Chapter 13: The truth about the engagement
"Do you understand why I summoned you here, my son?" asks Emperor Albert.
Rigel makes a fake smile. "I'm afraid if I knew, I wouldn't have sat here to converse with you, your majesty," Rigel stated flatly.
Emperor Albert was rendered speechless.
'Ha! Ha! This boy! You're fascinating, just like Stella! The emperor laughs.
Rigel merely stared silently at his father's face. "Now, suddenly, you know my mother's name after all these years?" Ha. You'll be the one to dare laugh while speaking her name after this. Rigel pondered.
Rigel regained his composure. "It's not the time yet; just you wait and see, father!"
' So? ' What business did you have to call me, a merely abandoned prince, to return here after 9 years, your majesty? Ask Rigel without hesitation.
The emperor laughs once again. "I see... he didn't change at all; this Stella's son resembles her." the emperor noted.
"You're dead serious!" I just want to have a quick conversation with my son. "You may drink your tea as well, son," replied the emperor, drinking his tea.
Rigel's face grew colder.
"If you don't want to speak, I'll leave now, your majesty," Rigel remarked as he began to rise from his seat.
Meanwhile, Crystelle was hiding behind the curtain. She can clearly hear their conversation.
"Does Rigel have that frigid attitude all along?" Behind this veil, he sounds like another person! Crystelle is stunned and continues to listen silently.
"Why did you consent to marry Lady Soleil?" inquires the emperor.
Rigel froze as he prepared to open the door.
He turned around to face the emperor.
"What were your intentions, your Majesty?" Rigel inquires. His voice grew colder.
Emperor Albert simply smiles.
"If you want to know why, my son, come and have another seat."
Rigel lets out a sigh. He carefully approaches the emperor and takes another seat.
"Are you satisfied?" So, what exactly is it? "Why did you ask me that?" Rigel inquires.
"Hrmm, just kidding?" responded the monarch, laughing heartily.
Rigel's face had turned bright crimson.
"Don't dare make a joke with me!" exclaims Rigel.
Crystelle is frozen and shocked.
Why is he so angry? "That old man has been really messing with his emotions lately," mumbles Crystelle.
'Ha! Ha! "Take it easy, kid!" chuckle the emperor.
'It's sufficient. "Just call it a day; call me back when you're not drunk," Rigel said as he slowly rose.
"You realize she's the crown prince's prospective fiancee, don't you?" Emperor Albert inquires abruptly.
Rigel shifted his gaze. ' So? '
The emperor grins. "Obviously, she is the best prospect for the future empress's crown." Isn't it a shame that she's become your fiancee, my son? despite the fact that she will gain nothing except you? "You have her family's influence and the most right to my throne," remarked the emperor.
Rigel grins. "So you were afraid she'd go to waste because of me?"
Rigel laugh. ' Hah! Don't be concerned, your majesty. I've already begun my strategy to gradually seize your crown from your son. With that, she'll never be wasted if I'm the one with the right to it, right? "Well, the first goal was to take her power," Rigel explained calmly.
Crystelle is taken aback and covers her lips.
"What the hell?! I thought so, too! He was instantly on the lookout for me! "That gorgeous redhead boy is definitely irritating me!" mumbled Crystelle.
"I still compliment him even when I'm upset!" "Why are you so weak for his lovely face, Elle?" shouted Crystelle to herself.
The emperor burst out laughing. "It's getting more and more intriguing!" he thought.
"Wow, what an interesting response," the emperor exclaimed.
"You understand what I mean?" Emperor Albert inquires once more.
Rigel raised his eyebrow. 'Comes again? Just be straightforward with me. "I don't want to stay here any longer," Rigel stated coldly.
The emperor grins. "Oh well, the crown prince will be back soon," he says. You know, that nasty kid of mine. Inform the Emperor.
Crystelle is frozen. "The crown prince will be back soon?!"
Rigel makes a nasty expression.
"How come he's already back?" "Won't he graduate from the Bert Kingdom next year?" Rigel inquires.
Emperor Albert shook his head.
"What do you believe he graduated early for?" inquires the emperor.
Rigel is nervous.
"Crystelle," murmurs Rigel.
"Does he already know about it?" "You informed him about this, your majesty." Rigel, who can't believe it, asks.
Crystelle is taken aback. 'Pardon me? Is it because of me? "Why?" she asks in hushed tones.
Emperor Albert makes a big smile.
"You probably know him due to his harsh nature." If he returns home, I'm not sure what he'll do to his potential fiancée, who dares to betray him while he's away. The Emperor smirked.
Crystelle flinches. 'That's right! "I'm screwed!" exclaims Crystelle.
"What did you do?" Sigh, this old man... Rigel murmurs.
Don't be concerned. "I will protect her at whatever cost," replied the chilly voice confidently again.
Crystelle flinches. Rigel's words had moved her.
"I will protect her because she is mine." Oh, you know I always take care of my possessions without damaging them, right? Rigel continued without hesitation.
Crystelle flinch. ' what? his possessions?! He put me in the same spot with his possessions?? "That gorgeous redhead boy truly dares to tamper with me!" said Crystelle.
The emperor chuckles. "Now, what if she turned away from you and wanted to be the crown princess?" Will she no longer be yours? Consult the Emperor. He attempts to provoke Rigel.
Rigel grins and walks gently up to Emperor Albert.
"Once she is mine... I will never let her go, even if she begs me to." I'll make her say she needs me and keep her with me forever! "Not like the others who roam around and speak nonsense!" Rigel exclaims angrily.
"Why is his majesty provoking him to this extent?" she exclaims.
The emperor chuckles. "Why don't you tell that individual yourself?" said the emperor.
Rigel arched his eyebrow. ' what? '
Emperor Albert chuckles. "Robert, open the curtain."
Without hesitation, Sir Robert draws the curtain.
Crystelle flinches.
She is now in front of the Emperor and Rigel.
Rigel is shocked, and his face has turned bright crimson.
"What exactly are you doing there?" "You were here the whole time?" Rigel asks, straining to contain his rage.
Crystelle flinches once more.
Crystelle is hesitant to speak. "Well, erm, greetings to the Ophelia Empire's sun and star." Please excuse my interruption while you were speaking with His Majesty. It's really impolite of me to have surreptitiously overheard your conversation, your highness. Crystelle trembles in terror.
"I'm going to depart immediately." "Glory to the sun and star of Ophelia!" exclaimed Crystelle, turning to leave the emperor's room.
Crystelle walked out quickly.
"Certainly, Your Majesty! You dare to meddle with me by using her!" rages Rigel.
Emperor Albert only smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, she simply happened to be there," he stated happily when his plan went off without a hitch.
"Tch!" "This old man!" Rigel murmurs.
Rigel dashed out to find Crystelle.
Meanwhile, Crystelle was walking away quickly.
Someone was running towards her, she realized.
Crystelle turned around to see who it was.
"It's just Rigel," she says. Her relief is obvious.
Rigel was the one who rushed to catch up to her.
"Elly..." says Rigel.
Crystelle walks quietly.
"Elly... were you offended by what I said earlier?" Rigel inquires.
Crystelle comes to a halt in front of Rigel.
"What's the point?" You had your own explanation. "I don't give a damn!" Crystelle said, shivering.
She was terrified by Rigel. That was the first time she had heard someone yell in real-time. Even her relatives never spoke that loudly in front of her before.
Rigel noticed Crystelle's fingers shaking.
"I'm sorry if I scared you." Rigel apologizes.
Crystelle lets out a sigh.
It's all fine. "I just want to rest now," Crystelle remarked as she turned to continue her walk.
Rigel suddenly grabs Crystelle's hand and pulls her closer.
Crystelle was taken aback and lost her footing.
She immediately falls into Rigel's arms.
"Why haven't you said anything?" Rigel inquires.
Crystelle is frozen. Rigel's meaning is completely lost on her.
"Why aren't you upset with me?" Why don't you say you hate me or anything and then abandons me? stated that I was wrong to use you to strengthen this empire! I'm not going to tamper with your heart and power like this! angry and smack me! "Do whatever you wanted to do to me!" Rigel exclaimed, tightening his grip on Crystelle.
"My, my prince?" Crystelle asks.
"I just... I'd rather you become angry and yell at me than leave me behind without saying anything," mumbles Rigel.
Rigel becomes silent abruptly while closely embracing Crystelle.
Crystelle notices his body trembling.
"Everyone had left me. Even Elly would one day leave me behind and go after that nasty jerk," Rigel murmurs.
Crystelle was taken aback.
"Are you crying, Rigel?" "What's the matter?" Crystelle flinched and became agitated.
Rigel abruptly pushed Crystelle aside and turned his back.
"Good evening." "I'll see you tomorrow, Elly," Rigel replied.
Crystelle is taken aback. "Prin, Rigel!" "Please wait!" Crystelle says as she pulls Rigel's sleeve.
"My emotions are unstable right now. It's best for you to go away from me," Rigel remarked.
Crystelle was taken aback and let go of his sleeve.
Rigel resumed his walk, leaving Crystelle alone.