n

n

nSeated in a waiting area outside the audience room.... .from time to time, Alec and the rest couldn't help but catch a glimpse at the massive clock hanging on the wall.

nThey had expected that when they walked in, Landon and Mother Kim would be the ones to hurry and bow towards them instead.

nIn their minds, with the timid nature of those 2... wasn't that how it was supposed to be?

n.

nTheir appointment was for 2 P.M today...but due to the warning that they had received in the letter, they had chosen to show up 40 minutes earlier instead.

nThey were told that if they were at most 5 minutes late, then the meeting would be cancelled and rescheduled for later.

nSo they had decided to enter the palace 30 minutes before their meeting time..... lest that bastard actually dared to cancel this meeting with them.

n.

nBut in truth, they hadn't expected to wait so long once they stepped in..... as they truly thought that once their names were mentioned to Landon, they would be treated with utmost respect.... as well as ushered in immediately.

nBut who would've thought that the reality would be so different from what they had imagined?

n.

nIn their minds, it was Lucius who had probably ordered everyone else to treat them unfairly... as they didn't think that those 2 cowards (Landon and Mother Kim), would have the guts to go against them.

nYes!... it was all that arrogant prick's fault.

nSo if they found could take him out, then wouldn't things just move smoothly for them?

nVery quickly, they had soon placed all their blames onto poor Lucius.

n.

n'Tick Tock!

nTick Tock!

nTick Tock!

nTick Tock!'

nListening to the ticking sounds of the clock, every passing tick seemed to make them grow more and more impatient by the minute.

nCary soon began tapping her legs lightly, while crossing her hands over her chest impatiently.

nWhat the hell was taking them so long?

n.

n1:53 P.M

n'Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!'

nSoon, everyone was reeled back to reality by the sudden sounds of footsteps unhurriedly approaching them.

nThese footsteps that perfectly synchronized with the ceaseless ticking of the clock.... seemed to belong to just one person.

nTheir eyes immediately shifted to a young lady in her late 20s...who was currently holding a pen and board with a thin sheet of paper on it

nWith her high ponytail, well fitted blazer, and overall corporate tailored attire... she looked completely serious and professional to Alec and his crew.

n.

n

"Good afternoon.... are you all by any chance, Mr Alec, Mr. Eli, Mr. Connor and Miss Cary?

"

n

"Yes they are!

" Replied one of their retainers.

nThese days, their king, princes and princess..... had been in rage for the fact that they had been talking to these lowly beings like equals.

nSo as their retainers, how could they not want to ease out their pain?

n.

nSimilarly, one should never forget that 8 out of 10 times... a retainer would always be the reflection of his

/her master.

nSo of course, as proud Royal retainers..... how could they continue to watch their masters get insulted by this people this way.

nOnly great people spoke to Alec, the princes and even the princess back in Arcadina.

nSo who was a mere palace worker to look Alecand the rest in the eye and ask them such a stupid question?

nAnd how dare they refer to them as Mr. Alec and all that?

n.

n

"Yes they are!.... now quickly do you job and lead the way!

" One of Alec's head retainers said, while glaring at the woman in rage.

n

"Alright....please follow me very closely.

" the woman said, while signing off their names from the list in her hands.

nWhy should she be mad?

nShe couldn't be bothered with these people at all, as she had already been briefed about how to handle angry customers during her job training phase.

n

n

n.

n'Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tao! Tap!'

nVery quickly, they entered the audience room..... and looked up towards the throne, that seemed to be a high mountain towering above them.

nThe entire mountain-like stage had a massive stairway, that ascended towards a high golden platform.

nAnd on top of the platform, where 4 royal thrones there.

n2 massive ones in the middle, for the King and Queen.... and 2 other smaller ones on each side of the larger ones, for the Queen Mother and the Empire's Father.

n.

nThis room was the audience room, and not the room used for hosting events..... hence it was made to show off the royal palace's wealth.

nSo of course everything had been designed as if it were some rich ancient Egyptian Pharoah's palace.

nDammit!!

nThey had to admit, it looked way cooler than theirs.

n.

nLooking up towards the mountain-like golden storm, they immediately spotted Landon, Lucy, Mother Kim and Lucius.... all seated down like Gods from the heavens.

nAlec looked at Lucius in rage, as he felt that he should've been the one seating there instead.

nBut remembering his mission, he quickly let out a strained smile as he walked into the audience room.

n.

n

"Your majesty.... the Barns are here to see you.

" The lady who was leading them said.

n

"The Barns?

nHmmp!!

nThis is my son here, so why are you making us sound so distant?

nSon.... I knew you would make it after leaving Arcadina.

nAhh... Kimberly.....WE really raised him well didn't we.

nGood! Good! Good!

"

n

"_

"

n.

nEveryone almost tripped on their feet, when they heard Alec.

nHow shameless could one person be?

nMother Kim looked at Alec in rage.

nWhat did he mean by

"WE raised him well?

"

nWhy did this man add a 'we' there?

nWhen they were still within the palace of Arcadina, this man had gone a total of 7 years without seeing his son once.

nSo where was the 'we' in the entire thing?

n.

nEven Eli, Connor and Cary....almost had their jaws drop to the ground as well.

nWas this still their cold and arrogant father?

nAs for Alec, his thoughts were only on making a good impression.

nThat way it would be easy to make his moves on mother Kim later on.

n

"Son.... father knows that he didn't seen you a lot growing up.

nBut that was because father was extremely busy with the empire's affairs.

nOf course now that you're king, you obviously know all about these sorts of things don't you?

nRight now... father has changed for the better.

nAnd to prove it to you, father has ready lifted the ban on Baymard ages ago

nSo now... we can be spend more time as father and son in the future.

" Alec said with a sad look on his face, as if he were regretting how he had previously treated them.

n.

nLandon smiled back at Alec, and almost wanted to give a standing ovation towards the man's performance.

nBravo!

nWith this sort of talent, if he weren't the ruler of Arcadina, even he would've hired the man in his theater as the main star of his shows.

n.

nLook!... even your siblings have missed you so dearly.

" Alec said, while gesturing towards Eli, Connor and cary.... who all smiled stiffly instead.

n

"Yes brother... we've missed you so dearly all this time.

" Cary said while trying to put up her best act on display.

nAs for Eli and Connor, they simply couldn't say what their father wanted them to say.

nIt was utterly impossible!!.... so Alec should just forget it!!

nAfter all, they had completely changed their characters and had gotten along with the man's plans ever since they had gotten here.

nSo for once, let them operate on their own in public without looking like a puppet okay?

nWhen their father was around..... they usually acted like the sweet, shy, and innocent princes that their father knew.

nEven they were disgusted by these versions of themselves as well.

n.

n

"See....?..... they all missed you tenderly.

nAnd Kimberley.... I too have missed you so much as well.

nBack then, it was all the fault of those jealous women, that caused me to never go look for whilst you were residing in my palace.

nBut you can rest assured, I've dealt with them for your sake now.

nSo you no longer have anything to fear again.

"

n

"_

"

n.

nAs Alec spoke, Lucius on the other hand.... started trembling from rage, while glaring at Alec furiously.

nEven the lady who had previously led them in... as well as the guards standing within the room... were utterly shocked by Alec's behaviour as well.

n

n

nDid this man really come all the way over here just to hit on a married woman?

n'Bro... she's married already alright?

nAnd why the hell are you treating her husband as if he were invisible?

nShameless!!', they thought.

n.

nMother Kim looked coldly at Alec as well, as she truly didn't want Lucius to think that she had some sort of lingering feelings for the man.

n

"Anyway, now that we are all gathered together as one again.... why don't we make it official and become a real family forever?

nMy beloved wife Kimberly..... my precious son Landon..... what do you two say?

" Alec said with a confident smile on his face, as if he had just nailed some sort of audition.

n.

nThe entire room became quiet, as everyone wished for Landon to speak up first.

n

"I'm sorry Mr. BARN.... but we are here to have a meeting, and not talk about fictions of your imagination.

nYou have already eaten 7 minutes of your audience time.

nSo please, kindly keep quiet and sit on the table behind you.

nAnd just to be perfectly clear with you, you have never been a father to me... and will never be one to me in the future.

nSo please, stop addressing me as if we are close..... as you mean absolutely nothing to me.

nAnd as for the queen mother of Baymard..... please keep your perverted thoughts to yourself whilst in her presence.

nBecause if you make such redicoulos remarks again..... I can guarentee that you would be spending your next few days locked up whilst you're here.

nNow..... let's begin the meeting shall we?

"

n

n