The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

Head Sage Yue stared incredulously at the little girl who was less than one-third his age and still dared to threaten him openly!

Raven, on the other hand, had a small smile on his face and his eyes were full of wonder as he gazed affectionately at Mana, who was busy placing Raven's favourite snacks on his plate.

For the first time in his life, Head Sage Yue felt envious of his son, and a twinge of regret. Would things have been different if he had been kinder to Raven…? If he had tried to maintain a father-son relationship instead of denouncing the boy…? At the time, he had been swayed by his seniors in the Moon Temple, including his late father, who was the previous Head Sage, and he had never regretted it till now.

Now, however, he remembered his mother's last words to him.

"Yue, you must learn to look beyond the Moon Temple," she had told him on her deathbed, her silver eyes full of tears. "And when you see Raven again…be kind to him. Remember what I told you when he was born…"

Head Sage Yue had ignored her advice. He had never believed that this off-spring of his would ever achieve greatness or gain anyone's respect…at most, given the other half of his blood, he'd grow up to be an evil prince supporting whoever became the next monarch of the Obsidian Kingdom.

He had never expected that Raven would somehow end up in the Emerald Kingdom and become part of a phenomenal group of children that had already made their name across the kingdoms with their amazing invention…! The first time Head Sage Yue had heard about the communication device, his gut reaction had been disbelief. After the seeing the samples and trying them out, he had been very impressed. And when he read the little leaflet about the team of children who had developed this marvel…he had been floored to see his own son's name on the list.

He'd been even more surprised when the banquet announcements and invitations from the Emerald Kingdom, Sapphire Kingdom and Amber Kingdom had arrived. Raven suddenly seemed to be an international celebrity!

And thus, when the officials of the Moon Temple and the court officials of the Pearl Kingdom had come to him with a proposal to visit the Emerald Kingdom and offer to host another celebration for Raven and Mana in the Pearl Kingdom, Head Sage Yue had agreed without much protest. He was curious.

Head Sage Yue shook his head ruefully and brought his attention back to the present. The two children were eyeing him strangely, as if he was some weirdo…!

Embarrassed, the adult cleared his throat and then remembered that he had just been threatened by this tiny slip of a girl.

"Did you just threaten me?" he asked Mana.

Mana rolled her eyes irreverently and asked Raven in a complaining tone, "Is your father slow?"

Raven shrugged. "I'm not sure…I don't really know him…" he murmured.

"Thank heavens for small mercies," Mana said. "You may have become slow in his company, too."

Head Sage Yue frowned. He had never been insulted like this in his life, but for some reason, he couldn't get angry. Instead, he found himself being fascinated by the interaction between the two children. The number of times Head Sage Yue had seen his only son in his life could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and his impression had been of a pale, skinny child with a listless look and vacant, colourless eyes. He'd barely had any presence – except that one time at the discussion conference – and he'd looked as if he'd disappear any minute.

Totally unlike the shy but lively child with sparkling rainbow-hued eyes chatting happily with his fiancée right now.

Head Sage Yue felt his earlier anger and irritation disappear, for some reason, despite Mana's openly offensive words. (He had no idea that it was the effect of the fragrance sachet Raven had surreptitiously tossed under the table.)

"So…Head Sage Yue, why did you want to meet me?" Raven asked quietly.

The man was startled. Raven had never addressed him directly before.

"You may call me 'Father'," he said. He wouldn't admit it, but he had felt a strange sense of loss when he'd seen Raven calling King Jaren 'Papa' openly and happily. Raven was the only child of Head Sage Yue, and he was unlikely to have another in his life. And since the boy hadn't turned out to be a useless evil bug, Head Sage Yue could afford to make some concessions.

Raven froze.

Mana narrowed her eyes at Head Sage Yue.

"You, too," he told her. "Even though you were betrothed to Raven without my permission, I find you to be an acceptable fiancée for him. You may call me 'Father' as well."

Mana looked at Raven's flustered appearance and sighed. No matter how smart, he was still a little boy after all, and craved his father's approval. However, precisely because he was so smart, he may also feel that calling this man 'Father' may be an insult to King Jaren and Mana's affections…

"Very well, Father," Mana said softly, patting Raven's hand to reassure him and taking the decision for him. She would have a detailed discussion with Raven later to ensure that he understood properly that Papa's affection for him wasn't conditional.

"Yes, Father," Raven said shyly, the unfamiliar word rolling awkwardly off his tongue.

Something tightened in Head Sage Yue's chest, although it would take him a long time to be able to identify this feeling.

"I will…try to be kinder to you in the future," he found himself saying, surprising even himself. "And I will issue a formal clarification on behalf of the Moon Temple that you are not a cursed child."

Raven was at a loss for words, and even Mana was rendered speechless. It was surreal. Wasn't this man proclaiming a few minutes ago how Raven was the inkblot on his spotless life?!

"We will look forward to that, Father," Mana said finally. She squeezed Raven's hand, which was gripping hers tightly.

Head Sage Yue nodded awkwardly.

Raven wondered if he'd messed up the herbs in the mood-soother sachet he'd made and added hallucinogens or mind-altering products instead of ones that calmed the mind. Or if he'd lost his mind and was fantasising during waking hours now. After all, one of the universal truths of Raven's life so far had been that Head Sage Yue, his biological father, detested him, and would be the first person to perform a happy dance on his grave.

And now that very man wanted to be called 'Father' and just promised to be kind to him from now on…? And even wanted to remove his 'cursed child' label…?

Raven quickly started going through the herbs he'd handled recently in his mind, checking if there were any hallucinogens among them which he may have accidentally consumed. He found none.

"Raven?" Mana's soft voice pulled him back to reality. "Are you all right?"

Raven nodded silently.

Mana turned back to Head Sage Yue. "Are you in town for long?" she asked politely.

"A couple of days," he replied. "I would like to meet Raven again, if possible."

"We will let you know," Mana said noncommittally.

Raven's father had no choice but to accept that.

"We shall take your leave, then," Mana said. "As you are aware, we have another appointment." She eyed Head Sage Yue's plate and noticed what he'd eaten and what he'd not. She smiled slightly. "Allow me to introduce you to a speciality of the Emerald Kingdom, Father," she told him and signalled for the butler.

The butler appeared in an instant.

"Prince Raven and I need to leave now," she told him. "But on my behalf, please serve our honoured guest a bowl of fruit custard." She took out her wallet to pay, but Head Sage Yue quickly stopped her.

"Thank you, child, but you mustn't pay. I invited you, after all," he said. He'd become a laughing stock in all the kingdoms if anyone found out that Head Sage Yue's restaurant bill was paid by a ten year old girl!

Mana didn't insist. "Do let us know if you enjoy the fruit custard," she said instead.

Then Mana and Raven said their goodbyes courteously and left hand-in-hand.

Raven took a deep breath when they were out on the street.

"Thank you," he whispered. "Without you, I…"

Mana put a finger on his lips. "I think you'd do brilliantly even on your own," she said firmly. "Besides, you won't be without me unless you want to be!"

Raven's eyes brimmed.

"What a lovely pair of children!" someone exclaimed from the side. "Which family are you from, little ones? Do either of you want to marry one of my children when you grow up?"

Another person nudged the first one. "Shut up! Are you blind?! Can't you see it's Princess Mana and Prince Raven? They're betrothed to each other!"

"Oh! I'm sorry!" the first person apologised right away and thrust some balloons in their hands. "I'm supposed to deliver these to you! Congratulations on your engagement! Hope you have a long and happy life together!"

The second person dragged away the first one, apologising to Mana and Raven, who simply smiled at them.

Mana and Raven stared at each other for a moment and then burst out laughing.

"The balloons are pretty," Raven said with a broad grin.

Mana returned it with one of her own.