Chapter 53: Emperor

While everyone was still waiting for the arrival of the other two princes, a faint murmur filled the hall as the guests began conversing among themselves. Ten minutes had passed when the sound of a microphone was heard again:

"The next arrival: Fifth Prince Elion Varestrad."

The heavy doors slowly opened. Elion entered, clad in a yellow suit and wearing a confident smile. Flanking him were his two bodyguards, Aren and Keiran. Yet there was one detail that caught everyone's attention: Aren was holding the hand of a little girl.

Whispers rose throughout the hall. The nobles exchanged glances of surprise.

"Look at that, the bodyguard brought his child," one woman said, raising her eyebrows.

In a mocking tone, another woman replied, "The prince is the one who needs protecting, and he's walking around with a child? How audacious."

Aren ignored the remarks entirely. He kept walking behind the prince as if he hadn't heard a thing.