"That child isn't worth it," said the baroness to the third queen. In response, the third queen smirked, pleased with the report.

"Despite being the King's son with fallen royalty, he's nothing more than a lowly slave with royal blood; he won't cause any problems with the Third Prince; all we have to look into is the First Prince."

Alver Crossman. The King's first child with a maid To think that a lowly maid could share the king's bed before her or the Second Prince's mother, who came from a wealthy family,

A maid and a slave. However, the king's attention slowly shifted to them.

The Perfect First Prince

The Brilliant Seventh Prince

The King's previous Royal Instructor praised them both.

There's the witty Second Prince too, who followed the First Prince and doted on the Seventh Prince.

"If we can control the Seventh Prince, we can control the First and Second Prince too."

"I'll try... but I don't think the King's Instructor will let me off."

"Shouldn't children be punished for a wrong?"

The baroness smiled and said, "Yes, naughty children should be punished."

[---]

Callen had observed the baroness's actions for several days. Punishments started and snarky comments continued, laid out in public.

Hm. You want to control me, huh?

He smiled and decided to join in the fun. He can play the dumb prince to see what his next move will be, but he didn't expect to be hit with the pointer on his buttocks.

child abuse right away.

He clenched his teeth but continued to smile. He was carrying a book on his head, but there was no balance. For the sake of weeding out the inner court's power over the princes, Callen had to endure it.

This is how most munchkin royalty plots go. They want Callen to lose his will, to fear them, and to do their dirty work for them. When he loses his use, they'll cast him aside or throw him away. Ron reported to him that it was the Third Queen who offered the Baroness as a teacher. His older brother, the ever-naive Hyunnie, agreed even though she was well-known among the socialites.

That's why, the more blatant marks there are, the more they need to expect.

However, Callen did not expect his older brother to look so worried.

"Is any of the teachers mistreating you? The Internal Palace was the one who chose your tutors... I agreed because they're known for their reputation..."

Callen leans on his brother, wrapping his arms around his neck. He was swaying his feet giddily before he leans on Alver's shoulder.

"It's okay... Callie deserves it... I want to be like Hyunnie, so this isn't a big deal."

No matter how wrong it was. Callen was aware that this kind of education was wrong.

But Hyunnie, since you are the first prince, why not control the education of the princes? We can't call the queens women. Why?

After all, a woman's worth is determined by how she stands up and fights, not by petty tricks before acting like a victim. He can already foresee the third queen looking like the victim.

"Hyunnie."

"Hm?"

"Be sure to become king... and provide a good and happy life for Callie."

"I'm your brother, not your husband."

"I'll then marry Hyunnie!"

Alver laughs and pats himself on the back.

"You'll marry Hyunnie? You should marry a cute girl. And even if you don't tell me, Hyunnie will make sure Callie has a happy life."

Callen smiled and just leaned on his brother. "Hyunnie doesn't want to marry Callie?"

"Hm... we're siblings..."

"Then marry Mommy!"

Alver choked on his saliva. He looked at his little brother.

"Who's teaching you that?"

"Books... Mommy should marry Daddy... Hyunnie is Daddy! Then Callie will have mommy and daddy! A happy family!"

"Hah... you really are—never mind... You'll understand soon enough."

I know, Hyunnie. But you need to call Cale Henituse about my plans.

And after that small talk, Callen handed Ron a letter crookedly written by a child.

"Give that to Mr. Woof!"

"His Majesty?"

"Hm! Mr. Woof!" Give that to the Golden Retriever!

Ron closed his eyes and contemplated whether to ask or not.

"I trust my Lord, Little Seven."

Callen smiled at Ron.

Of course, the blow becomes more powerful and painful over time. In addition, his arms were grabbed and he was indoctrinated.

Hm. So this is how you play, huh?

They're attempting to overpower him. However, Callen had already planned it out. He planned this when Alver was busy with his work.

Unfortunately, Callen is a forty-year-old man on the inside.

The book continued to fall. Not only was his butt, but his leg and hand were hit too.

"You know why I am doing this, your highness?"

Yeah, I know. You want me to cower before you.

"Yes..." he smiled once more.

He was then grabbed by the Baroness. The young prince's eerie smile gives her chills. as if something terrible was about to happen to her.

Make it painful.

He grinned even wider.

"How come you're smiling?"

"Because Madam doesn't know what she's doing," Callen explained, smiling. "Whatever Madam wants, Madam won't get it."

Hit him, beat him, and make him cower in the face of force.

Because this should be what Callen wants, Callen gets.

Kim Rok Soo had long been used to pain and this was nothing.

The chilly smile made the baroness tremble. There's an unknown force permeating him.

"I have no intention of taking the throne..." Callen smiled, "But I can't have dangerous people around my Hyunnie. I don't need useless people around my Hyunnie."

The baroness shook violently. She raised her arm and was about to speak to him when the door opened and there was the King of Rowoon, who planned on visiting Callen on his break, holding her hand raised to strike.

"Y, Your Majesty." The baroness had fallen on her knees. The second and third queens were with the king. He noticed the Third Queen's expression.

Callen calculated it all. He sends that note to the king, telling him that he wants to play with him with childish egoistic lines like wanting to show the king how good and graceful he was or that he should learn imperial etiquette.

The king looked at Callen, who didn't even cry.

"Callen..."

Callen slowly approached the king. He had a stern expression while glaring at the baroness.

"What's happening?"

"Callie is being punished because Callie isn't good enough." Red doe eyes, make the king a simp for him as he did for Alver and Robbit. He appeared to be disappointed, but he still smiled as if nothing was wrong.

"A baroness punishing royalty?"

The mood was dark. Callen smirked and looked at Zed Crossman.

"However, Callie is a slave."

His words rang out, infuriating the king.

"A slave... who told you?"

"Madam said she's worried about me not getting her classes because of my mother, and that I should be grateful because Mr. Woof and Hyunnie took care of me, which is why Callie is doing everything he can to avoid embarrassing Hyunnie and Mr. Woof."

Hearing this, the knight following Zed Crossman walked over to the baroness and took her.

"Take her to the dungeons and summon healers!"

The king crouches down and aligns himself with Callen's height.

"What else did she say to you?"

"Hmm... nothing... she just hit me... but Callie deserved it."

Play the pitiful son, Kim Rok Soo! Show off your platinum-award-winning acting skills!

"Callie is not as good as Hyunnie or Brother Ribbit, but Callie aspires to be like Hyunnie and Brother Ribbit."

Good, he looks annoyed.

[You thought that far, baby.]

Ah. It's that voice again. Wait.

Not long after, Alver and Robbit came in a rush.

Alver looked at the third queen with teary eyes, as if she was the victim and not Callie.

The king looked at the three princes; two of them were doting on the youngest.

"We need to find a new tutor."

"Callie doesn't need it."

The royalty all look at him.

"Royal etiquette is something needed between the King and Crown Prince."

Hearing his words, the king looked at Robbit and Alver, as well as the third prince, who had come to support his mother after hearing what had happened.

[The Dark Elf will ascend to the throne.]

I've heard that.

Callen grinned.

"It's something Hyunnie and Mr. Woof need!"

The atmosphere suddenly dropped.

Zed Crossman examined the second and third princes with care. The second prince smiled, while the third prince was distraught. Alver, on the other hand, was taken aback and immediately began reprimanding his younger brother.

"Callie... that is incorrect... You are also a candidate for the throne..."

However, the child remained vigilant, saying, "no... Hyunnie will become one..."

He decided to reveal the vision he had previously.

If necessary, I'll play a holy man or saint.

"In my dream, the granny told me that Hyunnie will become king... wearing a gold crown, the globe on his left, and the scepter on his right... there are fires around, and Hyunnie will sit on the gold chair... there's a red hair man on his right and a black hair man on his left."

[Not only a king... but]

"But Hyunnie is not King," he continued, referring to the vision he sees.

Zed Crossman grabbed him and asked, "Who is he?"

"His name is Emperor."

"Close the doors," the king ordered.

The attendants of each prince and the king closed the door and drew the curtains.

"How are you certain about that?"

Callen grinned, "So you don't want Hyunnie to become the king?

[Baby... tell them this...]

<The moment a person with that darkness becomes the head of the household, the sky will be destroyed and the ground will tremble>

Zed Crossman's eyes widen. Alver's eyes also trembled. The secret of his birth and everything that comes to it will be for naught.

<the brightest sun will shine over the sky and vanquish that darkness>

Callen's lips curled into a smile as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to do.

<He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away>

He repeated what the person inside his head is saying.

<He is fated to be here>

At the same time, the death bells all over the Royal City echoed the moment he uttered the last sentence.

"The Church of the God of Death."

The king looked at Alver, who was also confused with things.

The third queen said, "The words of a child are merely unbelievable."

The other queens also agreed, but the Second Prince's mother remained silent.

[Baby, tell that woman—]

"The Third Sun will betray the kingdom."

The bells ceased to ring. His words rang out loudly, causing the third queen and third prince to leap to their feet.

"Callen Crossman."

Zed Crossman called out.

"Not another word."

So he's aware.

Callen smiled and turned to face his brother. He raised both arms, requesting to be carried. Robbit had to take Callen because Alver was still stunned. The child leaned against him, coy and pitiful.

"Wanna go home..."

"Yes, we'll take you home."

Zed Crossman looked at his son.

His reddish-brown eyes are not deceiving him.

"Mr. Woof will die," Callen added.

"Callen!" Alver screamed, turning to face his brother, who was cowering in Robbit's arms.

"Hyung-nim!" Robbit snarled and patted Callen on the head.

"Let's end that talk here... People here should keep their mouths shut... Am I clear?" said Alver, shaking his head.

Tasha and Ron, among the butlers, bowed and swore. The royal family was still shaken.

However, they want to believe a child's words.

"Let's go home, Callen."

Callen slapped Alver's hand away just as he was about to take him into his arms.

"I'm not going! I'm going with Brother Ribbit!"

Crocodile tears fell into Callen's eyes.

Alver simply yelled at him, and his instincts kicked in.

Alver sighed and turned to face Robbit.

"Calm yourself first, Hyung-nim..." Robbit said as he led Callen out of the room, leaving the royal family shaken.

Alver looked at his slapped-away hand with pain.

"Damn it," he curses, "I shouldn't have yelled at him."

Callen's eyes were clear, even if he didn't believe what he was saying.

"Father," he said, "would you mind telling me about Callen's origins?"

There's no way he's a normal kid.

TBC