It's Pretty Damn Efficient

You're a pond, and I'm an ocean

It felt so surreal.

For the majority of her life, Athanasia has been ignored. The only person who loved her unconditionally was Felix and Lily, but everyone else ignores her unless they have something to gain from befriending her.

She understands the nobles, she understands the maids, but the Emperor?? Claude?

He has nothing to gain really, keeping Athanasia by his side.

(Originally, she was going to count Lucas in the unconditionally list. But she's not sure about him.)

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Never did Athanasia think that she would be here, in the Emerald Palace, because of Claude.

Of course, she knew that logically to be placed in the Emerald Palace, it would have to be because of Claude's order, but never did Athanasia think that Claude would put her in the Emerald Palace on his own accord.

That's what she thinks as Lucas chews his cookie obnoxiously on the other side of the couch.

"This sucks."

Athanasia snorts, flopping onto her side. Lucas flicks one of the crumbs off his shirt onto her forehead, causing the girl to whine a bit. "Isn't it funny?"

Sitting upright, Athanasia turned and frowned. "Lucas, if you start one of your long-winded analogies that are kind of intimidating, I will punt you."

Lucas waves his hand lazily, smiling slightly. "You think so little of me."

"For a good reason."

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Athanasia is meeting up with Ijekiel Alpheus and Jennette today.

The Alpheus Family was one of the first nobles to reach out, trying to establish a good relationship between the crown princess and themselves. Due to the rumored, studious and hardworking nature that Athanasia had accidentally established for herself, Sir Alpheus had decided that both of Ijekiel and Jennette were a good fit for Athanasia.

Glancing between the two, Athanasia stared blankly at the pair. Ijekiel was staring into Athanasia's soul, whilst Jennette was making faces at her brother figure.

Athanasia coughs lightly into her elbow. "So."

"So." Jennette agrees.

Lucas sat by Athanasia's side, watching the situation with a relatively neutral face, his nose scrunching up slightly whenever his gaze lands on Ijekiel.

"My, uh, name is Jennette. But I guess you already know that, huh. I- um..." Jennette sighs. "I don't want to be here, but Ijekiel was essentially bouncing off the walls when he heard about you..."

"How could I not?" The boy in question beams, and Lucas snorts.

"She's quite a gal." Lucas yawns, popping a bone in his shoulder. Placing a cookie in his mouth, the magician mumbles out another sentence.

"Did no one ever teach you manners?" Athanasia stares at Lucas, kind of horrified.

Glancing at the princess, Lucas hums. "Did no one ever teach you how to relax?"

Athanasia scowls as Jennette gapes.

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Anastacius blinks at the corkboard in front of him. "Why is this all circled around Athanasia?"

"And how do you know who she is?" His captor seethes, before rocking back and forth on his heels anxiously.

"How could I not?" Anastacius retorts. "You mutter about her all the time."

Screaming, his captor hides his face away, before straightening back up and leaving the room.

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Athanasia stares at the ceiling, wondering how she got herself into this situation.

She finds herself laying down on Lucas' lap, the boy in question stroking her hair and humming a lullaby. "Why are we doing this again?"

"Because we're both sensible adults-" A pause. "Well, uh, teens, I guess, and we can talk about our feelings."

"Have you ever considered the fact that I don't want too?" Athanasia huffs, yet she makes no attempt to get up.

Lucas gives her a condescending pat on the head, before smirking. "Have you ever considered by doing this, you'll give me a bit of peace? You don't always have to be alone; you should know this."

"I-" Athanasia frowns.

Because how did she feel? Most of the time, she's alone when she asks herself this. And her answer has always been 'I am alone.'

But Lucas apparently proves otherwise.

"Confused??" Athanasia glares at the ceiling, all whilst Lucas hums affirmatively. "I don't know how I'm feeling, to be honest. I just... I want it to stop."

"Stop?" Lucas makes a noise with his throat, silently telling her that he's here, and listening to her worries.

"I want to go back to my small bedroom. To daily patrols. To walks along the city with you by my side. I don't want any of this royal stuff- not anymore."

Lucas glances down at her with a knowing look in his eyes, and yet. "Anymore?"

"Maybe, in the past-" Far distant past, past lives. "But now? I want simplicity. I miss when everything was just that- simple."

She misses when life was simply adrenaline, helping and doing right.

Lucas looks at her, and Athanasia sighs.

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Anastacius thinks back, and he wonders how Roger is doing back in the Alpheus Estate. In a way, he's kind of glad he was taken away from him.

Roger wasn't married. Anastacius had known this, welcomed himself into his home, and wrecked him mentally.

In a way, Anastacius hopes Roger is doing better.

Glaring up at the man holding him hostage, Anastacius silently scowls.

It's not like he's being told anything.

(You cannot ruin another person.)

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A/N

Hello!

I wonder if anyone can figure out who the captor/morse code person is haha.

'Don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm.'

<3