Chapter Twelve Hugo

"My youngest, your father will soon pass." Lady Sedna said in grief as Hugo repeated in his mind. Teryn has grown weak and looks like a shell of his former self. Wasting away into his bed as he struggles to even eat. Forever hiding in his bedroom, none but selected servants are to see him.

Hugo stares at the training arena from his own bedroom as he always did. Taller than his brothers he always wanted to be better than everyone else. It is his favourite place apart from tourneys where he loved to travel and compete. But now is not the time, by his mother's request. He stayed…

News has spread of Aaron's return. The bastard, Hugo calls Aaron with spite. Even in his dreams, he always hated that black-haired boy. He should never have existed.

His mother is humiliated as the bastard looks exactly like his father. The bastard hears it over and over and is naturally handsome like his father. The son's mother should have birthed. Hugo resents his brown hair and brown eyes. His distinctive feature of having many freckles on his nose. They were more distinct when he was younger, but some still remain now he is now a man grown. Looking like his mother, he tried everything to imitate the look of his father. Dying his hair black and desperate for blue contacts to match his father's eyes. It was itchy and made his eyes irritated. It still did not work as his pale skin can never match. To his relief, he has his father's personality and sense of humour.

Teryn always spent time with Hugo and Alphonse. Watching them practice their fighting skills every day. Even gifting the two boys a unique sword with a dragon-shaped hilt. A small mimic of the famous general Sabrael from the stories. So, Hugo and Alphonse can live their childhood dreams of being heroes. Teryn is a strict man and wanted him and his brother Alphonse to succeed as leaders. They are educated and taught to fight in combat. Even though Hugo is better in combat, where Alphonse is diplomatic. It was hard but both understood it is best for them. There was always love between Teryn and his two legitimate sons.

Then Hugo sees him… The bastard walks into the fenced arena along with a blonde girl and another stranger. The bastard has gotten tall as his black hair has grown down to his neck. Hugo's heart unavoidably skips beats as he looks like Teryn more than ever. The girl seems to be trying to drag the bastard, to the middle of the training circle. Hugo Watches from a distance he remembers the distinct gold hair. Iolene… Hugo thought lovingly. Such a beautiful girl he told his mother that this is the girl he wants to marry. His mother laughed and told him no since Iolene is a bastard herself. Hugo admitted he did not care. She will grow up to be a beautiful maiden and she has…

Placing his hands on the windowsill he clenches the wood frames. Thinking over and over that the bastard does not deserve to even be near that girl. That bastard will have nothing… The bastard lied to her about his name. As it is in their bastard nature, born from the womb of deceit. Hugo's mind softened as sees her adorable smile… Always striking a chord in Hugo's heart.

But the bastard seems to have left life as he is uninterested in what she had to say. Pulling his hand away as the gold-haired girl's smile disappeared. Bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard, forever repeated in Hugo's head. His hand clenched the wood so hard he can hear it cracking.

He sees Iolene skip to the bastard as she holds both of his hands. Looking up at him with her beautiful eyes. Her smile appears again as she is talking to the bastard. But Hugo could not hear, curious as to what she is saying. He wished she smiled sweetly like that to him. He has never found such a girl that made his heart ache like Iolene did.

When she first came to Watersgate, Hugo thought she was weird. It was as if she never explored the outside before. Looking at every painting and taking her shoes off to feel the mud and what little grass the fortress has to offer. But she was playful and had a historical knowledge of his home. Saying that she reads the majority of her day. But then she was quickly taken away by the priests as there were other country guests. Having a massive party in the halls that very night. She was not allowed to attend for reasons that weren't specified to him. He did not get to fully see her until a few days later when everyone else left.

Thinking back to when he first met her in the vestibule, gazing up at the painting of his father. "He is very handsome, and this is him younger?" Iolene asked whimsically.

"Yes, this is my father when he became the Baron of this land. A word he hates, but he is a great leader and that is Tethys. His dragon!" Hugo said proudly to her. Teryns old dragon, Tethys roars with pride inside the painting. Tethys has been dead for years after contacting scale rot.

Hugo in his many attempts tries his best to woo the girl. Showed her the different weapons, he can use. Showing off as he is great at using them. Every day he would take her out of the arena and shoot arrows. She asked to hold and use the weapons as Hugo laughs her off. "A lady like you does not need weapons. You have me to protect you! Just sit and watch!" He says forcefully.

She seemed rather indignant for the rest of the day. But Hugo kept trying. Alphonse even tells him that he is becoming obsessed with her to an unnatural level. Hugo shrugs his older brother's concerns away. She is only here for a brief period before she had to leave; Hugo was going to make the most of it.

He then saw young Iolene sneak away from her priest guardian. In a quick decision, he wondered where she was going. The meadows outside of Watersgate look the best it has ever been. But she went further, delving deep into the forest. Hugo nervously takes out his small sword. Eventually, a secret meadow is found. The bastard stood in the middle, waiting for her. Hugo had no idea the bastard knew of such a place… It was beautiful full of colourful flowers and butterflies.

Iolene in her bright yellow dress runs through the grass with excitement. He saw them… Together. The bastard giving her a wildflower bouquet. A beautiful bunch as the girl showed a massive smile as anger flared inside Hugo. The bastard is not allowed to look, let alone speak to anyone. Here he is courting a girl… Hugo's girl.

The bastard and the girl rested on the meadow as they spoke small talk. Hearing of Sabrael, temple life and Iolene reads to him. Hugo listens intently from behind the trees. He learned more about Iolene more in that conversation than he ever had with her alone.

"This is our place." The bastard said affectionately to her.

You have no place here; you have no place anywhere… Hugo thought. Grabbing a small rock and throwing it at the bastard. Hitting him hard on the forehead on his hairline to Hugo's delight. Seeing the blood of the bastard was a normal occurrence. No one dared stop lord Caspian's son to do deeds that needs to be done.

"Sabrael!" Iolene shouts. "Are you alright!?" As she tries to help.

"I'm fine." The bastard stubbornly said he turns to find who threw it. Blood trickles down his cheek as Hugo hides behind the trees as he snickers at Aarons pain.

"Let us go..." Iolene says grabbing the bastard's hand.

Hugo sat in his bed restless and annoyed, later that night. All he had to say is a few words to his father and it will be over for the two. But the amount of hurt Hugo gives the bastard is nothing like the wrath their father will give him. In an odd way, he enjoyed having someone beneath him. Power over someone… So instead of telling his father. He spoke to Iolene and told her the truth. Turns out he lied about his name and who he is. Proving his bastard nature.

Iolene was understandably upset about the lie. Seeing the bastard's face of pure heartbreak, gave Hugo joy as she walked away from the bastard. The noble boy couldn't help but give a smile to the bastard. He won… He got Iolenes attention. Though afterward, it wasn't much as she was melancholy. Hugo showing off all his moves with an axe did not phase her at all now.

But it turns out Hugo needn't do anything. The bastard ruined himself. That day, when he "disappeared". Is one basic rule, never outperform a noble child. Especially to Teryn's children. The bastard released the Arrow to get a perfect bull's eye as everyone including Teryn watched. Hugo wanted to destroy him right there and then. Racing after the show off with full fury as Iolene screamed for the bastard to run.

Hugo shakes his head back to the present day; he realises both have left the arena. In angry movements, he storms into the hall where his older brother sits. There is no one else apart from Alphonse and Hugo. His brother reading letters from other nobles of the country. Looks up to see an angry Hugo.

"He is here, why did you not tell me, brother? Has he come to claim inheritance?" Hugo says smarmily.

"Who is here?" Alphonse asks in a joking manner.

"You know who I am asking about," Hugo says seriously. "BASTARD!" He said so loud and sharp that the whole castle would have heard it. It even took his older brother off guard.

"He will not be here much longer... The weather is improving. He will be travelling to Orange Empire with a priest. Don't worry brother... He will be gone to never see our faces again."

"Not good enough!" Hugo replies with his anger having little restraint. "His corpse should be rotting underneath the sky somewhere. How could you!? Does father even know that the bastard is walking inside his halls!?"

"He does," Alphonse said trying to coax his brother. Telling his father was not easy, his dying father croaked with annoyance. But to Alphonse's surprise, Teryrn asked to see Aaron. A steward was to inform Aaron this morning but he was not there. Even though Teryn wanted to kill Aaron when he first pleaded for his father's help. The priest saved him by mentioning they need a new kennel hand. Enforcing it will be a waste to kill someone who can be useful.

Hugo despised the old priest after that... Him being glad he is now dead so he can't defend the bastard anymore. Hugo seeing his mother in such an unhappy state made him angry. Hugo and three noble friends, Louis, Advik, Faraji, and Ryan would chase after the bastard to give him his daily payment of being alive.

Alphonse stands up from his highchair, placing his hand on Hugo's shoulder. "He is getting nothing!" Alphonse says with assurance.

Hugo shrugs his brother off. "If you are not going to do anything about it I will."

"Hugo!" Alphonse says furiously. "I hate him like you do. But ending his life will not end well. His new friends are priests from the gold empire. Iolene is an Ovideus, who is trying to gain allies to get Dragon City back."

"A bastard is a bastard. He is of no worth, the people around him will move on! Iolene deserves better than that piece of dragon shit." Hugo leaves the hall as his older brother shouts for him to stop. Hugo made up his mind to end the bastard and knew exactly where they could have gone.