Chapter 323 - Make Your Claim (1/2)
The Emperor raised a confused eyebrow at Prince Yi, lost as to what angle he was working now. How could Prince Yi's lack of tact be his fault?
Conveniently, Prince Yi did not leave him hanging and promptly continued on his vent path, ”I used to be the most considerate person? Alright, but you also didn't used to be such a hypocrite either, but yet here you are. You have your Empress and flaunt your happiness in front of everyone's faces, disregarding any and everyone in between yet now here you are scolding me about being considerate of others?!”
Prince Yi scoffed and then his glaring intensified, ”You have taken everything from me! Everything I ever wanted, you have! My dreams, my aspirations, my happiness! So why would I believe that you would suddenly allow me this ”joy” that I have now settled on when you have taken everything else?!” Prince Yi said it all one breath so took deep breaths both to catch his breath and calm himself as he looked up at the Emperor with an intensely aggrieved expression.
The Emperor blinked at Prince Yi with an even more incredulous expression, then he snorted and looked down at Prince Yi with a bemused smile on his face. His confusion at his brother's aggrieved mindset overpowered the feelings of anger at his brother's blatant disregard, ”I have taken nothing from you.” The Emperor said, knitting his brows still with that bemused smile on his face, which further angered Prince Yi.
”You took -” Prince Yi caught himself and frowned at the ground, now convinced that the Emperor was simply toying with him but yet, he could not bring himself to simply turn and walk away.
The Emperor studied Prince Yi for a bit. He then let out a weary sigh, got up, and walked down the steps towards Prince Yi, whose frowning intensified as the Emperor got closer. He felt the impulse to shift but he would not give the Emperor the impression that he was cowering. He was not afraid of him... He would not give the Emperor the satisfaction of thinking he feared him.
The Emperor stopped at Prince Yi's side put his hands behind his back and calmly said, ”Stand up.”
Prince Yi kept his glare on the ground, unmoving. The Emperor lightly snorted with a small smirk and then said, ”Alright, keep kneeling then.”
And right on queue, Prince Yi in his defiant mood stood up. The Emperor slightly shook his head as Prince Yi rose to his feet. Prince Yi turned and faced the Emperor squarely with a frown and said, ”Is it so difficult for you to let me have one thing?”
The Emperor raised his eyebrows and calmly said, ”It depends on what that one thing is... What is it that you believe I have taken from you?” He seriously asked, slightly knitting his brows.
Prince Yi blinked and then averted his gaze with a frown. Since he had suddenly lost his tongue, the Emperor decided to help him state his claim, ”Is it the throne?” The Emperor asked.
Prince Yi stiffened and glanced at the Emperor with a wary expression, not sure what the Emperor was trying to do now.
The Emperor faced forward, towards the big open doors of the main hall, looking at the sky ahead as he emotionlessly went ahead to state the facts, ”As I am sure you are aware, the throne has always been mine from the onset. But perhaps, one could claim that I took it from our eldest brother's, but as you know he ran himself into a wall. And even if I had a hand in his undoing, that still has nothing to do with you. You, yourself, even once said that the throne was not for you...Therefore, it cannot be that. What else is there?” The Emperor finished with this question, turning back to Prince Yi with raised eyebrows.