NoGift

"CONDE, my lady, welcome to Kievan's imperial palace," the teenager said with a gentle smile on his face and walked towards the head of the table. 

The boy with his blue-black hair and light blue eyes was surrounded by a very refreshing and kind atmosphere.  Anyone who would encounter him or just glanced at him once would think that he was really that, a kind youth whom anyone could easily get along with despite being part of royalty. 

But that's not the feeling that Argent got.  She just felt iffy.  Like what she's seeing right now was a sludge of illusion covering the real person beneath.  And that's not because of what Janea had warned them before.  That's simply what her instinct was telling her.

"Oh, did I surprise the both of you?" the teenager asked when he didn't receive any response from the two.  "Or perhaps the Conde and his lady are expecting someone else?"

Argent and Zhang Lei Feng knew they had a momentary gaffe because of the unexpected turn of events.  Jaxon fared a bit better since his role now was the guard of the Conde and his fiancée.  And people of high standing just didn't care about someone of lower rank.  But he was just as surprised as the other two.

All of them had seen the picture of Sergey Orlov.  He had the usual 'Orlov' look – gray hair and pale blue eyes.  Unlike the rest of the Emperor's illegitimate progenies who didn't inherit those looks.  That was the reason why the Emperor recognized him as his son.

That's what they were expecting – someone with those features.  But instead, the one who came to them was this teenager.  So, of course, they would be momentarily surprised.

But Argent and Leif Feng were both smart people and knew what they should do in this kind of situation.  Argent performed a perfect curtsy, she showed an apologetic expression.  Lei Feng also made a gentlemanly bow. 

"Our apologies, Your Highness," Lei Feng started.  "You are indeed correct.  The person we were expecting was Prince Sergey.  We hadn't been informed that His Majesty, the emperor, had chosen another one of his honorable sons to be the crown prince.  It is a complete dereliction of my duty for not being well-informed.  Again, I apologize.  And I hope that Your Highness can forgive us for this transgression."   

Argent gave the guy a huge thumbs-up in her heart.  She also did her part and started acting. 

"We truly apologize, Your Highness," she said with a trembling voice, acting as if she was afraid of the possible consequence for their action. 

After all, they were in a foreign country that was not completely friendly towards other countries.  She just had to act accordingly on how a delicate noble lady like the one she was pretending to be would respond under such a situation.  So, she said that in a trembling voice to show her 'fear' but still acted brave with her back straight and her chin up.

Jaxon, who was standing at the side and pretending to be a statue, was amazed by the acting skills of the two.  It wouldn't come off as a surprise if the one standing in front of him were Aurum or his nephew, Finn.  But he wouldn't expect this from the taciturn general who barely spoke unless he needed to.  Or from a girl who mostly ever had one expression on her face – indifferent.

He glanced at the youth who now appeared to be the crown prince.  He knew what Argent and Lei Feng thought when they first saw this crown prince.  That the other matched the description of the person his son referred to as a 'snake'.  He also thought so. 

He didn't have enough information about this prince.    But there's one thing he was certain about.  His son absolutely hated this prince.  Janea exuded the same negative emotions that he did when talking about the emperor of Kievan the moment he mentioned this prince. 

Looking at that face as if he wouldn't even dare hit a fly, Jaxon could already see that the other was a schemer.  Even without knowing all the details, he could tell that this boy most likely toyed with his son in some form or another. 

He clenched both fists.  Just thinking of that possibility was already making his blood boil with anger.  He looked down before the boy noticed his hostile gaze.  He took a calming breath to prevent himself from completely getting angry.  Had had to tell himself that this was not yet the time. 

He had to wait.  Wait and let all of them pay.

"There's no need to apologize, I completely understand," the crown prince said, his expression full of kind understanding.  "It's true that if not for the recent events, my older brother, Prince Sergey, would be the one meeting you right now.  It truly was such an unfortunate thing.  My poor brother." 

This time he looked like he just said something that saddened him greatly.  And then he smiled.  But it was the kind that one would see on someone who was trying to be brave despite the melancholy he was feeling. 

"You must have not heard of the news while on the road here," he continued.  "You certainly would not know who I am.  Let me introduce myself first.  I'm Ilya Orlov.  It's a pleasure to meet the both of you."

Argent gave another curtsy while Lei Feng bowed.  "The pleasure is all ours, Your Highness."

"Oh, forgive me, where are my manners?  Conde, my lady, please do sit down."  He gestured to the two to sit.  He too also sat down at the head of the table. 

Two attendants pulled the chairs both sides of the prince.  Argent and Lei Feng sat down on the left and right chairs respectively.

"Forgive me, Your Highness.  May I ask what could have happened to Prince Sergey?" Lei Feng said.

Argent wanted to give Lei Feng another thumbs-up.  Since she's playing a noble woman right now, she couldn't start a conversation on her own.  Unless she wanted to look suspicious.  That's just how women of nobility were.  In the presence of men, they could only be meek and listen quietly.

It's a good thing that Lei Feng was a smart person who knew what should be asked in this situation. 

Once again, the expression of sadness appeared on the prince – Ilya's face.  "It's the most dreadful thing.  He made a mistake that cost him… everything.  And so, this position fell on me.  As much as it pained me to have this position despite what happened to my brother, I had no choice but to accept it.  Or else, it would be me who will receive our father's ire."

When he said that last part, it was full of self-mocking.  But Argent really didn't know if that was his true feelings or if he was only acting.  If even she was unsure, it could be seen how good of an actor he was.  Because there's no way in hell this guy was sincere with the feelings he had shown so far.

As evidence, he didn't directly answer Lei Feng's question and just spewed this emotional nonsense.  Probably wanting them to sympathize with him.

"It must have been awfully hard, Your Highness," she said, acting like a sympathetic female she should be.

"Thank you, my lady," Ilya said, giving him a forceful smile.  "Now, should we have our lunch?"