Chapter 39: The Second Prince
Cassian never knew he would be on the receiving end of somebody’s protection, and he certainly didn’t expect that someone to be a five-year-old. When Adeline called him by his name in front of his mother, he knew that she would be pleased. Calling each other by their names was a level of closeness people had to reach. But at that moment he didn’t care about his mother, he blushed when she called him by his name.
The Empress sent Adeline off with the maids so that she could be dressed and cleaned up. If Adeline got sick under her watch, it would put her in trouble with the Marquess.
She looked at her son up and down, the redness on his shirt was clearly visible but she acted like she didn’t notice.
"I see that you became closer. Good."
They say that bad things happen all at once, one of the messengers brought over an invitation from the Imperial Concubine. It was an invitation to the second prince’s birthday. The Empress resisted the urge to tear up that invitation the moment it was handed to her.
It was a celebration in the palace, the palace that is her home. How dare she be ’invited’ to a celebration in her own home. The Imperial Concubine was treating her like an outsider.
"Hah... Very good..." Anyone could see that she was fuming, the maids dare not make a sound. She pointed to her son, "Why are you here? Get dressed and make another appointment with her! Do I have to teach you everything?! Useless!"
No one dared to come in her way as she angrily stomped her way back to the palace. Was she going to complain about this ’insult’ to the Emperor? That would not be the wise thing to do given how little he cares about them.
He would say that he was occupied with the nation’s affairs and he didn’t have time for their petty squabbles.