Male Lead, Don’t Push, Pull!

It wasn’t hard for me to imagine my mother treating me as a living doll.

“I wish His Highness the Prince had been able to join us today.”

“I know.”

Kyle went back to the palace today. He left a note saying he’d be at my house in two days to see me.

‘Vivi, there’s something I really want to tell you.’

When he said that, I had nodded a little nervously, having some idea of what Kyle was going to say.

I wondered if it would be okay if Kyle went back to the palace alone.

It had been eight years since the last time Kyle had returned to the palace completely. Even the brief visits he had made during school vacations had only lasted a few days.

‘Titania will be so happy.’

She must be thrilled that her precious son is finally back in her arms. 

I’m sure she’d be eager to show off Kyle’s accomplishments to the other nobles.

In my memory, Titania was a cruel woman who had left emotional scars on that tiny, cute little boy. Now that Kyle’s all grown up, she probably wouldn’t do the things she used to, would she?

Oh, surely not….

I had to keep reminding myself that there was no way she was going to get him.

***

A place where the most noble person in the palace resides.

Even though it was still bright daylight, there was not a ray of sunlight in this room.

The emperor’s fatigue with the bright summer sun had caused him to close all the windows with thick velvet curtains. This gave the room a cool, almost dreary feel, with the shadow of death hanging over it.

This is the emperor who tends to the affairs of state from his bedroom, not his office.

“Yeah, Sword Expert.”

The news that Kyle had awakened his aura and joined the ranks of a sword expert had already been widely known a few years ago.

Although he was not a Sword Master, which is the highest level attainable as a knight, being a Sword Expert was enough to gain entry into and serve in the Imperial Palace Knights.

In other words, it was a great honor and something to be proud of.

‘Prince Kyle is a Sword Expert?’

‘That’s amazing. Prince Logan had no talent for swordsmanship at all.’

‘Hush, don’t say such things. You know that the empress and the prince are very sensitive about swordsmanship.’

The emperor already knew that the knights in the palace had a very favorable opinion of Kyle.

“At least I’ll do my part.”

But the Emperor acted as if he had never heard of him as a Sword Expert before.

Even though he had already sent him a letter congratulating him on his achievement.

The emperor looked Kyle up and down as he stood silently in his place.

“Do not be frivolous, but always be of service to the Empire.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”

The emperor’s words to his son upon his return to the palace after a long period of study at the Academy of Arene were not words of praise, nor words of thanks for a job well done.

He didn’t even gather the nobles to praise Kyle’s accomplishments. 

His demeanor as emperor and father figure were such that it would hardly be surprising if Kyle felt disappointed. But by the time he left the emperor’s bedchamber, Kyle’s expression remained unchanged.

He didn’t look particularly hurt. It was simply that he had reported all he had to report and was walking away.

Kyle’s calm demeanor actually made the servant feel more sorry for him.

Thud-.

The door to the emperor’s bedroom slammed shut as Kyle strode out, leaving the servants shaking their heads. It wasn’t as if the emperor hadn’t recognized his accomplishments.

To be of service to the Empire. It was more of an acknowledgment of Kyle’s abilities.

Though the Emperor did seem too regretful that he hadn’t risen to the level of Sword master.

Furthermore, the emperor didn’t receive just anyone’s request for an audience.

Just the fact that the emperor summoned him to the bedroom was evidence that the emperor was paying attention to Kyle.

Furthermore, the emperor still left the position of the crown prince vacant, even though there was Prince Logan, who had perfect background and political support compared to Kyle.

Kyle wondered if the fact that the emperor had allowed him to go to the Arene Academy was a test. A test to see if he, a man with nothing, could rise above Logan to become Emperor.

Of course, it was anyone’s guess as to whether or not Kyle would bend to the emperor’s will.

“Ha.”

Back in his palace, Kyle dismissed his servants and undressed.

After removing all of the cumbersome clothing ornaments and clenching and unclenching his hands, Kyle’s eyes landed on his bed. 

He grabbed his sword, which lay on the bed. Instantly, the blue aura flared up and became one with the sword.

Sword Master, the highest rank a swordsman can attain. When you become a Sword master, you go beyond imbuing your sword with mana and become one with your swordplay.

And Kyle had already reached the level of a Sword Master.

The blue aura in Kyle’s eyes flared up as fiercely blue as his pupils, revealing its presence.

There had only been four Sword Masters in the history of the Empire.

If the fact that Kyle became the fifth Sword Master were to be revealed, not only the palace but also the entire empire would be shaken.

However, Kyle concealed his achievement, and there were several reasons for this.

First, he couldn’t prevent himself from graduating early if the truth were known. Why would someone who had reached the level of Sword master stay at the Academy?

Even if Kyle didn’t want to, it was obvious that the emperor, his mother, and the academy professors would send him out to the world.

‘I couldn’t do that.’

Kyle hadn’t the slightest intention of leaving Vivian behind. 

Besides, he was watching the current situation.

His studies at the Academy were over, but instead of returning to the palace and competing for the throne, Kyle wanted to see the world.

With Vivian, that is.

If Kyle was a Sword Expert, the empress and Prince Logan would be able to let their guard down. It would make it easier for him to leave the palace.

So, for now, Sword Expert would do.

Kyle lowered his sword and when he looked around his surroundings, the closed door opened with a creak.

“Kyle, my proud prince.”

The person who appeared after opening the door was Kyle’s mother and the emperor’s concubine, Titania.

Smiling from ear to ear, Titania opened her arms to Kyle.

“Come into my arms, Prince. Let’s hug each other.”

“It’s been a long time, Mother.”

But instead of moving toward her, Kyle just bowed politely.

Titania came to him without a care and then hugged Kyle tightly with both arms.

“Is it awkward because it’s been a while?”

“…Yes, it is.”

“That’s why I told you to visit the palace often. You didn’t listen even when I told you to graduate as soon as you met the requirements.”

Titania raised her voice to scold Kyle, but there was no reply.

‘Tsk,’ Titania clicked her tongue inwardly.

Her long-lost son stiffened as if he were a piece of wood.

If Kyle, who had just finished the tiring academy life and finally returned to the palace, had said something admirable like wanting to see his mother or how he missed her, wouldn’t it have been better? 

Although she felt slightly annoyed by Kyle’s unresponsive attitude, Titania tried to maintain a smile on her face.

“I heard that the emperor called on Kyle. What did he say? Did he say that as a father, he was proud of Kyle?”

“I just reported my achievements to the emperor as a loyal subject.”

“A loyal subject? Who says that?”

Titania’s voice rose sharply, and she released her arms around Kyle as she spoke.

“Of course, we are all subjects of the emperor. But you are different, Kyle. You are the emperor’s rightful son, the precious prince who will lead the Empire after him.”

Kyle looked down at Titania without saying a word. Although this was something he should have been happy about, he showed no reaction at all.

The emperor hadn’t honored him.

‘That can’t be right.’

The empress had every right to be proud of Kyle. He was her brilliant son, who had achieved great things.

A son she could be far prouder of than the son of that wretched empress who sat on a high throne and always looked down on her!

‘They say he’s a Sword Expert, too.’

Titania, ignorant of swords, believed what the maids said.

Titania pursed her parched lips.

“Is there something you’re worried about that you can’t tell me, Kyle?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

Why does he look at her the way servants, nobles, and the emperor look at her?

Titania gripped Kyle’s forearm tightly. Her manicured nails dug into his flesh.

Kyle frowned slightly.

For a moment, a dry madness flashed in Titania’s eyes.