The much-awaited banquet day arrived in all its splendour. Thought not the most illustrious event of the year of the year, Lady Fara and her family couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride.

  The afternoon ushered in the public event with the more formal proceedings where the guests stepped forward to offer their words to Khayri.

  Amid the greetings and wishes, Nima noticed the prince’s languid expression and delivered a subtle pinch. A little jolt of awareness returned Khayri’s gaze.

  “Since your Highness likes to think about naps so much. If I suggest more physical training in your schedule, you’ll be more than ready to take a nap next time,” he whispered with a polished smile.

  Khayri’s face twisted into an unbelieving but aggrieved look. No one would believe that he had just been threatened when the suspect had such a charming smile on his face.

  ‘What a pity. The sculpted face and body of young god but a tongue sharper than a sly old royal advisor,’ he thought as he smiled and narrowed his eyes at his attendant. Nima was unbothered and with a knowing smile, he turned to bow to a guest fully aware about his prince’s little internal conflict.

  Eventually Kamaria was next in line in and she stepped forward in what was obviously a carefully prepared new outfit. Khayri noticed at once. He always did.

  His sister’s clothes were never as lavish as the others, the last he had seen anything similar was her debut so seeing this deliberate but elegant finery brought a smile to his face. This was how a little princess should be.

  “Congratulations to the third son of the empire and thanking Grand Lady Fara for giving us a Prince.”

  Lady Fara inclined her head just a bit as to any ordinary guest, which was far less than the full respects she should have paid to a princess. Kamaria seeing this, took no offence but the surrounding audience took note of the subtle conflict.

  “This Princess presents something humble for your Highness,” she said as Lili stepped forward to present a small wooden box.

  The box was not extravagant or encrusted with jewels like the others in the high pile of gifts, but the exquisite pattern carved on the polished and sturdy wood demanded attention.

  Without caring much for the restraint that was expected of him, Khayri stepped forward and his eager hands excitedly opened the box. Lady Fara also tilted her head, a bit curious.

  Nestled in the velvet lined box lay a simple an envelope and the young prince impatiently tore it open. His eyes darted across the contents of the document and almost everyone wanted to know what was so special about this letter.

  Was it a deed to some opulent estate or the location of some kind of treasure?

  Khayri let a bright unrestrained laugh which surprised not only the guests but also made the emperor pause in mid-conversation and turn to look down at the scene across the hall.

  Kamaria lowered her head to hide her smile. In front of her was the biggest unbridled troll she had ever seen but she couldn’t help but be amused.

  “Nima, have this stored immediately,” said Khayri while pressing the box into his attendants’ hands.

  “What was it?” curiously asked his mother.

  “A little joke we have royal mother, don’t trouble yourself,” he happily insisted before jumping off the platform, alarming a few people who stood watching.

  There was still a queue of guests behind Kamaria waiting to pay their respects, but Khayri being heedless of decorum as usual grabbed a cup of wine from one of the passing waiters.

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  His father was now fully focused on the situation while the Advisor beside the emperor turned beet from the prince’s behaviour.

  “Let’s all eat, drink and be so merry that we forget our way home!” toasted Khayri before raising his cup and downing it in one swallow.

  Just when they all thought that the youngest prince had exhausted all his shocking antics, he always found a new way to leave them speechless. Even his mother’s mortified face looked as if it was about to drip blood.

  Such undignified speech and recklessness, how unbecoming of a prince. What nonsense! A few of the younger nobles were thoroughly entertained so they toasted back, thinking him a fool more than anything else.

  The empress watched with a look that was a cross of disdain and disappointment. ’The behaviour of the offspring is not surprising considering the woman who birthed him,’ she mused.

  Prince Dario caught between irritation and embarrassment could only endure the entire thing with a slight smile as his lips twitched.

  Lady Alva barely managed hold her laugh as she thought about how smug Lady Fara always was. Was this the good son that she could boast about? Her brilliant heir candidate who was making a spectacle of himself in front everyone?

  Unbothered by all the silent reactions unravelling from his family, Khayri grinned as he linked arms with his sister as they walked towards the emperor.

  “You really have a gift of stunning a room into silence, don’t you?” she whispered.

  “I was just giving a toast,” he innocently insisted.

  “Why else have all this good food and wine if we’re just going to look at it?”

  The end of the sibling’s conversation brought them in front of the emperor’s platform.

  “This subject son greets your Imperial Majesty,” said Khayri with a bow.

  “This subject daughter greets your Imperial Majesty,” said Kamaria with a gentle curtsey.

  While beaming, Khayri raised his hand and gestured for another waiter to come over.

  The poor waiter hurriedly attended to the prince before scattering. Who wanted to be that close to the emperor when the prince was making such a scene? The advisor also slinked away, not eager on being caught in this spectacle.

  “This subject son toasts to the Father of the Empire. May the Imperial Father live long,” toasted Khayri as he held up his cup toward the emperor.

  The emperor looked at the troublesome imp that was his son and could barely think of words to reprimand him especially when he looked at the person standing next to him with her head down.

  The matter of the punishment from some time before had reached his ears but he had not seen her once since then. Had she already recovered? He knew it would have been too much for her to come complain to him about the situation, but he had at least hoped that she would say something.

  While lost in his thoughts, the crowd waited with bated breath to hear just what he would say. The emperor gestured to Steward Kavi who politely nodded and before long he was served with a drink.

  “The third prince is no longer a boy; as you’ve reached manhood, this Emperor firstly bestows on you the harsh responsibility of protecting the small nation of your loved ones. Only in fighting for that small nation is it possible to gain the strength and wisdom to protect our great empire.”

  Khayri and the emperor simultaneously emptied their cups, after which the prince bowed deeply.

  Although he was happily grinning, he was not taking the words for granted.

  “This subject son has been enlightened, thanking the Imperial Father,” insisted Khayri.

  “Mm,” uttered the emperor, the syllable carrying a dismissal and the prince happily reclaimed his sister’s arm to lead her away.

  The audience. “…”

  That was it?

  The youngest prince was truly spoilt. No rebuke? No reprimand for the behaviour? Some believed that the emperor couldn’t punish him in public. Others took it as the emperor having long given up on him.

  Ultimately, what could be done? His mischief never hurt anyone; it only brought a bit of disruption. A few attending secretly preferred that he had done away with the stuffy procedures.

  “Third prince is merely playful Your Majesty,” whispered Steward Kavi with a knowing smile.

  “I know, perhaps a position in the court would settle him down.”

  “If this subject may express their thoughts. Third prince has a peculiar temperament and unique connections, perhaps observing him until the new year could give clearer answers as to his future path.”

  The emperor nodded to the suggestion while watching his two children walk into the gathering crowd.