Rhea had a surprised look as if she heard something so unbelievable similar to birds flying upside down.
"What did you just say?" Rhea asked as if trying to affirm if she indeed heard right.
Damien put up an exasperated expression and said, "I said I could make things return to how they were before as long as you can do something for me. I am just tired of hearing your lectures every single day."
Rhea finally smiled, feeling that her daily scoldings were really doing a number on Tristen, and said, "Sure, what do you need from your mother?"
Rhea was curious what Tristen would need from her when he already had everything one could imagine.
Damien said in a serious tone, "I have recently taken a huge interest in the art of formations, and I have heard of a certain artifact that could help improve my prowess in drawing up formations by a large margin."
Rhea raised her brows, "You really took an interest in such a difficult field?" She also wanted to add 'boring' but didn't out of worry that she might discourage Tristen.
Only god could know what made Tristen take a sudden interest in the art of formations.
Tristen scratched together his fingers as he said, "Since everyone was telling me that I was slacking off and following my studies properly, I decided to take a look into one of these popular fields. Alchemy seemed too boring and hard for me, so I took a look into the art of formations, and surprisingly some things clicked for me."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Rhea's eyes creased, "That's a very good thing, indeed. It seems like the heavens blessed you again. Good, tell me what this artifact is that could help you. Whatever it is, I am sure I will be able to get it."
"The Pandemonium Needles. I need two of them," Damien said as he maintained his gaze, making him look like an aspiring and dedicated formation master.
"The Pandemonium Needles?" Rhea mumbled with a glazed stare and said after a moment of contemplation, "That is a Saint Grade artifact!"
'Wow, she knows about it. No wonder she was able to become the emperor's favorite,' Damien mused.
"Yes, it is," Tristen said as if he didn't see Rhea's surprised expression.
"Do you have any idea how precious and rare they are? Only four such needles exist in the world, and two are with the Xeton Empire. The remaining two should be with your father, and I think I don't have to tell you how he would react if you ask something like this from him?" Rhea said with a worried glint.
Damien's expression didn't change, "That's why I want you to ask him for me. At least, I am not a stranger. So, he could at least let me borrow it for a while and return it back when I have made some progress."
Rhea sighed, "Do you really not understand the nature of your father? I guess I can't blame you since you rarely interact with him. But he is not someone who gives consideration to some just because they are his blood relations. Family or not, he would only weigh every decision according to his needs."
"Mother, if you are also afraid like this, how do you expect me to improve? When I finally wanted to improve myself genuinely, even my own mother refused to help me," Damien said with a disappointed sigh.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Rhea clenched her fists, seeing how Tristen thought that she had no guts to ask her husband a favor for her only son.
She said with a determined gaze, "Fine. I will try asking him. But what happens after is not something I can predict. He would probably refuse, and this is the best I can do. Just because I am his wife doesn't mean he will listen to everything I would say. You know that best, especially when you have been getting into his bad books recently."
Damien shrugged his shoulders, "I know. That's why I am asking for this final chance. You can tell him that, and I am sure he will at least consider it."
Rhea got up, "Okay. I will come back when I have finally got some news. But—" she continued with a stern gaze— "till then, you won't waste your time toying with maids or some sluts. Do you understand? Your first brother, Kale, is now the star in your father's eyes. Don't let him overshadow you completely. He is just as cunning as his vixen mother," Reha said with a bitter glint in her eyes.
Damien rolled his eyes, "Yes, yes, I got it. Now just go. I can take care of myself. Kale is nothing before me," Damien said in a piqued tone.
Rhea harrumphed before leaving, wondering if her son really decided to reform.
'Even the life of a prince like him is not simple,' Damien sighed inwardly, thinking that no matter where the more talented one was, the more he would have to toil to maintain his status and power.
Damien decided to go and meet Mina, Nalia's daughter. He felt that he should keep trying through different channels until one of them opened the door for him.
He came out of his room, and as he walked down the halls, a voice with a hint of mockery sounded from behind, "Second brother! It's been a while. I heard you have been quite busy with improving your cultivation."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Damien turned around to see a tall and handsome young man in his mid-twenties dressed in noble blue robes with the markings of the golden hawk.
Damien recognized him as Kale Gale, the first prince of the Gale Empire, and apparently, he was the strongest contender for the position of the crown prince and the reason why Rhea was hell-bent on making him right his ways.
Kale continued with a smirk, "Second brother, I wonder whether you can teach me the secret method to increase your ethereal cultivation by using your you-know-what?"
Seeing Tristen's expression darken, Kale couldn't help but snicker inwardly.
Damien scoffed, "Only real men need to know such methods." Damien couldn't help but think of his dual cultivation art and continued as he turned around, "So you better watch over your wife if you don't want to find her on my bed, haha."
Kale's face blackened, "How dare you! She would never!"
Damien turned his head back and said, "Then why get so upset? It seems like you are not confident, First brother. You know, strengthening only your ethereal cultivation is useless. You should first strengthen what makes you a man first. See you later, First brother," Damien said as he coolly left.
"Tristen...we aren't done...I will be the crown prince soon while you will die atop a woman's body," Kale mumbled as a cold glint flashed past his eyes.
He had been vying for the position of crown prince for more than a decade, but when Tristen was younger, he surprised everyone with his excellent talent and potential, making the emperor show more favor towards him by nurturing him.
Even everyone felt it natural that Tristen was going to become the crown prince. His cultivation was stronger than Tristen, but that was only because of the age difference.
He was sure if Tristen were to continue his track record, then it would only be a matter of time before he overtakes him.
Fortunately, for the past few months, he saw no improvement from Tristen's side and was gloating about it. Now he was getting more confident about bagging the position of the crown prince since even his father seemed to take an interest in him again.
However, thinking about what Tristen said about his wife, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. Though he hated to admit it to himself, he knew that Tristen was better with handling women than him, including ways to seduce them.
He quickly turned back to have a small talk with his newly wedded wife.
Damien shook his head inwardly, feeling amused about Tristen's reputation that even his elder brother is wary of his "skills".
But only he knew that Tristen possessed no true skills of seduction but only used his status and power to get on top of women.
He finally reached the imperial library, and the librarian bowed upon seeing him and was about to ask him what he needed. There was also a tinge of surprise in his eyes.
But Damien waved his hands, gesturing to him to mind his own business.
The imperial library was big and spanned at least four football fields. There were numerous shelves and even an upper floor which was reserved for the direct imperial family.
He climbed the stairs towards the upper floor and came upon dozens of shelves neatly arranged along with a few large tables and chairs.
His eyes quickly scanned around till they stopped upon noticing a lone slender figure sitting on the farthest corner near the windows.
Upon finding the person he wanted to meet, Damien walked towards the young girl dressed in elegant robes who looked no more than his age.
