Chapter 79

Ekaterina's POV

His Majesty... He must have been a good father. No wonder the prince grew up to be a good boy.

On the other hand, my father was a lotus eater and a woman killer who didn't work, while Magna's father left his son to bawl on his own when he first came to the Imperial Castle, so I have a hunch that he's another irresponsible father too...

I wonder if my brother ever wished for His Majesty, or the Crown Prince at that time, to be his father instead when he was little. The same goes with Vladimir-kun too.

"I was surprised at what Mikhael-sama told me about Vladimir-sama when he was a little boy. I've heard that he used to be a very difficult person to impress." (Ekaterina)

"..."

Alexei dropped his gaze. He seems to be wondering how to respond.

"Well, brother. You don't have to force yourself to tell me." (Ekaterina)

"No... it's not that I can't. When we first met, Vladimir was indeed a gentle child. He was a bit shy, but he warmed up to me, didn't he? I thought he was like a little brother to me. He was also very intelligent and had a very good memory. At the age of seven or so, he could recite Astra's classical poetry in no time at all.

...But I didn't see him for a while after his grandfather passed away, and when I did see him again, he would leave without answering when I spoke to him. Some time after that..."

Cutting off his words, Alexei looked bitter.

"Somehow, Vladimir changed when he started accompanying father often." (Alexei)

Huh?

"By father, you mean our father, Alexandre Yurinova?" (Ekaterina)

"Yes." (Alexei)

Yes, of course, there's no one else for him to call father. However, as if I would admit that I was his daughter!

I'm not willing to admit and address that person as my father! Why should I acknowledge him as our father!? He even neglected his very own son, my very brother, and thus was left alone to learn everything all by himself!

I know that my brother, his own son, has been neglected, but for that father to walk around with another child, no matter how mature my brother is, that would have been emotionally painful for him!

No, wait...that father... he's a known cheater and playboy, right? A man like that would go to places with professional women, like casinos...?

Is that even a place where he can take children to?

"It's just what I've heard from people, but it seems that sometimes they were in places that were inappropriate for children. So Vladimir himself started to get some bad publicity. You know, it's not something a lady should hear, so I can't explain the circumstances." (Alexei)

"Yes, if that's what you consider it to be, then I won't enquire any further." (Ekaterina)

I'm sorry, but I can almost guess.

But what's with that father? He was having fun with another child while doing bad things and offending his own son. And how old was the child at that time? If it is true then what he's doing was definitely a form of abuse.

"In the first place, Grandmother was close to Magna's predecessor. Her mother, the previous Empress Dowager, was from Yurimagna, and the previous generation of Yurimagna served her grandchildren, the previous Emperor and Grandmother, in a coddled manner." (Alexei)

Let's see, the old lady's grandfather, the head of Yurimagna at the time, pampered her so much. Maybe that's why she grew up to be like that...

No, the previous emperor who was also subjected to the same treatment in upbringing was said to have been a gentle person, so I guess it's her own personal attitude problem after all. Yes, that must be it.