The Invincible Young Master

-Capital City-

Palace

In a grand, quiet chamber within the vast imperial palace, a sudden series of knocks shattered the early morning calm.

"Prince Gilbert," a voice called from the other side, polite yet with a hint of strain. "Are you awake?"

(A:N/ first mentioned this character in chapter 93)

Inside, a voice came out, low and almost indifferent. "What is it?"

"Prince Alex requested I inform you of Princess Elize's return," the attendant replied.

Gilbert's response was sharp with irritation. "And why does that matter to me?"

There was a moment of silence, and then the attendant spoke cautiously, as if picking his words carefully.

"I'm not sure, my lord. I was only told to inform you. You're expected to be present when she arrives." With that, the attendant's footsteps began to fade down the corridor. But as he left, Gilbert could still hear his muttering, the words filled with disdain.

"That useless prince… They call him royalty? Hah. I have more talent in my little finger. Does he even deserve his title? That trash should just disappear and let someone worthy take his place."

Inside, Gilbert sat in silence, his hands clenched tightly, his jaw tense.

The attendant's sneering words hung in the air, a familiar sting that he had long learned to bear.

This wasn't new; remarks like these had become part of his daily life. Servants, guards, and even some nobles took every chance to sneer at him, mock him.

He was the "black sheep" of the imperial family, known as the "trash prince" who bore the royal name but, in their eyes, added no honor to it.

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Yet, behind that closed door where no one could see, the anger simmered within him. It was fierce, an ever-burning fire that he kept hidden beneath a mask of indifference.

Gilbert rose from his bed, his gaze dark as he looked out the window, the early light spilling into his room.

He had grown accustomed to their judgment, their ridicule, but every slight cut a little deeper than the last. They saw him as weak, as useless.

He took a deep breath, his chest tight with frustration. No matter what he did, he was met with scorn.

His family saw him as an outsider, a mistake. But he wouldn't let their opinions break him, not yet. The fire in him was still burning, and though it was small, he held onto it, hoping for the day he could prove them all wrong.

Today, again, he would endure their looks, their whispers, just as he always had.

Sometime later, Gilbert stepped out of his chambers, dressed in his royal attire.

The deep, rich fabric gleamed in the morning light, matching his position but contrasting sharply with the empty look in his dark eyes.

His vivid red hair, which would have reminded others of his family's power and legacy, caught the sunlight in a way that made it shine like embers. Yet there was no warmth in his gaze, just a cold, steel-like darkness that seemed to swallow any brightness around him.

He let the door fall shut behind him with a soft click, sealing away the quiet solitude of his room.

The corridor stretched empty before him, a silent path lined with elaborate decoration and lavish golden pattern.

There wasn't a single attendant in sight. Unlike his siblings, he had no personal servants at his beck and call, no one to guide him or clear the way ahead.

Gilbert walked alone, his polished shoes tapping against the marble floors, each step slow.

It was a routine he knew well, as he had long learned not to expect the privileges that came so easily to his brothers and sisters.

He understood why. Gilbert was the only one in the imperial family who hadn't awakened any powers.

To be the son of the mighty Dragon King, one of the empire's most revered figures, and yet be powerless was a disgrace in their eyes.

Even his father, the emperor himself, rarely looked at him without a flash of disappointment in his gaze.

Gilbert felt that piercing judgment every time, though he kept his face carefully blank, guarding his real thoughts behind a wall of indifference.

As he continued down the corridor, passing towering statues of his ancestors, he glanced up at their stern, proud faces.

These were the figures who had shaped the empire, all powerful, fierce, and ruthless in their time. Gilbert couldn't help but feel their silent judgment.

But he no longer cared about the sneers, whispers, or glances filled with disdain. He had plans of his own, ambitions that no one else needed to know about, not yet.

Someday, when those plans bore fruit, he wouldn't have to endure the cold shoulders or the title of "the powerless prince." A faint smirk tugged at his lips, a rare break in his otherwise guarded expression.

Finally, Gilbert arrived at the grand golden doors of the receiving hall.

For once, the guards stationed there took note of him, silently opening the heavy doors as he approached.

He stepped inside, feeling the familiar weight of the grand hall settle around him. It was a vast space filled with beautiful, marble floors, towering columns, and Lotus banners displaying the imperial crest.

At the center of the hall, his siblings stood in a loose circle, each dressed in their finest imperial robes.

Their outfits shone with the intricate designs of their respective titles, radiating power and confidence.

Their faces were calm and proud, yet their gazes barely glanced his way as he entered. Instead, they focused on the figure at the heart of the room, the one who held everyone's attention.

There, standing tall with a commanding presence, was a woman dressed in deep, regal blue. Her features were sharp and graceful, her posture exuding a quiet authority.

This was Princess Elize, his elder sister and the imperial emissary. She had just returned from her latest mission, and even without any special senses, Gilbert could feel the sheer weight of her aura.

Gilbert watched her from the edges, inclining his head slightly in acknowledgment when her gaze finally passed over him.

His expression remained neutral, his face a mask of indifference. The family's star had returned, the favored child who embodied everything the imperial line stood for.

And once again, he was the quiet shadow in the room, the one most people barely noticed.

As Elize began to speak, Gilbert listened from the sidelines, barely hearing the words but keeping his eyes on her.

He imagined the day when he might stand in her place, earning the respect he'd been denied.

Prince Alex gave Princess Elize an impatient look before speaking up, "Why did you call us here, sister?"

Gilbert glanced around the room, noting the questioning expressions on his siblings' faces, all turned toward Elize. They were clearly eager for answers, waiting to hear what she had to say.

Elize stepped forward, her gaze sharp and commanding, taking a moment before she spoke. "As you know, with our father's absence, the capital is becoming unstable. Tensions are growing, and unrest is spreading. Right now, one of our greatest threats comes from a group of dark-cloaked assailants."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "On my journey back to the capital, I was ambushed by these very attackers. They targeted my entourage."

Her expression darkened, her voice hardening as she continued, "Luckily, I returned unharmed, thanks to a powerful savior I encountered along the way."

A ripple of shock spread through the siblings. Murmurs filled the room as they exchanged uneasy glances.

If these attackers dared to target Elize herself, then none of them were safe. Fear and anger flashed across their faces, mingling with a new sense of vulnerability.

Prince Alex was the first to speak, breaking the tense silence. "So, is this meeting about these attackers?"

The siblings were aware of these dark-robed assailants, who had recently emerged and were creating unreat in the captial.

"Exactly," Elize replied. "This ambush wasn't random; it was carefully planned. Someone knew my exact route. I have reason to believe we're dealing with a spy."

"A spy?" one of her siblings blurted out, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"That's impossible!" another exclaimed. "Who could it be?"

"If I get my hands on the traitor," muttered a third sibling with a clenched fist, "I'll make sure they pay."

Elize raised a hand, signaling for silence. The room fell quiet, the tension thick in the air as everyone waited for her next words.

"I assure you, I'm taking immediate action. I am issuing a city-wide bounty on these attackers. I won't let our capital be threatened by shadowy assassins."

Her voice was resolute, her gaze fierce. "And any traitor among us who dares to betray our family will not escape."

Her siblings exchanged glances, each processing her words with a bit of fear.

The reality of a threat so close to home had shaken them, stirring up emotions they rarely allowed to surface.