3. Into the New World (3)

Cedric's spoon dropped with a loud clang.

The adults all stopped their eating and moved their gaze towards Cedric.

Julius, the one who was oblivious to everything new in this era, looked questioningly at his cousin in front of him. He could see Cedric's hands shaking, and with a misunderstanding, thought that he was scared.

'Tsk, so weak. .' He frowned at the pale complexion of Cedric's body and his thin frame. He didn't know what happened but strangely he felt distressed.

This was, after all, one of his descendants.

'Did I hear that right?' Cedric looked down on his food while his mind wander around what the butler said. 'Was there an occasion like this in the book?' An occasion where the emperor and the Kerills would meet is surely an important story line, yet Cedric did not remember any of this happening.

Cedric wasn't even a character that affected Julius' progress. He was just a sickly cousin thrown into the fight for the seat and ultimately died.

Even his father never came to him once after his birth.

So why was his name being called out right now?

Cedric suppressed his confusion and looked up at the adults looking down on him with heated gaze. He shakily stood up with his cane and told everyone: "Aunts, Uncles, Grandfather, I should probably go. . . We can't let a royal messenger wait for too long."

His voice was small, yet for a 12 year old, he knew his words well. The maid beside him had already helped him up while the Head never said a word. The adults all looked at their father silently, knowing full well that Cedric shouldn't even have the chance to mingle outside due to his condition.

Too bad, the Head was silent all the way until Cedric left.

"Whew. ." Cedric breathe a sigh of relief once the door closed.

"Young Master, are you sure. . . you want to go?" the maid accompanying Cedric asked cautiosly.

"I'm sure Esther," Cedric smiled.

Esther was the maid with deep blue hair who Cedric had encountered before. He knew to trust her because she had been working in this house ever since Cedric's mother was a young girl.

It's safe to say that Esther was one of the few remaining trustworthy people around Cedric.

"I'm curious though. . . Young Master I hope you won't take offense– but isn't it suspicious? Why would they suddenly call you out. . ." Esther mumbled.

"I think the same way," Cedric nodded.

Even when Cedric's mother died, no one from the Royal Palace came to send a message. So why? Why now when Cedric was already gone and it was a foreign soul occupying this body?

Besides … there was no such visit that was to happen in the book.

What would've the real Cedric Kerill felt? Happy? Excited? Upset? Confused?

Cedric shook away those questions. He saw that they were nearing the meeting spot and gradually took a deep breathe. His hands were still shaking, and he felt like puking all of a sudden, still he came forward.

"Young Master Cedric," 

Cedric looked at the tall young man who wore golden framed glasses looking at him with no emotion whatsoever. He was carrying a small box and was looking at Cedric without moving.

"Yes, hello." Cedric lightly greeted and was led towards a comfortable seat.

The messenger didn't waste time and immediately discussed his purpose of visit.

"How is Young Master Cedric these days?"

"I'm doing fine."

"Is that so? Has the herbs given by His Majesty been used well?"

"Herbs? What herbs?"

"Pardon?"

Both Cedric and Esther blinked in surprised.

"No. . what herbs?" Cedric sat their in confusion.

The messenger's eyes glinted and narrowed. "Perhaps. . . Young Master Cedric was never aware? His Majesty Cyril sent out medicinal herbs every months in hopes that your health will fare well."

"Young Master. . w-we never got such herbs. ." Esther said nervously.

'Ah. So they really did have a hand at it.' Cedric sneered inside but pretended to be innocent on the outside. "Sir Messenger. ."

"Please, call me Herion, young master."

"Okay. Sir Herion, I don't know what you expected, but it's been a year and I never had anything like medicinal herbs given to me." Cedric started off.

"All I would eat these past few months were soup and some light meat and vegetables. The medicine given to me was prescribed by the head doctor of the Kerill family, none else. Not even my maids were notified you see. ."

"Hm, that's right." Herion nodded with a thoughtful look.

"I shall report this to His Majesty right away, but before that maybe I should talk to your. . Head as well." Herion's gaze went towards the path were the Head's office was located.

"Be my guest," Cedric waved his hand.

"Young Master, it's currently time to rest." Esther bent down and said.

Herion noticed the time as well and stood up. "Young master, I hope for your recovery. . So does His Majesty."

'I don't care.' Cedric thought. 

Seeing him silent, Herion nodded and went inside to be guided by a servant, leaving Cedric and Esther alone.

". . Esther, do you think what he said was true?"

"About which part, young master?"

". .That my father wishes for my recovery?"

Cedric Kerill's father was the current emperor, Cyril Dominique Ceacross. The current emperor of this kingdom was magnanimous and fair, he was popular among the ladies and an idol amongst warriors.

One thing that made him unique though was that. . he never had an official wife, nor did he have an appointed Crown Prince.

During Jihyun's stay, he searched for information about this world and its current issues and gossips. That was how he found out about this piece of news.

At first, Cedric thought that maybe it was because Cyril loved Cedric's mother and planned for her to be his Empress, but that thought was immediately burned down when he remembered a passage from the book.

[Cyril looked at Julius with amusement and told him, "Why not take over my throne then? No one was ever worthy of this seat, and there was no rule that no blood-related people could take over."

Julius looked at Cyril with confusion. "What about. . Cedric? Wasn't he a child of the woman you cherished? My aunt?"

Cyril tilted his head at Julius' question and asked, "Who?"]

It was a rude awakening, and it was confusing why the Emperor forgot, but Cedric didn't want to find out. All he wanted was to escape and survive this period of struggle.

So Cedric didn't bother to care what Cyril was really thinking about. He wasn't the Cedric who grew up with no father present and whose mother died two years ago.

"Let's just let it go." Cedric shrugged and walked back to his quarters with Esther in tow.

***

"Patriarch."

Herion entered the study where only the Head, Egbert Thallius Kerill, sat with his trusted aide.

"It seems that the way you've run this household grew laxed," Herion commented without filter.

Egbert merely looked at him and looked back down on his paper. "Is that all?" 

Herion crossed his arms. "His Majesty won't be happy once he knows about this, Patriarch."

Egbert's writing stopped. He looked at Herion with indifferent, but his eyes seemed to hold amusement as if he wanted to laugh.

"That's funny, since when did our all mighty Emperor care for such trivial matters such as forcing upon a child of a Ducal House?" 

"He is his blood related child,"

"Who he had abandoned since birth."

"But cared secretly for him,"

"A coward movement,"

The aide had a nervous expression on his face watching the two bicker back and forth. He had no room to stop this due to his status, but he couldn't just leave this argument to escalate.

Just then-

Knock. Knock.

"Father,"

There was a female voice outside and it caused the argument to stop abruptly. 

Egbert coughed and said: "Enter."

The door opened and it was Elionore who entered. She paused, seeing Herion present, but then carried on her walk.

"Father, may I have your permission to visit the Imperial Academy? There seemed to be a problem with Jeremy and I would like to come and fetch him."

"Go " Egbert nodded.

Elionore paused and then added, "Then. . May I take Julius with me?"

Egbert rose a brow and asked "Why?"

"He seems to possess strong swordsmanship, and I would like to apply him to the academy,"

Egbert thought deeply for a while then sighed. "Do as you please, however, you must take in the consequences to follow."

"Thank you, and goodbye to you as well Sir Herion,"

When Elionore exited, Herion crossed his arms. "How fun, a son of a child not even birthed in the direct line nor is of a significant blood seemed to be of more importance than a direct son of the Emperor."

"If all you're here for is to pick a fight then I suggest you go ahead on your way," Egbert put his hand on his forehead and massage the throbbing sensation brought by annoyance.

"Hmph," Herion raised his chin and directly exited the scene.

Now that it was only Egbert and his aide, the atmosphere seemed to calm down a little.

"Yu," Egbert suddenly called out to his aide.

Yu responded, "Yes, my lord?"

"Do you think I raised that child right?"

Yu knew who Egbert was talking about, but he hesitated in answering.

"Forget it," Egbert shook his head.

"That child is better off not knowing how harsh the outside world is."