"Your Grace, the Young Master already arrives but…" the maid reported to the Duke of Rothland and towards, the end, he became hesitant
Seeing that, the Duke had a frown at his face. "What is it?" He questioned
"His Highness… the 6th Prince also came with him…" the maid reported and the Duke clenches his fist
He specifically said that that illegitimate omega of his that he should come alone. Why did he bring his lunatic and madman husband here? Does he want that monster to go on a rampage and hurt the people in the Manor?
"Let them wait! That bastard and his husband dared to hurt my children. I must make sure that they would suffer" the Duke said, cutting the maid's words short
However, knowing that if he don't say it, he would he reprimanded, the maid continued speaking
"Your Grace, the His Highness the Second Prince also came with him" the maid said before lowering his head
Hearing that, the Duke became even more displeased. He planned on showing up late and letting Clyde wait for him for hours
Even if Ryden was there, the Duke only planned on making some excuses for his tardiness. However, things are completely different when it comes to the Second Prince
Kervy is also a Prince between the Empress and the Emperor. If something bad were to happen with the 1st Prince and he really cannot inherit the Throne, the Duke has to jump ships and rely on the Second Prince to become the next Emperor
That was the reason why he still has not allowed Jermaine to marry the 1st Prince. There are many Crowned Princes in the History that failed to sit at the throne. Much less for a 1st Prince that isn't even the Crowned Prince yet
The Duke wouldn't let his plan of having his child become the next Empress fail. If he were to prematurely marry Jermaine and the 1st Prince when it still was not 100% sure that the latter would inherit the Throne, wouldn't that be a huge loss for him?
Not to mention, with the recent damage in the 1st Prince's reputation, his chances of inhering the throne became lower that it originally was
As the Duke already gave his allegiance to the Empress and he also hurts the side of the Queens, changing sides would almost he impossible. Not to mention, they can even betray him
As such, only if it was the 1st or 2nd Prince that became the Emperor would the Duchy of Rothland survive
The Duke cannot dare to afford the 2nd Prince by making him wait for too long
Without a choice, the Duke can only prepare himself to meet the guests in his home
——-
"What are you doing? Do you think that I'm uneducated amd can't see that the tea you served to my brother is much better than the tea you served to my wife and I. Are you looking down on us?"
It was Ryden's angered voice that entered the Duke of Rothland's ears as soon as he arrived in the place where his guests are waiting for him
He even saw Ryden pouring the tea on top of the maid's head
As the maid deliberately served tea that was too hot for human consumption, the maid screamed loudly from the pain
It can't be help. The maid knew how they should treat Clyde and Ryden based on the Duke's prefo
Not to mention, these maids even kind of miss Clyde. When Clyde was still living in the Manor, they can bully and hurt him as long as the Duke could not see it
The Duchess was completely fine with it and he even enjoyed it greatly while the Duke would get angry as he would think that the maids are looking down at him by looking down at his illegitimate child
It was not everyday the mere maids can bully a person with Noble Blood. Tormenting Clyde gave them a twisted sense of satisfaction and they missed doing it
Unfortunately, they do not have the chance to do that ever again as Clyde is not the same weakling as before
"Y-Your Highness, w-we don't mean to! P-please forgive us!" The other maids seeing how merciless the Prince was went on a panic
They don't want the piping hot tea to be poured on their bodies too. And who knows, with Ryden's anger, he might do so more than that
His actions reminded the maids of the rumors circulating about him and they regretted trying to provoke him and Clyde
"Useless! All of you are useless! To dare mistreat my wife!" Ryden shouted angrily and he even grab the other cup of tea and threw it contents to the other maids
They all screamed from the pain, they might even suffer some skin burns from how hot the tea were
"What is happening here?" The Duke questioned in a cold tone
It was one thing for him to hurt his own maids or the Second Prince to do that. However, for the illegitimate 6th Prince that don't have any support and political power to do that, how could the Duke accept such a thing?
It felt like a bug just stepped on his pride, making him feel angry in the inside
"Duke, please forgive my actions but these maids are too insolent. Look at how the quality and how hot the tear they served us. They are clearly looking down at this 'Imperial Prince' and my Consort!" Ryden answered angrily, reminding the Duke of his status
An illegitimate Prince is still a Prince. Just like how the Duke can torment his child on his own but he would get angry if mere maids does it, the Emperor would also he dissatisfied to whoever harm his children no matter who they are in public
Despite wanting to lash out, the Duke can only grit his teeth
"Send these maids away and beat them until they can't walk anymore" He gave out an order and more servants drag the screaming maids away
"Your Highness, my servants did you wrong but next time, please do inform me about it first" the Duke said. His words were polite but his tone certainly wasn't
"Duke, in the first place, this would not happen if you disciplined your maids properly. Why do I feel like you are painting me as the bad guy here. Second Brother, it was certainly the maid's fault not mine, right?" Ryden asks and he look at the Second Prince that was calmly sipping his own tea
"Sixth brother is right. It was the maids that acted rudely earlier. If brother didn't make a move, I might have punished the maids personally. After all, if mother knew that a Prince was look down by a maid, he would scold me if I don't do anything" Kervy replied, showing his support to his brother
This development of things are out of the Duke's calculations. He didn't expect that not only would Kervy come along, he would even take Ryden's side
Talking with these three at the same tome if disadvantageous to the Duke but just as he was about to make an excuse to talk with his child alone, Kervy already spoke again
"Your Grace, I must apologize for my sudden visit. I hope that you do not mind it" Kervy said and naturally, the Duke shook his head
"Your Highness is too polite. You can visit my estate whenever you want" he replied politely and Kervy nodded his head
"Actually, I am helping brother and his wife to open their business soon. It was the reason why I was 'forced' to tag along. We have lots of things to do and to not waste time, we decided that I tag along so that after they are finished visiting you, we can go continue work again" Kervy said and the Duke's face turned even more grim
"Hehehe, I hope the Duke could understand it. With the planning, opening, and running the business, brother and brother in law would be bisy everyday. I hope that the Duke wouldn't miss them too much and ask for a visit again hahaha" Kervy continued, seemingly joking but the Duke was not in the mood to laugh
Clyde looks at this brother in law of his and he can't help but feel some amazement. He must admit that Kervy is also really good
He didn't even wait for the Duke to make excuses so that he could talk with Clyde alone. Kervy already sneakily said that they are busy and the Duke's matter should not take too long
Not to mention, he even implied that the Duke should not bother Clyde and Ryden for a while with the excuse of being busy with their business
His choice of words were brilliant and each one cornered the Duke
"H-hahaha. I understand of course. But I wish to speak with my child alone as I misses him a lot"
Despite that, the Duke seems to be still set on talking with his child alone