Like A King | bl | WMMAP | ✓

C6: "A Date?"

C6: "A Date?"

Lucas pieced each pieces together, realization flickering through his eyes. His attention then focused on Idris, on how his cold and schadenfreude face turned soft the second his attention turned towards Athanasia. "You've only answered one of my questions."

"Nothing." Left Idris' lips.

Furrowing his forehead, Lucas shot Idris a look of befuddlement. "What do you mean nothing?"

"This one does not have any purpose nor does this one helped this lovely princess for a reason. Everything was on a whim." Lies, thought Idris to himself.

Hearing that, Lucas knew that Idris didn't tell him the whole truth but he sensed that Idris had no malicious intent when he lent the princess his aid. Perhaps Lucas was thinking too much.

What a pain, he scratched the back of his head in frustration. At least, that's one less thing to worry about. After all, Lucas didn't think he'd be able to deal with Idris on a straight-up fight.

.

.

"Where are you going?" Was the first thing Athanasia asked the second she stepped out into the garden. Standing beside Idris was Octavius who bowed towards her direction. The magician's eyes flickered towards her before he snapped his fingers. His robes turned into commoner's clothes, short brown hair tied up in a low ponytail and left his bangs to frame his face.

"This one wants to see the market."

"And Octavius wants to go, too?"

"No—" Idris clicked his tongue, causing the knight to scratch the back of his head. "— this child is afraid I might cause a scene. Do you think this one is a fool?" He directed his question towards Octavius, scaring the wits out of him.

"O-Of course not! Lord Idris, I'm just concerned that someone might offend you." And you might murder them in cold blood for that. Octavius omitted the last sentence. After all, what if he was the one who gets murdered instead of some random folk? A shiver crawled down his spine at the mete thought of it.

Bright obsidian eyes leered at the knight with an offended look. "This one's does not attack idiots like you, Octi. This one refuses to stoop that low." An arrow struck Octavius in the heart, Idris's insult causing more damage than being called a pervert by some random person.

"Lord Idris!" Octavius whined with a sob.

"Come; let's not dally any longer."

"Ack— Lord Idris, wait for me! And please take the carriage I prepared for you!"

"This one dislikes carriages; child, how could you forget?"

Athanasia blinked, rubbed her eyes, and turned around to head into the garden. She pretended like she hadn't seen anything but she couldn't help but laugh a bit under her breath. Idris had, for some reason, been a bit under the weather these past few days. The princess thought he might be overjoyed since Ijekiel has come back.

However, every day, Idris grew more and more blue. No matter how she and Lucas tried to get a reaction out of him, the odd magician would give them a lackluster response. Even mentioning Ijekiel's name didn't work.

And so, seeing Idris bright and excited so early in the day, she couldn't help but hum a random song. Idris became someone she cared for, just like her father, Felix, and Lucas. Although she was afraid of the magician at first because of what he knows, Idris never once brought that up again. Sometimes, Athanasia would wonder if she had been hearing things back then.