Blood Peonies (Who Made Me a Princess)

When It Rains, It Pours

Red eyes glowing eerily in the moonlight, Lucas observes Athy from the balcony. He has always watched her silently for every night, mostly to monitor her mana levels and siphon it bit by bit to stabilize her core. He thinks how he ended up being a Court Magician. Sure, he was asleep for more than two hundred years and has erred in his estimate of his awakening, but to think that he will end up being the Magia Tower magician again...

He observes her from his perch and he muses on what she was doing. She has been looking at that hair comb for some time now. Lucas had to admit, he was... intrigued with the princess. She was the first one who saw him when he was wandering around the palace garden, more like a forest, if you ask me, his mana being dangerously low but not low enough that he would need to sleep again. I didn't expect the backlash to affect me for more than two hundred years and my mana is still low even after sleeping and passively absorbing mana for all these years. To think that I will be a Court Magician again in this life but staying with the princess has its uses. I have been absorbing mana bit by bit but more than expected by just passively staying with her. Well, she does have her uses. But really, she wouldn't be having this problem of mana overflow if she just let me devour that Holy Beast of hers, but of course, it would lead her to have no magic at all. Just like before. But heh, I guess this arrangement also works, there's free entertainment and I get to have luxury with just by watching her mana levels.

The wind picked up and it ruffled his short black locks. His hair used to be waist length but he cut it short. He saw Athy shiver a bit on her bed, still cradling that hair comb, and Lucas decided to make his presence known since he is getting tired of waiting Athy to fall asleep and just wants to get over it. He might even get entertainment out of that hair comb, he muses as he skipped on the balcony and making himself visible. He plopped down beside Athy and just waited for her to speak. He has observed Athy long enough to know how she acts.

Lucas peered over Athy's shoulder and true enough, she was holding a small, quaint, hair comb. Upon closer inspection, he noted that the flowers are Athanasia dentate made of gold. It was pretty, sure but he doesn't get why Athy has to stare at it so intently and why is she crying? Lucas was bewildered.

"Papa is getting married soon." Athy says quietly but Lucas heard it loud and clear. Huh, so it's a family drama thing. Athy caresses the small golden flowers with her fingers, as if mulling about the topic. Lucas decided to probe her a bit since this is the most exciting thing he has heard about the imperial family since he became the Imperial Court magician. I am bored but this will do.

"She is a princess of Siodonna. Papa is now officially engaged since they have put the imperial seal on the contract. Papa asked me to pick a courting gift." Honestly, Lucas is getting quite irritated with how Athy is haltingly talking about this. It's like she is just enumerating known facts. Time to ask the right questions.

"And how do you feel about that?" Lucas asked, observing Athy closely for her reaction. She looks detached. Fake it until you make it, huh?

Lucas didn't say anything, waiting for Athy to give in. He knows how it works with emotions, even if he is apathetic himself. He does know how to read an atmosphere properly. Give them the silent treatment and they will blurt out what they think.

"... I feel scared that I will not be Papa's daughter anymore once he realizes that he can start again with love and family without being reminded of his loss. Papa... I know Papa is hurting. I see it in his eyes when he doesn't think I know he is staring at me. He is still grieving over Mama. He did call me the "wench's daughter" when he first met me but..." Athy trailed off. Lucas waited for more but it looks like Athy is not going to speak anymore.