SMASH! 

The glass smashed onto the wall next to me. Small bits from the glass fell next to my feet, and their sharpness hurt me. The door didn’t even close behind me, making the situation worse, as the sound echoed inside the hallway. The sound of the broken glass made me jolt, and I had to dig my fingers into my hand to compose my feelings. I was not the only one who felt that way, as all the servants stopped what they were doing and turned their heads to look at what happened. 

Before all the pieces from the broken glass fell to the ground, K was already sheltering my body, yet even him always being on high alert didn’t help in predicting what kind of gesture my brother would await me with. 

My brother stood on a big chair that resembled the throne. His right hand was shaking as he ran his fingers through his darkest hair. His pale didn’t show any emotions, and his velvety black eyes were closed. 

The desolate sight on the floor made me frown. Hundreds of documents were laying all over the floor, either crumbled or torn apart. 

I felt my blood boiling the more I stared at the documents. If he, the firstborn of the current Emperor, couldn’t do a job that even someone who lacked the skills to rule an Empire could do, then how could I have a peaceful time ruling? To resolve those problems was his only duty, so I wondered why must he act like a child with such important matters? 

For this question, I could not find an answer. 

Slowly, I approached his desk, and with each I took, the documents crumbled one more under my steps. 

‘Father said you were upset by something. Would those pieces of paper be the reason for your anger?’ 

Only by hearing me talk did he snap out of his state. He raised his head and our eyes met. In that instant, I think I’ve seen the reflection of someone I missed. 

His velvety black eyes were the same as when we were small, yet, there was nothing in them that shined anymore. As if those eyes became hollow, the same did his bond with me grow. 

The child who once protected me when people bullied me for my looks, the one who gave me his favorite food just so that I could stop crying and the same children who told my stories about my mother. Those children were long gone, to the point of no return.

I don’t know when it happened, but the break between the two of us grew over time. Only from time to time did I ever see in his eyes the reflection of the brother I used to adore. 

He’s not here anymore, and he’ll never be. This is what I needed to remind myself. 

‘Only now have you come to see your brother? And you even brought your puppy with you? Can’t be trusted alone around your brother, I assume.’ Haruki spoke in a harsh tone, his words were sharp. 

‘Had I not done enough? There’s a difference between the duties I have and the ones you do. You, from all the people, should know that taking a break to visit my brother can’t be done easily.’ I did not hold back in my response either. 

He lowered his head and broke into laughter upon hearing me. 

‘So, for you, your family was never a priority?’ 

The door to this chamber was still open, making it easier for the servants, all of them, to be entertained with our little scene. Before I responded to him, I had to take action and make our conversation more private, as I could not let them enjoy this show — if words were to spread about this, I don’t know how I could calm my father. 

I quickly made a sign for K to close the doors and leave, and he did it in an instant. Once we were the only two remaining in the room, a smirk appeared on my face. 

‘My priority will always be the Empire. You’re not more important than anyone living inside this territory. Get the hang of it, Haruki, you’re not a child anymore.’ 

I leaned over to his desk, glaring into his eyes: ‘‘If you’re not able to find an answer to resolve your problems, ask for help. We all try to run this Empire as smoothly as we can, but we can’t let our personal feelings intervene.’ 

For a moment, I contemplated if it was good to say the rest of what I wanted, yet, thinking of it, it was fitting to say everything that I held back now: ‘It’s not a shame to admit you can’t do certain things.’ 

As a smile rose on my face, so did a smirk appear on his. As he put his chin onto the middle of his palm, the question he then asked me shook me.

‘Like how you can’t admit you’re not the Prophecy Child? How can you use your powers if you can’t even do the basic things set in the Prophecy?’