Chapter 3 – His Majesty's Sons

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

The Fourth Prince had gradually grown from a tiny newborn into a chubby infant with bright, curious eyes and an endless supply of energy.

The entire Phoenix Palace had also discovered one thing.

Their little prince was... unusually expressive.

If he was happy, he laughed loudly.

If he was angry, everyone knew.

If he disliked something, he would turn his tiny face away with surprising determination.

And if someone tried to fool him...

He would stare at them with obvious suspicion.

The palace maids often found him amusing.

"Your Highness, it's medicine."

He frowned.

"No, no, it's sweet."

He frowned even harder.

The head maid sighed.

"He definitely understands our expressions."

Although they knew a three-month-old baby couldn't understand words, they still couldn't help talking to him as though he could.

The Fourth Prince, meanwhile, had already accepted reality.

He had truly been reborn.

Complaining wouldn't change anything.

So...

He might as well enjoy being carried around all day.

"Being a baby isn't completely terrible," he thought as another maid gently rocked him.

*"No homework."

"No washing dishes."

"No one asks me to clean my room."*

Life wasn't bad.

Except for one problem.

He couldn't walk.

He couldn't talk.

And everyone pinched his cheeks.

"Why does every adult like doing that?"

---

The Empress had recovered well after childbirth.

Despite her busy schedule, she spent every afternoon with her youngest son.

She never handed him over to wet nurses unless absolutely necessary.

She fed him herself.

Played with him.

Even read books aloud while holding him in her lap.

The Fourth Prince didn't understand half of what she read.

Still...

Listening to her calm voice made him feel strangely peaceful.

One afternoon, while she was reading, the little prince reached out and grabbed the edge of her sleeve.

The Empress looked down.

"What is it?"

He simply held on.

She smiled helplessly.

"So clingy."

The head maid laughed.

"Your Highness refuses to let Your Majesty leave."

The Empress gently poked his tiny nose.

"Even if I leave, I'll come back."

The little prince blinked.

"Good."

Without realizing it, he loosened his grip.

The Empress noticed the small movement and couldn't help smiling.

"What a smart child."

---

That same afternoon, a palace servant entered and bowed.

"Your Majesty."

"The Crown Prince and the Second and Third Princes have come to pay their respects."

The Empress nodded.

"Let them enter."

A moment later...

Three boys walked inside.

The eldest appeared around twelve years old.

He wore neat robes and carried himself with remarkable composure.

Even at such a young age, he already possessed the bearing of a future ruler.

Behind him walked the Second Prince.

His sleeves were slightly dusty.

His posture was straight, but he looked as though he had just come from martial arts practice.

The youngest of the three, the Third Prince, quietly observed everything around him.

His movements were elegant.

His expression calm.

The Crown Prince bowed first.

"Greetings, Mother."

The other two followed.

The Empress smiled warmly.

"You've all grown taller."

The Second Prince scratched his head.

"I train every day."

"I can tell."

Her gaze finally fell on the baby resting beside her.

"Come."

"You haven't properly met your little brother yet."

---

The three princes approached the cradle.

The Fourth Prince looked up.

"Oh."

"My brothers."

The Crown Prince observed him carefully.

"So this is Fourth Brother."

The Second Prince leaned closer.

"He's so small."

The Third Prince blinked.

"...His cheeks look soft."

Before anyone could react...

The Third Prince gently poked one cheek.

The baby immediately puffed out his face in protest.

The room fell silent.

Then the Second Prince burst into laughter.

"He got angry!"

The Crown Prince coughed to hide his smile.

The Third Prince looked genuinely surprised.

"I barely touched him."

"Barely?"

"You poked me!"

The Fourth Prince reached out with both tiny hands.

Not toward the Third Prince...

But toward the Crown Prince.

The eldest prince hesitated.

"...Me?"

The Empress nodded.

"Go ahead."

Somewhat awkwardly, the Crown Prince lifted his little brother.

He had held swords.

Books.

Official documents.

But never a baby.

The Fourth Prince settled comfortably against his chest.

"Not bad."

"Very stable."

The Crown Prince relaxed a little.

"He's... lighter than I expected."

The Second Prince grinned.

"Let me hold him next."

As soon as the Fourth Prince was transferred over...

Everything changed.

The Second Prince had obviously never learned how to hold an infant properly.

His arms were stiff.

The baby bounced slightly.

"Too rough."

Without hesitation...

The Fourth Prince reached up and grabbed the Second Prince's ear.

"Ow!"

The room went quiet.

The Second Prince froze.

The baby refused to let go.

The Crown Prince looked away.

The Third Prince bit his lip.

The Empress finally laughed.

A genuine, carefree laugh that echoed throughout Phoenix Palace.

The head maid quickly lowered her head to hide her own smile.

The Second Prince carefully pried the tiny fingers away.

"I didn't even do anything..."

"Hold babies gently," the Fourth Prince thought smugly.

The Crown Prince accepted him back before another incident could happen.

Looking at his little brother sleeping peacefully only moments later, he couldn't help shaking his head.

"He really is troublesome."

The Empress smiled as she watched her four sons together.

For the first time in a long while, Phoenix Palace felt unusually lively.

And although none of the brothers realized it yet...

This tiny child would slowly become the one who dragged each of them into more laughter than they had ever expected.

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