ᴡᴍᴍᴀᴘ: ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔰

Raison d'être, Sovereign: II

"Good day, Whitey!" watching Duke Alpheus's eyebrows go up then press together, she knew she had struck a nerve, and continued on. "I'm Athy!" 

"Yes, your highness, this humble Duke is well aware of your highness' name, how could I dare to for-" 

"Hmm..I'm the crown princess you know." His back had stiffened up so much, Athanasia wanted to slap it to see if he would fall to the ground, reminding her of the fly incident in the gardens with Claude earlier.

"Yes? Your..your highness?" Felix's smile had spread wide, so proud of her, and Duke Alpheus had just about let his jaw drop to the floor, despite the obvious fact his lips pressed tightly together. 

"No, no!" Athanasia had wagged a finger- such a childish action coming from a young girl, a princess who was not even a quarter of his age- and Felix had stifled a laugh, ducking behind her hair to hide his face.

"It's your imperial highness, crown princess Athanasia. Little Sun of the Empire, blessings and glory upon the Empire of Obelia- you mean- don't you?" 

Her pupils had decreased in size, the blue gem sea overwhelming the tiny dot of the deepest black, and her smile was positively wicked in the face of the stuttering Duke. "Come now, Duke Alpheus- don't make me repeat myself." 

Duke Alpheus back then, had swallowed his pride and had woodenly repeated after her, sweating despite the shade. Not even a mention of daddy, and he had done so- pleased with it, she had let him lift his head as she passed by in Felix's arms. "Until next time, Whitey!"

The next time was when she had chosen daddy as her partner, and Duke Alpheus ran into her outside the audience chamber, door still ajar. He bowed immediately at the sight of her, the smooth spill of the formal greetings as she waited until he was done, and petted his hair. 

Oh- he had hated that little humiliation. How she had stomped over his fragile ego, the great Duke Alpheus- being subjected to a nickname, then being pat on the head.

He had probably been infuriated on the inside- or maybe shocked- at how, she dared. Dared to touch his head. "Your imperial highness, crown princess Athanasia- have you chosen your partner for your upcoming debutante ball, by any chance if you haven't, I have- " 

Cut off, he's pulled back into the throne room by his sleeve, and he looks down on the petite princess, who lets go of him, and runs to the golden haired man on the throne.

He watches agape, as the two golden haired people hug, the taller, lifting her up to sit on his knees, and she turns to face Alpheus again, and gestures to the emperor. "Here's my answer, Duke Alpheus! My partner you wanted to know about~!" 

She giggled as she hugged her father, and he let her, as Claude glared down at Duke Alpheus, pale in the face of the dark aura emanating from the emperor. 

He wanted to ask, to confirm-

"You mean to say, his majesty, has agreed to escort you to the ball? To dance with you?" but the words couldn't leave his mouth, as he bowed low, retreating in the face of a battle he could never win. 

Once he's closed the doors, he feels his breath punch back into his lungs, and he moves away from the entrance, his shoes going tap tap tap as he hurried away to get on his carriage, and set off for the safety of his home.

Athanasia giggled, remembering the fun times of her childhood- and thinks, the present is fun too- and so will the future. 

Roger, on the other hand is kind of hoping she would praise him again, and they round the corner and see Jennette, hair all over the place, blood smeared on her mouth- wearing a tattered dress, fatigued and looking as if she hadn't washed in days- which was true.