Eliphas' POV:
"Are the preparations complete?"
The being in front of me nods waving a hand as the door opens. Two beings enter the room. One of them is a 17 brown-eyed teen. He bows towards me and my wife then takes his place standing next to my son. The other one is a 18 year old guy with magenta hair and dark pink eyes. He kneels lowering his head in front of us not saying a word.
I agreed to have a private trial without the officials but… I glance at my son who is displaying a neutral expression. Was this the right thing to do? After all, a crime is a crime.
My eyes meet my wife who is sitting on her throne not far from mine. She nods as I sigh then turn back to the being who is currently kneeling. Let's get this over with.
"State your name and occupation."
His hands slowly rises in front of his face interlocking them. "Your Majesty, I am Jasper and I own a restaurant."
A restaurant owner huh?
"And do you know why you're here today?"
"Yes," A calm voice resonates through the room. "In fact, I would like to plead not guilty."
My eyes widen slightly. Huh… that's certainly a new one. Green and red eyes narrow at the figure below. "Care to elaborate?"
"Your Majesty," A man in his late 30s interrupts us bowing. "You cannot believe a word he says. He seduced my daughter and even compelled her to run away with him."
"Duke Epifanio," A smile tugs the corners of my lips. "I understand your worry but it wouldn't hurt to here his side of the story, would it?"
He frowns as I glance back at the guy with magenta hair. "Jasper, care to elaborate?"
He nods as his eyes drift towards the being not far away from me. Dark pink eyes meets his stoic expression as he subtly nods. What are they up to?
"Your Majesty, I did not seduce Lady Sapphire."
"Lies!"
"Duke Epifanio," A being standing near me bore his eyes into his, calmly as the guy gulps. "Are you not listening to His Majesty's words?"
"Your Highness," He stoops to his knees at my son's deadly glare. "I-I'm just defending my daughter."
"And that can allow you to ruin this trial by interfering?" Gold and silver eyes narrow. "What are you, an animal?"
My eyes widen at his choice of words. Animal? He usually won't get so worked up about this… but why would he… The whole room grows silent as The Duke cowers beneath his gaze. "Y-Your Highness, p-please forgive m-me."
Gold and silver eyes drift towards dark pink eyes once more. "The stage is yours."
A nod comes from him as he faces me. "Your Majesty, as I mentioned before, Lady Sapphire and I met at a restaurant. That restaurant was in need of butler's to cater food and drinks. Since I am a restaurant owner, I need more money to fund my business." His lips curve into a slight smile. "That's when I met her. I knew she's a member of nobility. I know that fact very well but… I just couldn't help but fall for her."
Ah… so this is the classic example of the hierarchy between nobility and common folk.
"I really tried to limit my contact with her and even rejected to see her a few times but all ended up in vain." He frowns with a hand clench by his side. "That was when I learned she also had feelings for me as well." A chuckle rings through the room. "Why me? I mean, I'm just a small restaurant owner. She's the high and mighty Lady Sapphire. Our socioeconomic status created a barrier for our love."
Socioeconomic status… wait… My brow wrinkles as I glance over at my son who is staring at him with a neutral expression. This seems familiar somehow…
"It was around this time," Dark pink eyes flicker from me to the guy not standing far away from him. He takes a deep breath. "Duke Epifanio started threatening me-"
"Since when did I ever do-"
"You said if I ever saw your daughter again, you'll make it so I would never exist!"
He growls balling his fist at him. "So what? Is it so wrong for me to say that? I'm just trying to protect my precious daughter from a sleazy guy like you."
"If by protecting her you mean locking her up in the mansion and controlling her every move." Pink eyes glare at him, narrowing his eyes. "You don't think I don't know what goes on in your mansion? Your own daughter fears you. All your life you tried to control her every move as if she's a marionette and-"
"You dare speak against me?" His voice rises a few notches. "How dare you, a mere peasant speak to me that way?"
"So what?" The guy kneeling on the floor suddenly hops onto his feet. "At least your daughter loves me and not you."
An index finger points at him. "You don't know anything about our relationship-"
"I know more than enough! Since her mother died, you neglected her. You never gave her the affection and care she needed growing up. She did everything to try to please you but no matter what she did, you were always as cold as a block of ice!"
"You little-"
"You even went as far as trying to kill her when you found out we made plans to run away."
"Kill?" His eyes widen in disbelief. "She's my own flesh and blood. How could I possibly kill her?"
"Oh yeah," He snickers with a laugh. "To kill me I mean. Seriously, you couldn't get her to listen to you so you decide to kill the one she loves? What kind of flawed logic is that?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," His arms cross over his chest. "You're babbling a bunch of nonsense."
"Oh really?" Dark pink eyes glance up at my son then looks at her father once more. "Remember that threatening letter you sent me? Saying how if I don't stay away from your daughter, you'll make sure to make my life a living nightmare one stab at a time?"
My eyes narrow as his face pales. "Oh? There is such a thing?"
"Y-Your Majesty, I can assure you I meant it in a metaphorical sense."
Perhaps…
"Your Majesty," A slip of paper in a plastic bag enters my hands as I blink. "The Prince wants me to hand this to you."
Hm… My eyes scan over the contents as I direct my attention towards the 18 year old guy. "And what happened next?"
"Your Majesty," His fingers interlock as he kneels once more. "The guards restrained her while they were ordered to kill me. Lady Sapphire managed to get free but found herself face to face with an incoming sword. I saw this and pushed the attacker away from her, making him stumble back hitting his head on a rock."
"So it wasn't intentional like I was led to believe?" My eyes glare at the man who is still bowing. "Duke Epifanio, what else are you not telling me?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not lie. Everything I'm telling you is the absolute truth." He gulps shifting his gaze side to side. "Yes. The guards were ordered to bring them back but not to kill him. I have no idea where he got that information from."
"Jasper," My eyes focus on his once again. "Do you have any proof whether that guard died on accident?"
"I…"
"Because if not, you'll get convicted of murder."
"But Your Majesty," A panicked look flashes on his face as he lowers his head to the ground. "That day there were only the two of us. There were practically no one else who can-"
"Bring him in." My ears perk up as a whisper comes from my son. His butler nods as the doors open and in comes an elderly man with silver rimmed glasses.
I'm assuming he's the witness that he was speaking of.
"You're Majesties," He kneels lowering his head. "Your Highnesses,"
"No need to kneel." I put up a hand as my servant offers him a chair. "Please, sit."
His eyes widen as he interlocks his fingers. "Your Majesty, I do not deserve such treatment-"
"Nonsense," I shake my head. "I'm The King and you do what I tell you to. Are you just going to refuse my word?" My arms cross as my brows furrow. "That's not very nice."
A few of the beings off to the side stifle giggles with the back of their hand as I eye them. They immediately cease their giggling putting on a straight face. Really?
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The old man lowers himself in the chair as my eyes drift towards my son.
Our eyes lock for a brief moment as he turns towards the elder. "Gareth, the other day you were at the bridge, correct?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"May you recall what happened to the best of your ability?"
He places a hand under his chin clearly in deep thought. "Well, it was very dark at the time. I remember that I was going out for my daily walk when I saw a young fellow restraining a young lady." My son nods urging him to continue. "There was another guy dressed in all black fighting with a young guy with pink hair."
"Gareth," An arm motions him to look towards the center of the room. "Was this the fellow you saw?"
His eyes widen as he stares back at my son with his fingers interlocking. "Yes, Your Highness. I would recognize such a hair color anywhere."
"Do you perhaps remember what happened next?"
He nods confidently. "Clear as day. This young fellow," A hand gestures towards the kneeling lad before me. "Was fighting with another guy while the gentleman who was restraining the lady suddenly started to attack him as well. The woman saw this and tried to intervene but one of the attacker's sword plunged towards her. Just when I thought he was going to kill her, this guy," He gestures to him once more. "Pushed him out of the way making him trip and fall."
"So he killed him?"
"Oh no, Your Highness. It was nothing of that sort. He pushed him out of the way to save that lady."
"But in the end, the attacker was killed." The elder's eyes widen. "He suffered from a brain hemorrhage."
"B-But how?" His face grows pale as he glances at Jasper. "While he was knocked out, they took the chance to run but didn't get very far since a whole army showed up. The two other guys were still fine when they left the area."
"A brain hemorrhage is a condition where ruptured blood vessels cause bleeding inside the brain. It can be a result as multiple factors such as having a preexisting condition, high blood pressure, or a traumatic head injury."
"But I saw he was fine afterwards…"
"Sometimes it may not manifest right that second. I'm assuming that once he hit his head, a blood vessel ruptured causing a headache. As time goes on, the rupture begins to grow and he died. Sometimes a being doesn't even know they have a hemorrhage until it's too late. They just pass it off as a minor headache. This period is called the lucid interval. Over time, pressure on your brain increases, producing all sorts of symptoms. As more blood fills your brain or the narrow space between his brain and skull, other signs and symptoms may appear, such as lethargy, seizures, and unconsciousness."
Wow… he must've researched a lot into this. I feel like I'm in a medical lecture all over again.
"Oh," He glances at the guy who is kneeling with his head on the ground. "But it was act of self-defense." His eyes meet mine. "Your Majesty, if that fellow hadn't attacked the lady first, none of this would've happened."
"Your Majesty," A voice chimes in as a man interlocks his fingers with a bow. "Who knows if this man is speaking the truth or not. He's old and it was very dark outside. Perhaps he was mistaken."
That could be the case as well.
His eyes widen. "Your Majesty, rest assure. Even though I am old, my eyesight has not yet deteriorate to the point where I cannot separate right from wrong."
"You know that if you lie, there ought to be consequences, right?"
His gaze shifts to meet gold and silver eyes with a nod. "Your Royal Highness, I would lie in front of others but never in front of you."
Nice to know he respects him so much. Seriously, how does that boy do it? He puts on this cold expression and is like a block of ice yet for some reason people like him. Is he a magnet? It's really unfair.
"Your Majesty," The Duke faces me interlocking his fingers. "That still doesn't mean he's not guilty. He caused his death."
"True…" I mutter as I look at the guy kneeling before me. "Jasper-"
"Your Majesty," A voice rings through my ears as I glance at him. "It was self-defense."
"Your Royal Highness, please pardon my rudeness but even though it was self-defense, he did cause him to die. Plus, I gave them specific orders to capture, not kill."
"Did you?" Gold and silver eyes narrow at the man as he gulps. "You caught your only daughter in a relationship with a commoner yet your only reaction was to capture them?"
"Well I… um…"
He lets out a huff. "If it were up to me," A hand lays under his chin with a little smirk. "Firstly, I would kill her lover. Make it so she sees his limp and lifeless body in front of her. Then I'll manipulate her memory to make it seem as if they never met. Oh, better yet, seal it for effectiveness."
…
Oh… no wonder I felt this situation was a bit similar…
I glance at my wife who is sporting a worried expression. "Your Highness," He sports a shocked look on his face. "While I applaud your thinking, I only wish for my daughter's happiness."
"So… you locked her at the mansion all alone when she was missing her mother?" An eyebrow raises. "That's your definition of love?"
"The world is a dangerous place." He frowns as he stares at my son. "As a father, I only wanted to protect her from the outside world. Is that too much to ask?"
"We all want to protect our children but locking them inside and monitoring every move isn't going to make them grow as a being." A breath escapes his lips. "If I remember correctly, your wife was assassinated, right?"
He flinches as he nods. "Yes, Your Highness."
Right. The troubles of a single father who is probably still grieving.
My son bites his lip as his gaze softens. "If you don't mind me asking, how did she…"
Why on earth is he asking that in the middle of a trial?
The Duke's hand clenches at his side. "She passed by protecting me. She shielded me against the sword aiming to take my life three years ago."
Gold and silver eyes shuts with a breath as his hands grip onto each other tightly. My eyes narrow. Why is he… "So you blamed yourself for her passing?"
…
…
…
A few minutes go by as the 30 year old man nods pursing his lips. "Everyday."
The being near me opens his eyes with a neutral expression. "She wouldn't have wanted you to live in regret."
"I know but… no matter how hard I try, I just cannot forget how she laid limply in my arms."
"Who says you have to forget?" His eyes widen. "You don't have to do anything or listen to what others tell you to do with your grief. Smile more, cheer up, it'll get better… those phrases don't do anything but prove other beings do not understand the amount of heartache you truly feel."
What is this? A counseling session? I thought this was supposed to be a trial.
"Answer me this. If she were alive today, what would she want you to do? Would she have wanted for you to push the only family member you have left away? Your only daughter?"
"No."
"But that's what you've been doing for the last three years. You have been neglecting her. I get it. I understand you're in pain and grieving but," His eyes suddenly narrow. "You can't just ignore the responsibilities around you. Sapphire is your daughter. Your child. You brought her into this world and no matter how sad and distraught you get, you have to raise her. You have to make an effort to give her two times the affection she expects from you."
"I…" His eyes drifts downwards as his fist clenches even tighter. "I understand everything that you're saying but my wife… she… how can I…"
"Are the ones who tried to assassinate you still out there?"
His dark blue eyes widen as a tiny smirk flashes on my son's lips. "If yes then what are you doing with yourself, Epifanio?"
Did he really just refer to him by his name?!
"Sitting here sulking while the ones who killed your wife is still roaming out there. Do you think that's fair? Do you think crying and isolating yourself from your loved ones will magically bring them to justice?"
"I-"
"Do you honestly think by doing that will bring you any benefit?" His voice rises a few notches as he grips his head with a hiss. "If it were up to me, I would use the pain, the heartache, to bring them down. I'll kill them with my own two hands if I have to."
"Your Highness…"
"Channel your hatred, rage, hopelessness, grief, pain, all of the emotions you experienced in those three years, or the lack of them. Channel all of that intensity to get revenge on those beings who killed your loved one."
Son…
A minuscule smile crosses The Duke's lips as he interlocks his fingers with a bow. "As you command, Your Highness."
"That wasn't a command, Duke Epifanio," His voice softens as traces of a small, small smile appears on his lips. "It was a request."
Blue eyes slowly widen as he nods. "Yes, Your Highness."
My son defaults to his emotionless look again as I clear my throat. "Jasper," The being below me interlocks his fingers. "Even though you caused a being to die, according to Gareth, it was out of self-defense. You saved someone's life and that I would love to say cancels out the punishment," Dark pink eyes light up as I let out a sigh. "Unfortunately it doesn't work like that."
"But Your Majesty, I-"
"Your Majesty," A hand hands me a file in a manila folder. "I had the lab print out the autopsy results."
"Oh?" I raise a brow as I start to flip through the papers. "You are sure thorough about this."
"I am always thorough." My eyes widen at a diagram. "As you can see, he has bruises that were most likely caused by punches or something hitting him very hard. He also has a few lacerations around his temple."
"I'm assuming," I point to the diagram where a purple shaped bruise etched on his head. "That was the fatality."
"Yes."
Hm… A breath escapes my lips as my eyes drift over to the kneeling guy then to the old man. It's clear that this was self-defense but I just can't let him go without a suitable punishment. But then again, jail seems kind of harsh… plus he has never had a conviction and was an honorable citizen before this.
"Dad," A voice rings throughout the room as all heads turn to meet golden eyes. Her cheeks heat up as she clears her throat. "Um, I mean Your Majesty,"
"Yes?"
"Considering this is his first offense, can you go light on him?"
"Jasper," The guy below me interlocks his fingers meeting my gaze. "Since this is an act of self-defense, it's not as punishable as manslaughter or murder however, I cannot let you go without a punishment so," What do the rules state again? "You will serve one year in prison and 3 months of probation."
"What?!"
My daughter furrows her brows with a displeased expression. "Don't you think that's too harsh? It's self-defense for crying out loud!"
The guy beneath me lets out a breath as he lowers his head to the ground. "Yes, Your-"
"Wait." A neutral look stares at me. "Your Majesty if I may interrupt and plead for him?"
"Granted."
Gold and silver eyes shift from mine to dark pinks and back to mine. "He was in the wrong but it was self-defense. He was protecting himself along with The Duke's daughter." My son faces The Duke. "Isn't that correct?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Dark blue eyes look at him. "But he did cause a being's death and seduced my daughter."
"Oh?" He raises a brow. "I thought you said you wish for your daughter's happiness. Was that a lie?"
His eyes widen as he bows. "That was not a lie, Your Royal Highness but it does not change the fact that he killed-"
"Ok. Let's forget the fact that he killed a person." Gold and silver eyes narrow. "If he didn't have this conviction, would you let your daughter form a relationship with him?"
"Absolutely not."
…
Speedy answer.
I glance at my son who is sporting an emotionless look. Why is he not displaying any expressions in this trial? It's just not like him to go this long without cracking a smile. Hm… and his aura… it seems off somehow…
"May I ask why?"
"He's a commoner. How can I just give my precious daughter to him of all people?" The guy who is kneeling lowers his head towards the ground bearing a frown.
Why am I not surprised? When will people realize that love is love?
"So you're saying he's not suitable for her?"
"Exactly."
"Then who will be suitable to court her?"
Someone with a high rank and power like a Marquess or Lord.
He glances at the dark-haired woman sitting in the chair next to my son, sipping water, as he gulps. "If I may be so bold and apologies to Her Highness if I offend you in any way but," His eyes drift to my son. "You will be the best option."
My jaw drops at his statement. What? I turn towards the being sitting on her throne. She lets out a sigh shaking her head in disbelief. "He's too popular for his own good." She mutters as I nod. What is up with these being and their quest to make it into The Royal Family? Can't they see it's not worth it? Plus…
The woman sitting on her chair frowns with her gaze drifting towards her lap. Her fingers grip the hem of her dress tightly. How can he say that when Lily is in front of him? Does he have a death wish? Blatantly disrespecting The Princess Consort like that. Who does he think he is?
"You-"
"Really?" A voice chimes in with a small chuckle interrupting my daughter. "I've got to say I am very highly flattered. It's not everyday a duke goes up to me and say I will be suitable for his daughter."
What on earth is he doing?! Can't he see that he just insulted his wife? Why is he outright agreeing with him?
"Hm," A hand lays under his chin. "You know what? If I wasn't married, I might give your daughter a chance."
His eyes widen. "R-Really?"
What?!
"Yea. I've known her for a few years and she seems like a reasonable lady. She has many talents such as dancing and took a course in martial arts so she can defend her pretty well. Along with that, she isn't afraid of speaking her mind," My son glances at the individual next to him. "A trait that I admire in a being."
"But," A breath escapes his lips. "I'm married to my lovely wife." She flinches slightly as he places a hand on her shoulder. "Isn't that right?"
My daughter-in-law nods not meet his eyes as I narrow mine. This is weird… why is she acting so afraid of him? And the way she flinched when he causally touched her…
"Anywho," His hand returns to his side as I frown still looking at my daughter-in-law. Something is definitely going on between them. Is it because of Katherine? Knowing him he didn't tell her about the plan but… why do I get the feeling… "What's wrong with a relationship with economic disparities?"
The Duke blinks for a moment then bows his head. "It's not necessarily wrong with it but as a father, I'm worried he might not be able to provide for her. Jasper, he is a restaurant owner and in today's economy…"
"You're afraid that she will be living in the streets?"
His eyes widen at his sentence. "Not the streets but if she goes with him, she won't be able to live comfortably."
That's definitely a concern. My head nods as my son rubs his temples. "Is that all?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Is that all you're concerned about?"
The Duke stays silent as a hiss comes from his lips. "If that's all, there's a very simple solution. Instead of leaving them to fend for themselves and risk living in poverty, you could help them by buying them a house or giving them cash and investing into the restaurant."
Gold and silver eyes pierce his. "If you are the loving father you claim to be, allowing your daughter to be in a relationship with whom she pleases is a good thing. Not to mention, there's no way that you would look the other way if she's living in the streets. Would you?"
"Well… I…"
"It's so simple if that was the only reason but it's not."
"Y-Your Highness-"
"You think you can trick me with the loving father act?" A dark smirk flashes on his face as I glance around the room. An odd aura surrounds us as my eyes narrow. What the… is he the one omitting such a dark and mysterious energy? No… that can't be… "You know what I think? I think you care more about your reputation than your daughter's happiness."
"You've got me wrong, Your Highness," The Duke kneels with a tremble. "True, I don't really want a commoner as a son-in-law but I would never prioritize anything over Sapphire."
"So," My son twirls his finger around lazily with a bored look. "If you care about her so much, why would you press charges on the man she loves?"
A baffled expression crosses his face. "Y-Your Highness, no matter how you look at it, he killed a being! That is unforgivable."
"True…" Gold and silver eyes turn to me. "Your Majesty, may you lower his sentencing?"
"It's not that simple." A breath escapes my lips. "You of all being should know this by now."
"Yes, but let's think of his record, shall we?" He summons up a folder and takes out a few papers. "Since he was a child, he volunteered at a hospital. At the age of ten, he took his time and donated food to the homeless with his father and mother. At the age of 16, he worked multiple part time jobs to make ends meet." A slam rings throughout the room as he shuts the files. "Clearly, he's an upstanding citizen. This was a case of self-defense. He felt as if his life was threatened and fought back. Tell me, how is it fair that he gets a sentence?"
"It's not…" I reply a minute later. "But still, a life for a life."
"I'm asking for you to be lenient on the sentence. Not for him to get away free of charge."
"That's the most lenient I could go." My son's eyes narrow into mine. "I can't do anything less."
"Instead of a year, how about 6 months?"
6 months? Really? A life is worth 6 months in the dungeon?"
"Seven months?"
"No."
"Seven an a half months?"
"Your Royal Highness,"
"You know what? How about no jail and just probation?"
"That's not going to-"
"Hear me out," A hand stops me mid-sentence. "He currently has an elderly being at home and a child under the age of two to take care of. If he serves his time, who will take care of them?"
"The child's mother."
"She'll miss the first year without her father."
"So?"
"That could cause separation anxiety and could cause the child to become socially withdrawn and anxious."
"What are you, a psychologist now?"
He rolls his eyes folding his arms. "Let's do it this way. A year of probation where he has to be monitored whenever he leaves his house."
"But that still won't-"
"If it makes you feel better, I will be the one monitoring him."
Him?
I hold back a laugh. "Don't be ridiculous. Like you're not busy enough as it is."
"Then I can appoint one of the guards to monitor him. That way, it won't take up my time and can make up for the prison time."
I mean… that could work… My eyes glance at the woman sitting on her throne as she nods. Right. That settles that.
"Fine." I clear my throat. "Jasper, since The Prince has graciously pleaded for you, you'll get a reduced sentence which includes one year of probation. During that time span, whenever you step foot outside your home, a guard will be monitoring your every move." Dark pink eyes widen at my words as he bows lowering his head all the way to the floor. "Do you agree on the terms?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Do anyone else have a problem with my ruling?"
"Your Majesty, I find this too-"
Dark blue eyes widen as a deadly glare heads in his direction. "Something you wished to say, Epifanio?"
Sweat drips from his forehead as he avoids my son's menacing eyes. "I-I dare not, Your Highness."
Wow… someone's pretty temperamental today.
"Right then. Jasper, I use my authority as The King to sentence you to one year of probation. Any violation will result in massive consequences unless stated otherwise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Five minutes later:
"Didn't you think you were too invested in his case?"
"What makes you say that?"
"The autopsy results, reducing his sentence because he has a child, summoning a witness who could have easily been mistaken because of the darkness,"
"What's your point?" He folds his arms across his chest as I let out a breath.
"What happened to your objectivity?" He stares at me. "I gave you this case because I expected you to be objective not subjective."
If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have even bothered with this.
"What are you saying? That I shouldn't help an innocent individual?"
"No. I'm saying you should help but you were way too subjective. Remember, in cases like these, it's better to not get personal feelings involved."
A scoff escapes his lips as he rubs the tips of his nails with a bored look. "What personal feelings? I did what needed to be done. I helped a being."
No personal feelings my head!
"You do realize Gareth could have been mistaken because of his age, right?"
"Why did you not say anything then? If you would've said something, perhaps the outcome would have differed."
"Because his actions were of self-defense."
"Right. We both wanted to reduce his sentence so if you look at it, I wasn't the only one being subjective."
Huh… I guess he has a point.
"But I expected you to be objective in the future cases, got it?"
"I can't promise that. Who knows what will come up next." He shrugs as I shake my head. Great. That means he won't be objective. What is happening to my son? Why is he acting so… weird?
"Your Highness," A butler approaches him. "She wants to meet you."
She? How many women does this kid know?
He nods then faces me. "If I could be excused, I have somewhere to be."
"Go ahead."
"Oh and remember you and your wife are supposed to make an appearance at the Marquess's baby shower this evening."
He raises a brow in confusion. "What?"
"You got an invitation about a week in advance."
"Invitation?"
Gold and silver eyes blink blankly at me.
Did he really forget?
"We talked about this a few days ago," I begin slowly as he stares at me. "You didn't forget, did you?"
…
My eyes drift to my wife's with a worried expression. Wow… did he really forget? I thought he has a photographic memory… perhaps his head trauma still is affecting him?
"Oh yes." His eyes suddenly lights up placing a hand under his chin. "The baby shower. Right."
"You remember what time it is, right?"
A hand waves with a scoff. "Of course. It's… 7?"
"Eight."
"Same difference."
Something's definitely wrong. For him to forget the timing of the event…
"Are you sure you're alright?" My wife speaks up as her lips curve into a frown.
His eyes widen. "Alright?" A chuckle escapes his lips. "I'm the definition of alright. What could possibly be wrong with me?"
Like that wasn't suspicious at all…
"Lucky,"
"Don't look at me like that. I'm fine." He puts up a hand as we all look at each other. "So I forgot an event. Big deal."
"But you have a-"
"So? Who says that a being with perfect memory can't forget?" His eyes narrow. "Besides, you people can forget when I can't? Are you saying what I think you're saying right now?"
And here comes the defensiveness.
"N-No." My daughter places her hands in front of her chest. "Not at all."
"We're just concerned since you are acting a bit... um..."
"Go ahead, mother. A bit what?"
Golden eyes meet mine as I let out a breath. Of course. "Temperamental."
"What?!" The being across from me snaps as we flinch. "Temperamental? You accuse me of being temperamental?"
This proves my point.
A huffs escapes his lips as returns away folding his arms across his chest. "Why I'm as calm as the sea. The fact that you people can't see that says something."
"More like a storm." I mutter beneath my breath as he snaps his gaze back to me with a scowl.
"What was that?"
My lips curve into a smile. "What ever do you mean, son?"
"I heard what you said and who are you calling son?" He rolls his eyes. "I'm not your son."
That's to be expected.
I shake my head rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Whatever you say. Just remember to make an appearance at the party tonight."
"Noted and why only me? You're The King. Why didn't he invite you?"
Good question… come to think of it, why didn't I get an invitation? It's so unfair! Why does my son always get the good things?
"I'm busy so I can't attend." I reply after a minute as he nods. My eyes drift over to my daughter-in-law. "I expect both of you to be on your best behaviors." She nods as I look at the guy who is staring at his nails with a bored expression. "Especially you, Astral."
"Nice of you to single me out."
"Stop it with the sarcasm young man." Honestly, was he this sarcastic before?
"Anyway, can I go now?"
"If you must."
My son start to take steps to approach the door when he suddenly stops causing a 17-year-old teen to bump into his back.
"M-My apologies, Master."
Why did he stop all of a sudden?
"Why didn't you speak up?"
Huh?
I raise a brow as I glance towards my daughter and wife. What is he talking about?
"As my princess consort, why didn't you say anything when he indirectly insulted you?"
Oh…
"What happened to all your confidence? Did it grow legs and walk away?"
"I…" My daughter-in-law looks down towards her lap clenching his hands together. "I um-"
"As I said before, it's tough to get on top but it's tougher to stay there. He is just a duke. Your position is much greater than his yet why do you let him walk all over you like that?"
"I," A whisper rings from her lips. "I didn't want to interrupt the trial…"
"You didn't want to interrupt?" A scoff escapes his lips as he faces her figure. "Or were you too afraid to speak against him?"
Purple eyes widen. "I wasn't-"
"Save it. You think I don't know how you are?" He lets out a breath shaking his head. "What are you so scared of? To let a measly little duke run his mouth like that is just so…"
"I-I'm sorry."
"Stop it." His voice turns stone cold as I purse my lips together. "I don't need or want your apology."
Why on earth is so so cold? He's his wife!
"You are The Princess Consort." Gold and silver eyes pierce her figure. "Just your status alone should bring chills down a being's spine yet you are here getting insulting by them and not saying a word at that."
"T-They don't like me…"
"So?" She looks up at him blinking every so often. "You think the individuals of this world like me?"
She stays silent clenching her fist.
"Let me tell you something, Princess. They don't like me but rather respect and fear me." Her eyes widen. "You think just because I'm The Crown Prince means that everyone automatically likes and respects me?" He shakes his head. "It doesn't work like that. Respect is earned not given."
Their eyes lock with one another as he narrows his. "If they don't respect you, make them respect you. I don't care what you do for that to happen but you will never earn the people's respect with just a pretty face."
He turns away and starts walking towards the door once again. "You have to start fighting your own battles. You are The Princess Consort. Use that title to your advantage. I won't always be around for you to rely on."
(Slam)