𝐖𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐏: 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞

7: Athanasia, 'Don't be clueless.'

Knowledge has always been the foundation of the power of the kings of old.

Anastasius is infuriated when he sees Claude doing better than him in their studies. What even was he here for? He was the heir to the throne, with the name that meant resurrection, not him- the limping!

The name their father gave to his youngest son meant he didn't care nor wonder about how his son was doing, right?

But he's even more angered at the fact that Claude didn't even seem to be trying his best, looking for all the world like he was struggling in front of the teacher, but Anastasius could see Claude was holding back- for his sake.

How dare he. Who was Claude to judge whether or not he needed to hold back?

"Your younger brother is laughing at you."

No Claude wouldn't do that. He had to calm himself.

"Look at his smile." Can't a younger sibling smile? Like Cyrene, their smiles were one and the same, and he thinks- maybe it would be better if she were to partake in the same studies.

With the two of them.

He breathes in sharply and knocks on the emperor's door. "Father, may I enter?"

He was going to be a good older brother, for the both of them. This petty jealousy should stop in its tracks and get out of his head already.

Black wisps of smoke seemed to linger around his head but dissipated as he entered the room at the call of, "Come in."

Athanasia sits down for tea with the family and she notices the empress' empty seat but chooses to ignore it in favor of checking on the emperor's mood.

Anastasius had come to find her the other day. 

"Father will bring up the idea of studying with us, Claude and I. It's up to you to decide whether you want to join us, but I wanted to say that I personally don't mind if you come."

The emperor brings up the matter after the first course. "Cyrene, dear, I know it's been some time since you arrived. I wonder if you've acclimated?"

"Yes, father." She smiles brightly, a ray of sunshine in the overall gloominess and the emperor melts at her assurance.

"Good, good! If you would like, you may join your brothers in studying under their teachers for studies starting soon."

Athanasia doesn't shake as she lifts her teacup to her mouth, takes a small sip, and replies sweetly, "I am ready to begin whenever you allow me to, father. Would today be alright?"

A week passes by fairly quickly and it's all the time she needs to figure out the power dynamics of their little classroom under most of their teachers.

The dance teacher had his nose in the air but he gave them the right pointers when needed. 

The etiquette teacher warmed up to her after a day or two as she showcased her elegant disposition. 

The history teacher on the other hand...was arrogant beyond compare.

Athanasia had seen enough of his despicable deeds as she left with Anastasius, seeing him call Claude to stay back and as she stayed behind to watch with growing anger, she saw him whip Claude's calves with a sickening grin on his face.

She had waited until the teacher had left to catch Claude as he came out with a sweaty face, tear tracks still drying on his cheeks. 

"Older sister?"

She had hugged him tightly, "It's okay now, Claude. I keep saying this, but don't worry." 

Her face was half-hidden in shadow but it didn't mask the dark gleam in her eyes as she patted his back.

"Leave it all to your sister."

It's the end of the class and she has that slimy teacher crawling beneath her feet. If only Claude could see this too, but she chose to protect his eyes since he was still a young child.

"Who do you think you are?" Athanasia's lips turn upwards into a sly smile and her eyes are cold as she stares at the so-called teacher trembling with fury on the floor.

"Tell me- do you think you're worthy of my time?" She doesn't add, "teacher" to the end, perhaps insinuating that he wasn't one any longer.

He can't stand the injustice of being looked down upon, and he struggles to rise but finds himself being pressed down into the floor, and he swipes his hands around, trying to dislodge her feet, and finds- it wasn't her weight at all.

It was her imperial mana.

It crushes his back, and he lets out a cough, the weight growing and expanding until he can no longer feel his hands, and she sits down at the table again, crossing her ankles as she watches him squirm.

"...Beg."