Chapter 4: Punishment from the Emperor

Chapter 4 - Punishment from the EmperorFrom the throne gate, Nolan and Elina appeared, walking quietly. Nolan walked slightly ahead of Elina, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. His relaxed demeanor, paired with the careless smile on his lips, slightly irritated the princes and princesses. Behind him, Elina moved gracefully, her expression cold and indifferent. Her hands rested neatly on her lower stomach, and her gaze remained fixed straight ahead. It was clear that Elina's elegant stride reflected the Imperial family's etiquette, while Nolan's walk seemed careless and perfunctory. The two passed by the gathered princes and princesses, stopping just a meter away from the throne stairs. Elina tugged lightly at the hem of her dress and bowed her head. "Sorry for being late, Father," she said respectfully. Ragan smiled and nodded slowly. "It's alright, Elina. Your siblings have only just arrived." He then turned to Nolan, who stood relaxed and lazy, and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you look so casual, son? Don't you think you should apologize for being late?" he asked coldly. Nolan smiled playfully, scratching the side of his head. "Even if I apologize, it won't change anything. I already know what you're going to say, old man." Ragan: "..." The corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he clenched his palms tightly. His gaze sharpened, and a heavy pressure condensed around him. Roswell, standing beside him, quickly intervened. "Please, Your Majesty, calm yourself. Don't let the sixth prince's behavior upset you!" If Ragan lost his temper, it could endanger the entire palace. After all, he was a powerful emperor who had conquered countless territories—his strength was not something to be taken lightly. Meanwhile, the princes and princesses looked displeased with Nolan's disrespectful behavior. Even Elina shared the same sentiment. "Nolan, don't you realize how reckless you're being? Acting like that in front of Father is no different from disgracing our family," Cedric scolded coldly, furrowing his brow as he adjusted his glasses. "What he says is true, Nolan," Aldric added, frowning. He folded his burly arms across his chest and continued, "Show the dignity expected of a prince. Otherwise, you'll only shame the Lorian family." His words were firm, cold, and direct—and no one among the princes or princesses objected. They were all born into the glory of the Imperial family, and Nolan's attitude had clearly tarnished the pride they held dear. However, two people seemed to disagree with Aldric's words—Elina and Seira. Elina narrowed her eyes, fixing a sharp gaze on Aldric and Cedric. She was about to speak, but Nolan cut her off. "I know that," Nolan said, shoving his right hand into his pocket and looking at them playfully. "But do you really have the right to lecture me?" "You..." Aldric and Cedric growled in frustration. Nolan's irritating attitude made them furious. They were itching to teach him a lesson, but doing so would mean violating palace rules. "We are your elder brothers. Of course we have that right," Cedric replied coolly. Nolan chuckled softly and said, "Well, I won't deny that. But look around. Even Father isn't angry about my behavior, yet you two are. Isn't that strange?" The two fell silent, unable to respond. They hadn't expected to be shut down so easily. As much as they hated to admit it, Nolan had a point. Their father had yet to react to Nolan's disrespect, while they had been the first to act. According to the unwritten rules of the Imperial family, "All matters shall be decided by the Emperor as long as he is present." "Enough bickering!" Suddenly, Ragan's cold, thunderous voice echoed through the throne room, silencing everyone. He turned to Nolan, fixing him with a sharp glare. "Nolan, you've disrespected me too many times. Aren't you afraid I'll punish you?" Nolan gave a small smile and replied, "Why would I be? Besides, your punishments are never that harsh. So I can relax." He knew his father's nature very well—stern, powerful, and brave. Even toward his own children, Ragan rarely showed mercy. But that was only on the surface. Deep down, he was a loving father who cared deeply for them. And how did Nolan know? Well, ever since he was born, he had been fully conscious, understanding everything around him. Moreover, he had a clear goal for this second life: to live freely, relaxed, and unbound by any rules. To achieve that, he needed to act lazy and make everyone hate him—so his chances of being dragged into the empire's affairs would drop to zero. "You..." Ragan gritted his teeth, his breathing growing heavier. Ever since Nolan was a child, this little bastard had always managed to anger him. Yet, out of love for his children, Ragan never truly had the heart to punish him. It seems I should give him a real punishment this time to teach him a lesson, Ragan thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Seeing that smile, Nolan's face stiffened. For some reason, a bad premonition crept over him. "Since you're still being stubborn, I'll punish you by cutting your monthly allowance by fifty percent," Ragan announced firmly. "What!?" Nolan's eyes widened. "Wait, old man—uh, I mean, Father! What kind of punishment is that? That's not fair!" Damn it! Cutting my allowance? Is this old man trying to make me suffer? How can a father do this to his own son? Nolan cursed inwardly, filled with frustration. But Ragan paid no attention to his protests. "It's my decision, and you have no right to object!" "You..." Nolan stood frozen for a moment, then gritted his teeth in frustration. The currency of the Great Empire of Velmora was Sharn. As a prince, Nolan's monthly allowance was ten thousand Sharn. A fifty percent cut meant he would only receive five thousand Sharn! It was a huge amount for a commoner—but for a noble, let alone a prince, it was miserably small. Ragan smiled in satisfaction at Nolan's desperate face. Hahaha! Take that, you little bastard. If I don't punish you properly, you'll never learn! The princes and princesses couldn't help but chuckle. It was rare to see Nolan looking so desperate, and they couldn't deny how satisfying it was. This punishment seemed fitting. "Alright, enough of this. Let's get to the main reason I summoned you," Ragan's voice returned, cold and indifferent. Everyone, including Nolan, who was being patted on the back by Elina, shifted to a more serious posture and turned their attention to Ragan. Ragan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them once more. "The reason I called you here is to discuss one thing—the succession of the throne."