Was It A Test?

There was something different today. His mother was looking different. Since when she started to have leisure time for herself?

He took slow steps towards the room as he assessed the situation.

"Mother, I was missing you. So, I came to meet you." a flattering smile formed on his face as he sat beside his mother who nodded her head.

"Since you were missing me, you should have come sooner. You are late!"

"......" late? Was he supposed to come here! He tilted his head trying his best to maintain that smile on his face when the maid came closer to brew the tea but his mother shook her head.

"I will do it myself. You can leave." The cold words were enough to make the maid flinch who bowed her head and left hurriedly.

"Mother, shall I brew the tea for you?" taking the opportunity, Luci jumped on his seat and passed a flattering smile again.

He had decided to take advantage of the situation and let her guards down until she told him what her plan was.

"You must be too tired with all the work load. I wonder how you do all that alone, mother. You are a superwoman. You are the kindest and wisest person around. If only you could be the emperor, but do not worry, I will be the emperor and pass all the powers to you so that you can show your talent to the world.`` After all, that was what you wanted from the start. Luci sneered in his heart.

The more he thought about it, he always felt nauseated and disgusted towards his mother who loved power only.

"That is not needed." When he moved closer, sure that his mother would be lost in the praise, she smacked his hands away from the cup and stared back at him with cold eyes that shocked him.

"You are young, you should rather think about playing games. Why don't you go and play with a ball or take a walk in the garden after the tea."

"..........." he rubbed his eyes and then looked at her again but the image in front of him did not vanish. Could it be a dream?

He pinched his arm to make sure that he would wake up but she was still sitting with that blank expression in front of him. Yet he felt warmth and care from her words! Was he hallucinating?

Or was it a test? Yes, she must be testing his resolve. He would be punished if he would accept her offer.

"How could that be? You have just appointed a new teacher for me. I have to prove my worth to him. I will show how brilliant I am by working hard.

I will make you feel proud, mother." his eyes showed how excited he was and how well he would do but she only nodded her head perfunctory.

There was no happiness or excitement in her eyes, if any, she looked a bit disappointed with his reply.

"I do not think that your new teacher would care about such things. So, you can take your time to study. I am sure he would be happy if you will tell him that you forgot to do your work because you were playing.'' Why was she telling him such a thing with a bitter face?

Even the grip of her hands tightened on the cup. Her eyes filled with a strange emotion that he could not understand even after living to live.

Was his mother trying to test his resolve or had she gone insane.

He gasped audibly, using his acting skills up to his limit, he looked at her horrified when she met his gaze,

"Mother, how could you even think so? I am a prince and I have some responsibilities. I am not a commoner's child that plays in dirt all day thinking the world has nothing to do.

I am a prince, and I could be the future emperor. After all, my future is uncertain. So, we should be prepared for the future." Luci smirked in his heart. There was no way that his mother would be able to ignore those words. After all, these were her lines.

She always used to say the same when he asked her for a break between his tight schedule. Reminding him that he was going to rule the empire, he had to be strong, was the only thing she used to do.

He was sure a smirk would form on his lips and she would finally nod her head while appreciating his wisdom.

"Clank!" the cup in her hands broke and a shard of it pierced her hands. Blood started to ooze out from the small but deep cut while she continued to stare at him. There was a strange melancholy in her expressions and beneath her cold look there was hurt that baffled him.

He was looking flabbergasted by the amount of blood coming from her palm but instead of noticing that. She continued to stare at him with that bitter look that he felt.. Sorry?

But for what? He did not owe her anything. It was her, who owed him his life, his childhood, his happiness! Yet he was here trying to lick her feet so that he could have time to be strong. Only that is the way to save himself and his brother from the death that was knocking on their doors.

The maids come to clean her wound and wrap her hands into bandage only then did he come back to his senses. Faking worry, he stood up and ran to her.

"Oh mother, are you alright? You are not looking well. Why don't you go and rest for a while or else you might get sick."

Notes: She was feeling sick because she was trying to tell him to enjoy his life but he was not listening to her but when he repeated the words she used to tell him, all the past repeated in front of her eyes hurting her to the core since he only see her as a greedy woman but all she wanted was his safety and happiness in the past and the present.