"LORD ISAAC IS DEAD?" Felix asked, wide eyed as he heard the report from one of his men.
"Yes sir, it seems he was assassinated by some lurking shadows. I heard this during my investigation in the city."
The Obelian knights were currently remaining within a cave of the rocky mountain, since Felix decided that going inconspicuously at first would be wiser.
And it indeed was.
If the lord is dead then how is the territory still advancing forward?
"Who is the governor now?"
"Lord Isaac's first daughter, Millicent Villarreal. "
Lord Isaac had been blessed with four children , the eldest being Millicent. His wife had died after birthing the fourth and youngest son, Edwin.
But for the lord to have died and a new governor selected and appointed, why have they not reported to the emperor about such events.
And to appoint a new governor you first need to earn the emperor's permission as well as hold a ceremony to symbolize your elevated status.
Yet they did none.
"How long has it been since the Lord's Death?"
"Nobody knows for sure. It was publicly revealed three days ago, which is why there are still people discussing it."
The knight giving his report to Felix left after being given the signal by Felix.
Felix began writing a report to Claude about the new updates on the territory. After writing it, he asked a knight to travel back and deliver the report.
But Felix wasn't waiting for Claude's orders. He already had a plan in mind.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
THE KNIGHTS ORDERED TO DRESS inconspicuously and scatter around to gain information while Felix was making his way to the castle to talk with Millicent.
Infiltrating the castle was easy since it was night time and he had visited Feradona before a number of times and was aware of the secret passages in and out of the castle.
He made his way through the underground tunnels which were created by miners to extract the unique mineral of Feradona, Azaqu.
The tunnel led to the audience room of the castle, since it was initially built in case the rulers had to escape.
Although Felix was expecting the throne room to be empty, upon reaching the room he saw three children standing in the middle of the room, while a young woman, with ebony hair was sitting on the chair in the middle back.
"Lady Millicent, Lord Alvis , Lady Edna and Lord Edwin, I presume? " Felix spoke in the order of eldest to youngest.
"That is correct. If you know us and the tunnel, then are you perhaps from the Capital?" Alvis questioned.
"Brother! He has the crest of that Ducal Household! What was its name?!" The youngest, Edwin asked in a childish manner as he clung onto Alvis's arms.
"Alpheus." The third child, Edna, spoke confidently.
"Felix Robane, of the Robane Duchy." Millicent finally spoke, her tone being authoritative enough to silence her siblings and her clear and monotone voice echoed throughout the room.
Edwin began elbowing his sister, Edna while she simply blushed in embarrassment.
Felix was simply standing there analyzing the situation.
All four children of Lord Isaac were in front of him, as if they were waiting. All of the siblings had ebony hair. Millicent's eyes were like Jades, Alvis's were hidden by his overgrown hair, the younger daughter, Edna had emeralds instead of Jades. And the youngest, Edwin possessed eyes of gold.
"Lady Millicent, I believe there are some things which need to be discussed." Felix asked in his unusually serious voice.
Millicent stood up from her seat and began walking forward as she spoke.
"Lord Isaac has been killed by assassins, three days ago his body was discovered in his office."
Alvis went near the wall and dragged two chairs towards the center. The younger siblings also dragged one chair each and brought it to the centre. Throughout which Millicent kept speaking,
"I sent a report to the Capital but the perpetrators of the assassination killed all of my messengers. Moreover, because of my father's sudden demise the territory is in a state of instability so I could not simply leave it."
Millicent now came to the exact spot where Felix was standing and bowed down.
"I have no excuse, it is because of my incompetence that I could not bring stability to the territory in the span of three days." Millicent spoke this time her voice actually expressing sadness.
"...No, you have done well as is. " Felix started and was about to continue, but Millicent rose up after receiving the response from him and began speaking again as she made her way back to the chair in the middle back.
"However..."
There were three chairs now arranged beside the chair in the middle and one chair opposite to the middle one.
She gestured to Felix to sit down and continued. The siblings also sat in their designated seats and so did the knight.
"During the three days, I have caught the assassins and mastermind. And now the only thing that remains is to become officially appointed. "
"Lady Millicent, do you know the reason for my visit here?"
"This was merely my thought. But I had thought that if father's monthly report time had passed without father sending a report, His Imperial Majesty would notice and send someone. As such I was expecting a visitor for a few days now. Was there an ulterior motive?"
"His Imperial Highness, Prince Arius has been targeted by assassins twice now and with the traces we were led to Feradona."
"Do you believe the assassins responsible for Father's demise were also behind the Prince?"
"Yes, have the perpetrators been killed?"
"No, the mastermind is alive. I was going to bring him to Obelia to testify that the Lord was killed because of him."
"Then may I interrogate that criminal first?"
"Of course, Alvis."
"Yes."
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
IT WAS NOW DAYTIME. The night passed quickly and Felix was happy to say the least. The mastermind quickly confessed his wrongdoings towards the Imperial Prince. Although in normal cases that would be suspicious, this time Felix could sense honesty in his words.
The man had been tortured and was begging to die and for forgiveness. He confessed quickly because he knew there was no hope anymore.
The torture the Villarreal siblings had inflicted upon him was, in his mind, far worse than any imperial torture.
When the sun had finally risen up to illuminate the world with its brightness, Felix along with two of his knights had officially summoned the Governor of the Feradona Territory to head to the capital with the Robane Knights.
"But sister, how will the territory-without you?"
"Alvis, you will be my substitute." Alvis's green eyes shone brightly upon hearing this.
"Sister! Sister! Can I go along too?"
"Me as well! I've never seen the capital!"
"Me neither!"
The younger siblings spoke. The two younger children seemed to be between the ages of seven to twelve. While the older brother and sister, sixteen to nineteen.
Millicent looked over to Felix who smiled brightly as a sign of 'they can'.
"Alright, but Alvis will you be okay governing alone? I'd be worried."
"Don't worry M'lady , I'll protect the young master with my life." Alvis's personal knight stationed beside the walls of the audience room spoke to ease the sisters concern.
"Then I will trust him with you."
And thus the governor-to-be of Feradona, her younger siblings and a number of their staff prepared to travel to the capital.
"D–DAD?" Arius asked in surprise as he saw the blond man sitting at the dining table of Sapphire.
"You're awake, how do you feel now?" Claude asked as he went towards his son and picked him up.
"I-I'm fine, but what are...you doing in Sapphire Palace...?" Arius asked, extremely confused by Claude's visit.
"Don't we usually have breakfast together?" Claude asked and Arius simply looked at him trying to figure out his intentions.
"Athanasia will be here soon as well."
Claude placed Arius on his seat and went and sat on his own seat.
"Do you like your new Palace? "
"...Yes! It's so much better than Ruby Palace and especially the gardens! It's amazing dad, Thank you!" Arius genuinely smiled.
This is great! Once Athy arrives we can discuss our problems with him!
What a great way to start the morning! Arius looked at Claude and kept smiling. Claude was here to see his children because he heard they were feeling ill the night before. He came because he was worried.
"Dad, did you sleep well?" Arius asked, still smiling.
Claude looked at Arius, curious about why his son kept smiling.
"I did, what about you, any more nightmares like that previous one?"
"None!" Arius exclaimed.
"That's good." Claude smiled, slightly but Arius spotted it and once again his happiness level rose up, and now he was giggling.
"Is there a reason behind your constant smiles and giggles? Perhaps a good dream? " Claude finally asked.
"I'm just super glad Dad came to see us. You seemed busy lately...I'm sure Athy will be super happy to see you too!"
Claude looked at him with slightly widened eyes. "Busy? When was I–"
"YOUR MAJESTY! IT'S PRINCESS ATHANASIA! YOU MUST HURRY!"
A maid came in screaming her lungs out. Claude immediately stood up and picked up Arius before sprinting to the Emerald Palace.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
ATHANASIA AN EXTREMELY FAST heart beat and her mana was going haywire. She was fine upon waking up, but after she got cleaned up and dressed she began telling Lilian she felt something heavy in her chest.
Lilian asked her if she was again worried about the countess, but before Athanasia could reply she puked out blood.
The sight was shocking for Lilian as well as Athanasia herself.
Both of them stared wide eyed at what had just happened but Athanasia soon lost consciousness, leaving Lilian panicking to call the magicians and emperor.
She had sent a maid to call the magicians as well a maid to call the emperor. Out of which the first to arrive, thankfully was the father.
"ATHY!" Arius shouted as he ran up to his sleeping sister. He reached the bed and saw Athanasia, face pale and sweating profusely.
'But...I kept her mana stable. Even if she spent time with Raven it still shouldn't have happened this quickly.'
Arius observed Athanasia and felt helpless. He turned to see Lilian explaining everything that happened to Claude.
"And then she c–collapsed. " Lilian spoke with teared eyes as she remembered the horrid scene.
Thud!
The door opened and in came a crowd of magicians. "Heal her." was the only command Claude gave and the mages scattered around the bed to examine her.
Claude sat on a chair, with Arius in his lap. "Arius, are you feeling well?"
"Yes..."
"You were feeling sick last night as well."
"I–I'm fine."
Claude observed Arius, his eyes looked like he was going to cry. His face was dripping with worry.
"She'll be fine, Arius, you should go back to your Palace."
Arius looked at Claude, with his worried eyes.
"...Okay."
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
ARIUS LEFT ATHANASIA'S CHAMBERS.
He was useless, no matter how much he kept her mana stable it still ended up going in a frenzy.
And she's going into a coma at the best opportunity to talk with Claude.
Arius went back to his Palace, greeted and hugged by Olivia upon his return.
Olivia picked Arius up and went towards his bed. "I'm not sleepy, Via."
"Then, do you want to read books? Young Master Ijekiel will be arriving in a few hours, should I send a message saying you won't be meeting him today?"
'Kiel huh? There's still about a whole month left until he leaves for Arlanta. He can visit later. I don't really have the mental capacity to have a proper conversation. But I've only met him once. If I suddenly refuse to meet him, that innocent kid might get the idea that I don't like him.'
"No, I'll meet him."
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
ONCE AGAIN THE CHILDREN MET, but this time in the library of the Main Palace.
"Say Kiel, how many books have you read?"
"I never counted, but it's a lot."
"Your father said you could help me in my studies since you're quite a bright child. "
Ijekiel blushed slightly from embarrassment, and dare I say it was the cutest thing ever.
"No– Your highness, how could I– I help you in your studies?" Ijekiel asked flustered.
6
Arius laughed at his modesty. Making Ijekeil more flustered. Arius noticed this and smiled a bit, he just sighed.
"Have a seat." Arius gestured for him.
On the table were dozens of books piled up.
The two began studying together. It was studying, something Ijekiel had been doing ever since he could read.
To discover new things. He enjoyed that, but when he became pressured with the expectations of his father.
The duty as the successor. He lost it. The joy in studying. Although he lost it, he thought he didn't. He made excuses, saying he still enjoyed it.
But he didn't.
Studying was now but a thing he must do.
But when he sat with Arius and the two discussed the books. When Ijekiel explained theories to Arius and when Arius would make fun of the names of the scientists.
Studying together...was fun.
He once again found the joy of studying. And studying with a friend was even more fun. Especially if that friend was also on the same level of education as yourself.
This was another problem Ijekiel faced when he met the other nobility's children.
But he had finally found someone whom he could think of as a friend. Someone who was just like– or even better than Ijekiel himself when it came to studies.
The day ended with Arius joking about Max Berlinger. Ijekiel felt bad for making fun of such skilled scientists of the past but he still ended up having a series of laughter with Arius over the stupidest things.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
ARIUS BID IJEKIEL A GOODBYE AND honestly he felt his mood get better significantly. He was worried about Athanasia and the situation with Vivia Lennox had not died out either.
But since Athanasia was now in a coma state Arius doubted Claude would have long sessions of talk with that woman.
Arius decided he should search for Lucas and ask him to heal Athanasia. But where should he search?
The same place where he saw Lucas for the first time?
Arius was still deciding on this when he heard a voice. "That's awful."
A voice he had known all too well. He peeked from the side of the wall into the hallway, to see a face he was all too familiar with and a color he had begun to hate. Vivia Lennox and Vincent Lennox.
The name itself brought distaste in his mouth.
But who were they talking to? Ha, who would it be other than the blond male. Indeed it was Claude.
But what were they talking about?
"I hope the princess recovers and wakes up soon." Vivia told Claude.
'What?'
A royal's health status is top secret. A royal's health isn't something the nobles should be told. The nobles are only ever told that they weren't feeling well.
But not given details.
But Vivia just said.
"...Wakes up soon..."
Athanasia going into a coma isn't supposed to be told to anyone. And Yet how– Why did Claude tell her ? I get that they're friends and Claude probably trusts her...ugh I should just go to the forest.
"What about your son? is he okay?" Vivia asked.
"Yes, he is in the library."
"Oh so you were going to see him? "
Claude nodded. "We missed breakfast due to the sudden incident. And his maid said he didn't eat anything afterwards either."
"Shall we... come along?" Vincent asked carefully.
"I'm sure Prince Arius would enjoy the company of a friend." Vivia added.
Claude stared at the two lilac heads before nodding.
Arius who heard this had a series of emotions building up inside his chest.
Anger, Sadness, Disappointment, Frustration.
He hated this, and was now close to cursing the two lilacs to get the hell out of the Palace and never come back.
ARIUS, WITHOUT THINKING FOR A SECOND MORE, he ran. He ran towards the forest surrounding the Palace. He ran , ran and kept running.
Why?
Why does he feel this way?
He wants Claude to be happy.
But,
He doesn't like this.
He doesn't want this.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he tried to keep them in.
He slowed down as he saw he was deep in the forest by now.
He rubbed his welled eyes and sat down on the grass while leaning on a tree.
A deep sigh was given out as he looked at the blue sky with the fluffiest looking clouds.
The clear blue sky, one he had never seen in his first life.
It was calming.
He eased up while looking at the sky and soon the wells in his eyes began to disappear.
He hugged his knees and hid his face from the world. He felt tired. Mentally and emotionally. And now Athanasia was no longer here for him to share his thoughts with her.
He felt alone.
That is, until he heard a certain voice enter his ears.
"If it isn't that brat from before."
Arius turned around to face the voice after wiping his eyes.
And the moment he saw the face, relief coursed through his veins and he began to cry.
"Oi! You're crying!? " The ravenette began to observe the prince who looked like he had been crying before too.
"...Lucas..." Arius spoke in between his cries.
"What ? Did your sister die?"
Arius looked at the Ruby eyes that looked completely serious.
"What." Arius asked in shock and anger. His tears were now gone.
"You said she'd get caught in a mana explosion. Did that happen? "
"Her mana went in a frenzy, but she's still very much alive so don't you dare say-"
"Right, right." Lucas placed his hand on Arius and sat down while putting half of his weight on his head, causing the little prince to groan in pain.
"So then, do you want me to heal her?"
"..."
Lucas looked at Arius with a 'What is it this time.' look.
"Why, are you hesitating , this time!?" Lucas asked slightly annoyed as he remembered Arius hesitated during their first meeting.
"Shut up, it's not such an easy decision."
"Is it because your sister and you are opponents for the throne?"
Arius sighed at Lucas and his thoughts.
"I don't care about the throne. Athy is far more important."
From what I saw in the manhua, after falling in a coma , she only felt pain when she was awake. So if she's asleep for a month, she won't feel any pain. Time would simply move on. Waking her up right now would only make things worse.
Claude still meets that woman and spends time with her despite his daughter's condition.
Athanasia would feel bad when she found out about this. Plus this was the event that led to Claude and Athanasia developing a stronger and deeper relationship. But Claude seems distracted with that woman. I don't get it, why is she even here? She's already informed Claude about the potential war. So why is she still here? What does she talk about with Claude everyday?
"Hey! What are you thinking of ? Whatever it is, Stop!" Lucas held Arius by the shoulders and shook him.
"Ugh, What?"
"Your mana was acting weirdly. What were you thinking?"
"About the possibility of gaining a stepmother."
"A what?"
Arius sighed.
"Lately , my dad has been spending a pot of time with a women who is his academy friend. And he's being awfully nice to her. And we dont like her. No wait, we hate her. "
1
"We?"
"Me and my sister, Athy. Even though Athy is in acoma , dad still met that woman and was going to have lunch with her."
"Typical Emperors."
"...That aside, why shouldn't I think about it?"
"Well, it could trigger your mana to end up like your sisters."
"Huh? Weren't those triggered by divine beasts or black magic only?"
"Yeah, and then there are your own emotions, which affect your mana. Thinking too negatively will bring physical and mental weaknesses to your body and could possibly make your mana go haywire. For example when you're too stressed. " Lucas explained.
"Oh..."
Athy slept while thinking about the problem with that woman.
I did make sure her mana level was stable so was it her emotions that triggered it...Raven and Athy played for only a few hours, I made sure of that...so in the end it was an emotional triggering.
Lucas got up. "I don't have time to waste. Do you want me to help or not? Tell me, brat."
"...No."
"Fine, but I'm taking the divine beasts as per our deal."
"No, wait for her to wake up first."
"I told you I'd heal her but you're lost in your own thoughts. Time is precious, make the decision right now." Lucas threatened with an annoyed face.
His eyes were glowing.
Time is precious? to hell with that, he only healed her after a month.
"Don't heal her. Yet. And don't take the mana beasts either." Arius spoke in his cold voice and his eyes glowed as well.
I don't want her to wake up while Claude still has that woman beside him. I want her to wake up to no more lilacs.
"If you're low on mana levels and want to eat Athy's mana or my divine beasts simply for their mana, eat mine."
"What."
"If negative thoughts trigger mana, then my mana will be triggered a whole lot. So since you look free enough to be sitting in a forest. When and if my mana goes haywire, teleport to my side and eat my mana."
Arius explained.
Lucas looked at Arius as if he was crazy.
"You need a doctor."
"Be my doctor then."
5
Lucas can help himself but to smirk, he really finds Arius an interesting person. He wanted to know more about him.
"Job accepted."
SO.. HOW DOES MANA TRANSFER work exactly?" Arius asked.
"You know how to control your mana right? Just focus it on your hands and try directing its flow into my hands." Lucas explained as he joined his right hand with Arius.
"That's it? Just physical contact and directing its flow?"
"What did you expect?"
"Er, Well Athy doesn't know mana control and she's unconscious. So if you had to take her excess mana, how would you do it?" Arius asked.
"Her mana situation is different. Her mana is in excess which is why it doesn't know where to go and is causing chaos within her body. I can control her mana flow by using my own mana. And then direct it to my own body."
Arius looked at Lucas and made an 'O' shape with his lips as he understood what the mage had spoken.
"Since your mana is quite stable, you can direct it to my body yourself."
"Oki! Let's try it!"
The two placed the palm of their hands together. Arius closed his eyes and concentrated on his mana.
The mana core of a person is located in their abdomen. To direct mana from the abdomen to his right hand. And then to release and transfer it to Lucas's right hand.
Arius was visualizing it in his head and he could feel his mana flowing within him. From his right shoulder to his arm and finally his hand.
"Your Highness!?" A series of shouts could be heard from afar. Suddenly, Arius broke out of his in depth concentration.
"Ah..." He looked at his hand, disappointed.
"Your Highness!"
That's Gun...
"Tch, go for now. You lost your focus. Keep practicing though. I'll be back for my mana."
Snap!
And with that , the young warlock disappeared.
1
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
ARIUS DECIDED TO LEAVE THE FOREST and go back to his Palace. The moment he came out of the forest he was greeted by Gunther.
"Your Highness! You were here? I-I heard about the princess... "
Gunther looked at him with his worried eyes.
Athy will be better in no time! For now let's go back to the Palace."
Athanasia wasn't the problem right now. He could ask Lucas to heal her whenever, the problem was that wench.
Vivia. Lennox.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
ARIUS WAS NOW IN EMERALD PALACE, reading a book while eating a sandwich as per his nanny's constant worrying.
He was sitting in the sleeping princess's room. He would glance at her every ten minutes to see if anything changed. But nothing.
Gunther and Cadell were guarding the door outside. And as for the father of the royal children, after Arius ditched him at the library he has not been spotted.
Magicians had been coming and leaving Athanasia's room since the morning. Arius told them to simply cast a spell that would keep the princess asleep for a long time. After they did as the prince instructed them, the magicians were told to leave.
Thud!
In came Olivia with worried eyes.
"Your Highness, are you hungry? Maybe another sandwich? or perhaps juice?" Olivia asked as she took the empty plate from the table.
"Nothing Via, Thank you."
Olivia stood for a few more seconds looking at Arius with worry before leaving.
Thud!
"Lucas."
It took less than a minute for a young boy to be standing beside the prince.
"Can you blow up the Count's manor in the east?" Arius asked.
If the counts manor got blown up, then Vivia and Vincent would have to hurry back to the Eastern borders to investigate the incident.
Ah, but what if Claude stops them from going back because he thinks it's too dangerous and deploys the imperial knights to investigate instead?
"Give me ideas, how do I drive away those two lilacs?"
"Just kill them If they're giving you trouble."
Lucas was now sitting on a chair beside Arius.
Arius looked at Lucas with a slight shocked look.
Kill them?
Well, he does hate them but he never thought of completely erasing their existence out of the world.
Killing is bad. That's what he had thought up till now.
But, didn't Claude kill all his concubines after Diana died? Isn't Claude supposed to be a cold-hearted psychopathic emperor? And isn't Arius the son of said emperor. So it would be quite normal for him to kill people he dislikes.
But Claude likes them , he might become hated by Claude if he does kill them.
Arius sighed in despair.
"I can't kill them. The Emperor might kill me for doing such a thing." Arius massaged his head with his left hand and leaned back on the chair.
"Lucas, do you know where the emperor is right now?"
"Who knows." Lucas stood up and walked over to Athanasia.
He observed her mana.
"She's...okay , right?" Arius asked, a bit worried seeing as how Lucas was quiet.
"Your sister...She's just like you."
Ah, is he talking about reincarnation?
"Tha–"
Thud!
The door opened to reveal a blond man.
Arius got up from his seat and noticed Lucas had vanished as well.
"Dad..."
"Arius, you were here? I was looking everywhere." Claude slightly frowned. He was already worried about Athanasia and his son was nowhere to be found either.
He felt some relief when he saw his son standing, visibly well.
Claude looked towards the sleeping Athanasia. He walked over to her bed and sat beside her.
Arius was surprised to see Claude alone. No lilacs around him. Is this his chance?
"Are you worried about her?" Claude asked as he placed his hand on Athanasia's forehead.
Arius walked up to Athanasia's bed as well and sat on the opposite side to which Claude was sitting.
"No. Athy's strong, she'll be fine." Arius smiled at his sister.
Claude observed his son.
"Have you eaten anything?"
Arius nodded his head. He then looked at Claude, deciding whether to speak or not.
Okay, deep breaths.
"Your Majesty, do you like Countess Lennox?"
"YOUR MAJESTY, Do you like Countess Lennox?"
Claude twitched his eyes at the question and looked at Arius with a serious stare.
He's hesitating...
"Why are–"
"JUST ANSWER ME." Arius shouted and clenched his fists. He had enough of this. He was tired. He was tired of his thoughts, he wanted an answer. It was a simple question with a yes or no answer. He hung his head low in misery.
So please, just tell me.
"...Why would I like a barbarian such as her?" Claude asked, causing Arius to jolt up in surprise.
Her, a barbarian?
Did Arius hear right?
He looked at Claude, confused. Claude sighed before leaning on the bed.
"She's titled the 'Dancing Lilac' but she doesn't even know how to dance. She doesn't have the slightest manners and is not well versed in academics either." Claude kept going on about her flaws, "During our time at the academy, she would keep dueling Felix and lose every time, and she knew nothing of personal space and kept clinging to me every time she saw me. She's quicker to use her fists than her tongue. She–"
"W-Wait hold on!" Arius rose up his hands as a sign to slow down.
"S-So , you don't like that woman at all?"
"Why would I? As I just said, She's a barbarian, she might be a noble but she knows nothing about acting like one."
"H-Huh?" Arius was beyond confused.
He doesn't like her...
He...doesn't like her...
He was super confused but he was relieved as well. He could feel his body relax as he processed what his father had just told him.
Arius gave out a sigh of relief and layed on the bed, beside Athanasia, closing his eyes and focusing on that one sentence.
"You don't like her?"
"I don't. " Claude repeated, but his voice was closer than before. Arius opened his eyes to see Claude sitting beside him.
1
"Huh? Weren't you there just a moment ago?" Arius pointed towards the other side of the bed.
Claude ignored his question and began stroking his hair. "Now, why did you think I liked her? Or...did you want a mother?"
"NO, NO, NEVER!" Arius shouted and sat up straight. He clenched Claude's robes tightly.
"Vincent...said that Vivia liked you. And then she came to the Palace. And you had lunch with her..."
"You don't usually have lunch with nobles. And she mentioned having a crush on you. And she was being casual with you and you said nothing. And, she kept coming every day, in your office." Arius kept the complaints coming.
He wanted to tell him.
He had this chance to tell him.
Tell him everything.
He didn't or he couldn't keep it hidden anymore. He wanted to pour out all his feelings and thoughts and tell them to Claude.
"And...and I don't like her...Athy didn't either..." His voice began to crack, he was happy. He was happy to be able to talk freely with him like this.
How long has it been?
How long since he talked with his Dad like this? He didn't know but it felt like weeks had gone by.
Tears fell down as he kept telling him. "We... I don't like her. We don't... want a new mom, we just want you...Dad. We want you to spend time with us. Just us...as family."
Arius stretched his hands around his dad and buried his face in his robes. He didn't want to be a crybaby in front of his Dad. He hugged Claude tightly and trembled slightly as he cried.
Claude, who had been quiet, remained so, but he extended his arms and wrapped his son's tiny frame. He hugged his son back, gently stroked his son's hair.
"...I'm sorry, Arius." Claude tightened his arms around Arius.
"I hurt you."
"Again."
No reply came since the little prince had fallen asleep in the warmth of his father.
Claude decided to take a break along with his children and the whole family turned into sleeping beauties with Claude in the middle, comatose Athanasia on the left and Arius on the right.
1
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
THE FIRST TO WAKE UP, was surprisingly, Athanasia. Yes. Athanasia de Alger Obelia. The comatose princess. How? Well, Lucas saw the whole heart touching scene of Claude and Arius, and concluded that it was safe to heal her.
That doesn't sound like him, now does it? Well actually he wanted to get mana quickly. And Athanasia was basically tempting him with all the excess mana she was losing control of.
He was gonna take just a little bit but it was such a pure and strong form of mana that he couldn't help himself.
And Athanasia was shocked to death to see Claude sleeping right beside her. She almost fell out of the bed.
She spotted Arius across the bed as well and was further confused.
She decided to lay in bed and pretend to be asleep, while thinking about what in the actual hell was going on.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ.───
FINALLY, HER BROTHER WOKE UP not too long after her. And he almost jumped to hug the awake Athanasia, but realised Claude was in the middle.
"What's going on?" Athanasia whispered over Claude.
Arius signaled for them to get out and talk, which they did.
They quickly tiptoed to the door and left Claude sleeping alone. They weren't going to go too far away, instead they were gonna stand in front of the door and talk.
After all, Claude would be surprised to see Athanasia out of bed and Arius as well.
"Okay, now, What. is. going. on?"
"Welp, Athy, a lot happened."
Arius explained every little detail to her, he even mentioned the skilled mage he met in the forest and that he was willing to lend help, as well as the bad effects of mana beasts.
And of course , most importantly, Claude de Alger Obelia does not. like. that barbarian, Vivia Lennox.
Arius had found his new favourite word, 'Barbarian'.
Just when their little talk session ended and things finally became peaceful, footsteps were heard from the side halls.
Since Athanasia had just been a sleeping beauty, anyone seeing her standing in the hallway might pass out from a heart attack.
So Arius decided to walk up to the hallway and deal with the person responsible for the footprints.
"I greet his highness." Gunther bowed.
"Oh Gun, what's up?"
"Uh, Countess Lennox along with her son are requesting to see His Majesty and the Princess..."
Them again?
"I see, take me to them, I'll meet with them since his Majesty is busy right now." Arius declared.
Time to tell them. once and for all.