The sun had begun to sink behind the distant mountains when the three figures finally returned to the imperial palace.
Golden light washed over the enormous white walls of the Levicious Imperial Palace, making the towering structure appear almost divine. Tall banners bearing the imperial lion fluttered proudly in the wind.
Joshua slowed his steps.
His violet eyes widened slightly.
He had never seen anything so magnificent.
For years, the world he knew consisted of dark rooms, iron chains, and cold floors. Even the slave market he had just left behind felt grand compared to the places he had lived before.
But this…
This palace looked like a city made of marble and sunlight.
Kyle noticed Joshua falling behind and glanced back.
"You alright?"
Joshua quickly lowered his head.
"Yes… Your Highness."
But his voice carried hesitation.
Kyle walked back toward him and looked up at the palace.
"Pretty big, huh?"
Joshua nodded slowly.
"Yes…"
Luis Stark watched them silently.
The commander had walked these palace grounds countless times, yet today everything felt strangely different.
Prince Kyle Gray was not behaving like the man Luis knew.
Not even remotely.
And now he was bringing an omega slave—no, a freed omega—into the palace.
This was going to create problems.
Many problems.
They reached the massive palace gate.
Two armored guards stood on either side, holding long spears.
When they saw Kyle approaching, both men straightened immediately.
"Your Highness!"
They bowed deeply.
Kyle raised a hand casually.
"At ease."
One guard glanced at Joshua standing behind him.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"Your Highness… this person…"
Kyle answered without hesitation.
"He's with me."
The guard looked uncertain.
Luis stepped forward.
"Open the gate."
His voice carried quiet authority.
The guards immediately obeyed.
No one argued with the commander of the Levicious Knights.
The massive iron gates slowly opened.
Joshua stepped inside the palace grounds for the first time in his life.
His heart pounded.
Servants passed by carrying trays and linens.
Knights patrolled the courtyards.
The elegant gardens stretched across the grounds, filled with blooming flowers and flowing fountains.
Joshua kept his gaze lowered.
He could feel people staring at him.
An omega.
Inside the palace.
Whispers slowly began spreading among the servants.
"Is that a slave?"
"Did Prince Kyle buy him?"
"Of course he did…"
Joshua heard the murmurs.
His shoulders tensed slightly.
Kyle sighed.
Yep.
Just as he expected.
Prince Kyle's reputation had already written a story for them.
Luis spoke quietly beside him.
"You anticipated this reaction, I assume."
Kyle shrugged.
"More or less."
They entered the palace halls.
The marble floors echoed with their footsteps.
The atmosphere inside the palace was far more formal.
Servants bowed when Kyle passed.
Some did it respectfully.
Others did it reluctantly.
Joshua kept his head down the entire time.
Finally Kyle stopped in front of a large wooden door.
"This is my wing."
He pushed the door open.
The familiar sitting room greeted them.
Soft carpets.
Comfortable couches.
Tall windows overlooking the gardens.
Clara and Livia immediately rushed forward.
"Your Highness!"
Clara stopped when she noticed Joshua.
Her eyes widened.
Livia nearly dropped the tray she was carrying.
Kyle raised a hand quickly.
"Relax."
Clara blinked several times.
"…Your Highness?"
Kyle gestured toward Joshua.
"This is Joshua."
Joshua bowed slightly.
Clara and Livia exchanged glances.
Livia leaned closer to Clara and whispered something.
Kyle didn't need to hear it to know what she said.
The prince brought another omega.
Kyle sighed again.
"Joshua will be staying here."
Clara hesitated.
"Your Highness… the palace rules…"
Luis stepped forward.
"The responsibility falls on His Highness."
Clara immediately bowed.
"Understood."
Kyle smiled slightly.
"See? No problem."
Luis crossed his arms.
"It will be a problem when the royal court hears about it."
Kyle scratched his cheek.
"…Let's worry about that later."
Joshua stood quietly near the door.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He felt like he didn't belong in this beautiful room.
Kyle noticed.
"Joshua."
Joshua quickly looked up.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
Kyle pointed toward the couch.
"Sit."
Joshua froze.
"…I cannot."
"Why?"
"A servant should not sit before his master."
Kyle sighed deeply.
"We talked about this already."
Joshua looked conflicted.
Luis watched the scene with growing curiosity.
Prince Kyle's patience with the omega was… unexpected.
Kyle walked over to Joshua.
"You're not a slave anymore."
Joshua's fingers clenched slightly.
The words still felt unreal.
Kyle gently pushed him toward the couch.
"Sit."
This time Joshua obeyed.
He sat on the very edge of the cushion.
His back perfectly straight.
Kyle laughed softly.
"You look like you're about to face execution."
Joshua blinked.
"…I apologize."
"You apologize too much."
Joshua lowered his gaze again.
Kyle rubbed his forehead.
This guy has serious trauma.
He glanced at Clara.
"Can you prepare a room for Joshua?"
Clara nodded.
"Of course, Your Highness."
Joshua immediately stood up.
"That is unnecessary—"
Kyle cut him off.
"It's happening."
Joshua hesitated before bowing his head.
"…Thank you."
Luis stepped closer to Kyle.
"You intend to keep him here permanently?"
Kyle shrugged.
"For now."
Luis studied Joshua carefully.
The omega looked fragile.
But there was intelligence in his eyes.
Something sharp hidden beneath the fear.
Luis turned back to Kyle.
"Your Highness has always had… interesting tastes."
Kyle choked.
"That's not what this is!"
Luis raised an eyebrow.
"Is it not?"
Joshua's ears turned red.
Kyle waved his hands.
"I freed him! That's it!"
Luis looked mildly amused.
Joshua looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him.
Before Kyle could defend himself further—
The door suddenly opened.
A palace servant hurried inside.
"Your Highness!"
Kyle blinked.
"What?"
The servant bowed nervously.
"His Majesty the Emperor has summoned you."
The room went silent.
Kyle froze.
Oh no.
He had forgotten something extremely important.
The emperor.
His father in this world.
Emperor Augustus Gray.
A terrifying alpha ruler who valued strength and discipline above everything else.
And unfortunately…
He hated the original Prince Kyle.
Kyle forced a smile.
"…Now?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Luis spoke calmly.
"I will escort you."
Kyle sighed internally.
Well… that didn't take long.
He glanced at Joshua.
"Stay here."
Joshua bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Kyle straightened his coat.
"Alright."
He turned toward the door.
"Let's go meet my lovely father."
Luis almost laughed again.
---
The imperial throne hall was enormous.
Towering pillars lined the vast chamber.
Red carpets stretched across the polished floor.
At the far end of the hall stood the imperial throne.
And sitting upon it—
Was Emperor Augustus Gray.
Even from a distance, his presence felt overwhelming.
He was a tall man with broad shoulders and sharp features.
His dark hair was streaked with silver.
Golden eyes surveyed the hall with quiet authority.
Beside him stood two other figures.
Kyle immediately recognized them.
Prince Edward Gray.
The crown prince.
Tall.
Elegant.
Cold.
And beside him—
Prince Jonathan Gray.
The youngest prince.
His expression carried open amusement.
Kyle felt a headache coming.
Great. The whole family is here.
A guard announced loudly.
"His Highness Prince Kyle Gray has arrived!"
Kyle walked forward.
Luis followed a few steps behind.
The vast hall echoed with every step.
When Kyle stopped before the throne, he bowed slightly.
"Father."
The emperor studied him silently.
His gaze was heavy.
Evaluating.
Unimpressed.
Finally he spoke.
"I heard something interesting today."
Kyle smiled weakly.
"Only one thing?"
Jonathan chuckled.
"Brother Kyle visited the slave market."
Kyle glanced at him.
Jonathan leaned against a pillar lazily.
"And spent one thousand gold on an omega."
Edward remained silent.
But his eyes were watching carefully.
The emperor's voice grew colder.
"You collapsed at yesterday's banquet."
"Yes."
"Then today you roam the capital buying slaves."
Kyle shrugged.
"Technically I freed him."
Jonathan laughed loudly.
"Oh that's even better."
The emperor's gaze sharpened.
"You freed him?"
Kyle nodded.
"Yes."
Silence filled the throne hall.
Edward finally spoke.
"Why?"
His voice was calm.
But his eyes were piercing.
Kyle thought quickly.
He couldn't say because he becomes important in the novel.
So he gave the simplest answer again.
"He needed help."
Jonathan clapped slowly.
"How noble."
His tone dripped with sarcasm.
The emperor leaned forward slightly.
"You spent one thousand gold… out of kindness?"
Kyle nodded.
"Yes."
The emperor studied him carefully.
The entire hall waited.
Finally the emperor leaned back.
"Interesting."
Kyle blinked.
That was not the reaction he expected.
The emperor continued calmly.
"I always believed you lacked discipline."
Kyle scratched his cheek.
"…That's fair."
Jonathan snorted.
Edward's lips twitched slightly.
The emperor tapped his fingers against the throne.
"But today you surprised me."
Kyle waited cautiously.
"Compassion can be weakness," the emperor said slowly.
"But it can also be strength."
The throne hall fell silent again.
The emperor's golden eyes locked onto Kyle.
"Tell me, Kyle."
Kyle straightened.
"Yes, Father?"
The emperor's voice was calm.
But heavy.
"If you saved that omega's life…"
"Will you take responsibility for it?"
Kyle didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The emperor nodded once.
"Good."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"You may go."
Kyle blinked again.
"…That's it?"
Jonathan groaned.
"Why does he always get away with things?"
Edward remained silent.
But his gaze lingered on Kyle.
Watching.
Studying.
Kyle bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Father."
He turned and walked away.
Luis followed him out of the throne hall.
As the massive doors closed behind them, Kyle exhaled deeply.
"…That went better than expected."
Luis nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Kyle glanced at him.
"What?"
Luis looked thoughtful.
"Your Highness…"
"Yes?"
Luis's violet eyes narrowed slightly.
"You are not the same person you were yesterday."
Kyle froze.
"…What do you mean?"
Luis stared at him.
For several seconds.
Then he turned away.
"Nothing."
But in his mind—
The commander had already reached a dangerous conclusion.
Something had happened to Prince Kyle Gray.
And whatever it was…
It had just begun changing the future of the empire.