560 The Youngest Prince
Theron stepped out of the garden with the intention to head back to his chamber and wash up; afterall, he had gone straight from swordsmanship training to meeting his family. Just as he was about to enter the foyer of his residence, his eyes caught sight of a luxurious carriage without the crest of the royal family leaving the entrance, having finished dropping off its passenger.
‘Did the knights allow some other guests?’
With a frown, Theron strode inside his home and before any of the servants could say anything, his eyes had already caught sight of someone he did not expect.
A young man not yet of age, looking more like a scholar than a knight despite his short hair and crisp white uniform, was standing in the middle of the foyer together with the smiling Lady Saira. He had all the characteristics of those born with the Ivanov bloodline–an excellent appearance with brown hair and eyes–though unlike his father and eldest brother, who had ruggedly handsome looks, his appearance was like a pretty boy, more on the gentle side thanks to his mother.
Ruven Ivanov, the only son of Theron with his Third Concubine and the youngest prince of Megaris.
“Your Excellency, the Third Prince has come to see you from the Royal Academy,” he heard the servant explain. That explained the unaffiliated carriage, because within the best learning institution of the kingdom, the Royal Academy of Megaris, those of royal blood were not permitted to use their true identities until their graduation.
Theron simply looked at his youngest son who was talking with his mother. Upon seeing Theron’s arrival, the young man politely disengaged from Lady Saira before walking towards him. Lady Saira didn’t follow her son and simply stood at her place to let the father and son talk.
Ruven bowed to his father. “Greetings, Father.”
Theron accepted it with a nod and asked, “How have you been?”
“I am well, Father, but news reached me that you were injured…”
“It’s nothing,” he interrupted his worried-looking son, displeased at having to repeat himself once more. “I am fine.”
Seeing his expression, Ruven didn’t know what more to say. “Ah, I am glad that you are fine, Father.”
“How is your training going on? Are you studying well?” Theron asked.
“Yes, Father.”
“Hmm,” was all Theron said and he was about to turn away when he recalled something. “Your siblings are in the garden.”
He then dismissed his son but Ruven called out for him. “Wait, Father.”
Theorn stopped and looked at his son. Ruven didn’t wait for his father to say something and immediately pulled out a small pouch from his pocket. “I have brought a gift for you.”
Theron stared at the small pouch on his son’s hand and heard him say, “These are seeds of the camellia flowers that Father likes. I thought you will be interested in these improved seeds from the research of the botany instructors in the Royal Academy. The flowers blooming on these plants are even prettier than the regular camellia flowers we see here in the capital and their blossoms also last longer.”
“You can hand it over to the servants,” Theron simply said before leaving.
Lady Saira came to her son as soon as her husband left their line of sight. She smiled at him. “Such a thoughtful gift. You remembered your father has been trying to grow these plants for so many years?”
Ruven did not answer, his eyes fixed at his father’s retreating back.
Lady Saira noticed her son looking at his father and patted his head. “You know, your father is not very talkative…”
Ruven turned towards his mother and smiled, “I know, Mother.”
In fact, there was no need for Lady Saira to console her son.
Theron being a man of few words was a fact everyone knows. Not only to his wives, he also never interacted much with his children, and growing up, the princes and princesses had become used to their father’s distant behavior. But still, none of his children resented him for that.
In fact, they felt glad that Theron never forbade them from approaching him, and thus, all his offspring always tried to find ways to approach or impress their father.
“Give it to me,” Lady Saira said as she looked at the pouch.
“Father said to give it to the servants,” Ruven said as he eyed his mother with a somewhat displeased gaze.
Saira understood what her son was trying to imply but she smiled. “You don’t have to meddle in adult matters. Give it to me.”
Unwillingly, Ruven handed it to his mother. He knew his father never treated his mother as anything more than a servant, but his silly mother was content with it, even embracing the identity.
He heard his mother say, “Just remember, your father is always right. We have to live our lives in peace and I would like you to not disturb it by any means.”
“I won’t,” Ruven assured as he didn’t want to argue with his mother.
His mother had always taught her children to be polite and be content with whatever they got. Despite them being direct descendants of the royal family, her son and daughter were raised to not have ambitions for the throne. In fact, Lady Saira made sure both her children were well-mannered and good to everyone, intending to have their futures unrelated to the palace.
Fortunately, Prince Ruven and Princess Ayira didn’t fail their mother; her son and daughter both turned out like their mother.
Ruven then headed towards the garden gazebo to greet his siblings. To his surprise, their grandmother was there as well.
“Oh, isn’t that our brother?”
“It’s Ruven!”
The Great Lady, who was surrounded by her grandchildren, noticed the newcomer and the smile on her thin lips widened even more.
“Greetings, Grandmother.”
“Ruven, you are here as well. What a lovely day for this old lady,” Great Lady Theodora exclaimed.
“Grandmother, you do not look like an old lady at all,” Ruven said and he hugged his Grandmother before sitting on the chair placed next to Keiren.
The old lady laughed. “Such a sweet talker. I wish your two brothers could talk sweetly just like you.”
“I never said Grandma is an old lady,” Keiren complained with a smile.
He then ruffled the short hair of his youngest brother. “How have you been?”
Ruven twitched his nose as his brother never missed an opportunity to mess up his neatly-combed hair. “Not good with messy hair.”
Keiren chuckled. “Let me fix it for you.”
Ruven immediately leaned away while swatting his hand. “I can see your evil intentions, Brother.”
“You are judging me way too quickly,” Keiren let out an exaggerated sigh and only then Ruven could relax and straighten his back.
“Have you been studying well?” Keiren asked. “Wait, you should be in your classes today? Did you ditch to come here?”
Ruven sighed a little. “Father and Brother are the same. You two only want to know if I am studying well and if I am getting better with the sword.”
“You are a prince and it’s your duty to uphold our reputation. An Ivanov cannot be anyone less than outstanding. Even if you are currently under another identity, once you graduate, they will learn who you are and your performance in the academy will be the talk of the people.”
“You and Second Brother are there to fill the quota of sword prodigies. Can’t you be a little more lenient to me?”
This time, Keiren offered him a displeased glare as he was always strict about Ruven studying well and not slacking at all.”
Ruven gulped as he was somewhat scared of his eldest brother though he sometimes took liberties with him.
“I have been training well…really…” they heard him say in a low voice.
“You better,” Keiren said, not intending to be soft with his youngest brother.
“Are you two done?” their grandmother asked in a tone that caused the two to keep their mouths shut.
Keiren glanced at Ruven. “I have something for you. See me in my mansion later.”
After that, Keiren bid farewell to his grandmother and siblings.
With their strict eldest brother leaving, this left the princesses free to act the way they wished with their youngest brother.
“Ruven, good to see you back!”
“Did you bring what I told you to in my last letter? You didn’t forget, right?”
“Yes, for me as well.”
The three older princesses spoke almost at the same time, while the youngest one, Princess Ayira, tried to hide her laughter at their antics. Ruven was the only one who had the freedom to spend time outside the palace, thus his older sisters would normally have him run errands for them.
“I did. I did. Can I get space to breathe?” Ruven said while being surrounded by his sisters.
Given Ruven’s kind personality, coupled with the fact that he was younger than his sisters aside from Ayira, made him a person loved and doted upon by his siblings. His sisters were free to trouble him with anything while they were wary of their two older brothers, always behaving and acting prim and proper in front of them.
Once he dealt with his older sisters, Ruven then turned towards his youngest sister to chat with her. The youngest of the Ivanovs, Ayira looked like a pretty doll, her sweet shy smile a reflection of her quiet personality. Her older brother could not help but pat her head.
While she watched such a heart-warming sight, the Great Lady also had the same wandering thoughts as Theron earlier.
‘If only Dray was here…’
Drayce was always good with his younger siblings, but ever since he rose to the throne, it was rare to see him interact with them as a family.