The Real Lovely Princess || 𝖶𝖬𝖬𝖠𝖯

ath. nine

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Chapter Nine

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❝ Are you Dead or Alive? ❞

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'Viscount Patterson..' Claude thought, as he read the documents Felix handed over regardings of the incident. In all honesty, Claude didn't know who Viscount Patterson is. Neither him, or his child whom rumors have said to be adopted. 'This is bothering me, even though i don't know why.'

"Your Majesty."

Claude turned to the owner of the voice, and lowered the paper he was reading. "Have you found him, Felix?" he questioned, as Claude stared at Felix.

Felix shaked his head, as he sighed. Clear frustrations can be heard at it. "I haven't, Your Majesty. I've searched every inn in the West part of Obelia, but the Former Emperor wasn't there at all." Felix sighed once again.

"The former emperor might be alive?!" Felix suddenly exclaimed, as he heard Claude's bold statement while they're at his office. It was late at night, and people except the two of them might have slept already. "Your Majesty, Former Emperor Anastacius couldn't survive that wound."

"That's what i thought too." Claude whispered. His mind suddenly went back at the time. The time where his brother's head were at his shoulders, his mouth coughing off blood as it dripped at the floor. "That much blood he lost could have killed him."

"Then why?"

"That, i'll be keeping to myself for the mean time, Felix. Have yourself find him, since you also personally knew him." Claude ordered, as he gazed at Felix. Stone cold, Claude's eyes suddenly lightened up due to the moon's brightness. "Now."

"Have you met Viscount Patterson?" Claude asked, as Felix tilted his head.

"Do you mean the former, or his son?"

"The son." he replied. Truth to be told, even in his past life, there was a name ‘Patterson’ that stood out to him. He even remembered the guy, as one of Alpheus' many connections or as what he says, acquaintance. "Have you seen him personally?"

"No, i haven't. I've only heard it from my father and sometimes, Duke Alpheus." Felix immediately replied truthfully, as he then, remembered Roger's displeased face whenever someone mentions the name ‘Patterson’. "The Duke seemed to hate him, though. Albeit, that is only my observation, Your Majesty."

"Is that so?" Claude retorted as he himself, can't believe his personal knight's words. 'Alpheus? Hating my brother? For all i've known, those two are close.' Claude thought, as he snickered at the sudden memory of the two talking. 'For all i know, i would've mistaken those two as lovers.' "Have him investigated, Felix."

"Your Majesty..?"

"That guy.. He's suspicious." Claude stated in a bold manner, as he stood up. As he walked passed Felix, he patted his shoulders first and chuckled. "Do it now, Felix."

"Your Majesty..!"

Claude just chuckled even more as he exited his office, and immediately headed over the Emerald Palace. Although, Claude was sure Athanasia was safe, he can't help but to feel like he should be with her at all times. Afterall, he couldn't be reassured at the fact that Lucas, who had lost his mana as it was stated by him already, is there beside her. But Claude's more like, wary of Lucas than people who might sneak in and try to kill Athanasia.

"Lucas! Blackie's missing..!" That was the first thing Claude heard when he neared his daughter's room. Curious at how the two interact, he hid his presence and listened closely at the two. "Find him! Find him!"

"Relax, that mutt's just nearby." Lucas replied in a bored tone, as Claude even heard him yawn. But his yawning was interrupted, as he heard a shuffling sound of clothes next. "Hey. Stop that!"

"Bring Blackie to me now."

"You really have to limit your time with him."

"Why? Papa said it's okay."

"No, he did not. He said it's okay, only if you hung around that mutt for a little time."

Claude chuckle at the two's interaction, hearing that his little Athanasia can be quite a bossy, but he hated the fact that Lucas was so nonchalant with her. 'Atleast treat her some respect, you idiotic buffoon.' Claude thought, as he finally knocked at the door and entered the room.

"Athanasia."

"Papa!" Athanasia exclaimed, as she then ran onto him to embrace him. As Athanasia reached his feet, Claude immediately lift the princess up and patted her head. "Can we have tea now? Please~?"

'Oh dear daughter of mine..' "You don't have the plead for something so simple, Athanasia." Claude chuckled as he continued carrying Athanasia, leaving Lucas behind. "Let's go."

"Yaaay! Lucas, see you later." Athanasia waved at Lucas, as she wrapped her arms at Claude's neck. She was feeling ecstatic, as if the dreams at night that are terrifying, didn't happen. "I wanna have chocolate cake, Papa."

"Of course." Claude replied shortly, as he inwardly sighed. Worry washed over him, as something tugged his heart. Maybe in happiness, or maybe in fear.

Although, Claude can rely on Lucas for protecting Athanasia, he wasn't that relief. Lucas hasn't regained all his mana yet, as what the man have stated, so in such times as when 'Aeternitas' attacks Athanasia, there's not much he can do.

'But he became a royal magician, talk about lack of mana.' Claude scoffed in his mind.

But that wasn't the thing that bothers Claude. It was the fact that possibly, his brother are walking around the streets of Obelia. His dead brother that he killed with his own hands.

'Anastacius.. Are you dead or alive?'