What Universe is This Again?

XXXIX

A/N: This went on hiatus because I prepared for the pandemonium and angst arc! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

"If you stab him right now, he will die quicker with this," Yhan says, handing Athy a real fucking knife. "It is proven and tested, faster than anything; just aim at his vital points."

Claude raised an eyebrow after hearing his son talk about murdering him.

His daughter suddenly beat up her brother, saying, "You can not do that! You are wasting a national treasure!"

"You like cute men? Not old masculine men!" Ayhan could not help but cry. Athy just punched him in the face with all of her might. Is she a gorilla, or something? How can she be so strong?!

Ayhan rubbed his cheeks, teary-eyed.

"Don't joke around. I'm being serious, Yhannie."

"Well. I am as well."

Everyone was silent after Yhan said that. He's seriously considering murdering his father! At all costs!

Claude suddenly had a moment of silence. While his daughter tries to save him, his son is determined to kill him. He just realized he was a terrible father for one of them to be so angry about killing him.

But somehow, Athy's pouting expression was cute. Claude could not stop watching her expressions. She looked pretty when she was angry, too. He can not help but smile, eliciting more loud gasps from everyone in the hall.

"Ugh, that is creepy," Yhannie exclaimed, staring disgustingly at Claude's smile.

Claude simply remained silent.

"At least, Daddy is more handsome than you."

"What's with that retort? If he's handsome, I am as well."

"Hah? A skinny princess like a prince like you?"

Yhan felt like that was an insult. He couldn't help but frown and say, "I'm his exact carbon copy."

"Well, yeah. Attitude wise you are." Athy stated that with a smile and as a matter of fact.

The bickering continued, earning a relaxed tone from everyone.

The princess stopped and waited for him to say, "His Majesty's curse was a part of his soul. It'd be faster if the curse were on his body, but no. Without power similar to that of the world tree, stabbing his Majesty with the world tree branch would kill him outright."

"I did it once to—wait." He had the vitality of the heart that could protect his heart from the power of the world tree. It had the effect of making him almost immortal.

"What His Majesty needs... is for the curse to be destroyed from the inside."

"Then there's no way?" Yhan asked.

"There is." Lucas displayed a spell. "But it's risky, especially when the curse has not acted up yet."

The twins looked at each other.

"I do not like how they are looking at each other," Claude said, bringing Athanasia closer. He rested his arms around her waist and resolved to make the most humane and fatherly gesture he had ever made. He embraced Athanasia, putting her mind at ease. Her head rested on the crook of his neck, and a hand patted her head.

Everyone's gaze was drawn to the father, who was wearing a kind expression.

It made no sense that Emperor Claude acted this way.

Emperor Claude would never look like this.

He would never look at his children this way.

He had never treated them with such kindness.