Chapter 1
“You said the forth son of the Ran family is coming to Kiyou?”
Seien, who was just stopped by his grandfather in a corridor, raised his blows a little at the news.
“The forth son… It is Ran Shuuei, isn’t it?”
“Whoever the triplets decide Ran Shuuei to serve will get the support of the Ran family. By extension, it will decide the next emperor.”
Seien recollected the faces of the triplets who were serving as high-ranking government officials while they were not even twenty years old. It is certain that one of the triplets will be the next head of the family. It would secure his position if he could win one of them over, but unlike other concubines who still could not give up, Seien had already dismissed the possibility.
‘Those three are no good.’
They were out-and-out Ran men. They have already decided the priority behind the graceful smile. It was possible to use each other if they share the same interest, but not a relationship of trust. It would be another matter if he had confidence in dominating them while knowing all these, but he thought it was too dangerous to have them as his close aids.
But he wanted Ran name.
Even if the elder three were impossible, this forth son could be manageable… Without knowing what was in Seien’s mind, his grandfather’s eyes sparkled.
“I’m sure he will be introduced to you first. Even now the rumor says there is a good chance that the Ran family will support you.”
A harmless smile played around Seien’s lips. He knew his grandfather wanted him to succeed to the throne. But…
'I should be careful now.’
It was probably unreasonable to expect his grandfather not to have such a dream when his remaining years were counting and Seien’s reputation was getting even higher.
It was also important that his mother was from a family that used to be under the Shi clan. If their mothers' social standings were considered, his standing is higher than that of the first prince. His grandfather fully expected Seien to be the next emperor, and hoped the family would be welcomed back to the Shi clan.
‘It’s ludicrous.’
He never wanted to become the emperor. But it was true if he did not become emperor, he would be eliminated. Without knowing, he made too many foes and allies. Even if Seien did not wish for the throne, those around him would set him up. If things went on like this, a war was inevitable. Get the support from the Ran family quickly and get the three brothers of the Kou family out from Kou Province, then carry on the ceremony to make them his subjects, even if it was superficial. It was the only way to avoid a war.
‘Disturbances will be the minimum if the oldest brother becomes the emperor, but with that mother…’
He found the first prince, his older brother, at the other end of the corridor unexpectedly. His brother noticed Seien and sent him a reproachful glance, and left suddenly.
‘… He changed.’
Seien did not dislike his older brother.
When he was young, his older brother was a boy who had unassuming smile. Being about the same age, the two of them often played and studied together. Soon, Seien's superiority became evident, and the first concubine separated them forcibly. She spoke ill of Seien every day and she kept reproving her son who looked inferior in comparison. As a result, smiles vanished from Seien’s older brother, and his affection to his younger brother turned to hatred and a sense of inferiority. His many virtues that had certainly existed before, disappeared without a trace.
Seien’s older brother was not incompetent. If he had grown up as he was, he would have been a good statesman who was quiet and listened to others well.
Seien was careful not to make his older brother look bad, but his superiority was unmistakable, and moreover, Seien’s mature consideration beyond his age attracted people’s attention instead, ended up making his reputation even higher. And all these affected his older brother negatively.
Seien stopped thinking about it with a little sigh. He smiled self-deprecatingly.
‘…It's not like me to be so sentimental.’
It was merely a result of Seien’s and his brother’s best struggles against being destroyed. It was not a matter of what was wrong.
Then Seien left his grandfather and headed toward the inner palace to visit Ryuuki.
The woman raised her delicate hand and hit her son.
“Don’t come to where I can see you!”
The woman’s long nails scratched Ryuuki’s cheek easily. Ryuuki did not cry. He just curled up and waited for the storm to be over.
She narrowed her eyes further. It annoyed her if he cried, but it also irritated her if he did not cry. Giving birth to Ryuuki did not secure the Emperor’s love, or worse, it wore off her youth and beauty. For her, her son is nothing but a bad luck.
“Stubborn child! You don’t even cry!”
Just looking at her son, who is the root of all evils, angered her. He is my son. I can do anything to him. Impulsively, she was about to hit Ryuuki’s head with a small vase.
“… That’s enough.”
Seien twisted her arm on time, and separated her from Ryuuki. Without even looking at the sixth concubine, Seien picked up his shaking little brother.
“Ryuuki, let’s go.”
“Wait! What right do you have…”
Seien turned his head to the concubine slowly. Being subjected to a hard glance like ice, even the strong-minded concubine swallowed her words.
“… He is my brother. You must have mistaken, but between Ryuuki, who comes of imperial stock, and you, a concubine who used to be a prostitute, you rank way lower. Unless you change your attitude, you may end up floating in that pond.”
She felt a chill go down her spine. She knew well that the boy could actually do it.
Seien gave a bewitching smile.
“If you have problems with beauty care, don’t lose your temper. If you want, I will have my mothers cosmetics send to you. My mother is just as beautiful even after she had me.”
Leaving the concubine, who was shaking at the sharp sarcasm, Seien left there.
“… Ryuuki, do you still not want to move to my palace?”
Seien repeated the question he had asked a few times before while he was taking care of Ryuuki’s wounds.
Ryuuki looked down and shaked his head sideways.
Seien sighed. No matter how many times he asked him to move to his palace, Ryuuki wouldn’t listen. He would return to the palace where his mother lived no matter how much she beat him.
It probably was something Seien gave up a long time ago. Ryuuki could not give up on his mother, no matter how awful she was.
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