Road of the Heavenly Light

7-2: Ambitions

The next morning, Felix was immediately greeted by Laura. He hadn't slept at all, but thankfully it was hard to notice.
"I'm sorry if my parents scared you yesterday. They don't mean any harm, but they're just really insistent on securing Falmar's future."
"It's alright. It made me realize what I have ahead of me if our relationship keeps developing, which I have no doubt will happen. I'm just not sure on how to tackle my other future position." The pair walked through the halls of the palace, on their way to breakfast.
"Do you still think Alexander won't be able to be a good duke?"
"No, on the contrary, I think he'll be a wonderful duke, but he's been so busy with his new hobbies lately... I don't want to ruin his future plans."
"I think you're being a little overprotective. You should at least consult him about it."
Felix shook his head, "he'll immediately accept, even if he's planning to travel the whole continent for the rest oh his life."
"I'm not saying you should tell him about the position of duke, just bring up the subject of future plans with him, of course without telling him your future plans." Laura placed her hand on Felix's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll figure it out somehow." Felix returned Laura's gentle smile and the two went to breakfast. The rest of the week was thankfully a lot more peaceful, and the topic of Falmar's future didn't come up again. Alice and Robert seemed to be warming up to Felix, and he even won a round of cards against them. The week flew by, and Felix grew quite fond of Falmar and its culture. He especially loved the weather, which was a lot colder than in Aurion. There had even been a few days of snow, which Felix had never seen in Aurion before, with half the country covered in desert and the other half still very warm. He and Laura had even played in the snow, and she had annihilated him in a snowball fight. She had a lot of skill for someone who had never had friends before coming to Royale High... Felix wouldn't mind living in Falmar, he just wasn't sure about being king and how it would work.

Before he knew it, he was already sitting in the carriage again, headed towards Gaspard territory. Maybe Laura would be able to advise him...
"Laura, do you know what a king consort is supposed to do?"
"Besides supporting me, which you already do, I have no idea. I've been tutored for the position of monarch, not consort. Perhaps if my engagement to Glen had gone through, I'd have known more."
"You were betrothed to Glen?!"
"For a few hours, until the two of us worked some magic to break it off. I was twelve back then... I still don't think I would have known much about the position of consort, though. Of the few marriages between two royals the continent has seen, all of them had one of the two royals stake their claim to their throne in favor of a sibling. Glen and I are both only children, so a merger or co-rulership of each other's countries would have had to take place... It's a miracle I managed to avoid that ordeal."
"I wish we had any living king consorts left to ask for advice..."
Laura placed her hand on Felix's, "we'll figure it out as we go along, I'll be by your side every step of the way." Felix smiled.
"Thank you, Laura."
"Besides, knowing my parents, they won't abdicate at all and stay young and healthy for the next four hundred years and we won't be inheriting a thing." They both laughed.

When the carriage arrived at Duke Gaspard's estate, Felix helped Laura out and escorted her to the front door, where his father was already waiting alongside Alexander.
"Your Highness, we are honored to receive you here," his father greeted the pair.
"Please, ma'am is fine." Felix tried not to laugh. No matter how much Laura loosened up, she wouldn't just let everyone cal her by her name. Ma'am was also known by many commoners as an old lady thing. Felix didn't have the heart to Laura that.
"As you wish, ma'am. Please allow me to show you your room." The four of them traversed the estate towards their rooms, where their luggage was brought to as well. Felix's father then left to take care of affairs of state, leaving Felix, Laura, and Alexander behind in the drawing room, where they were having tea.
"It's so wonderful to see you again, Alexander," Laura said, "how have you been? Astrid told me you've been in Divinia a lot to spend time with Princess Emma."
"Yep!" Alexander exclaimed, "we love to watch the stars together!"
"How have your studies of tactics and strategies been going?" Felix inquired, hoping Alexander would reveal some plans for the future.
"Great! I've learned so much, and I've been seeing if I can become good enough to study at the Tactician's Academy in Falmar! I also want to study at the Belmont Academy for Anima Magic!" Alexander answered. Felix went pale.
"That's wonderful!" Laura said, "I'm sure my parents would be able to get you enrolled if you have the right qualifications."
"Excuse me." Felix shot up and left the room abruptly. Why did this have to happen?! With how much Alexander had been studying, he would almost be guaranteed a place at the academy in Falmar, and Felix was sure his brother would have no trouble getting into the Anima Magic academy either. How could he possibly tell his brother that his future was in jeopardy because he was to become duke now?! Their father would never let Alexander go once that became known... Maybe Felix could just do both. Maybe Laura's parents would live a long and healthy life and never abdicate and he would never become king, and could instead become duke... But he could never ask Laura to give up her life in Falmar just so he could stay in Aurion to advise Glen... Maybe he had to end things with Laura... No, he loved her too much to shatter her heart, and his own as well. Why did Felix have to get stuck in an impossible dilemma?! He would either ruin Alexander's future, or his own. Felix entered his room and fell onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling, knowing that it wouldn't help at all. Why did this have to happen to him of all people?