12一 and the growing pit of dread became oppressive

༻𖥸༺

HE STOOD BY HIS FATHER'S THRONE, his eyes trained on the two figures standing before him, his little half-sister and一

"Lillian York, long time no see."

Athan spared a glance in his father's direction and took note of the mischievous look twinkling in his jeweled eyes.

"Blessings and glory upon the Sun and future Sun of the Obelian Empire." As the lady bowed to the two imperials, the little girl standing by her side looked on nervously at the scene unfolding before her, her small body trembling with trepidation.

"I haven't been able to pay enough attention to my one and only daughter due to my duties at court." (Athanasius was really, really having a hard time holding himself back from laughing at the way his father was bullshitting his excuses.) "But still, Athanasia has grown into such a healthy child. The credit belongs to you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

As Lillian raised from her bow, yet did not meet the emperor's gaze, the one teenager present in the room couldn't help but take note of the smug look that took hold of his father's face.

'Ah.' He couldn't help but internally sigh. 'What schemes are you plotting now, dear father of mine?'

"However, from now on, I will be looking into the princess' well-being, as I've done for the crown prince. There will be no need to worry."

'Oh...' Athan was clearly intrigued by this, his sight falling over the sole child in the room who failed to hide her internal turmoil.

"Starting today, Princess Athanasia will be treated as a proper princess."

Suddenly, Athan understood the method behind his father's madness.

Strife in the court.

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AS THE WOMAN AND CHILD PAIR left the room, the father and son duo were shrouded in silence, neither of the two royals daring to break apart this deafening stillness.

...

"The trip?"

Brought out of his stewing thoughts, Athan leaned his back on the armrest of his father's grande chair and softly sighed. "I've received a full report detailing the state of the barier. It's..." gloved fingers threaded through silvery blonde strands and his shoulders sagged, "Bad doesn't even cover it. It's horrendous."

"... Explain?" It wasn't an order, Athan noted, but an earnest and worried request coming not from his monarch, but from his dad. He felt assured, that he had a parent who held such faith in him.

"The seal array is scattered; the runic symbols are barely discernable and the mana stored in the backup crystals is barely holding on." His frustrated tone softened towards the end, eyes threatening to fall close in his tired tirade.

"I know it's been a long time since mom strengthened the system, but it'll take a miracle to finish fixing it."

Those broken whispers pierced Claude as his only solution was to comfort his son, placing his slightly larger hand over the one the prince used to support himself on the golden chair, his jeweled eyes glaring holes in the pillars of the room.

"...How long?"

The former aspiring musician pursed his lips in thought, calculations going on in his head. "To estimate? One year, at least."

"..."

The silence he received from his father was telling of his displeasure at the situation, but it was also clear from how he gently held his hand that he had little desire to send his son away for such an extended and truly undetermined amount of time.

But it had to be done.

"Preparations for the journey are still underway, but I might have to add to the supply numbers." His joke went unnoticed with his dejected tone, his fingers gripping at his hair and armrest in a restless manner.

And all Claude could do was hope for his son's safety.

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IT WAS DURING ONE AFTERNOON when the prince joined her and Claude for a few moments that the truly devastating new were given to her.

"I will be soon departing from the Palace, little princess."

The thoughts that were running around in Athy's mind paused from their whirlwind, the scary emperor of a father forgotten as she took a few seconds to mull over the information given.

...

...

...

'No!' The reaction was instantaneous. 'You can't leave me here with him! I'll die in two days, three tops! You're his calming draught, so stay here! I'm begging you!'

"W-Where to?" She would have asked for the duration first, but that would raise suspicion and she hasn't really spent that much time with the prince so she could really have a sibling bond with him.

A mysterious smile placed itself over her older brother's lips as he crouched down to be on the same eye level as her. "I'm sorry, but I can't say."

Well that sucks.

"For h-how long?"

'Please say a few days, please say a few days, please say a few days, please say a few days, please say a few days, please say a few days, please say a few days一'

"A year at least, maybe longer."

'Kill me now and spare me from the pain.'

"O-oh..."

An apologetic smile was sent her way and Athy couldn't find it in herself to be angry at this boy. Given that it was most probably important imperial stuff and she was still physically five, she really couldn't blame him for the secrecy.

As the prince rose to his full height, Claude asked, "Will you be joining us, Athan?"

If the smile she was offered was apologetic, than the face the teenager gave his parent was downright deprecatory. "Not today father, as I still have travel preparations to finish."

The pursing of Claude's lips and the narrowing of his eyes were telling enough for Athanasia to draw her own conclusions一 the Emperor wasn't happy with this trip. But since he was staying quiet and not voicing his displeasure, it was safe to say that it was necessary.

"...Very well."

Smiling softly and dipping his head in a shallow bow, the crown prince took his leave from the scene.

...How was she to survive Claude's antics on her own?

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BEING ALWAYS FLANKED by his一human and non-human一companions was a feeling that he, begrudgingly and reluctantly, had to get used to early on in his new life.

"Kassian."

Coming two steps behind the royal, the knight inclined his head towards his monarch. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Who do you recommend?"

Athan stared at the field of training knights, all dressed in loose and practical clothing, each and every single one holding either a real or a wooden sword一this based on their skill with said weapon.

There were a few that stood out in his eyes, but he wanted the opinion of a person who personally knew the lot of them.

"Well," His escort began slowly, as if assessing who was on the training field, "as Your Highness knows, the ones that are holding actual steel swords are the ones with more experience. As to recommend someone based on both their skills, expertise and personality, I would suggest Hector Delver."

"Oh?" The young royal glanced at his knight from the corner of his eyes. "Which one is he?"

"To the right of the field, the one with long black hair and blue eyes."

Indeed, there, on the right side of the training field, the muscled yet lean figure of a tall young man could be seen outdoing his sparring partner, his opponent's sword suddenly soaring through the air.

"Hmmm..." Jeweled blue eyes squinted as the black haired swordsman leaned down to offer his sparring mate a helping hand from the ground, only for the shorter, blue haired man to slap it away and glare.

In response to the aggressive reaction, Hector simply sighed and sheathed his sword, shaking his head in disappointment.

Offering a vulturine grin, Athanasius turned around, his massive pet tailing behind a few steps behind. "Bring him to my private study."

"Yes, Your Highness."

It would seem that he found a new toy, at least, a potential one.

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"I'LL WAIT FOR YOU OUT HERE." Those words were her only warning as the golden door was closed behind her, figuratively locking her in the dragon's den.

DA-DUN

Just a day after her impromptu swim in the lake and Athanasia was feeling faint just from being this close to the emperor, but try as she might, she couldn't open the massive doors.

Running around the room, her eyes feasting on the decorations made of pure gold, her eyes landed on the shattered portrait of a woman with brown hair and dull green eyes that rested on the ground, just below a hanged one showing a beautiful woman with long flowing platinum blonde hair and glowing green eyes.

'I know who they are.'

"..." Her eyes opened to look in front of her, only for her heart to nearly leap out of her throat as she came face to face with a Claude sleeping on one of the couches.

'W-What's he doing here instead of in his bed?!' Following that line of thought, her gaze landed over the large bed on the other side of the room and her sight was greeted by the one of a sleeping prince, curled in the sheets of silken black.

'You're letting him sleep there...?'

(A small pang of jealousy rang through her heart.)

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"ISN'T SHE TRULY A LOVELY PRINCESS?" The brightness of Felix' face contrasted with the glacial frown on his childhood friend's.

"Lovely." The word was bitter on his tongue, thinking of the women that have been in his life up until this point: Penelope with her opportunistic ways, Diana and her refusal to listen to reason and Lucille一

His brows furrowed as he thought of his beautiful wife and the child she had given him, her death taking along with it an important part of his heart.

A scoff. "I lost such emotions a long time ago."

The dejected look on Felix's face was not noticed by his brother in all but blood as the knight's eyes landed on the still sleeping boy that lay in the emperor's bed.

"Leave me. I feel tired."

"... Blessings and glory upon the Obelian Empire."

As the red haired knight walked the halls of the Golden Palace, his steel gray eyes looked up at the moon, his mouth set in a pensive line.

'Though he may say such things, I'm certain there's still some left.' His thoughts fell to the little princess residing in the Ruby Palace. 'Someday, you, too, will bathe in that bright light, just like the prince.'

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A FEW DAYS AFTER THE BEDROOM INCIDENT, Athanasia found herself piggyback riding the Crimson Knight in from of the audience hall as she mercilessly teased Duke Alpheus.

And didn't that make her feel superior.

"You're here?" The absolutely bored look on Claude's face did little to tell her about her father's mood, though the constant twitching of the plesant smile on the prince's face was speaking volumes about her older brother's disposition.

"Yes, Your Majesty. We bumped into Sir Roger outside."

"Mister White!" She quipped happily.

"White?" The confused look on Athanasius' beautiful face made her insides melt. 'Just like an innocent kitten!'

Though, to his inquiry, the little princess was more than happy to respond. "He looks like a white doggy!"

"..." The smile Claude hid behind his hand was eclipsed by the sudden mirth-full laughter Athan blessed her with.

"A becoming nickname for a constant barker."

"Quite fitting, little princess."

'My my, that's no way to talk about a future in-law.'

A still smiling crown prince turned towards their father, "As much as I enjoy deriding Duke Alpheus, I must oversee the final preparations for my journey."

'Huh?'

Seeing her confused face, her older brother stepped down towards Felix and placed a gentle hand over her head. "I will be leaving this evening."

'Oh...'

To her deflated mood, Athan bend towards her face, as if preparing to tell her a grand secret. "Will you be seeing me off?"

Smiling brightly at the older boy, she beamed, "Yes big brother!"

A flash of surprise passed through jeweled blue eyes, only for it to be blinked away as Athanasius turned back towards the throne and inclined his head before turning to leave the audience hall, "I shall see you all tonight."

...

...

'Wait...' Athy's brain blanked. 'That was the first time I called him that!'

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THE SKY WAS BLEEDING INTO evening when Athan was presented with his pure white battle-breeded horse, a knight from the Royal Guard holding it in place by its reigns.

(Having all the knights present warily eyeing his little feline pet brought a boon to his ego.)

Seeing the tall black haired male standing a little bit to the left dressed in silver armour with the golden star crest etched into his cloak brought a pleased smile to his face. "I'm glad you've decided to join us, Hector."

A scowl pressed itself onto the older male's lips. "Your Highness didn't give me much of a choice." His angry grumbling was ignored in favour of his father's arrival with Athanasia in tow.

Turning his back to the horse and ignoring his escorts bowing he walked towards his father, purpose in his long stride.

The surprise on the little princess' face was plain for all to see as Claude hugged his son, placing his chin atop the boy's head.

"May the stars make your voyage brief and harmless," Claude's voice was but a murmur in his child's hair. "May the moon defend your nightly rest and may the sun welcome your wandering soul."

Placing a kiss on his son's forehead, the blessing charms settled over him like a protective embrace with a brief golden glow.

(In the background, Lily smiled at the slacked jaw the Princess sported.)

"I thank our Sun for the protection of the sky." The soft, loving smile on Athanasius' face gave those present an inkling towards the importance of those chants.

Steping out of the emperor's arms, the teenager crouched down in front of the five year old girl, his furred blue cloak billowing behind him elegantly.

Nervously, Athy smile up at her older brother. "Have a safe journey, big brother. And come back in one piece!"

Chuckling at her childishness, Athan placed a gloved hand over her head, gently petting her. "I thank you for your words, little princess."

Raising back to his feet, the older of the imperial children stepped in front of the ruling monarch and quite literally beamed一a sight that was bordering on becoming blinding to those unaccustomed to the action.

"I'll return as hastily as possible, father." With those words and in a flourish of elegant movement, the Obelian Prince climbed his white horse, his two closest knights flanking his sides as Biyakko took to standing besides his master.

"Blassings and glory upon the Obelia Empire!" At the shout the knights of the Royal Guard gave, the envoy set to moving, the Crown Prince riding in the middle of the formation.

Seeing his oldest child depart the Palace for an undetermined amount of time made the pit of unease in Claude's heart settle, just for a bit.

✂------------------------------------------

yet another mammoth of a chapter
(2.6k words)

now that i've reached the 2 year time-skip, i can write as much content as i want to fill out the blanks in the power structure of the world (hence the barrier surrounding obelia is broken)

prepare for a few chapters of bromance, fluff, athan loosing his marbles and knowledge overdose

also, when writing this chapter my keyboard gave me this suggestion:

"sweet-but-dumb-as-a-post"

i laughed for solid 10 minutes because of the mood i was actually going for

also, i'm back on my katekyo hitman reborn shit and my xanxus obsession has come back full force

worse part? i'm all in for it