Chapter 1: The Princess's Dream
"She just left."
Dian felt disappointed. He was surprised to see his half-sister, but he didn't dislike it. Actually, he was glad.
However, if he voiced his true feelings, he felt that he would only be scolded and called a fool. Therefore, Dian hid his soft heart deep inside.
"I thought it was just a palace attendant..."
Having watched the exchange between the brother and sister, the black-haired man muttered under his breath. Dian agreed.
"Who would have thought that the Princess would appear here?"
"She really glared at you with contempt in her eyes."
Dian grinned at Kuhn. He wanted to pick Kuhn's brain and asked him a question.
"You're the one who's been staring at her. Isn't she pretty?"
The black-haired man answered nonchalantly.
"She is a beauty."
"When she was young, she looked just like a doll. But now, I can see why everyone calls her a heavenly beauty. No, wait. Since she's part of the Imperial Family, I guess it's not wrong to say that she's a heavenly beauty."
"No matter how beautiful a jewel is, it's still a cold stone."
Dian clicked his tongue at Kuhn.
"Says the materialistic person who would take the jewel over a rose any day."
Kuhn pretended he didn't hear him and changed the subject.
"Are you on bad terms with the Princess?"
"What could be bad between us? We haven't even had a proper conversation with one another."
"Then I guess the Princess just hates you."
"Don't say it so bluntly. You'll hurt my feelings."
Kuhn snorted with laughter. Dian had a thick skin tougher than leather. Even he didn't know what was hiding behind that smiling mask.
"I don't think she hates me. She probably despises me."
"What's the difference?"
"She's ashamed of my existence because half of my blood is vulgar. I'm a half-blood."
No matter how low his place was as a prince, he was still the son of the Emperor. Even if everyone whispered about him and called him a half-blood behind his back, nobody dared to say it in front of his face.
Dian talked about himself as if he was talking about someone else, using the belittling term freely. His expression did not hold any rage or hurt at all.
"I don't hold any ill will towards the Princess. I don't want us to have a bad relationship either."
"You say that so easily. Do you really think the Princess will feel the same way? When you snatch the throne from her, she'll probably try to kill you."
Dian sighed.
"You may find it hard to believe, but I'm not a man with that much ambition."
Dian expected Kuhn to laugh at him, but Kuhn only paid more attention.
"People think that the Emperor has it all, but do you know how many duties he has? You're also the head of your clan, so you know what I mean. You know how frustrating it can be."
Kuhn knew. He knew it very well.
So Kuhn could not understand why anyone would unsheathe his sword to become king. Why did they even want that position?
From the moment he was born, Kuhn carried the heavy burden of his clan on his shoulders. He didn't even have a chance to wonder why life was so difficult. There were too many people that depended on him.
"When I first found out that the Emperor was my father, the first thought I had was 'I will play and eat what I want for the rest of my life'.
If Dian's loyal followers heard this, they would have been absolutely shocked. Dian could only reveal his true inner thoughts to Kuhn.
"But I can't leave it like that. Princess Sienna doesn't know what the world is like. She's never been outside this vast palace. If the Princess becomes the Emperor, nothing will change."
The Empire ruled the world, and the Empire's master was none other than the Emperor. However, the ones who actually governed the subjects of the Empire were the feudal lords and the kings. The Emperor of the Empire never stepped foot outside the safe palace.
From the get-go, it was impossible for one person to know what happened in every corner of the world. Therefore, the Emperor had to choose certain people to be his eyes and ears and assign them to certain regions. It was inevitable.
However, Dian thought that the Emperor should not learn how the world works through books or from hearsay.
"Are you doing all this for the greater good?"
"Nothing as noble as that. I just feel like some change could do us some good."
Dian was never too serious or too easygoing. It wasn't easy to balance the two, but he managed to stay in the center.
If Dian had thought he was the sole savior of the world and called others to follow him, Kuhn would not have even thought of helping him.
"Did your negotiation with the Emperor go well?"
"More or less. I'm sure we'll hear something back soon."
Dian glanced around at their surroundings.
"This location is pretty nice. We should probably change the place1, right?"
"It doesn't hurt to be careful."
"Where should we do it... I'll think about it some more."
Kuhn got up from his seat.
"I'm going to head back."
"Thanks for this."
Dian took out the envelope he had placed in his chest pocket and thanked Kuhn one more time. Inside was a check that could be cashed in at any time. The most important thing when it came to gaining more power was money. Kuhn supported Dian with everything: money, manpower, and information.
"When it comes to money, talk to me directly next time."
Dian gave Kuhn a knowing look and spoke up.
"Stephan scolded you again, didn't he?"
When Kuhn decided to support Dian, his clan's opinion was divided in two. Half supported Kuhn's decision, and the other half were opposed.
Stephan was on the opposing side. He was also the one who was in charge of the finances. He was an honest and earnest man, and he had a gift when it came to making money. However, he also hated to spend money unnecessarily.
'It's difficult enough as it is to earn enough money through hard work. But you're telling me you want to just give money away? That's hilarious.' Stephan told Kuhn as he hooted with laughter.
"Stephan, that miser. That money's only a drop in the bucket, but he's being so cheap."
Dian groaned internally. He received and spent a lot of money already, and he was probably going to receive and spend a lot more. Even if Dian spent three times as much as he already had, it still wouldn't leave a dent for Kuhn.
'He can only say that since he's a rich man.'
To be exact, the clan was rich. However, because Kuhn was the clan's leader, he was able to spend the money freely.
"What's the point in talking to you directly? You can't even touch the money without Stephan knowing."
"I have some private funds."
"What? You have a hidden nest egg? One that Stephan doesn't even know about? You don't look it, but you're quite sneaky, aren't you?"
"Don't make me spend my money needlessly. Do you even know how much money I've already spent on you?"
The two men didn't stop bickering, but neither one was particularly upset. They didn't really mean the biting remarks they threw at each other.
"The riskier the investment, the more profitable it is."
"Only if it doesn't talk."
Kuhn shook his head as he walked away.
"Do you need someone to send you off?"
"I'm good."
"Goodbye, then. Don't get lost on your way back."
Dian's words went in one ear and out the other.
1 Dian doesn't reveal here what place he's talking about. My guess is that he wants to change a secret meeting place and is thinking about moving it to the clearing in the maze garden.
Chapter 1: The Princess's Dream
"She just left."
Dian felt disappointed. He was surprised to see his half-sister, but he didn't dislike it. Actually, he was glad.
However, if he voiced his true feelings, he felt that he would only be scolded and called a fool. Therefore, Dian hid his soft heart deep inside.
"I thought it was just a palace attendant..."
Having watched the exchange between the brother and sister, the black-haired man muttered under his breath. Dian agreed.
"Who would have thought that the Princess would appear here?"
"She really glared at you with contempt in her eyes."
Dian grinned at Kuhn. He wanted to pick Kuhn's brain and asked him a question.
"You're the one who's been staring at her. Isn't she pretty?"
The black-haired man answered nonchalantly.
"She is a beauty."
"When she was young, she looked just like a doll. But now, I can see why everyone calls her a heavenly beauty. No, wait. Since she's part of the Imperial Family, I guess it's not wrong to say that she's a heavenly beauty."
"No matter how beautiful a jewel is, it's still a cold stone."
Dian clicked his tongue at Kuhn.
"Says the materialistic person who would take the jewel over a rose any day."
Kuhn pretended he didn't hear him and changed the subject.
"Are you on bad terms with the Princess?"
"What could be bad between us? We haven't even had a proper conversation with one another."
"Then I guess the Princess just hates you."
"Don't say it so bluntly. You'll hurt my feelings."
Kuhn snorted with laughter. Dian had a thick skin tougher than leather. Even he didn't know what was hiding behind that smiling mask.
"I don't think she hates me. She probably despises me."
"What's the difference?"
"She's ashamed of my existence because half of my blood is vulgar. I'm a half-blood."
No matter how low his place was as a prince, he was still the son of the Emperor. Even if everyone whispered about him and called him a half-blood behind his back, nobody dared to say it in front of his face.
Dian talked about himself as if he was talking about someone else, using the belittling term freely. His expression did not hold any rage or hurt at all.
"I don't hold any ill will towards the Princess. I don't want us to have a bad relationship either."
"You say that so easily. Do you really think the Princess will feel the same way? When you snatch the throne from her, she'll probably try to kill you."
Dian sighed.
"You may find it hard to believe, but I'm not a man with that much ambition."
Dian expected Kuhn to laugh at him, but Kuhn only paid more attention.
"People think that the Emperor has it all, but do you know how many duties he has? You're also the head of your clan, so you know what I mean. You know how frustrating it can be."
Kuhn knew. He knew it very well.
So Kuhn could not understand why anyone would unsheathe his sword to become king. Why did they even want that position?
From the moment he was born, Kuhn carried the heavy burden of his clan on his shoulders. He didn't even have a chance to wonder why life was so difficult. There were too many people that depended on him.
"When I first found out that the Emperor was my father, the first thought I had was 'I will play and eat what I want for the rest of my life'.
If Dian's loyal followers heard this, they would have been absolutely shocked. Dian could only reveal his true inner thoughts to Kuhn.
"But I can't leave it like that. Princess Sienna doesn't know what the world is like. She's never been outside this vast palace. If the Princess becomes the Emperor, nothing will change."
The Empire ruled the world, and the Empire's master was none other than the Emperor. However, the ones who actually governed the subjects of the Empire were the feudal lords and the kings. The Emperor of the Empire never stepped foot outside the safe palace.
From the get-go, it was impossible for one person to know what happened in every corner of the world. Therefore, the Emperor had to choose certain people to be his eyes and ears and assign them to certain regions. It was inevitable.
However, Dian thought that the Emperor should not learn how the world works through books or from hearsay.
"Are you doing all this for the greater good?"
"Nothing as noble as that. I just feel like some change could do us some good."
Dian was never too serious or too easygoing. It wasn't easy to balance the two, but he managed to stay in the center.
If Dian had thought he was the sole savior of the world and called others to follow him, Kuhn would not have even thought of helping him.
"Did your negotiation with the Emperor go well?"
"More or less. I'm sure we'll hear something back soon."
Dian glanced around at their surroundings.
"This location is pretty nice. We should probably change the place1, right?"
"It doesn't hurt to be careful."
"Where should we do it... I'll think about it some more."
Kuhn got up from his seat.
"I'm going to head back."
"Thanks for this."
Dian took out the envelope he had placed in his chest pocket and thanked Kuhn one more time. Inside was a check that could be cashed in at any time. The most important thing when it came to gaining more power was money. Kuhn supported Dian with everything: money, manpower, and information.
"When it comes to money, talk to me directly next time."
Dian gave Kuhn a knowing look and spoke up.
"Stephan scolded you again, didn't he?"
When Kuhn decided to support Dian, his clan's opinion was divided in two. Half supported Kuhn's decision, and the other half were opposed.
Stephan was on the opposing side. He was also the one who was in charge of the finances. He was an honest and earnest man, and he had a gift when it came to making money. However, he also hated to spend money unnecessarily.
'It's difficult enough as it is to earn enough money through hard work. But you're telling me you want to just give money away? That's hilarious.' Stephan told Kuhn as he hooted with laughter.
"Stephan, that miser. That money's only a drop in the bucket, but he's being so cheap."
Dian groaned internally. He received and spent a lot of money already, and he was probably going to receive and spend a lot more. Even if Dian spent three times as much as he already had, it still wouldn't leave a dent for Kuhn.
'He can only say that since he's a rich man.'
To be exact, the clan was rich. However, because Kuhn was the clan's leader, he was able to spend the money freely.
"What's the point in talking to you directly? You can't even touch the money without Stephan knowing."
"I have some private funds."
"What? You have a hidden nest egg? One that Stephan doesn't even know about? You don't look it, but you're quite sneaky, aren't you?"
"Don't make me spend my money needlessly. Do you even know how much money I've already spent on you?"
The two men didn't stop bickering, but neither one was particularly upset. They didn't really mean the biting remarks they threw at each other.
"The riskier the investment, the more profitable it is."
"Only if it doesn't talk."
Kuhn shook his head as he walked away.
"Do you need someone to send you off?"
"I'm good."
"Goodbye, then. Don't get lost on your way back."
Dian's words went in one ear and out the other.
1 Dian doesn't reveal here what place he's talking about. My guess is that he wants to change a secret meeting place and is thinking about moving it to the clearing in the maze garden.
