The Hidden Knave, Arlecchino In Who Made Me A Princess

°First Mana Lesson°

After the answers he received from the assassin, Lucas realized he didn't know enough about Arlecchino's mother. Her current birth mother, he meant. From what the asassin spilled, she was a princess of the neighboring kingdom.

Claude, the emperor, was interested in her features, the platinum hair, and unique pupils. Her own empire considered her a curse that stained their royal bloodline, and happily handed her over when Claude decided to keep her.

According to rumors, Arlecchino wasn't Claude's child. They say her mother bear the child of a demon, and thus died during childbirth. That her mother was a witch, or monster that wanted to curse the Hadura kingdom along with the empire, and other vile things Lucas didn't bother hearing.

Her kingdom wanted to kill Arlecchino because of those rumors. They truly believed Arle wasn't Claude's blood, but an actual demon in disguise. They didn't even try to unite the kingdoms using Arle, they just wanted to kill her.

A complete waste of power, if Lucas was honest. Hadura kingdom was known to be overly religious, worshipping the moon Goddess and its cycles. When Arle was born, it was a red moon. A sign of chaos, and danger.

That's why they didn't even hesitate in sending an assassin once she was a week old.

All of this, combined with the apperances of both mother and daughter, made everyone believe they're cursed. From what Lucas knew of their beliefs, those born on a red moon were demon children that grew stronger by causing misfortune on others.

It was ridiculous. Fearing something different based on ancient test written by a random person on the street. The only religion Lucas believed in, is the one with actual evidence. And from what he knows, moons don't write a person's story.

They wanted to kill a child, his daughter over religious beliefs. It didn't start now either, this maid has been in the ruby palace with Arle's mother since the beginning.

She's also, the leading cause of her premature death. The stress had gotten to her, making her labor extremely painful, and mortal.

Lucas placed his hand above the assassin's head, and spoke with a chilling tone.

"You have targeted my daughter, and for that, there's only one way to pay."

Granted, killing someone over a child he's barely known over a week is a little excessive. But gaining Arlecchino's trust is far more important than this woman's life.

A simple wave of his hand, and she was gone. To a place where no one will ever find her body.

With that taken care of, Lucas went to Arle's crib. Gazing down at her sleeping form, her even breath's, tightly clench fists, and comfortable onesie.

Her features seemed much softer as she slept, but that stern look she always had looked ready to slip in at any moment. He huffed out a smile, and poked her cheek. Her little frown made him lean closer with a fond smile, he rested his head on the crib's railing and watched her.

"Seems I have to take better care of you..."

Increasing security, and teaching her some spells should do the trick. If anyone's capable of learning from him, it's her.

-

A year has passed since, and no other assassins were sent. Arle could now walk, and would explore the mansion during the day when Lucas wasn't around.

These trips revealed, that she was basically abandoned with no servants, decorations, or anything inside the palace except dust.

Arlecchino doesn't know why Lucas always leaves, just to come back later on. But he would stare at her whenever he came back, he would sigh, and snap his fingers. Making the dirt and dust on her clothes disappear without a trace.