Chapter 14: A Decision for the People

“I lost again!” Philip whined as he stood up from his seat and sat beside Luca. “Chess is getting boring because I know Luca is going to win anyway.”

“Why don’t you just admit that you’re really not good at chess?” George teased his younger brother as he took the seat across from Luca. “By the way, I heard that your suggestion had been implemented yesterday, Luca.”

Luca who had been busy rearranging the chess pieces looked at his older brother with sparkling eyes. “Really? People didn’t die because they followed my suggestion, right?”

George shrugged his shoulders. “The results weren’t reported yet. But I believe that there would be fewer casualties because of your suggestion, Luca.”

Luca frowned when he heard his brother’s explanation. Fewer casualties also meant that there were still people who died in battle.

Philip patted Luca’s back. “We can’t avoid casualties in battles, Luca. But the families of the people who survived will always be thankful because of your suggestion.”

Luca smiled sadly. War was indeed not a good thing. Even when the empire was just trying to protect its territory, lots of people still got hurt and died. Even all they did was protect what was theirs…

“Why would another country try to take someone else’s land?” Luca mumbled as tears started to form in his eyes. “Why can’t they be satisfied with what they already have?”

Philip hugged his brother and caressed his back. Their little brother was too innocent. How could he empathize with the people to the point of crying?

“There will always be people like that, Luca,” George tried to explain. He stood up from his seat and walked towards the crying Luca whose face was buried in Philip’s chest. “That’s why we, as their leaders, always do our best to protect them. We make decisions while considering the best move for the empire and its people. That’s our responsibility as the imperial family.”

“We can’t control other people’s desires and greed,” Philip added. “But we can do our best to protect what’s important for us.”

“I feel sorry for the soldiers who will die because of other people’s greed,” Luca mumbled and hugged his brother tight.

If there was no war, people would not die in battle. There would be no families mourning the death of a soldier.

“But those soldiers died protecting what’s important to them,” George said trying to lift up his youngest brother’s mood. “They have their houses and families that they want to protect and that was the reason they joined the battle. I think they’d be happy that their death wasn’t in vain because their families and homes were safe.”

“Is that so?” Luca pulled away from Philip as he looked at George.

George smiled sincerely and nodded his head. “You did a good job suggesting something that would lessen the casualties, Luca.”

“What happened?” Melissa’s worried voice echoed in the room as she ran towards the princes. She looked at her son’s tear-filled eyes before she held the other two’s shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

George smiled at Melissa before he held the hand that was on his shoulders.

“I just said that Luca’s suggestion had been implemented yesterday and that there would be fewer casualties because of it.” George chuckled before he continued his explanation. “Then my younger brothers started feeling sad because there were still casualties and people still died.”

Melissa let out a sigh of relief. She did not know what to do if ever the princes end up having an argument. Fortunately, they were just sad because of the people who could have died.

“So that’s what happened.” The emperor’s voice was heard as soon as he entered the room.

“Father!”

“Your Majesty!”

The four immediately stood up and Melissa bowed her head first. “Greetings, Your Majesty. May blessings be upon you.”

The princes bowed their heads as well.

The Emperor kissed Melissa’s forehead before he crouched down to wipe Luca’s tears which were almost dry.

“I came here because I thought that you were curious about the report.” Damien messed the other two’s hair before he stood up and smiled at George. “There was no casualty this time.”

The princes’ eyes lit up when they hear the news from their father. George immediately walked closer to his father as if he could not believe what he heard.

“Are you telling the truth, Father?” he asked.

Damien patted George’s shoulder and chuckled. “When did I ever lie to you, my son?”

George looked at Philip and Luca with a bright smile on his face. “You’re really amazing, Luca!”

Philip lifted his youngest brother and jumped because of happiness. “Our youngest is so amazing! Aren’t you a genius at this point?” He giggled as he continued to jump with Luca in his arms.

Luca smiled widely as he let his brothers celebrate with him. There was no casualty! No one died during the battle!

After their short celebration, the three asked for permission to play in the garden and the Emperor allowed them. He needed time alone with Melissa because there was something important that he had to tell her.

“I’ll add a few more knights here in the Lotus Palace,” the Emperor said as soon as the two of them were left alone inside.

“Your Majesty, that is too much.”

Damien smiled. He already expected that Melissa would reject the idea but that was all he could do for them at the moment. So even before he arrived, he already resolved to get what he wanted.

“I can’t leave the palace without making sure that you two are safe,” he explained. He knew that Melissa would give in if he just gave her a valid reason.

“Leave the palace? Where are you going, your Majesty?” Melissa could not hide the worry in her eyes.

“The ambush that Luca suggested was successful, but according to the Freesian Army became even more aggressive. They are now preparing to attack the Northern fortress.”

She held Damien’s hand and sighed. “Are you going to the North, then?”

Damien smiled. “I have to. That’s my duty to our people.”

Duty.

Melissa sighed once more. Being an emperor was not an easy task. As the emperor, Damien needed to be there with the soldiers and knights that were fighting for the safety of Breische.

Though Melissa was worried, there was nothing she could do. She could not stop Damien from doing his duty as the emperor. All she could do was pray that no harm would come upon him while he was on that dangerous battlefield.