Kingdom is Bloodline

The owner was a man who was dressed in humble clothes, but were ones that suited his status. He sat quietly, gently, and serenely behind the study desk, and as he flipped through the pages, creating rustling sounds, he silently read the book in his hand.

Kel arrived before the wide desk in three large strides. He found an empty space on the desk, then jumped on the table to sit on it an in extremely inelegant fashion.

He winked and grinned at the owner of the room, who sighed and put down his pen to cast a glance at him before he shook his head in resignation. Then, he lowered his head again to read the book in his hand once more.

Kel raised his eyebrow as a response.

He did not have to be wary in this place, and neither did he have to worry.

Because the person sitting here… was his kindest and most amiable eldest brother.

Kel turned his head around and was astonished to find a bottle of grape wine and a few goblets beside the study desk, which had official documents piled up like mountains on it. By the looks of it, the wine was a popular brand from Sera Dukedom.

"I remember that you don't like drinking wine."

Kel unceremoniously grabbed that bottle of wine and stated.

There was no need for small talk between them, no need for greetings, and no need for those meaningless formalities.

Because a long time ago, this place had been his sanctuary, his safe haven, and the last place that he could truly consider his home in Eternal Star City.

It was especially so after his mother passed away.

"But Horace and Herman like it, as do you." His eldest brother did not raise his head. His voice was as pleasant to the ears as ever. While it was not as pleasant as Herman's, whose voice sounded like a melody, there was a unique, gentle quality to it. It caused others to subconsciously be able to calm down their restlessness and be at peace. 

Kel picked up the wine bottle, filled a goblet, and shrugged.

"Then… thanks for the hospitality."

His eldest brother hummed, flipped a page, and grabbed a scroll.

Kel sipped some wine, and at the same time he mocked his brother's taste in wine, he reacted to the other two names his eldest brother just mentioned.

"So, what special occasion is it today? A day for prisoners to go outdoors?"

Kel walked to the window and cast a glance outside. He did not find the two despicable figures who were in cahoots with each other. They might have left.

"Musclehead, Sissy, and that damned Fatty… How is it that once that stubborn old fool leaves, all the strange creatures in the capital flock towards you?"

"Don't scold yourself that way."

In one second, Kel understand the mocking tone in his brother's words, and once he understood it, he scratched his head.

"Alright."

If Herman and Horace had mocked him this way, Kel would have definitely mocked them back rudely.

But this came from his eldest brother, and it was just a small joke.

Their words were different, and the people who said them were also different.

"Why did they come to you?"

His brother scribbled something on paper and brought out another piece of paper. "I sought for them. You must understand, father went forth for an inspection. Now, all government affairs must be directly reported to me."

Kel understood what he meant.

"Oh, no wonder Horace has such a sour face. Certainly s*cks for him."

He might have said this, but he was very happy in his heart.

Kel then realized that he had just cursed.

He quickly covered his mouth and silently said a word to his eldest brother apologetically.

Sorry.

Just like usual, his eldest brother did not become angry. His gaze remained on the paper. He only curled his lip and smiled faintly.

This was exactly how he had reacted when Kel had intentionally tore his eldest brother's book when he was still young.

Gentle, calm, tolerant, and brilliant.

Kel believed that no matter how great of a disaster he created or how problematic a problem he caused, even if he killed the King of Eckstedt, his eldest brother would probably react like this. He would shake his head gently, smile faintly, and tell him, "I'm here, don't be afraid. Just go to rest."

And he would always have a way. Always.

When he thought of this, Kel noticed that he had drained his wine. He filled up his goblet again, and during that time, he cast a glance at the document in his brother's hand. It looked like a letter from a foreign noble.

He knew that these things were major national matters, but his brother did not seem to be concerned about it.

"What's that?"

His brother rubbed at the crease between his eyebrows. "Returning Wind Castle and Lush Forest and protesting against land tax."

Kel blinked. "Is it really bad?"

"This concerns the conflict of administrations between Blade Edge Hill's traditional, established customs, and the bill Seucader passed during the era of the Virtuous King. I plan to send Bancroft to that place to for mediation purposes next season. On the surface, this is an imbalance of the tax rates between the new and old nobles, but in truth…"

His brother suddenly raised his head and revealed his gentle face. His calm expression gave him a cordial air, and it seemed as if it would never disappear.

"Are you interested in it?"

Kel raised his hands as a sign of surrender, and he shook his head like a rattling drum.

"I don't even understand what you're saying… unless… it has something to do with me?"

Sometimes, he felt that he was very lucky. He never had to deal with these troublesome governmental affairs. He always had an eldest brother who could do everything to shield him from all these problems.

And even more fortunately for him, his eldest brother was the crown prince, the heir to the throne, and the future master of Constellation.

'If anyone else inherited the throne, such as a lunatic like Horace or a useless fool like Herman… Oh, Sunset Goddess, I'd rather launch a rebellion and tarnish my reputation. I don't ever want to see that happen.' Kel swore in his heart.

'Hmm… maybe I can tolerate Uncle John on the throne.'

"Well, I do think that there is." His eldest brother furrowed his eyebrows and thought in apparent seriously. A worried look appeared on his face.

"Five years into the future, the ladies from Returning Wind Castle will be even more eager to get married."

Kel's expression changed drastically in an instant.

"My goodness. That problem is indeed very serious."

His eldest brother watched his reaction and could not help but laugh as he shook his head.

During that second, his eldest brother's lips curled into a beautiful arc. There was laughter in his eyes, as if all the optimism in the world was contained in them.

'Herman might be called a 'beauty' and drove people mad for him, but that's definitely because Midier doesn't find the need to compete with him.' Kel thought.

Because when his eldest brother smiled, he was more good looking, gentler, more brilliant… and more charming than anyone else.

Kel smiled as well, and he did so naturally. If he had smiled in this way outside, he would have definitely scoffed at himself for smiling so foolishly.

He would only smile in this manner in this room.

His eldest brother put down the work in his hand and picked up the cup of flower tea by his side.

"I remember that you are still under house arrest and are supposed to reflect on your actions."

Kel instantly tensed up.

He hated being under house arrest, and he hated the stubborn old fool even more. He hated the person who placed him under house arrest, that was why when anyone asked him about his house arrest when the punishment was still in effect, even if Kel was displeased, he would show a rebellious look, as if he was not bothered by it.

But his eldest brother… before his eldest brother…

Kel, who was usually eloquent and could pester someone endlessly, stuttered, something that rarely happened to him.

"Urk… yeah. In all honesty, I came here to talk about this matter. Um… it might just be a short night, but I think… Erm… I think that I have benefited greatly from my reflections. I have gained great results from it…"

'Ah, damn, I think I might have completely forgotten the script I prepared last night. If that's the case, I shouldn't have teased the maid yesterday. Because of that, I don't even have time to memorize my script.'

Kel sensed the dull ache on his c*ck.

But Kel could not continue, because his eldest brother shot him a look that said he saw through everything. He turned his head towards him with the ghost of a smile on his lips.

It caused Kel's words to immediately die on his tongue.

His eldest brother snickered.

When Horace snickered, it showed that he was in a bad mood, and he was about to start scolding someone. When Herman snickered, he would do so with a look of disgust while he looked down on Kel. When Bancroft snickered, he gave off a foolish air that frustrated Kel.

However, when that action appeared on his eldest brother, it was natural and pure. It would not make others angry.

Hence, Kel gave up on speaking.

As expected, his eldest brother laced his fingers together and said seriously, "So, are you ready to tell me the truth behind why father placed you under house arrest?"

Kel was just about to explain himself when he heard his eldest brother add another sentence.

"And by that, I mean… besides discussing literature and poetry with beautiful ladies and madams while naked?"

When he said this, his eldest brother's expression was expression stern, but his left eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.

'Oh god.'

When he saw the teasing look in his eldest brother's eyes, Kel felt as if he was about to go mad.

He truly wanted to find a hole and crawl in!

'Wonderful!'

He screamed madly in his head.

'Who else in all of Errol doesn't know this secret? I'd really like to know who else doesn't know.

'Who else?!

'Come out!

'Come on out…

'I'll tell you!'

While Kel was immersed in a world he dubbed "Kel's tiny world made from his ego", a sudden commotion rose from outside the window. It attracted the two people's attention.

A sharp voice traveled into the air, it seemed to have been from a maid.

"Princess! Princess! Please, Wait!"

Kel shuddered!

Embarrassed, he immediately used the opportunity to seize for a chance to change the topic. He rushed to the window and looked outside the window in an exaggerated fashion.

"No way, you brought Connie out from the palace?"

His eldest brother shrugged. Clearly, he saw through his plan, but he did not say anything else.

Kel stuck his head out the window. A girl dressed in strange clothes that made her look as if she was stuck between two cardboards ran on the roof of Mindis Hall's wing.

She nimbly slipped through the arms that tried to stop her and completely disregarded the pale, distraught expressions on the attendants and guards.

The girl was around eleven or twelve years old. She had an exquisite face, and her hair danced in the air. She did not have any shoes on, and her feet were covered in dirt. Her entire being radiated in happiness and madness, a stark contrast to the despair and horror on the other people's faces.

"Don't worry. This is the newest version of my creation after I modified it according to the ancient books. I call it, 'Connie's Wings V.6', there won't be any problems to it. Just watch as I run into the wind and fly—"

While the girl nimbly moved through the arms, she shouted in a cocky manner. Her joyful tone was shrill and her pitch high. All of Mindis Hall, from the manor to the courtyard, could hear her clearly.

She also attracted more guards to her side. Quite a number of them were panicking and at a loss of, and they were Royal Guards who did not understand the girl.

The girl ran madly while she flapped the two cardboard pieces. She neared the edge of the roof.

"Princess, don't!"

As the maids shouted at the top of their lungs and the guards cried out in surprise and disbelief, the girl jumped off the roof in the direction of the sun!

"AAAHHHH!"

She screamed excitedly and flapped her arms. Her long hair danced, and the hems of her dress fluttered.

"I'm going to fly—"

In the next second, the girl drew a beautiful arc in the air, and then… she plunged down into a thicket.

The rustling sounds of branches moving rose, and Kel, who was watching all of this with his mouth hanging open, heard that frightening, dull sound.

*Thud!*

Kel shuddered violently. He shrank back, and his features were contorted together.

'It looks… painful.'

The maids' hysterical cries rang through all of Mindis Hall.

"AAAAHHHH! SOMEONE!"

"THE PRINCESS! THE PRINCESS FELL AGAIN!"

Hence, a large group of people pushed and shoved at each other while they fought against each other down the stairs to be the first to reach the thicket.

Their footsteps were loud. They sounded like a marching band.

Once he finished watching all of this, Kel, still yet to recover from his shock, finally managed to shut his mouth before he forced himself to smile in an unpleasant manner.

"Are you… really not going to do something about this?"

At some point of time, his eldest brother had resumed working on governmental affairs. He worked at a moderate pace, and he flipped through a warrant emotionlessly. He hummed as an acknowledgement.

"Do something about what?"

Kel pointed at the spot under the window and grimaced. He saw Morion and Rogo rush to the scene.

"Um… about how we should stop our troublemaking little sister from destroying Mindis Hall?"

His eldest brother snorted and cast him a glance, the one he had when Kel pulled a prank on him when he was little.

"Don't be afraid. Aida will take good care of her."

'Don't be afraid.'

When he heard these words, Kel was in a daze for a moment, and he found himself longing for the past.

'But… what did Midier just say? Aida?'

At that moment…

"AARRGGHHH!!! MOVE!"

As if to verify his eldest brother's words, another lithe and petite figure bounded out from the window while making a big fuss over nothing. She wailed in grief, and she was so loud that she could shake the skies and earth.

"No no no no no! Young Connie, young Connie, you have to be well!"

*Thud!*

Another dull thud rose. A few guards were sent flying, and one of them was Morion.

Kel's cheek twitched again.

"Young Connie, my good Connie, wake up, wake up! Alright, as long as you wake up, I won't call you bad Connie anymore!"

That terrifying voice his brothers and he heard since they were young, and apparently the stubborn old fool, the stubborn old fool's father, and the stubborn old fool's grandfather also heard since they were young shot through the heavens in a careless manner, just like it always did, but this time, it was done in a wretched, tragic manner.

"Don't diiiiiiiieeeeeeeee! I only went to steal a drumstick from the scullery, and I came back right after, how could you…? Hic… I'm so sooooorrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy… If you're still alive, wake up, wake up…!!!"

Kel leaned against the window and watched the hooded figure shake something vigorously. The corners of his lips started twitching, though he was unaware of it.

The Royal Guards and maids around her wanted to approach her in their panic, but they were thrown off by the hooded figure when she flung her arm at them.

"AAAAHHH!!"

A few seconds later, a soft, gentle voice that could only belong to a girl cried out in surprise. It then grew louder with each passing second.

"Cough, cough, Aida, I think… you're pushing down on my breASTS… AAAHH!"

She sounded really pitiful, as if she had been wronged.

The Royal Guards around them looked as if they had been scalded by boiling water. They turned around and returned to their postures, as if nothing had happened.

Kel sighed.

Just as expected, the owner of the terrifying voice who had just been crying carelessly rose again, and this time, she sounded especially delighted.

"Hic… what?

"AAAHHH, THIS IS GREAT! Young Connie, you're still alive! Hic! Rubbish, hic, how could you having something as evil as breasts…"

That soft, female voice sounded weak.

"I'm telling you the truth. The books say I won't grow up like this…"

Kel watched everything that was happening beneath the window before he looked at his eldest brother, who was still reading calmly behind his study desk. He placed his palm against his forehead feebly.

'...Right. Aida also followed her. Then she must be taking good care of Constance… My foot!'

Kel howled in his heart.

He had his suspicions that half of his younger sister's "abnormal activeness" was born due to that hooded shortie's influence!

Kel left the window and walked back, feeling speechless. He picked up his goblet, but that terrifying voice belonging to a certain Aida rose again.

"AAAAHHHH YOUNG CONNIE, I WON'T EVER LEAVE YOU AGAIN! Oh, by the way, do you eat drumstick? It's still piping hot. Come on, open your mouth! Say, let me tell you a secret I just heard, but you have to promise not to tell…"

"Um… Aida… my… breasts…"

"Say, do you know why your youngest eldest brother is under house arrest? Because he crawled under the blankets with thirty women in their birthday suits…"

*Pfft!*

Kel spit out his wine on the carpet before he started coughing violently.

'F*ck me! I shouldn't have come today!'

With swift movements, Kel drew the curtains to the room, blocking off Aida's thunderous voice outside.

He stared at his eldest brother. Both were speechless.

Kel could only weep in his heart.

After a long period of silence, his eldest brother finally sighed and broke the silence.

"You understand Connie."

It was as if he had not seen how flustered Kel was. Kel's eldest brother sighed and said, "She is very lonely, and she longs for other people's attention and acknowledgment."

Kel had been immersed in "Kel's tiny world made from his ego" while he coughed nonstop, but he still heard the words, and he was stunned.

He raised his head and met his eldest brother's gaze.

At that moment, his eldest brother's gaze was no longer the same as usual. It was not just gentle, tolerant, and calming, there was something else in his eyes.

His eldest brother said faintly, "That's why she urgently wants to do something, whatever it is. We have to understand that feeling.

"We should understand it."

Kel fell silent.

He originally opened his mouth with the intention to say something, but his eldest brother simply stared at him, as if he had seen through everything.

Hence, Kel lowered his head.

After some time, the commotion outside the window finally died down. Kel evened his breathing and let out a long sigh.

"It's all thanks for that stubborn old fool." He snorted softly before he wrapped his arms around his chest. He deliberately let resentment seep into his voice.

"Over the past ten something years, he acts as if he has no daughter."

His eldest brother remained silent for a while.

After some time, his usually gentle eldest brother suddenly said these words, "Don't blame father."

This was unusual.

Usually, Kel would not argue with him, because his eldest brother would be in the right most of the time. Even if he was wrong, there was still a reason behind his errors.

However, on this day, when his eldest brother used that strange gaze to stare at Kel, Kel suddenly felt as if there was something stuck in his throat, and if he did not get it out, he would be very comfortable.

"Father." He turned around and had his back face his brother. Kel mocked his eldest brother in return, "Just what sort of father would hate his own child?"

His eldest brother hummed as an acknowledgment for his words.

This time, his voice became stern, and there was a rarely heard, sentimental quality to it.

"That is not hate.

"Mother's passing is too much of a shock to father… You must understand, when he sees Constance, he is reminded of mother, and the extreme pain she went through before she died."

Kel's expression turned gloomy.

'Mother…

'Is that so?'

His eldest brother sighed.

"His love for mother turned into torment for Connie when he faces her, and it also became a burden for her.

"The deeper he loved her, the heavier that burden will be, and the greater the torment he would deliver to Connie.

"It is for Constance's good that father stayed away from her… because he's afraid that when he remembers his love, he will become someone that even he will be unable to recognize."

When he said the last few words, his eldest brother became absent-minded.

Kel gritted his teeth, clicked his tongue, and shook his head.

"Love?

"Hmph. There's nothing more ridiculous than this. He knows that if mother saw how he treated Connie, she will definitely fight against him."

'Just like how she protected me and all her other children.'

His eldest brother did not immediately answer Kel. The room was silent. Even the sounds of the flipping of pages and pens writing on paper were absent.

"Yes. She would," Kel heard his eldest brother say incredibly slowly.

Kel suddenly thought of something. His mother would not just jump in rage if she saw how Connie was treated. If his mother saw the sons she loved reaching their current state, where they hated each other and were wary of each other, what would she think?

Whenever he thought of this, Kel would feel his heart clench.

His eldest brother let out a deep sigh. Then, he resumed to being his gentle and cordial self.

"That is why the duty of loving our youngest sister has to temporarily fall on her elder brothers."

His eldest brother patted the back of his neck in an attempt to relieve the tension on his muscles.

Kel also patted his own head to extract himself from that abnormal condition he descended into just now.

'Yup, forget about those naked women… Forget about them… forget about them…'

"By the way, I found a task for you."

His eldest brother's words caught Kel by surprise. He immediately forgot about the naked women.

He turned his head around swiftly. The expression on his face was incredibly interesting.

"A… task?"

Kel almost thought that he had misheard his eldest brother's words.

But his eldest brother only nodded amicably.

"After all, before father left, he gave me an order saying that you need to 'reflect' on your actions, and he doesn't care about the method used to make you 'reflect'. You don't want him to fly into a rage when he comes back, right? Or do you truly want to be placed under house arrest?"

Kel's eyebrows twitched.

'The stubborn old fool gave you an order?

'You know, I think his original words might have included "Make that trash know his place" or "Get him out of my sight."

'What a joke!

'I'm a Prince of Constellation, and I need to work?

'Alright, fine, Horace led a group of soldiers, Bancroft is an honorary director of the National Research Institute, and even Herman has the title of the Royal Family's Special Envoy...

'If I consider these things, I am indeed truly… Er…'

When he thought of this, Kel's expression immediately turned serious. He said earnestly, "Oh, work! You know, I also have the intention…"

Kel scratched his forehead in agony while he searched for an excuse.

"In truth, I'm prepared to head to Star Lake Fortress in a few days. John told me that he needs help over there…"

But his eldest brother just shook his head gently, and an expression of fond remembrance appeared on his face.

"The anniversary of the passing of John's wife arrived."

This sentence caused Kel's excuse to die in his throat.

"Now is not the time for us to bother our uncle."

The fifth prince was rendered speechless for a few seconds.

In the end, Kel touched his head in frustrated while he stared at his eldest brother innocently. He looked incredibly pitiful.

"Wait, you're being serious? You're not intending to let me just get away with this?"

His eldest brother smiled. He still looked as gentle and cordial as ever, causing Kel to be unable to find it in himself to rebel.

"Don't worry. The task I got for you is in Eternal Star City." His eldest brother accurately extracted a stack of papers from the documents that were stacked into a hill on his desk. He threw it at Kel.

"Western City Police Station. Go and help maintain order in Western District, Lower City District, and Western City Gate.

"It's either this or house arrest. Choose one."

Kel slapped his forehead.

'Yup, no hole. At least, I didn't find one. But…'

Kel rubbed his face in agony. He slumped down like a dejected puppy.

'Urgh, right now, I feel annoyed just by hearing the word "police officer" and all the other words associated with it.'

But his eyes swiftly focused.

"Wait, Western District?"

'Isn't that… where Red Street Market is?'

A brilliant spark shone in Kel's eyes!

His eldest brother nodded. There was an amused smile on his lips, and the look in his eyes was sincere.

"Don't worry, that place is a lively, adorable, beautiful, and interesting place. You can work there and 'reflect' on your actions. We can consider as you having obeyed the king's orders this way, and you won't really have to be under house arrest."

'Of course!'

Kel's expression instantly changed into one of seriousness and attentiveness, just like how he would react when he had to handle a girl's dress.

"Yup, that's right, you're right… Ahem, I don't like being under house arrest, and this is also a chance. As a police officer or any other civil servant, I can patrol the area, understand our city, and be of service to the kingdom…"

'Especially Red Street Market.'

His eldest brother smiled again, and his smile was incredibly gentle.

This made Kel to be in a state of incredible ease.

Kel pretended to read through the documents in his hand. In his mind, he thought that he had to first figure out how he could get himself designated to work in Red Street Market, then, without embarrassing himself, he would change his stance, and he would absolutely seize this beneficial position into his hands.

"I've notified one of the staff working at the police station. She needs an assistant. She already promised me that she would take good care of you," his eldest brother said softly.

Kel was pondering over matters regarding Red Street Market. He nodded absent-mindedly.

"Yes, that's very considerate of you…"

'Police officer, staff, assistant, promised, take care…

'Hang on.'

Kel came to a sudden realization!

He ignored all the words that caused him to be unhappy and retained the keywords that were far more important to him.

"She?"

Kel raised his head swiftly. His eyes brightened up.

"Are you saying she's a woman?"

His eldest brother nodded gently and smiled.

"To be more accurate, she is an unmarried woman, and her family can't really control her either." His eldest brother used his finger to knock on the surface of his desk. His expression was rather complicated, and Kel could not quite understand what that expression meant. But it was fine. Other than matters of pleasure, Kel usually did not understand what his eldest brother understood.

And his eldest brother will surely not harm him.

Most importantly…

A lady… Lady!

'Even if she is married, it's fine!'

Kel really wanted to say, but he had to restrain himself.

'Ahem, yes, restraint.'

Kel forced down his urge to dance in joy and told himself that he could not show his delight too clearly and too unsightly a manner. After all, his eldest brother was a serious person.

That was why he had to take things step by step...

"Is she pretty? Is she? Is she?" Kel's eyes sparkled.

His eldest brother smiled again before he placed his chin on his hands. He recollected the staff member's face in all apparent seriousness, and a light crease appeared between his eyebrows. Then, he nodded slightly.

"Very."

During that instant, Kel felt as if his eyes were sparkling in a manner as if he was staring at his god.

His eldest brother was an honest man, he had never lied to Kel before.

'Yes!'

His eldest brother's lips curled up. He chuckled and continued giving him more details.

"She's also very smart and considerate."

'Oh, heavens. This is the best!

'My dear, handsome, great crown prince, you are truly my dear brother!

'If it weren't because there is a desk between us, I will definitely kiss you!'

The refusal and annoyance he had a minute ago disappeared without a trace. He felt as if he had been immersed in the most amazing hot spring.

"When will I start work? Can I go now?" He blinked his sparkling eyes.

His eldest brother smiled again, and it looked incredibly adorable in his eyes.

He tore off a page from his notebook and wrote down an address along with a name on it.

"Western City Police Station. Search for Police Officer Jines Bajkovic. Don't bring your attendants with you."

'Of course, of course.'

Kel was no longer just nodding repeatedly. He was nodding as if his head was a hammer striking down on a nail.

'How can I let someone as vulgar as Val and someone as stupid as Calnar benefit from something that is supposed to be good for me?'

"By the way, that lady is very charming."

As his eldest brother wrote, a reminiscing tone appeared in his voice.

"Don't fall in love with her accidentally… you'll have to suffer a lot if you do."

'Heh heh. Fall in love with her?'

Kel took over the note impatiently, and he spun around. It was a spin for a dance he was very used to. He had his head turned towards Midier.

'You worry too much, with my experience with women…'

Kel put on a confident smile and stretched out his finger to remotely tap at Midier. While he retreated, he moved out of the room.

"You know that I won't."

His eldest brother continued smiling in that calming manner. He waved his hand, looking as if he was about to laugh and cry at the same time.

'Just go.'

Kel vanished.

But a few seconds later, his hand appeared beside the door again.

"Hey, Midier."

After he returned, Kel stood outside the door and leaned his head against the doorframe, causing his eldest brother, who had his head lowered to continue reading official documents, raise his head again.

"Hmm?"

Kel tapped the door frame gently and said hesitantly, "Thanks."

Midier raised his eyebrows while he sat in front of the desk. He put on a speechless expression and shrugged.

"Ha… this is father's orders…"

But Kel shook his head.

"No, I mean…"

Kel gripped the door frame. He looked rather awkward, as if he was a little embarrassed.

"Thank you…"

But in the end, he sucked in a deep breath, shook the note in his hand, and instinctively pointed everywhere around him.

"For everything. Thanks."

'Thanks, brother.

'Thanks for tolerating and accepting me when everyone hates me. Thanks for showing care for me, being patient with me, taking care of me, showing concern to me, and understanding me, Midier Jadestar.

'Thank you.

'Thank you for being my older brother from the moment I was born.

'Thank you for being my older brother for all eternity.'

Once he finished saying all these words (in his heart), Kel lowered his head in embarrassment and rubbed his nose. He was a bit unused to doing such things.

In fact, he did not even dare to look into Midier's eyes.

It was not just because he was afraid… but because…

...his eldest brother had laughed again.

This time, Midier chuckled very softly, and it was barely audible, but there was a pure emotion hidden in his eyes.

"Oh."

The Crown Prince of Constellation nodded. He leaned against his chair, and he smiled while feeling at ease.

"Of course."

Kel smiled and pursed his lips.

He knew that, just like before, his eldest brother had understood.

He stuck his tongue out at him, tapped the door frame, and disappeared from Midier's sight.

As Midier watched his youngest brother leave with a smile, Midier could not help but have his lips curl up into a smile, even though he had actually wanted to say something and had refrained himself from doing so. But…

"Also, stop holding those discussions on poetry and literature anymore!" the crown prince said gently and firmly.

In the next second, the sound of someone crashing into wood in the corridor rang. It was accompanied by the sound of Kel hissing in pain.

Midier shook his head with a chuckle.

In the distance, Connie and Aida's chatters rose, but they were barely distinguishable.

The crown prince raised his head and looked towards the gentle sun shining vibrantly beyond the window. He sucked in a breath of fresh air.

'Ah, youth. It's just like morning in Mindis Hall.

'Beautiful, charming, and possessing no worries.

'Let this last just like this, until all eternity.'

As he basked himself in the relaxing and beautiful morning, Midier snapped back to his senses, lowered his head, sighed, and returned to reality.