The Story of Dhanvanthri

nine

Father-Son Bonding Hour (ft. Athanasia)

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"Big Brother, you're back!"

Dhanvanthri stopped, pausing in his movement, before opening his arm to receive his sister in surprise. He wasn't expecting an ambush of physical affection, especially not from his sister, but here she was tackling him into a hug. With ease, he wounded his arms around her smaller frame and tucked her into an embrace.

"Good evening, little sister," Dhanvanthri greeted. "Did you miss me?"

"Yes?" Athanasia shook her head. "Never mind that, big brother. I need you to come with me."

"...Okay." Agreeing to her request, Dhanvanthri allowed his sister to pull him along the palace hall and down to a room he had never visited before. From the modest looking palace they were walking in, it appeared to be the one his father was staying in. Dhanvanthri was well aware of the fact his father lived in a humble palace, not one filled with luxury and whatnot.

They stood outside a door with Felix standing guard and Dhanvanthri instantly knew that his sister wanted him to speak with his father. But whatever for? The question was that. Did his father need him for something, perhaps? Or was it something his sister wanted to ask that required his presence to be there. It was something curious, therefore Dhanvanthri spoke of nothing as he was allowed into the silent room.

It was dark, the room. With a canopy bed and silken curtains, there was a figure lying on the couch right in the middle of the room. Athanasia looked at him curiously before pulling him closer to his sleeping father, dragging him over to the sole unoccupied sofa. Dhanvanthri was pushed into sitting on it before Athanasia smiled at him. She patted his head before waving goodbye, steadily making her way out of the door.

Slightly dumbfounded, Dhanvanthri remained seated in this place before deciding to observe his father. He was still slightly uncomfortable with how similar he looked to his father, they had the same nose and eyes, even the same shade of blond on their hair. However, Dhanvanthri had curlier hair, much like his little sister, and his eyes were of two different shades of blue. But really, aside from those few features, he could pass off as his father's mini-clone.

It was eerie.

"Are you done staring?" A sudden voice broke out, coldly asking the question. Dhanvanthri barely batted an eyelash when blue eyes blinked open to look at him. His father slowly sat up, still looking lethargic, as he slumped elegantly against the couch. Dhanvanthri almost felt miffed at how put together he was despite having just woken up, he would if he wasn't the same.

"No, not really. Why don't you go back to sleep and let me stare a little longer?" Dhanvanthri smiled flatly.

His father gave him a flat look before closing his eyes, seemingly exasperated. A moment of pause, then he asked, "How was the Capital?"

"It was..." Dhanvanthri tilted his head, "Tolerable."

"Did something happen?" His father asked, reaching over to pour the cold tea into his cup. Dhanvanthri reached out, feeling a little unsure, to stop his father. He watched as the larger hand paused before Dhanvanthri gripped the tea pot. His hand began to heat up, manipulating the magic easily to warm the tea. Once the tea was at a suitable temperature, he poured it into the cup for both of them. Suddenly, he felt awkward. Why did he do this?

Dhanvanthri looked away slightly, "Nothing much happened. There were a lot of people crawling in the alley, are we having an increase in people facing poverty?"

His father lifted the cup and took a sip, before saying something under his breath. "It's warm."

"It's just a simple warming charm," Dhanvanthri explained. His father looked at him, "Do you enjoy your stay in the palace... Dhanvanthri?"

Dhanvanthri froze at the sound of his name, wasn't this the first time since his birth, that his father called him by his name. Oddly, his heart felt... warm. Pushing any odd thoughts away, Dhanvanthri returned his focus onto the question presented by his father. Did he enjoy his stay in the palace? Not particularly, but it wasn't as if he disliked it either. It was a neutral thing, he neither hate it nor did he like it. Sometimes, the palace felt suffocating but often, he's reminded of a sense of warmth.

"I guess," Dhanvanthri replied. He picked up the other cup of tea for himself and drank it, nearly blanching at the taste of Lippe Tea invading his mouth. He drank the tea really quickly, allowing the warm liquid to flow down his throat as quick as possible before setting the cup down. His father looked amused, staring at him with knowing eyes.

"Have you visited the imperial library?" His father asked.

Dhanvanthri shook his head negatively, he had only been in this palace for roughly a week or so. Besides roaming in his own residence and attending tea parties with his sister, he barely done much. He stayed in his room to analyze his own collected articles, at times, but that was it. He would love to visit the library, however. There should be many books kept inside that he won't be able to find elsewhere.

Perhaps the third series of the Trunian History would be found? It wasn't found in any other bookstores, but it should be available in the Imperial Library, since it concerns their neighbouring country. Which, again, reminds him of the thinning boarder issues which was brought up. Should he... bring it up with his father, the man was the Emperor?

"You can visit it whenever you wish to," His father told him softly. Dhanvanthri blinked, "Is that so? Thank you."

His father stiffened, "It's no big deal."

Dhanvanthri gave his usual smile, but on the inside, he felt somewhat touched. Was it really something as idiotic as him longing for parental love? He never had the chance to get something like that in his previous life, he was always nothing but a disgrace. Too smart to be normal, too quick to be normal, too outstanding to the point everyone thought he was a freak.

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"You're no genius, you're nothing but a freak!"

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"Dhanvanthri."

"Yes, father?" Dhanvanthri snapped out of it at the sound of his name being called. His father looked as if he was about to say something, expression twisting into a subtle conflicted look, before settling back into its usual ice block emotion.

"...Do you want to join me in my office, tomorrow?" His father asked.

Dhanvanthri stared before tilting his head, "You..."

"You're my heir, are you not?" His father asked, still looking as if he didn't care.

Something warm melted in his chest, it felt as if someone had just showered him in warm water and then wrapped him up into a cocoon. With a more genuine smile, Dhanvanthri nodded. "I would love to, father."

Athanasia, who was standing outside with Felix and Noah, grinned in triumph. With this, the chances of her big brother going crazy and doing something like killing their father would be lowered. After all, even if she planned on running away one day, it would be nice if she didn't have to. Maybe with her big brother here, she can forget her plan to run away and just...enjoy this familial love.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Someone asked whether Dhanvanthri was a seme or an uke. *giggles uncontrollably* What do you think he is? Would Dhanvanthri dominate his partner or allow his partner to dominate him? Is Dhanvanthri the type to step on someone, or the one who wishes to be stepped on? *cackles*