I have become the Child Emperor

"Hehe, so many delicious foods to eat! I can't get enough of it!" said the overweight man. He ate with such fervor that it seemed as if he hadn't eaten in days. On the table in front of him were various delicacies including poultry, beef, pork, seafood, and desserts.

Despite the Empire being in a state of recession, the man was still able to feast to his heart's content. He was none other than the secret ruler of the Empire, Prime Minister Honest. Ever since he was young, he had desired a life of luxury, filled with women, food, and power. He had taken control of the Empire a few years ago by cunningly poisoning the previous Emperor and Empress.

"This is good! Give me more of this!" Honest exclaimed, throwing his plate at a maid in the corner.

"Ah!" the maid cried out in pain as the plate hit her head, causing her to bleed. The girl was shaking, clearly afraid, as she obeyed the Prime Minister's command.

Honest was amused at the thought that such a delicate girl could be found in the capital. The girl was a slave, procured by the Kobore Brothers from the capital's slums. She had a petite frame, accentuating her delicate features, with a heart-shaped face, rosy cheeks, small lips, and her hair was kept in place with a maid's cap.

The girl's beauty couldn't be hidden despite the deep fear she was showing. In fact, Honest found the look amusing. The girl was young, the Kobore Brothers mentioned that she was 15 years old and untouched, a delicious fruit to be tasted.

"Don't use anything but your hands," the Prime Minister commanded. The girl hesitated but complied, her fear making her hands shake uncontrollably as she picked up the shattered plates. In her haste, she didn't notice the small cuts forming on her palms. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued to clean up the mess. Despite her best efforts to be careful, the Prime Minister watched with a smirk as she struggled to complete the task to his satisfaction.

"Oh dear, look at you. Did you ever imagine your life would turn out like this?" Honest asked, walking towards the girl while still gnawing on the turkey leg in his hand.

The girl remained silent; her sobs muffled as she continued to pick up the shards of broken plates. "Such is life. In order for some to enjoy it, others must suffer. And unfortunately, your lot is to suffer," Honest continued, bending his knee and lifting the girl's chin.

"Tell me girl, do you hate your parents?" Honest asked, with a monstrous grin. "They did this to you, didn't they? They couldn't pay the loan they took, causing you to suffer. You must despise them greatly."

The girl gave no response and bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with fear. The Prime Minister could clearly see her distress, and it brought him deep satisfaction. He enjoyed the power he held over her, relishing in the control he had over someone so helpless.

"HAHAHAHA! I will enjoy breaking you. By the end of the night, you will hate your parents to your very core!" Honest declared, removing his belt. It had been a few days since he last had his released and he figured the girl would suffice.

"No! Please NO!" the girl cried out, backing away from Honest in fear. The minister's laughter sends shivers down the girl's spine. She was young but she wasn't stupid. When you grow up in the slums of the capital you get to know things, things that no girl should go through.

With tears streaming down her face and blood dripping from her head, she begged for mercy. "Now, now girl, we are--" Honest was interrupted by a guard who suddenly burst into the room.

"PRIME MINISTER SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED! COME QUICKLY!", the palace guard shouted with a sense of urgency. He quickly scanned the room and saw the girl bleeding and crying in the corner and the Minister about to remove his belt. For a brief moment he paused but decided to put it at the back of his mind due to the urgency of the situation.

"With anger blazing in his eyes, Prime Minister Honest bellowed, "What in the world do you want? Can't you see I'm busy? Can't General Budo control his soldiers?!"

The soldier remained unruffled by the Prime Minister's outburst. With the powerful General Budo behind him, he had no reason to fear the Prime Minister.

"Emperor Makoto has lost consciousness," the guard reported. "General Budo has heightened the palace security and ordered all necessary individuals to gather in the emperor's quarters without delay. I have been instructed to escort you there immediately."

"What! You should have told me that right away, you imbecile!" the Prime Minister exclaimed, quickly fastening his belt. Before he left his chambers, he instructed the girl to tidy his room.

As the girl watched the Prime Minister depart, she was momentarily relieved. She knew that this small reprieve would last only a few hours at most. She never envisioned her life turning out like this.

She used to dream of a better future. It was her idea for her parents to take out a loan. She and her mother were skilled cooks, and they thought they could improve their lives by selling sweets. All they ever wanted was to earn a decent income and escape the slums, to have a better life. But now, her dreams lay shattered like the broken plates at her feet, and she was left with only the pain of her reality.

Her parents were killed, and now she was about to be violated by the Prime Minister.

She gazed longingly at the lavish feast the Prime Minister had left behind. All that food could have sustained her family for days. The girl only wanted a better life, one worth living. A life where she wouldn't have to worry about the next meal or struggle to make ends meet. Now, as she looked at the abundance of food on the table, she couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness and resentment towards those who lived a life of luxury without a care in the world. Despite her anger, she knew she was powerless. She was just a little girl, unfortunate enough to have a dream…

Her eyes fell to the floor, and she picked up a piece of the shattered plate.

"I'm sorry, Mama, Papa," she wept. "If only I hadn't… I could never hate you… I love you…"

Her parents had passed away only a few days ago, and she still vividly remembered the terror on their faces as they were murdered.

With a heavy heart and despair, she clutched the jagged piece of plate. She hesitated for only a moment before driving the sharp edges into her skin. Tears streamed down her face as she repeated the motion, carving two lines of crimson into her flesh. The blood flowed freely as she surrendered to the darkness, her breaths growing shallow until they finally stopped.

"I'm sorry, Mama, Papa. I should never have dreamed.