If there were something to be thankful for today, it would be the Emperor's sacrifices and the Empress's grumblings.
Countless nights told to sleep outside and several instances of grovelling without knowing why have equipped one prince with life skills he never thought he'd needed—until now.
He, as the only child back then, was the one to witness it all.
At that time, he'd watched his father's antics and was bewildered by the man's exaggerated expressions of torment, which he'd privately thought were all ridiculous.
Yet here he knelt, years later, finding himself in a similar situation, only now, he understood why his father had been so dramatic.
It felt like a stab wound, but at the same time, Xavier could have sworn he was probably unhinged somewhere, for there was no denying his relief upon witnessing this.
Surely he's gone mad, right?
Luca could only stare at Xavier as he was trying to process what he meant.
