17一 of remembrance and depravity

༻𖥸༺

CLAUDE WILL SHAMELESSLY ADMIT to abhorring summer with every fiber of his being. Well, perhaps abhorring was too much of a strong word, yet his feelings of dislike towards the season were more intense than simple hate. They boiled beneath his skin, like an itch he cannot rid himself of, a wound festering with each passing year.

While summer held precious memories for him 一his marriage with Lucille and her pregnancy announcement一 the season brought with it moments in which he'd felt as if the world had turned itself over and shifted from its axis. Remembering them was akin to dousing himself in ice-cold water or pulling the proverbial rug from under his feet.

He felt so lost during summer, and work was always slow during those three moon cycles. People were always walking on eggshells around him, in fear of triggering a violent response from their emperor. What was worse, this was the first year where he went through it without his son.

Athan had always been there, sharing the pain with his sire, and while the boy knew not of the full extent of Claude's darkened feelings, he was a companion in their shared affliction.

He'd grown attached to his son, Claude knew that. He was hard-pressed to accept the fact that he won't see Athan for quite some time coming, but his worry was incessant.

Claude was an adult, an emotionally lacking one, but an adult nonetheless. Therefore he found that his poor moods were easy to manage and curb. But Athanasius was still a child, his coming of age notwithstanding. And, like all children, he would not be able to control his outbursts should anyone disturb him during his mourning.

Intellectually, the Obelian emperor knew his heir would be fine as Kassian was by his side, but the parental side of his brain was gearing up in protest. How could he not be there to offer support? Not even silent companionship? This was his son he was talking about, and no matter his own emotions, he couldn't, in good conscience, not worry for his son.

Perhaps he needed Felix to knock some sense into him. He was getting to the point of hysterics. But his brother in all but blood was not here, ordered to stand by his daughter's side.

Speaking of, he needed to find her a suitable escort, as she didn't seem so inclined to go out of her way to choose one herself. She didn't have Athan's eye for people, as sad as that truth was. And, given the fact that he himself brought her into the folds of the Imperial Court for his little pet project, she was his responsibility to protect.

Athanasia appeared to be easily personable, as if a mere play of fanciful words was enough to sway her decision-making processes. It had happened before, during her first meeting with her older brother. She'd been so entranced by his cordial introduction that she failed to dissect the political implications behind it.

Perhaps it was for the better that she would not attend Court. His eyes narrowed as he watched them squabble in front of him. He stayed silent, of course, yet he had no companion to trade amused glances with. (He wanted to see the conclusions the nobles would reach without his interference.) With how violent they were in their verbal spats, Claude was sure they would chew out his daughter within seconds before asserting their oversized egos over the five year-old girl.

He'd been informed that the princess' lessons have begun, but barely a few days have passed and that was not enough for him to draw conclusions. He wanted to see what academic subjects she'll be more inclined to pursue一 that would be enough to cement his future decisions.

Yet it was still a pity she wanted to stay away from imperial business, not that he could really blame her. (It was hectic on a good day.) He'd seen that spark of intelligence in her eyes that day in his study as well as the way her mental cogs were turning as she chose the most favourable outcome for herself.

If she kept on posing as an ignorant and blubbering fool, then the nobles would see it as a weakness and a easily exploitable weapon against the imperial family. And while she seemed more than content to remain uninvolved in the tedious politicking, Claude himself would have to teach her that complete separation from it was impossible. The blood that ran through her veins demanded that she was in the know, lest Obelia would receive a glaring weak spot to both local and foreign nobility.

(He will not fail his empire.)

While relations to Obelia's neighbours have always been good一dare he say, friendly一international treaties and niceties have never been his strong suit. That had always fallen under Lucille's jurisdiction.

At the thought of his late wife, Calude's mood pummelled and simultaneously silence installed itself over the throne room.

"I believe we should adjourn today's discussion here." Duke Alpheus said suddenly, doing an excellent job at keeping his nervousness from his voice.

Without any word, the Obelian emperor strode out of the room, his red cape billowing after him, his procupied mind not even acknowledging the nobles' departing formalities.

He felt like cutting something up一 or open.

Perhaps a visit to the private training grounds would serve him well.

────────────────────────

KASSIAN WAS WORRIED, THAT MUCH Hector could gleam from the older man's guarded expression. He wasn't so sure about the reason as to why that was, however he intended to corner the imperial guard when they made camp later that same day.

There weren't any events going on in the empire that could belie the tension in Kassian's shoulders, so it probably had something to do with the Prince.

Sir Claes always turned into a worry wart when it came to His Highness, no matter how well he usually hid it.

It was later that same day, when the Prince and his pet silently retired to his tent and Hector stood by Kassian's side, guarding the entrance to said heir's sleeping quarters that the black haired man popped the question that had been bothering him all day.

"Huh?" Came the older man's dumbfounded response. "You don't know?" The incredulity must have been showing on his face for not even a second later the green haired knight sighed. "This period of the year is a bit... delicate for His Highness."

He wasn't getting it. 'This period of the year?' It was summer, even if the weather around them wasn't doing that great of a job at showing it. It was almost the ending of the second month of summer, so what could一 "Oh..."

"Yes." Golden eyes turned somber as their owner confirmed his conclusion. "It's almost the fourteenth anniversary of Empress Lucille's death."

Oh, he was such an idiot. He felt like slapping himself. How could he forget about it? The single most depressing day for the citizens of Obelia when everyone in the empire stopped their labouring work and mourned for the loss of their Moon.

If his own mother cried on this day, Hector dreaded to see what reaction the son of the deceased Empress would have, especially with how far away from home they were.

"Gods give me strength." He muttered to himself as he moved back to his post, mentally praying for peace of mind in the following days.

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

kind of a short chapter this time, but i've done this within reason, be assured.

i've changed my phone, so writing is going to be a bit awkward for me as i get used to it, so please pe patient with me. 🥺

also, i found this on pinterest and i can't stop thinking about it: