10 Years Later~
"Are you sure about the time he'll arrive?" one reporter asked, glancing at the airport schedule flickering across the overhead screen.
The other snickered. "Do you really need me to confirm it? Just look around. Who do you think all these girls are here for?"
The first reporter had already noticed the enormous crowd of fangirls, each holding banners and various accessories bearing someone's name.
Before he could respond, a sudden burst of shrill screams and excited shouts erupted as the crowd surged forward.
Dressed in a pale blue coat over a tailored suit, with a diamond-encrusted serpent earring on his left ear and a cold, unimpressed expression, Xati Keir, now 15, walked through the airport flanked by bodyguards as girls screamed his name.
"Prince Xati, you're so handsome! Please marry me!"
"Kyaaa! Xati, look over here! Give me an autograph!"
"Xati! How was your vacation?! Did you enjoy it? Were you safe? Did you have fun?"
"Xati Keir! We're from Daily Society! Is it true you went to close a deal for KGG rather than on vacation?" one persistent reporter shouted, his voice loud enough to annoy several of the girls.
Xati's sharp gaze swept across the crowd, but he didn't bother responding. His bodyguards promptly escorted him towards the car waiting outside.
"Damn it! Why is it so hard to get a decent shot of him?" the reporter complained. He then turned to one of the girls. "Hey, brat! Do you know where Xati Keir is going to appear next?"
The girl gave him a displeased look, rolled her eyes, and snapped, "Why should I tell you? You bunch of good-for-nothing paparazzi who do nothing but spread nasty rumours and allegations about my prince! Bah! Stay away!"
The other fangirls quickly joined in, condemning the reporters until he and his companion had no choice but to retreat.
"Don't you think these unhinged fans are even worse than Shin Keir's were back in the day? Xati isn't even in the entertainment industry, yet his fans are fiercer than those of any idol I've covered."
"Yeah, and they're even more delusional than Shin Keir's fans used to be." His colleague wiped the sweat from his forehead. "By the way, is it just me, or does Xati resemble Shin Keir more and more? His demeanour is so different from his father, Tristan."
The first reporter nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps it's because Shin Keir himself is his mentor? Honestly, for a fifteen-year-old, he already carries quite a lot of baggage and pressure from all those expectations placed upon him."
-
Contrary to what they imagined, Xati couldn't have been more relaxed as the car sped through the city. One hand scrolled through dense text on his tablet while the other held a lollipop.
"Ah, CEO Keir sent over some documents that need reviewing. He said they must be checked and returned to him before the end of the day," the man sitting beside him said, pulling out a thick stack of folders.
Xati's expression darkened. He had a feeling that this so-called assistant, specially assigned by the Mad Emperor to follow him everywhere, was nothing more than another means of torturing him.
The past ten years hadn't exactly been peaceful, with the Mad Emperor constantly coming up with all sorts of nonsense to send him away.
Ever since the Keir clan had officially declared Xati their future clan head when he turned twelve, people had begun calling him the 'Crown Prince of Sin City,' earning him a level of fame he had never asked for.
"Review? What for? Is he getting lazy again? Why should I do a CEO's job for him? Tell him that if he keeps this up, I'll report him to the board of directors!"
The assistant's mouth twitched. He was already accustomed to Xati's antics. "It's part of your training."
"Training, my foot! Don't I know what I'm supposed to learn?" Xati snarled. He was about to launch into another tirade when something outside caught his attention. "Stop the car! Go buy that for me."
The car slowly came to a halt.
The assistant followed his gaze and spotted a fresh bouquet of pink roses displayed at a nearby flower shop.
"Are they for your great-grandmother? It's been a while since you visited her grave."
"Who are you cursing? They're for my big sister!" Xati snapped irritably. "Hurry up and buy them for me."
The assistant was momentarily stunned before getting out of the car.
Xati glanced at his watch, muttering under his breath, "Great-grandmother has long since entered the cycle of reincarnation. She doesn't need flowers anymore."
Indeed, Elder Madam Keir had passed away five years earlier, in peace and satisfaction.
Back then, a month after Shin and Yeri's wedding, Ellis Keir had been convicted of collaborating with Bryce Gate. Things had taken an even worse turn when records of his long-standing embezzlement, offshore accounts, and numerous shell companies were uncovered.
Surprisingly, Ellis had confessed to all of it in an attempt to secure his son Hiro's acquittal.
Unfortunately, although Hiro had managed to escape conviction, someone later exposed his infidelity and numerous mistresses, destroying what remained of his reputation. Nowadays, Hiro was still technically a member of the Keir family, but he had lost much of his former influence and authority within KGG, becoming little more than a forgotten figure in the clan.
When Elder Madam Keir learned the truth, her disappointment in Ellis's family deepened, especially after recalling how they had nearly poisoned her with that toxic tea.
Consequently, when she passed away five years ago, most of her assets were inherited by Xati, including her shares in KGG. Tristan also received a portion, and, surprisingly, so did Shin, the very person she had always regarded as a thorn in her side.
Perhaps she had feared that Shin would eventually target Xati as the future successor. Or perhaps she had simply intended to give Shin another means of training the boy.
Either way, the old matriarch had passed away without regrets, believing that, in the end, she had still managed to get what she wanted and retain some authority over the clan's future.
--
Upon arriving at the Sin Miele Estate, Xati excitedly rushed inside, carrying a bouquet of pink roses in one hand and several gift bags in the other.
The current butler greeted him. "Young Master, my apologies. I wasn't informed that you would be arriving today."
"It's fine. Where's my little sister?" Xati asked, his eyes wandering around the estate.
The butler smiled and pointed towards the covered balcony, where a little girl was playing with her dolls. Her tiny hands clumsily held a doll almost as big as herself, while her other hand remained tucked in her mouth as she sucked her thumb.
Xati's eyes lit up. He eagerly crouched down and pulled her into a hug.
"Little princess! Big Brother is home! Did you miss me, hmm?"
The little girl blinked her big eyes at him.
"I know you missed me! Wait, are you sleepy? Look, I brought you some presents!"
Xati pushed the gift bags towards her. Among them was a bunny plushie dressed in a pink dress.
"Bunnyi!" the little girl exclaimed.
"Do you like it? I carefully picked out all these presents for my beloved, adorable little sister!" Xati said happily. "If you like them, come and give Big Brother a hug!"
The current butler smiled as he watched the two, although he still couldn't help finding the dynamics of this family rather peculiar.
Butler Hong had grown too old for his duties and had since retired, along with Tristan's butler, Butler Steve. The current butler, originally from Hexion, had taken over Butler Hong's position.
He had been informed that Xati was Tristan's son, but by now, he was already accustomed to the young master frequently dropping by. In fact, nobody seemed particularly surprised by his unexpected visits at Shin's villa anymore.
Moreover, Xati insisted on addressing their current madam, Yeri, as his big sister rather than his aunt, while proudly proclaiming her daughter to be his little sister.
It wasn't particularly surprising, considering the two children were cousins. Still, Xati's unusual closeness to Yeri sometimes sparked rumours that she was actually his mother. This was especially so since Tristan remained unmarried and hadn't exactly abandoned his womanising ways.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the entrance. Shin had arrived, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly with anticipation.
"Where's my daughter?"
The butler smiled nervously and pointed towards Xati, who was busy arranging his gifts as though presenting an offering.
Shin's expression immediately darkened. With a few strides, he approached and kicked Xati in the backside.
"What are you doing, smudging my daughter with your filthy presence? Aren't you supposed to be in the neighbouring state?"
Xati nearly kissed the floor. He sprang back up, ready to curse Shin out, but held his tongue when he noticed his little sister watching them curiously.
Shin scooped her into his arms, gently patting her back before dotingly kissing her forehead and cheeks.
"Daddy's home! What did my little princess do today?"
Xati crossed his arms. "What else would a three-year-old do?"
"Ignore this ugly person. He's just a fly that refuses to be swatted away," Shin muttered.
"You! Aren't you ashamed of teaching a child such bad things? I'll definitely tell Big Sister about this!" Xati gritted his teeth.
Shin "..."
Four years earlier, Yeri had become pregnant shortly after graduating with her master's degree in biology.
And this little abomination, Xati, had never stopped competing with him for Yeri's attention. Now he was doing the same with his daughter.
He really needed to think of more work to dump on him. Perhaps he should send him to another continent to accompany Tristan.
"Wipes," Shin instructed the butler before turning to his daughter. "You shouldn't let dirty people get too close to you, let alone touch you, okay?"
The little girl tilted her head thoughtfully. She looked at Xati, then reached out her tiny hand towards him.
"Brother Xati... hug!"
Xati froze for a moment before bursting into triumphant laughter. "Hahaha! I knew you liked this big brother the most! Hahaha!"
Shin's expression darkened like an approaching storm, but he couldn't possibly bring himself to scold his daughter.
Xati eagerly stretched out his arms to carry her, but Shin simply turned around and carried her further inside.
"Daddy is sad. Does my little princess not love Daddy anymore?"
The little girl quickly shook her head. "Mimi love Daddy the most."