章 5: Evidence

Sitting in front of the monitors, excitement got ahead of me. I instantly checked the CCTV footage connected to Mr. Abad and replayed it to the part where he called the Emperor.

Feeling excited about what I'm gonna find out. I pressed the loudspeaker to hear his voice. My anticipation hits so high that I feel like my computer hangs up cause it's too slow to show the footage.

"Don't try to do anything, just sit quietly, or else the whole country will learn about your secret."

What?

My anticipation turned into disappointment after hearing those words.

Hey!

I've got nothing from that! I've long known that the Emperor has something to do with what happened to my family and that was his secret.

But wait?

Is there nothing important about those words?

I think there is... Yeah, there is!

He's threatening the Emperor so it means he has something to the Emperor like evidence of his secret.

To make it short, there is evidence!

That's right, there is!

Finally! There is evidence!

Been so long since I investigated my family's death. But there's no evidence found yet. The news said that all the evidence were burned to ashes along with my family.

Knowing that there is finally evidence that will help me to know the truth of what happened back then. My excitement was so palpable that I got up from my seat and started swaying my hips while humming a song.

Now all I need to do is to get that evidence from Mr. Abad.

As I go back to my seat, I can't help but recall the past.

---

*Flashback 12 years ago*

"In Veilhaven Country, the Santos Empire's enduring legacy spans two centuries, an odyssey of pride and honor. Miguel Santos, the first emperor, laid the foundation during turbulent times, instilling the ethos of unity and strength.

Antonio, his successor, mastered the art of diplomacy, fostering goodwill beyond the kingdom's borders. Following in his footsteps, Rodrigo embraced the challenges of modernity, steering the family through an era of rapid change."

And so on and so on...

My tutor continues reading aloud the history of our country.

My ears were now about to bleed hearing about it over and over again. To the point that I already memorized it in my mind.

But I have no choice.

After all, I'm the one next in line to the throne.

Being the first son of the current emperor, Emperor Gabriel Santos. It is a must for me to know our country's history.

But it is so hard, battling with my sleepy head to stay awake from this boring history class.

My eyelids drooped, weighed down by the persistent pull of drowsiness, and yawns escaped involuntarily.

Then a loud sound coming from the table that was smashed by a stick instantly woke me.

My first instinct was to sit up properly while my heartbeat started to race.

I'm now fully awake but I'm screwed! The Elder caught me falling asleep in class.

I wanted to say something but as I opened my lips, my voice didn't come out as the words in my head were all in a jumble.

With a commanding tone that exuded authority, he told me "Young Master, How many times do I have to tell you, to act befitting to the position of being the next emperor."

I shut my mouth and just let him continue to rant.

It's always been like this ever since I turned 9. The Elder started training me then. My Dad told me I had to listen to him. He has served in our family for so long. He was appointed by my great-grandfather to train my Dad back then and now it is my turn.

Sighing, I can't help but complain inside my head.

Can I just go home? I never wanted to be an emperor. I just wanna eat food at home, play with little bro and sis, then sleep afterwards.

I just wanna be a normal citizen who is free from the burden of being the next emperor.

I hate being the center of attention. I don't like gatherings. I find their prying eyes irritating.

I'm already content living a life just with Mom, Dad, and my little brother and sister.

The Elder continues ranting while I immerse myself in my own thoughts.

"Angelo"

A voice called out to me.

My mood lit up instantly cause it was my Dad who's calling out to me.

There he is standing in front of this library door. I ran towards him happily while saying "Dad, did you come to pick me up?"

He patted my head while saying in a gentle tone "Yes, I'm here to pick you up. Did you behave?"

"Young Master, how many times do I have to tell you? You have to call him Emperor, not Dad."

The Elder cut to the conversation between me and Dad.

I can't help but be sad hearing those words. The children in our country call their father "Dad" but why can't I? Even if he's an emperor he's still my dad. The Elder doesn't complain when my little sis and bro call "Dad" but why it is different when it comes to me?

"Elder, it is okay. It's just us here. He can call me Emperor if there are other people. To be honest, I like it more when he calls me "Dad" unlike the "Emperor" which sounds quite distant."

My dad's face seemed shining as he said those words while looking at me with those gentle eyes.

"But Emperor Gabriel... "

"Let him be!" Dad interrupts the Elder's words with an air of authority.

"If that is what you want. Your wish is my command, Emperor Gabriel." Elder bowed his head while saying that.

Dad and I made our way out of the library leaving aside the Elder and my tutor who just kept quiet at the side. Trying hard to make his presence as invisible as possible while the bodyguards followed us.

"What do you want to eat for snacks?"

"Cookies, I want cookies made by Mom."

"You love sweets that much?"

"No Dad, I just love the food that Mom cooks."

"Hmp, sweet talker! The cook will surely sulk if he heard you."

The bodyguards were just quietly following us, without any intention to interrupt our bonding moment while heading towards the Emperor's Residence inside the Imperial Quarters, which is where we live.

Once inside, I ran to the living space.

"Mom, Mia, Mike, I'm home!"

I called out to them with enthusiasm.

Mike and Mia are my little brother and sister's name. They are twins and currently 6 years old now while I'm 13 years old.

"You're back!" My mom's beautiful face greeted me.

"Brother you said you're going to play with us. Let's build a big castle out of Lego" he's full of enthusiasm while making a hand gesture about how big the castle would be.

"Sure, Mike! How about you Mia?"

"Brother I don't wanna play, instead I want to learn how to make cookies with Mom. I want it to look like a cute panda."

Her smile is so lovely while saying those words with her cute voice. I don't know why, but she sure loves panda. She even begs our parents to give her a panda as a pet.

"So it is a panda cookie?"

"Yes, Brother! It will surely taste delicious. I'm going to give you lots of it."

"I would surely love it."

Even if I'm not looking at them. I can feel Mom and Dad are happily watching our interaction.

Even if my parents are the Emperor and Empress while I and my siblings are the Young Masters and Young Miss. We still bond just like how the normal family is.

Each day is a happy day when I'm with them.

I'm almost living a perfect life but not until there is a gathering.

I hate crowds, but I have no choice. I don't want to disappoint my parents.

While heading to the Banquet Hall to celebrate the 205th-year reign of the Santos Empire, I saw Uncle Leon in the hallway.

While heading in his direction, I was about to greet him once I was near but he suddenly turned and walked in the other direction while being led by the First Leader, Mr. Abad.

Seems like they didn't notice my presence.

Never mind I don't plan on socializing in the first place.

As I entered the Banquet Hall, there went the elder again telling me what to do and not to do.

The banquet is going smoothly with the people praising the good deeds that my family did.

The Emperor wins the people's love through extensive educational initiatives and infrastructure development, while the Empress's compassion shines in social welfare programs, cultural preservation, and dedicated efforts toward women's empowerment.

That's what I heard from them, describing what my parents did.

I even heard some describing them as a hero because of their kindness and generosity to the people.

I know my parents are good leaders and I'm so proud of them.

Things were going smoothly but not until we heard people from the outside shouting...

"Fire! There is fire! The Pyra City is on fire!"