Entry 2
Rumors have reached us from Isaac. Rumors that there have been no child hunts there whatsoever, to be exact. I would be greatly surprised if Dannan had the nerve to betray me, and his eldest is little more than a puppet, but I'm not so trusting of his younger two sons. I fear he lets those two get away with too much. He's too nice. They're too nice.
I've never been much for familial love. Allowing yourself to give so much to another, only to hurt and grieve when the other disappoints you or is lost? It's silly. It's downright foolish. I have never understood whatever mysterious, primal force drives people to do such things. I've never felt any such power.
But dear me, I do like it when they hurt. To see a family ripped apart . . . it's exciting. It's gut-wrenchingly satisfying.
In any case, I'll have to pay Dannan and his kin a visit one of these days. It just won't do to have them slipping up like this. They must know that I do not like being disappointed. Is satisfactory obedience from one's subjects too much for the Imperial Prince to ask?
Then again, if his sons still don't follow up . . . I don't suppose it would be too much of a loss to tear them down and put someone more reliable in place. I'd just barely rather not, since it'd be a hassle to deal with, but I certainly wouldn't mind watching those boys squirm.
Mm, yes. Squirm. Maybe I'll watch them squirm in my dreams tonight.
[The second paragraph above has a large X drawn through it. In the side margin of the page, the following is scribbled in a messier handwriting than that of the main entry:]
Liar.