The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

After giving Jules a tour of the island, the royal children returned to the imperial palace just in time for lunch.

King Jaren was waiting eagerly for them – almost as excited as Azar about Mana's new magical crown!

The family had a nice lunch together, and then Azar went off with his Grandpapa and Jules went off to IMARI to see Bella. Mana and Raven were left to their own devices.

"I was thinking of sending some pastries to your parents," Mana told Raven.

Raven blinked. "Why?" he asked.

"To soften them up," Mana said bluntly. "But I won't do anything you don't want me to," she added quickly. "So, what I'd like to do is discuss with you on our strategy to deal with your parents."

Raven was silent for a moment, chewing on his lower lip. "Do you…like them?" he asked nervously.

"Not in the least," Mana said. "I think you deserve at least a million times better. But for better or worse, they are important people in this world, and both of them have suddenly become very interested in you. So now we have two options – either we cut them off completely and hide you away, or we make use of them to your best advantage. First and foremost, though, what I want is for you to tell me what's in your heart."

Raven sighed. "I don't know," he murmured. "I've always been afraid of them…you know that by now. But last evening, thanks to you…I realised that I need not fear them anymore."

"Of course you shouldn't," Mana said. "They should be afraid of you, instead. And if they have the slightest sense left in their heads, they will do their best to protect you and help you from now on."

Raven laughed bitterly. "That…is impossible," he whispered.

"Well, to be honest, it doesn't matter what they do or don't," Mana said lightly. "You've seen how protective Papa and Big Brother are, and Big Sister Bella is also of the same ilk – it's not like you or I are short of affection or protection. So we can do what we want to do without any worries."

Raven nodded. "I…feel like I'm just taking and taking from you all," he said softly. "I want to be powerful, too. I want to protect you all, too."

Mana wrinkled her brow in annoyance. "Without you, I'd be dead by now," she pointed out. "Does that count for nothing? Is my life so cheap?"

Raven shook his head furiously, looking rather guilty.

Mana went on. "And without you, we'd have achieved none of the things we have in the last few months."

"We all worked together," Raven said.

Mana nodded. "Exactly. And you're an integral part of us," she said. "And when you're one of us, it means that we don't keep all these checks and balances like a business transaction. Since you're one of us, it is natural that you'll help us and we'll help you – it's not about the quantum and there's no account book of favours where debit and credit have to match up. Each of us will simply do what we can when we can – not because we owe anyone anything, but because we want to. We love you simply because we choose to, and there's absolutely nothing you need to do about that. You're you and we love you – that's all there is to it. Do you understand?"

Raven stared at her for a long time and then nodded. Then he shook his head.

Mana scooted close to him and gave him a light hug. "I know this is all very new to you and that you're doing your best to adjust. But sometimes you get caught up in needless worries, and I don't want that," she said.

Raven leaned closer to her and rested his forehead on her slim shoulder, closing his eyes. "I just feel that I don't deserve so much care from you all…" he whispered.

Mana sighed. "Well, in my eyes, you deserve the world and much more," she said.

"Your eyes are biased," Raven murmured, without bothering to open his eyes. "If you ask my half-siblings, they'll tell you I'm a waste of space. I've…always believed that…and that's why I don't understand why you all like me so much. I don't even like myself."

Mana poked him in the middle of his forehead. "Don't deride yourself. I don't like it. I won't let anyone disrespect you – not even yourself," she said firmly.

Raven laughed softly in response against her shoulder.

Mana rubbed his dark hair affectionately for a long time, feeling more and more determined to take care of him. She had long since forgotten that this world had just been a book for her at the start. Now, she regarded it as her own and she had firmly integrated herself into it. And this boy…this supposed 'evil emperor' – Mana would never let him meet the tragic end of the original 'incorrect' story, no matter what the 'corrected' version would reveal later.

"I want to accept it," Raven said finally, in a voice so quiet that Mana would have missed it if she couldn't feel his breath against her neck.

"Hmm?" she asked, confused. What did he want to accept? All the lecturing she threw at him just now?

"The inheritance of the Obsidian Kingdom," Raven clarified.

Mana wasn't too surprised. She had expected that, more or less.

"All right," she said lightly.

Raven raised his head and stared at her with wide eyes. "You…you're ok with it?" he asked.

"Of course I am," Mana replied, giving him a quizzical glance. "Why wouldn't I be? You're you, regardless of whether you're the emperor of the world or a penniless vagrant, and I like you." She sighed. "I just lectured you for so long that even I got tired of my nagging…and you're still asking me this?" she complained.

Raven hugged her suddenly. His slim body trembled.

Mana sighed again and rubbed his back.

After a while, she asked tentatively, "Do you have a plan?"

Raven shook his head.

Mana frowned. "We need to work out a proper strategy. Until you come of age, we'll stay here, as Papa said…but we'll probably have to show our face in the Obsidian Kingdom several times a year," she murmured. "It's not a bad thing, though. You're going to be their king, so it makes sense that you'd need to interact with them. We can't move to the Obsidian Kingdom for good right now, because it'll take everyone some time to accept and acknowledge you and your talents properly. By now, they've already heard of your achievements so your goodwill has already started to build – but we can't let them have you so easily, because scarce things are dearer. We'll let them have glimpses of you over the years, and they'll want you more and more as your achievements line up, but since they'll not be able to see you as often as they want, you'll become even more precious in their eyes. And thus, finally, when you're of age, we'll spend a few months in the Obsidian Kingdom – but we won't move there properly until we get married. Basically, we're going to drive home the point that the Emerald Kingdom doesn't want to let go of its treasured son-in-law, the Sapphire Kingdom supports you – and by then, I'm reasonably sure that the Pearl Kingdom will also be desperately coveting you. They may even offer you the throne right away to tempt you."

Raven stared at her blankly. "Aren't you overestimating my appeal…?" he murmured.

Mana laughed and cradled his face in her hands, looking him straight in the eyes. "My darling Raven, you have absolutely no idea how precious you are. What I said just now is a mere start. By this time next year, your grandfather will be buried in memorials from his citizens and courtiers demanding that he bring you back to the Obsidian Kingdom! Want to bet on it?"

Her eyes sparkled with mischief and Raven couldn't help but give in. "All right, what do you want to bet?" he asked.

Mana tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm…let's see…how about you write a romantic song for me and perform it in the Rose Pavilion in front of everyone if I win?" she suggested. "I'll do the same for you if you win."

Tempted, Raven agreed immediately.

Mana giggled and made him write down the details of the bet on a sheet of paper, and then put it in a box and gave it to him to store. "Don't forget about it," she warned.

"I won't," Raven promised.

"Well, then, shall we start the process of softening up your parents?" Mana asked. "It becomes all the more important for us if you're accepting the inheritance – ah yes, don't tell them right away that you've accepted, ok? Let them sweat a bit and try their best to win you over. A precious thing like you shouldn't be easily won!"

Raven chuckled. "What do you want to do?" he asked curiously.

"Let's make some pastries together and then take it to them," Mana said. "From what I saw yesterday, your father will like vanilla and your mother will like chocolate."

Raven smiled a little. "We'll do that, then.. But we'll only give them a little bit, otherwise Papa and Azar will pout for three days," he said.