A/n: Thanks for reading! I hope you like this chapter! Enjoy!

Two years passed by so quickly...

Kaori had watched Kousei grow into a very good prince and become a true monarch who studies in the Royal University of Atlantis and Royal Knight Academy. He had become stronger and more manly after his training in Royal Knight Academy. Other than making music, Kousei had fallen in love with fencing as it wasn't that tedious like ball games. The Arima Kousei she knew was just a memory already.

She also watched him become a true monarch slowly while he kept on learning how to govern a country and be a good king. He is now very much like his own father, Emperor Richard III.

Kaori wondered if she could be the woman on his side when he officially take a role in politics when he becomes eighteen years old. It hurt her when she learned that Kousei had to marry a pure Atlantian to produce new sets of heirs after overhearing some senators who walk down the Royal Phoenix Palace to do political business with the Emperor or the Empress. She is only a naturalized Atlantian and to support Kousei's political future, he needed to have some kind of support of a strong Noble Family since he is a half- blood Atlanian.

That day, in her surprise, she saw him having an argument with her sister. The argument was more of a family and private matter but princesses who plan to marry is also a political matter. She couldn't believe that she had to see them arguing over it because of their blood line that they have to keep and protect.

They are actually inside a hotel in Mercuria City which is only a few kilometres away from the Phoenix Walls. As his girlfriend, she was required to stay with him and accompany him in his work outside of the palace and the Phoenix Walls.

"You're going to get married soon? When? Next year after I become eighteen and re-introduced to the public? You know that I still need you at the time I become a politician!" Kousei begged his sister. He's angry but he is also too lonely. His tears are threatening to fall. "I forbid you from marrying yet! Don't leave me, sister."

Jasmine's blue eyes stared so sharp to Kousei. Her arms were folded too. She couldn't believe that her younger brother can't let go off her yet.

"Two years had just passed by after you came home and you're back to the boy I always know! What happened to you while you're adapting back in the palace?" his sister screamed. "I love Lord Hermes Smithson! We love each other! I want to be with him and out of the palace already! Besides, you have our eldest sister who seemed to offer her life to you by taking a lot of your official responsibilities whom you shouldn't have let her take! How will you be able to replace father if you would always want us to keep doing what you should be doing?"

Kousei took a deep breath and that is when he lost his cool. "I don't like that Smithson! Our sister is also against you marrying that guy! It is very wrong of you to allow that man to enter our bloodline!" he shouted. "His family... Have you already forgotten it? They were descendants of the man who failed to destroy and make the Empire a Republic!"

Jasmine could not help it already. For her, her younger brother had crossed the line already. She slapped him in his face and pushed him out that made him fall on the floor.

"You're not the one who could oppose! No one will! Not just you and Brianna... And Mother!" she cried. "Their sin was done hundred years ago already! Why can't we forgive them?!"

Jasmine walked away and locked herself up in her own hotel room while wailing.

Brianna, who was just watching, walked close to him. "Are you alright?"

"It's not me who's crying," Kousei said as he put his hands under the pocket of his white pants. He's actually wearing a very stylish eyeglasses, a white lounge suit, blue Polo shirt, a red necktie and white pants.

"I know that. I just agree with you," she told him. "Don't try to console her, okay? I'll be the one to talk to her."

Brianna immediately went to knock on the door while Kousei had already felt Kaori's presence when he faced her.

"Were you here for too long already?" he asked her.

Kaori stood near him and nodded. "Uh... Yeah... I heard-"

"Everything?" he asked her. "Forgive me that you should see that. My sister seemed to get bored taking some of my responsibilities."

"You don't need to apologize," Kaori said to him. "What I heard was something I shouldn't have heard. Isn't it me who should apologize?"

Kousei took him in her arms so slowly and hugged her tight. She smelled like fragrant flowers like blue roses and primrose. She could also notice that Kousei's arm had already widened. He had become very manly already unlike the frail and feeble boy he was once before.

"Do you want to be the next Emperor, Kousei?" Kaori asked her suddenly. "You're close to your male cousins, right? They were also training in Royal Knight Academy. Don't you want them to take your responsibilities?"

Kousei was surprised by what Kaori have told him that made him take off his hands away from her. He turned his back from her and held on his knees.

"Kaori, it's inevitable. There had never been a time yet in the thousand years of our existence that a Crown Prince from the reigning Emperor lost it to minor royal families. I have lots of cousins but everyone knows that despite I am a half, I have to become the next Emperor as I am his direct descendant," Kousei answered her with tears falling down his eyes. "Please understand my blood line, Kaori. You are to become a princess soon. My family likes you."

Kaori hugged him from the back and cried, too. "Forgive me, Kousei!"

He held her hands again. Slowly, his hands went on her cheeks and kissed her. Kaori accepted his kiss. She took her arms on his wide shoulders as they passionately kiss inside their hotel room.

...

When afternoon finally came, Brianna, Jasmine, and Kaori welcomed the guest they were to meet in the Rose Hotel in Mercuria City.

There are two chairs prepared for the guest and for Kousei to sit on. Only a small glass center table divides them.

Kousei will be the one to talk, converse and do the required meeting between him and their guest that his father asked him to meet.

Their guest is Lord Kristoffer Devmont. He is forty- five years old. He has a striking green eyes, fair skin and tall structure. He wore a black business suit to face the Crown Prince for their meeting.

After Lord Kristoffer sat down on the seat, Kousei arrived in their hotel room. Before he sat down, they did shake their hands.

"Good afternoon, Your Highness. It is such an honor to finally meet you," he told Kousei.

"Thank you," Kousei told him.

"It had been two years already after you were crowned. Congratulations to you," Lord Kristoffer told him.

"My father had asked me to meet you. I believe there's a reason for that. I believe that he wanted me to meet you myself and convince you to come back in the palace," he said with such sharp persuading voice. "The current prime minister, Prime Minister Benedict Dameson is very old already. As you are almost the same age as my father, he had asked me to be his representative. 'Come back. You've been a lord of your own land for too long already. Return to where you belong' are my father's words."

Lord Kristoffer just laughed so hard after hearing his own words. He immediately took the cocktail glass and drank the grape wine inside that was served by a hotel servant assigned to them. He placed it back at the glass center table and smiled when he could see that Kousei maintained his cool and he didn't get bothered by his rude behavior. It was an act he liked so much. The Royal Family had thoroughly trained him.

He composed himself. He also folded his own legs and stared at the eyes of the Crown Prince in front of him. Prince Arima Kousei isn't the young boy he thought he would be when his mother was still alive. He could remember the time too when Kousei was too young. Kousei had always been with his mother and clinging on her arms. Arima Saki never knew that his son would be an intelligent monarch that exudes strong personality and bravery.

"Forgive my rude behavior. I just can't believe that your father wanted me to be a Prime Minister even if I have already refused him so many times. If I would return there, I would want to do a different job," he answered him.

"What is it?" he asked him.

"Aren't you seventeen years old right now? There are only ten months before you officially become a political figure and join the other politicians," he said to him.

With that, he saw his sisters' reactions who are standing at their left side with their heads lowered.

They all seemed alarmed. They felt very worried for him.

"Princess Jasmine and Princess Brianna, take Lady Kaori out of the hotel room for a while as our conversation is now getting more serious. I don't want her to see and hear something she isn't allowed to know," Kousei ordered them.

His sisters had no choice. Kousei may be the youngest member of the main family but his status in their society is obviously higher than them. They obeyed him and took Kaori outside their hotel room. They knew, too that their brother wanted them out of the room.

...

After his sisters are out, Kousei stood up from his seat and faced the transparent glass window. He watched the sun be replaced by the moon.

Lord Kristoffer stood up, too. "I know your mother, Prince Kousei," he told her.

"Everyone knows her as she's the Queen," he said to him.

"I'm not talking about Queen Adrianna, Your Highness. I'm talking about the woman who gave birth to you," he said to him.

Kousei was surprised that the man before him had met his biological mother. "You knew her?"

"I knew her after he got married with your father," he answered her.

"Why can't you just stand in front of my father and help him rule?" he asked him.

Lord Kristoffer gave him a locket.

"He made you go here where I am Lord, Prince Kousei. He actually hid his true motive by asking you to go here and make you convince me to become a Prime Minister. Since I have already refused him several times by letter or call, he knew that there's something I cannot refuse," he told him. "Open the locket, Your Highness."

Kousei opened it. He was astounded when he saw the image of his mother inside.

"He knew I have feelings for her and I kept my love for her hidden," he said to him. "I will return to the palace as your Royal Adviser, Your Highness. He knew you would need one."

"Thank you, Lord Kristoffer Dameson," Kousei said as he hold the locket tight.

He was about to give it back to him when Lord Kristoffer told him, "I am swearing my allegiance to you and that locket is my evidence that I would be a support."

Kousei took it inside his pocket. "Thank you. I think our meeting is resolved now. I would soon need your advices," he said to him while Lord Kristoffer take a bow to him.

"We'll see each other again soon, Your Highness," he said to him.

...

A/n: And... A long chapter came!!! How is it? Don't forget to vote and comment, okay? Thank you!