Honey Empire: Building the Sacred Empire Official

The Duke returned after weeks of travel.

The entire kingdom is getting ready for the next event. While the emperor is fitting a perfect robe he could wear on the occasion the duke came to present himself to the emperor.

He greeted the Emperor.

"Are you done punishing yourself?" Emperor Evan asked coldly.

He flinched, yet able to keep his composure as he replied to the emperor, "Yes, your highness." He spat stinging words indifferently. "Now that I'm done, may I request to excuse myself and take my leave?" the duke replied, obviously doesn't want to stay inside that room in the presence of the tyrant.

The priest excused himself from the emperor's presence and went out to catch him. Kal, the head priest, stayed with the emperor during the ceremonial preparation.

The emperor gave Kal a chilly, cornered look of suspicion. Kal laughed and said, "I will not do anything displeasing," before hurrying away.

"Duke," he exclaimed. "Don't take his remarks seriously. Evan is moody and frank," he said as he finally cath up to the man who walks away from the emperor like he has a virus that he wanted to avoid.

Oliver questioned, "Are you covering up for the emperor? or are you giving me pity?" he speculated with a smirk.

Kal lowered his gaze and turned his eyes to the side as his brief naive reaction.

The duke responded with a smile as he looked away in disbelief. "I don't need any of both," he said.

He was shook as he finally understood his friend, Evan. The approach to his most accredited ally must be harsh; however, very reasonable. The duke has a weakness, and he keeps on attacking him by teasing him harshly. In his perspective, such a brilliant man should never have such an emotional fallback. It seems profound and easily accessible to enemies.

He patted his back and laughed. "Am I not here as a neutral representative of the temple? Do I look like a biased acquiantance of the emperor?" he said.

Oliver responded, "Pardon, it seems I am too troubled by my emotions lately," as the duke chuckled sarcastically. "I just need a moment to calm down," he said, bowing to salute the high priest.

He stops him by putting his arms around his neck and seems to strangle him playfully. "Well, at least you know you are being dragged by your emotions."

The duke was surprised with his action. "I can't believe that you are as casual as Prince Caster. It seems like being a priest might feel stress-free and fun," he supposed.

The chief priest was silent and chuckled at the ironic comment. Indeed, this man doesn't know anything to comment like that. Instead of explaining, he replied, "My position removes my right to fall in love and have my own family. I won't feel being not loved, but isn't that just a little lonely?" he said. "Do you want me to give you a blessing from the heavens?" he added.

The duke released himself and spoke, "I told you, either explaining the emperor's side or having your sympathy towards me. I don't need them both."

The young priest watched his back as he left. A grin started to show on his face.

"Too bad, it was given," Kal muttered.

The lovely, adorned lady is gazing out at her balcony. Her handmaiden came, ready to attend to her words.

She asked, "He's probably in the palace by now."

With a nod, the maid replied, "Yes, my lady."

"Up until now, my lady, he truly loves you," she said.

With a chilly voice, Princess Minerva said, "I still hate him."

"It was an unrequited love, but I still bet that the young Lord felt happy and fulfilled that he nurtured his one-sided love once again," she said coldly. The way she confidently utters it without hesitation is secondary to how her lady treats the young Lord.

Although he is such a faithful man, he will grow tired of unrequited love. As we know, being in the Central Kingdom means being in the spotlight, so he will be surrounded by lots of ladies. Don't worry, my lady. He will get tired of it soon." Her talkative handmaiden smiled and dared to comment again.

Princess Minerva remained silent for a bit before ordering her maid to leave her for a moment. 

There is a pain in her chest. Is that what she wants? She can't imagine what it would be like. She would love that to happen, right?

At least that is what she always thought; that's why she shoved him off, but when her handmaiden spoke of it earlier,. It left her stunned and cold, and the pain just started inside her chest. It seemed to freeze her body and weaken her knees, and that was the first time she ever felt pain whenever she was thinking of the duke.

The adoration that was showered on her will disappear. His love for her will soon disappear.

Finally, her cold heart begins to open that moment, and her dead eyes begin to spark life.

The young duke overlooked a crucial detail. When they initially met, he revealed one small secret to her. It is still possible to be immune to all mind weapon attacks and attempts, even when it seems to be a bluff. It is valid for common types of mind weapons.

All this time, she is aware of what is happening while she was with the duke.

Meanwhile, after the conversation with the high priest, He went to visit the 4 officials, who were busy at the moment. The duke immediately started looking for the young prince, Prince Orion, for his presence could not be found inside that room. He heard about the sulking young prince who doesn't want to leave his chambers out of shame, but no one told him why. No one was answering while bearing a very serious expression.

It made him very concerned that he left to talk to him. When he left, Prince Caster burst into laughter.

"You're the worst, you know that," Princess Shannon said. Prince Caster simply shrugs his shoulder to indicate that there is no way to avoid it. "Do not blame it on me. You also don't give him an answer either," he said.

She comes across Lady Lianes Lovelle, the young princess who will soon become the emperor's concubine, on the way to the prince's quarters.

She had no attendants with her while she stood before the young prince's room. The expression on her face evokes a sense of guilt and concern.

He greeted the young lady. "Blessings and honor to one of the future brides of the emperor. What brings you here, my lady?" replied the duke.

The young lady averted her gaze and hid her face.

He began to give the young woman safety instructions. The Duke smiled and said, "You didn't know that people might misunderstand your motive in being here if you are standing alone outside a man's room who is actually around your age with those facial expressions." "It will be unfaithfulness, my lady, and the punishment for cheating and slandering the emperor is not cheap," he said.

The innocent young lady was taken aback, which only increased her sense of guilt.

Others might misunderstand her remarks if they saw her. 

"I would drag the young prince again to shame," she said.

"Shame?" the duke repeated.

Since he noticed that the young lady knew what happened, he took the chance to ask her.

"Oh," he said, enlightened.

"Do not worry about the young prince. I'll tell him that you apologized for what happened, but actually it was not you're fault either. It's just funny to see that you are the only bride to return just to apologize to him when all of you ask for his help. Now head back to your quarters, my lady and have peace of mind," he said

He reached for her hand and then kissed it. He escorted her halfway to where her attendants were. They were all worried, searching for her.

She was reprimanded by her servants, "My lady, we are terribly anxious." When they saw their lady's face, they were taken aback. They sat her down and said, "Get some cold water and medicine."

They said, "My lady, you are flushed red. Are you sick?"

She shook her head. "I am not," she stated and she returned back to her room

Hearing about this, the Emperor sent her royal physician to check and Lady Luxiel visited her in her chambers the next day.

"The emperor even sent you these gifts," she said.

The young lady shook her head and sadly stated, "It is not from the emperor. It was just said that it was from the emperor."

The lady paused a little, thinking that she was somewhat half right but canceling it out of her head. "What are you saying?" Lady Luxiel laughed. "Of course, it is from the emperor," she stated. 

A frown showed on her face. "I didn't know that your condition is this bad. It seems like I need to leave for you to be able to rest."

"Sister, I'm still young though. Would a little crush be alright?" she said.

Lady Luxiel was left dumbfounded, and in surprise, he looked around to check if there were any other people who heard her words.

The young lady was watching her as she hastily checked the area and when the lady came back to her side, she covered her mouth and hushed.

"That is a major offense against the emperor!" she whispered in distress.

Meanwhile.

The young duke still insisted on talking to the young prince, but he knew very well that he would never let anyone inside his room, so he went around and passed to the balcony.

He knocks at the door as he peek to see the sulking young prince.