Avoid The Lead! [[COMPLETED]]

30. Through It All

.

"Tell me child. Why were you so afraid of Prince Vitav...?"

Grand Mage Sidian's question made Celia's ears ring.

She had forgotten that sharing one's memories also conveyed their emotions at the memory's time.

"I- I was-! I'm not-!" She floundered, wondering what would be a satisfactory answer.

In past lives, Grand Mage Sidian hadn't done anything wrong that she knew, except perhaps in her last life, when he had temporarily suppressed all spells within the Scarlett Estate.

But at the time, he believed she may have harmed King Vien. And that was if he was even the real 'Grand Mage Sidian'... It might have been a fairy clone!

But could she trust him...?

Grand Mage Sidian gave a light chuckle and held up a hand.

"How about I say a few things, and you decide whether to tell me after that?"

Celia slowly nodded.

"You had not met Vitav before that night... Correct?"

Again, Celia nodded.

"You don't like him in the least. In fact you might hate him... Correct?"

Celia gave another nod. There was no point denying this. Grand Mage Sidian had likely sensed it in her memories.

"You find him manipulative, and you suspect he or his mother are behind the Crown Prince's ailment... Correct?" He held up a hand with another light chuckle. "Don't bother answering that. If I can't guess your answer, then I'm no Grand Mage! In fact, forget my initial question!"

He stood up suddenly. "From today, you're my Healing Mage in attendance! Let's go see the Crown Prince!"

Celia grinned. She really wasn't sure if she could trust Grand Mage Sidian or not, but she was fairly certain he wanted Taze to live.

And besides, she could finally see Taze!

.

At the East Wing, Taze's eyes shot open.

'Celia?!'

She was so close!

He had known she was in the palace...had sensed her from the first day, and longed to go to her, but his father had grounded him to the East Wing as punishment for attending Elfsworth.

"You were so active, yet you've been acting sickly in the Palace! As your father, how do you reckon I feel, whenever I receive so many petitions to depose you?!"

"I- I'm sorry father." Taze hung his head. "But I really do have a strange illness!" He added in a rush.

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT! YOU ACTED NEAR-DEAD WHENEVER I VISITED! YOU LED ME TO THINK YOU WERE ALREADY AT DEATH'S DOOR!!!

Guilty feelings washed over Taze. To deceive Lady Flora, he let the illness take hold of him whenever his father or Grand Mage Sidian were approaching. "F- Father! I had a reason -."

"GROUNDED! STAY IN YOUR EAST WING AND SELF-REFLECT!" King Vien huffed in annoyance, then sighed. "The only advantage is that you found Dr. Sylvadeen Florence. His theories would be helpful in the future... But I won't spare you because of that!

"I hear Miss Scarlett is becoming a Palace Mage. You're not permitted to leave the East Wing and meet her!"

"B- but Father!"

"I will personally use a spell to lock you in. According to Dr. Florence, you're powerful enough to break it, BUT WIll YOU DARE??!!"

"I.." Taze sighed in defeat. "I won't dare." He bowed and hurried back to the East Wing.