slipped his hand around Blair's waist and hid his face there. Slowly, a sob came from him.

Blair's hand moved to rub Aeneas' head, trying to calm him down. It took Aeneas a long time before he finally fell back asleep. As soon as he fell asleep, Blair lay beside him.

Blair starts planning things. The closest is tomorrow when he will confront King Tristan for what he did to Aeneas. For Blair, it's enough for his father to destroy Catalina, don't be another victim of his madness.

However, this intention was not conveyed. The next day, King Tristan fell ill. And that was the beginning of King Tristan's illness and prolonged sleep.

***

With Aeneas suddenly sick, Blair becomes less focused on his work. Not to mention that Catalina relapsed when she found out her biological child was lying down because of a fairly high fever. Blair, who couldn't bear to see her, felt the need to calm her down.

As a result, he was a bit late in the sentencing at the final trial for Duke Dulcia, or what was now just Archibald.

"For all the sins and considerations that have been made, with this Archibald Dulcia will be revoked of his peerage and given the punishment of cutting off his hand. Her personal assets will be confiscated, and Dulcia's family will be fined as stated."

The judge's hammer-knocking sound excited the audience. Archibald himself was silent as if he had accepted whatever it was.

"Losing Lord Archibald is very unfortunate," commented a counselor beside Blair.

"Doesn't matter. There are still other ways to gain support," Blair replied while looking at Selah, who looked calm watching her father being escorted by knights to leave.

"Are you sure that the new head of the Dulcia family will still be by our side?"

"Of course, she have to. If she wants to marry Aeneas, Selah will have to do it," said Blair. "Tullia Mine… We will get it just like King Tristan wishes."