Chapter Text
“It’s something only Papa can do for me.”
Claude was busy consulting with the palace painter. He wasn’t one to care for portraits, but it was his daughter’s request. Anything she asked for, he would give. And if it was a portrait of them that she wanted, so be it. He crossed his arms, thoroughly inspecting the initial work.
It should be nothing less than perfect.
“Fix the shade of the princess’ hair.” Claude narrowed his eyes. “It has to be brighter.”
The painter could only gulp and nod frantically in response, trying his best not to tremble. When he was told that the emperor wanted a portrait of him and his daughter, he could not believe it. But then, he saw it for himself, of course.
“Does my hair look alright?” The princess gazed into a mirror worriedly, trying to fix her golden locks.
They were in one of the palace’s grandest rooms. The emperor was wearing formal Obelian attire, a hand propping up his face as he sat on a chair prepared for the portrait taking. Standing beside him was the princess, wearing a simple but elegant dress that only served to enhance her beauty even further.
They were the ultimate image of royalty.
The emperor sighed, sitting up, although there seemed to be an amused glint in his eyes. “Stop fussing, Athanasia. Come here.” His Majesty was known to be powerful, cruel and ruthless. A single glare was enough to make a person cower in fear.
However, there was none of that whenever the princess was around. He would only speak to her in a soft voice, his usual cold gaze absent each time he looked at his daughter.
The princess, listening to her father, put the mirror down and cheerfully moved closer to stand beside him. “I just want this to be perfect, Daddy!” She grinned before fixing his rumpled sash.
The painter’s eyes widened at the exchange. If it were anyone else doing that, it would be safe to say that the person would no longer have hands. He had heard rumors about their close relationship, but it was another thing to witness it himself.
The emperor simply watched the princess quietly, before turning to the painter with an authoritative command. “You may begin.”
Taking a deep breath, the painter began to pick a suitable brush and-
“Wait!” The princess exclaimed.
The painter froze, a million thoughts running through his head. ‘Did I do something wrong? I haven’t even started! Oh no, this is the end-‘
The young royal turned to the emperor. “Don’t forget to smile, Daddy!” She reminded, before resuming her position, standing straight with her hands on the emperor’s left shoulder. She smiled kindly at the painter. “You may proceed.”
The painter’s shoulders slumped in relief before he finally began. He tried to hide his shock at the emperor. Despite the princess’ reminder, he did not smile. No. But the emperor managed to look at peace, seeming completely different. His usual frown was nowhere to be seen.
He was completely at ease sitting next to where the princess stood.
Standing beside him, the princess smiled brightly for the portrait, Obelian eyes shining warmly. At that moment, if it weren’t for their royal title and lavish clothes, they would have looked just like any ordinary happy family.
A daughter with her father, posing for a portrait.
So here the painter was, finishing up some minor details while the emperor examined the portrait closely. The painter clutched his brush with sweaty palms, fearful that the emperor would be displeased and have him sent to the dungeons.
With one last thorough scan at the portrait, the emperor hummed lowly. “It will do.”
Before the painter could respond, a maid rushed in with a panicked expression. “Your Majesty! It’s the princess!”
~~~
Felix Robain had been fulfilling his usual duty of guarding the princess. For today, the princess had invited some guests around her age to have a tea party once again. The atmosphere was perfect, the knight hearing the girls giggling every now and then, obviously enjoying themselves.
Suddenly, he heard one of the maids nearby let out a surprised shout. “Blackie!”
Felix was quick to move closer to the princess, ready to stop the wolf-like dog. The young nobles could only scream in fear as the creature ran closer. Behind him, one of the nobles the knight remembered as Miss Margarita took a defensive stance in front of the princess to shield her. “Princess!”
But the large creature was too quick for anyone, managing to get to the princess despite their defenses.
“Blackie!” The princess giggled in delight, petting him warmly. This went on for a while before the princess finally registered everyone’s alarmed expressions. With a small gasp, she smiled sheepishly.
“Not to worry, everyone. This is my pet! His name is Blackie.” She gestured to the dog before laughing as he licked her cheek.
Two maids ran towards them, out of breath. Felix was about to carry the dog away, but Athanasia raised her hand to stop him, flashing him her best puppy dog eyes. “Just for a bit! Please?”
He sighed helplessly, giving in to her request.
It took a moment for everyone to calm down. The young nobles all heaved sighs of relief at the scare. Hesitantly, they moved closer to peek curiously at the princess’ dog.
“He won’t bite?” One of them asked anxiously.
“No, he won’t. You can pet him if you would like.” The princess smiled at them encouragingly, petting Blackie’s head as demonstration.
None of them made a move to do so, but Felix noted Miss Margarita slowly reach her hand out to touch the dog.
“See?” Princess Athanasia beamed, the sight enough for the young nobles to finally relax and fawn over Blackie.
While the princess and her guests were distracted, behind them, the knight turned to the two maids. In a serious tone, he asked, “What happened?”
The two glanced at each other worriedly before one of them stammered a response. “We deeply apologize, Sir Robain. Princess Athanasia’s pet must have smelled the chocolates nearby. We couldn’t stop him.”
Before the knight could reply, he heard Miss Margarita’s frantic cry. “Princess!”
Instantly, the knight ran towards them, sword ready. He was not expecting what he saw.
The princess was in the same spot, kneeling by Blackie’s side. Except, her mouth and the front of her dress was covered in her own blood.
“Princess Athanasia!”
~~~
The doors to the princess’ room slammed open as the emperor stormed in. Ignoring everyone who was bowing with their heads on the floor, Claude hurried to where his daughter lay unconscious on her bed, face scrunched up in pain.
He clenched his fists at the sight, his mind flashing back to the memory of Diana’s lifeless body.
Outraged, he bellowed at the healers present. “What are you fools waiting for?”
The eldest healer trembled from his spot on the floor. Voice shaky, he answered. “Your Majesty, if I may speak,“ the healer whimpered as he felt the emperor’s murderous glare directed solely at him, “the princess’ condition looks similar to that time when she was younger.”
The healer swallowed, mustering up the courage to continue. “We’ve tried everything, Your Majesty. But there’s nothing we could do.” He was sniveling now, certain that he and the others would pay a trip to the dungeons once again.
“Get the palace magician!” Claude roared, the sound alone enough for everyone in the room to flinch. He would deal with their incompetence later. Right now, saving his daughter was the highest priority.
“Your Majesty,” Felix stepped in, the only person brave enough to speak with His Majesty in his current state. The knight himself was worried to death about the princess’ condition, eyes glistening with helpless tears at the thought of something happening to her. “The palace magician is currently on a personal quest. No one knows when he will return.”
Claude gritted his teeth. Above his rage and frustration was the overwhelming fear and desperation for his daughter’s life. He hadn’t felt like this since-
The emperor shook his head at the thought. He knew he had to take matters into his own hands. It was the only way. He would not allow himself to stand by and do nothing. His daughter had to stay by his side.
Wasting no time, Claude moved closer to his daughter and raised a hand above her head. A magic circle appeared as he let his own mana do a quick scan on her body. ‘It’s killing her from within.’
Claude did his best to remove the accumulated mana, but it was too strong. Trying to collect it was like gathering sand with his bare hands. A futile attempt. He poured even more of his mana into saving her, but it only seemed to cause him excruciating pain. ‘I need to do more. More.’
His daughter’s unconscious form was the last thing he saw before his vision went black.
~~~
He couldn’t see anything in the darkness he found himself in. Suddenly, a voice that Claude couldn’t recognize spoke up.
“Your daughter. You wish to save her?” It was a voice that sounded like an echo. Not quite male and not quite female either.
Claude glowered at the empty space, searching for the source. “Who are you?”
The invisible entity merely ignored him. “Do you wish to save her or not? No matter the price?”
The emperor stiffened, not giving a reply.
“Quickly.”
He thought of his daughter and hastily made his decision. He would deal with whatever came his way. Yield anything if it meant she would be safe. No matter what it was, even if it was his own life.
Even if it would mean he could not watch her grow.
“No matter the price.”
That was his last thought as he woke with a start.
~~~
“Where is she?” That was the first thing that the emperor said, voice hoarse from his slumber, while ignoring the grogginess that he felt.
Felix was quick to move to his side. The relief in his face was apparent. “Thank God, you’re awake!” Despite the comfort of seeing the emperor conscious, he did not forget his etiquette as his knight. “Your Majesty!” he bowed lowly, “You’ve been unconscious for 10 days.”
But the emperor had nothing else in his mind except for the state of his daughter.
“What happened to Athanasia?”
The knight’s expression dropped at that. Grimly, he replied, “She’s still unconscious.”
~~~
Claude hurried to the princess’s chambers with Felix trailing behind him. To his disappointment, his daughter lay on the same spot, unmoving.
He thought he saved her.
Lilian York was sitting by the princess’ side, eyes red from crying. She managed to bow as Claude entered. “Your Majesty,” she greeted in a weak voice. If it weren’t for her worry over the princess, she would have been frightened by his presence. “Princess Athanasia is breathing normally now,” the maid took a shaky breath, “but not once has she opened her eyes.”
The emperor stepped closer to his daughter.
He clenched his fists. ‘Why aren’t you awake?’ Claude lifted his hand, about to lay it on the princess’ head when he heard her groan as if sensing his presence.
Behind him, Lily and Felix gasped, hopeful that the princess would finally wake up.
Eyelids fluttering, she slowly opened her eyes to reveal the jeweled eyes that they had longed to see.
Both the maid and the knight cried tears of joy, not knowing what to say.
It was Claude who was the first to finally call out to her. “Athanasia,” he murmured, his soft gaze the only indication of his relief upon seeing his daughter alive and well.
Athanasia clutched her head with a groan. Just as Claude was about to tenderly place his hand on her head, she asked something that made his blood run cold.
“Who are you?”