The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

Mana shot Head Sage Yue a reassuring glance. "I am reasonably sure that Papa and Father Aqi and Aunt Carolina and Mother will all agree with Head Sage Yue," Mana said to Raven, patting his arm again.

Head Sage Yue felt that there was something terribly wrong with what Mana had said just now, and how she had addressed everyone.

"Mana," he said quietly. "Won't you and Raven call me 'Father'?" Head Sage Yue looked rather miserable even though he was desperately trying to hide it.

Mana blinked. Crown Princess Pica had been elevated to 'Mother' more because of General Aquila than her own merits, and Mana knew that she would perpetually hold a grudge against those who had caused harm to Raven in the past. Still, Crown Princess Pica had been behaving very decently and like a decent mother for a while now, so it was all right to make this much of a concession for Raven's sake, she had thought.

For Head Sage Yue, on the other hand…

Well, Mana thought, at least the man was looking out for Raven now, and she could see that Head Sage Yue had acted on instinct just now and that it had not been a calculated move on his part. There was genuine concern for Raven and anxiety and fear about what King Min was up to in the light eyes of Head Sage Yue, which were no longer as cold as they used to be.

For this, Mana decided, she could give him the title he wanted.

"Sure, Father," Mana said. "That wouldn't be a problem – would it, Raven?" she nudged Raven with her elbow.

Raven, who had already called Head Sage Yue earlier anyway, didn't really see a problem with it either. "Sure, Father," he repeated Mana's words. Of course, calling the man 'Father' didn't mean that Raven would run to hug him or smile at him like his did for King Jaren and General Aquila. But still, if they could have an amicable relationship, then Raven would not have any objections to it at all.

Head Sage Yue was startled by how easily the two children agreed, especially Mana, who had been really fierce to him the first time they had met. While Raven had called him 'Father' before, he was reluctant and he tried to avoid it as much as possible.

Realisation dawned on Head Sage Yue finally. Mana would accept anyone who showed genuine care and concern for Raven – the fact that she could do so at such a young age, that was something very, very impressive in the books of Head Sage Yue.

King Jaren had really brought up his children well, Head Sage Yue thought, and now he owed King Jaren for bringing up his own son as well. But then again, King Jaren was the boy's future father in law, so it was all right for him pamper the boy just as much as he pampered his own children. After all, Crown Princess Isabel of the Sapphire Kingdom was also getting a similar pampering from King Jaren, wasn't she?

In any case, the representatives of other kingdoms – and even the reigning monarchs of three kingdoms – were personally visiting the Pearl Kingdom, all thanks to this little boy, Head Sage Yue thought, and because King Jaren indulged the children he treated as his own. This was a very big favour.

"I learnt just now that you all were attacked in the Amber Kingdom several times?" Head Sage Yue asked.

Raven nodded. "Grandfather and Grandpa saved us, though," he said. There was a hint of pride in his voice.

As if drawn by that hint of pride in Raven's voice, King Corvus came over to them, with Crown Princess Pica and General Aquila in tow.

"Yue," General Aquila was the first to greet Head Sage Yue cordially.

Head Sage Yue smiled. "Aqi, welcome to my country," he said politely. He greeted King Corvus and Crown Princess Pica courteously as well.

"What were you guys talking about?" General Aquila asked curiously.

"Father Aqi, what is your opinion on Uncle Min?" Raven asked.

"King Min came over especially to greet Raven and speak to him," Mana added. "He laid his hand on Raven's shoulder, but Father here rushed in and pulled him off."

"That scumbag touched you?!" Crown Princess Pica hissed angrily before General Aquila could say a word. She rounded on Head Sage Yue, her dark eyes flashing with rage. "Do you still not see that pervert's true colours? How could you let him come near my son? How could you let that man touch Raven?! He's your child, too!" she spat.

Head Sage Yue sighed. "I am sorry," he said, bowing his head.

Crown Princess Pica looked at Mana. "Little Mana, I'm afraid I'll have to rely on you the most this time to keep Raven away. He is very innocent and naïve when it comes to these things – he has not been exposed to such filthy things at all. But we women have better instincts than men when it comes to these things, don't we? Please, please, don't let Raven near that Min, and you should keep away from him, too. Please also convey this to Jules, Bella and your friends Fox and Vanilla," she said in a soft voice. "No good looking young person from the age of ten to thirty – perhaps even forty – should be allowed near Min unless they are capable of beating Min into a pulp. He is a bit of a coward, so he wouldn't dare to come to people who are strong – but you are still children, even though you are strong, and you may be a bit gullible to his charms."

Mana nodded seriously. If both Head Sage Yue and Crown Princess Pica were agreeing on the same thing, then there was no doubt in her mind that she had to keep Raven away from that King Min.

"Thank you, Mother. Father already told us to keep Raven away from King Min," she said, shooting a grateful look at Head Sage Yue.

General Aquila frowned. "I didn't know that Min had increased his range of depravity to include men," he said to Head Sage Yue.

"He hasn't yet," Head Sage Yue said. "But I saw him put his hand on Raven and I kind of panicked."

"Raven is a beautiful child," Crown Princess Pica said. "For a seasoned lecher like Min, gender doesn't matter after a certain point. Don't you find it suspicious that he came up to speak to Raven all by himself? If that wasn't to make Raven let his guard down so that he could take advantage of Raven in the future, then what was it?" she demanded.

"Pica is right," King Corvus said. "We have to protect our children. Yue, you know that in the Obsidian Kingdom, we do not tolerate perverts who target children at all. They are beheaded immediately. This is something that we will never compromise on even for an ordinary child, let alone our family's child and the future king of the Obsidian Kingdom."

Head Sage Yue blinked. "You – you really intend to put Raven on the throne of the Obsidian Kingdom?" he asked.

"Of course," King Corvus said with a frown. "You are aware of this already, are you not? We spoke about it."

Well, that 'spoke about it' was more like 'shouted at each other', Mana thought wryly, while also thinking that King Corvus and the Obsidian Kingdom's stance on perverts who target children was really good. It was the same in the Emerald Kingdom as well. King Jaren would never tolerate anyone who preyed on children. Of course, it had been many, many years since any such incidents had happened in the Emerald Kingdom.

Head Sage Yue sighed. "I would have liked to put Raven on the throne of the Pearl Kingdom, actually," he murmured. "But given the pathetic state that we are in right now, it would be an insult to Raven even if I offered him the entire Pearl Kingdom along with the Moon Temple."

General Aquila raised his eyebrows. "The borders with the Amber Kingdom?" he asked, tapping his chin.

Head Sage Yue nodded tiredly. "They have taken over too much, and if they went all out, it would take them less than a month to take over the entire Pearl Kingdom," he whispered. "We have been betrayed by our own people for measly profits – and I didn't even know that any of this was happening until now…"

General Aquila was startled. Clearly the situation was far worse than what he and the others had anticipated.

"We will discuss this matter properly with Jaren and Carolina," General Aquila said. "I can't tell you not to worry without knowing the details of the situation myself, but all of us did say that we would help you, and we will not go back on our word.. If the Amber Kingdom is doing things it should not be doing beyond its borders, it is not an issue of the Pearl Kingdom alone."