Own Time

Chapter 30

Aditya's POV

I hadn't said a word since we left Scanolos, and even now, as we sat down for dinner, I found myself barely touching my food.

"Mother?" My son's voice broke through my thoughts, drawing my attention to him.

"What is it? Do you need something?" I asked, trying to focus.

"Are you alright? I've been calling you several times, but you weren't responding," he said, concern evident in his voice. I sighed.

"I'm fine, sorry about that. Something's just on my mind," I replied, offering a small smile.

"Is it about the man named Darcia? Was it your first time meeting him?" he asked, curiosity in his eyes.

"Yes. Vel?" I called, and Vel approached my side.

"Master, your orders?" Vel inquired.

"I need all the information you can gather on that man. Don't leave anything out," I instructed, my tone serious.

"Understood. But is he really that bad?" Vel questioned.

"There's something off about him. He makes me uneasy," I admitted. There was no fear in him when he saw me, only a mocking confidence, as if he knew his capabilities.

"He makes you uneasy? If that's the case, it must be a serious issue," my son remarked, finishing his meal and setting down his utensils.

"I'm just making sure he's not a threat to us. No one outside of this mansion has ever dared to challenge me and smile like he did," I said, narrowing my eyes in thought.

"I see," he said, "but let's change the topic and talk about what happened before that." I nodded, thinking it would be better not to involve my child in this matter.

"Sure, we can discuss the changes I made..." My words trailed off as I noticed him yawning and struggling to stay awake. "But for now, I think you should get some sleep."

"What? I'm not (yawn) sleepy yet, and I have so many questions about..." I scooped him up before he could finish.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow. You won't be able to absorb everything today. You've used up a lot of energy, and it's already late for you," I said, glancing at him resting on my shoulder, already sound asleep. I chuckled softly and started walking. "Call the three and wait for me in my office. I'll just put this kid to bed," I instructed Vel as I passed by.

"Understood, master," Vel bowed.

"You, follow me," I said, glancing at Crade before leaving the dining room.

After tucking my child into bed, I gently caressed his hair, reflecting on everything that had transpired. Sitting at the edge of his bed, I recalled the events that unfolded back at the palace. They had assumed I wasn't in the ballroom after I excused myself and left him in the care of the Second Klovis.

But in reality, I was nearby, hidden with Vel in a corner. We used an item crafted by the old mentor, a man who enjoyed experimenting and often gave us his creations—though never for free. This particular item allowed us to remain unnoticed, rendering us invisible and undetectable to those around us.

From our concealed vantage point, we observed everything clearly. As expected, they used mahika to prevent others from overhearing their conversation. With a snap of my fingers, I subtly created a pathway to listen in on everything they said, unnoticed by their careless selves.

I heard every disparaging word they directed at my child. I was accustomed to them speaking ill of me, so I let it slide. But when they began mocking my child, calling him an illegitimate child and suggesting I would abandon him, I felt a surge of anger. My entire being seemed to blaze with fury, and I was ready to step in and give those entitled people a piece of my mind. However, Vel restrained me, holding me back from intervening.

"You're going to ruin the young master's plan, so cool your head and calm down," Vel urged. I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth in frustration.

I opened my eyes again, continuing to watch as my child prepared to release his mahika. As he cried out, a powerful burst of fire erupted from him. It would be a lie to say that seeing him cry didn't affect me; my heart felt like it was being torn apart. 'Is this what it feels like to be a parent?' I thought, feeling a mix of emotions. The shock on everyone's faces, especially the Supreme Family's, who were helpless against my child's power, brought a grim satisfaction.

"Let's go," I said, striding towards them with Vel following closely behind.

I scooped up my child, addressing the Supreme Family with a cold threat for their actions. But in truth, it wasn't enough. A part of me wanted to reduce them to ashes, but I knew my child would never forgive me if I did. It took all my self-control to restrain that urge. So, I decided to leave that wretched place before I did something I would regret, reminding myself, 'I'm not going to be like my parents.'

Just as I thought I was starting to calm down, our path was blocked by a rich-looking man with an air of arrogance, like a grim reaper dressed in finery. He had that typical popular image, probably believing everyone would fall at his feet. I was already sick of people like him, and being here had only made things worse.

He started spouting nonsense, and my patience, that is already thin, was wearing out. I handed my child to Vel, quickly dealt with the man, then took my child back and walked past him. As the door behind us began to close, I felt a sudden chill and a spark run through my body, clearly emanating from him. That encounter was the reason I was so deep in thought all the way through dinner.

I sighed, returning to the present moment, and looked at my child one last time before standing up. I left the bedroom, leaving Crade with strict instructions to stay by my child's side and ensure he slept without any disturbances.

.......................

I opened the door to my office and found the four of them already present. Vel stood beside my desk, while Griza and the old man sat next to each other. Crost was seated across from them. I headed straight to my chair, crossing my legs, knowing this was going to be a long discussion.

"Vel told us everything that happened. Are you two alright?" Griza asked sincerely.

"Yes, we're fine. Everything went according to plan," I replied, though I was still troubled by that man.

"So, what's the reason you called us this late, when everyone should already be resting?" the old man asked, drawing my gaze. I shot him a sharp look before beginning the discussion.

"It's about the child's safety," I began, my tone serious. "Since he's already unleashed his mahika, those who witnessed it will undoubtedly try to take advantage of him while he's still young, especially the Supreme Family. They won't let him reach his full potential because they'll see him as they see me—a threat to their rule."

"Those people are too obsessed with your family," Crost remarked. "It's like they've been targeting you for generations, making you wonder if they're behind the deaths of your and the young master's parents."

"But they're too careless and impulsive to pull off something like that," Vel added. "And their intelligence when it comes to hunting people is so low, it's almost pitiful for the citizens to have such rulers." His words made me sigh in agreement.

"Let's focus on my child's safety first. We can discuss that matter another time," I said, feeling impatient and agitated. "Even though his safety is a priority, I don't want to restrain him from doing what he wants. He needs to go out and interact with others from time to time. I want him to have his own freedom."

As I spoke, I noticed Griza grinning. "Do you have something to say, Head Maid?" I asked, frowning.

"No, it's just amusing how you can be such a fearsome person in front of others, but when it comes to your child, you seem to become a different person, just like your parents" Griza said, drawing everyone's attention to me.

"What are..." I started to snap but then paused, realizing what she meant. "Oh, you mean them. Yeah, I guess so."