Charles stood in the Royal Academy's bathroom, splashing water on his face. His uniform clung to him, still damp from the earlier incident. He was trying to calm himself, but the sting of humiliation hadn't faded.
Just then, two boys walked in. One sneered. "Look at him—the unroyal. Kicked out of the palace like trash."
Charles stiffened but said nothing.
The second boy leaned closer with a smirk. "I heard your mother was killed by your dear father, the Emperor."
That did it.
Charles clenched his fists and swung, but the boy dodged with ease and laughed mockingly. "Oh, calm down, Prince Charles—or should I just say Charles now?"
Before things could escalate further, Edward entered. He saw Charles gripping the boy's collar, eyes blazing with fury.
Edward's gaze turned ice-cold as he stared down the boy. "Leave."
The bully flinched under Edward's glare and backed away. "I was just kidding…"
He hurried out, and Edward approached Charles quietly. "Are you okay?"
