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9. Family

Empress Selestin lay down her work as soon as the emperor's request reached her. Her husband rarely called for her in this fashion so it was clear that something urgent must have happened.
When she arrived in front of the tea room she took a moment to collect herself before motioning for a servants to open the door.
She silently stepped in. The scene that welcomed her was quite shocking.
Emperor Rhisane seemed to have lost most of his composure as his face had turned as white as snow. Opposite sat a young man with fiery red hair and clear blue eyes with a black cat on his lap. It's ears lay flat on its head and it was staring at Ratcars ruler as if it was ready to devour him.
One of the boys' cheeks just started to turn red as the slap still resounded through the room. There was an almost triumphant smirk on Fharans lips, but only for a brief moment.
She took in a sharp breath and immediately slapped her hand in front of her mouth to prevent any further sound from escaping.
The emperor forgot what he had wanted to say and turned his attention to his wife who had just entered the room.

Afrit used the opportunity to examine Fharan's injured face carefully. A few drops of blood started to trail down his cheek where his father's ring had scraped his skin, which was starting to take on an angry shade of red. His bond rubbed his head on his chin before preceding to stare at Rhisane.
He had got up to guide Selestin to her seat before sitting down again.
Meanwhile, the empress was still unable to take her eyes off her long lost son.
"I hope you won't repeat such words again!", emperor Rhisane said threateningly continuing where they had left off.
Fharan just silently stared at him.
"Don't be too harsh on him whatever it was that made you angry! He just returned my love!", Selestin tried to appease him and reached for his hand. Then she turned to her son. "I am grateful to see you unharmed and well my dear. We never truly stopped hoping for your return.", she said gently. "We have been quite horrible to you in the past. Maybe now that you are back we will have a second chance to become a real family."

She can't be serious, Afrit muttered. Fharan only sighed and stroked his fur to calm him a bit.
"You seem to have misunderstood something.", he finally replied. "I've only come today because of fathers summoning. It was never my intention to permanently return to the palace or the royal family. I'm not greedy for power nor do I have any bonds keeping me here.", he continued coldly.
Both his parents seemed to be taken aback.
"Are you serious?", his father finally asked in an unsteady voice while the empress tried to hold her tears back.
"Yes.", he simply replied. "Are you planning on leaving the city?" "Not for the time being. I am planning to attend classes." "What about the people who kidnapped you?", his mother asked. "They won't be your problem."
Emperor Rhisane was about to raise his voice again, but his wife stopped him.
"I do hope you will be careful.", she said. "And we won't let you leave without money or a proper place to stay! I will ask the servants to prepare mothers old mansion for you."
"I will only agree if I may choose my own servants." "Only if you let one of my attendants accompany you as well.", his father emphasized.
Fharan thought it through for a moment, but it was a small prince to pay for his freedom. His parents could easily have decided to keep him here.
"Very well then! I think everything has been said so I will be taking my leave now.", he lastly agreed and stood up from his chair. Afrit had jumped off his lap and was already waiting by the door.
The royal couple also stood.
He had just pushed down the handle to open the door when he heard the hurried rustling of clothes and a hand grabbed his wrist to hold him back. He turned back to his mother.
Just as she was about to speak up her eyes travelled to the arm she held which had been partially exposed because a part of his sleeve had slid upwards revealing the scars that lay beneath.

She forgot what she had been about to say and pushed up the rest of the sleeve instead only to find the same picture. Even his hand was marred with scars she had previously missed.
"Heavens boy, what happened to you? Where have you been in all these years?", she asked, her voice almost breaking.
He unceremoniously freed his arm from her grip and turned to leave again. "I think it's quite a bit too late for asking such a question.", he pointed out emotionlessly.
"Be careful!", she eventually whispered, but he did not turn back a second time.
Fharan had already crossed the corridor halfway when his brother suddenly appeared in front of him and his eyes briefly met his before barely managing to avoid him.

Korus stopped abruptly and turned around.
"Hey!", he yelled after the stranger who simply ignored him and disappeared around the next corner.
He was just about to follow when his parents entered the hallway.
"Who was that?", he asked and pointed in the direction he had come from before realizing how shaken both of them seemed.
"Is something the matter?"
Empress and emperor exchanged glances before motioning him to sit down with them in the tea room they had just left.
Only after they had settled down did his father start to speak. "Do you remember that we once talked with you and your sister about your big brother?"
"Yes, he died, right? What has he to do with it?"
"Well, that in the hallway that was him." "Who?"
"Your brother.", his mother explained and Rhisane reached for her hand as a small sob escaped her lips.