WHO MADE ME A PRINCE
chapter twelve - warmth.

"AHHH BROTHER AND DADDY." A mini figure from behind the bushes came into a closer view.

Arius flinched and hurriedly tried to rub the tears in his eyes. Claude noticed and positioned his face opposite Athanasia.

"..Athanasia..what brings you here?..." Claude asks

Athanasia was shocked to see her brother who hated being carried, hugging Claude like that.

"I was looking for my brother and then I heard some noise from the Garden..so...I -" Athanasia said while worriedly looking at her brother.

"Arius has fallen asleep, what did you want from him?" Claude lied.

Arius was a bit surprised by this. He didn't want his sister to see his crying face or find out about how he had just emotionally broken down.

Claude was helping him. Arius simply tightened his grip on Claude's robes and rested his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes.

"I wanted to play with my brother, b-but if he's sleeping that's okay!"

That was the last thing Arius heard before actually drifting off to sleep. He again had a dream about his mother. She was walking through Amethyst Garden, she had a bright smile on her face and her eyes were peacefully admiring the flowers.

The dream was rather short. He woke up soon but to his surprise...

'....Huh..did I fall asleep..?.... where am I...?... This isn't my room... huh.... HUH.' Arius realized that the room he was in was none other than Claude's.

"You're awake."

Arius suddenly shifted his head to the source of the voice and he saw Claude sitting on the couch with some papers in his hands.

"Ah, was I asleep for a long time?"

"No. "

Arius got out of bed and walked to Claude. Claude had a frown on his face as he looked at the papers.

"Dad , what's wrong?"

"It's nothing for you to worry about. Felix. "

Felix, who was stationed outside the door, opened it and came inside.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Take care of this." Claude said as he handed the papers over to Felix. Felix's face turned grim after reading the papers.

"Tell the maids to prepare my tea and his coffee. Bring Athanasia as well."

"Yes , Your Majesty."

Felix left. Arius was curious about what was written in those papers. So he made his puppy eyes and asked Claude

"Dad!"

"..."

"What was in those papers?"

"....Kidnappings."

"Some children have gone missing. The suspect is a group of illegal slave traders that kidnap children and turn them into slaves. But there is no need to worry, Felix will take care of them."

"..." Arius had a blank expression on his face. He knew slavery was something that was common during this time and age. But Obelia did not support it. He did feel bad about it.

Claude looked at his son and smirked at his calm expression. He patted his head and picked him and placed him on his lap.

"Eh-Hey! No, Wait! Put me down!" Arius struggled

"..."

The struggle went on for two minutes before Arius just gave up and sat on his lap peacefully.

"...You said you didn't forgive me..."

Arius raised his head to face Claude.

"...How do I gain it then...?.."

"Let me go outside." Arius said bluntly.

Claude facepalmed.

"Didn't I just tell you about the slave traders?"

"Won't Felix take care of them?" Arius asked while smirking.

Claude sighed and said, "I still can't allow that"

Arius pouted . Suddenly Arius heard the sound of footsteps. He jumped off of Claude's lap and went to sit on the couch opposite to him. Suddenly the door burst open.

"Daddy! Brother! Athy's here!"

"Good evening Athy." Arius replied

"...." Claude just stayed silent.

Soon the maids came in with the sweets for Athanasia, coffee for Arius and tea for Claude.

"Brother, is that good?" Athanasia asked Arius who was sipping on his coffee.

"I like it. It gives me energy and refreshes me. But it's not too sweet so Athy might not like it. Would you like a sip?"

Athanasia nodded and sipped on the coffee.After drinking it, Athanasia had a strange expression on her face.

"Did you not like it?"

"It's not bad.. But I prefer more sweets I guess." Arius chuckled

"It's because you're still a kid."

Claude and Athanasia both had a 'what.' expression on their face.

"Daddy, I've been wondering! how come brother gets to drink coffee while Athy isn't allowed to drink tea!"

Arius froze.

'Oh hell. JEEZ ATHY WHYY , DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS TO GET PERMISSION FOR DRINKING THIS .'

Claude looked at them while sipping his never ending tea.

"Yes.., you're right.."

"Plus! Coffee isn't good since it messes with your sleeping schedule. That's why my brother fell asleep earlier. You can ask Via about how he doesn't feel sleepy at night at all!!"

Arius just stayed silent while glaring at Athanasia. Athanasia simply smiled brightly at him.

'I.Hate.You.Athy.'  Arius smiled back.

"Bring Olivia Grantum here." Claude ordered , while glaring at Arius. Arius averted his eyes as he remembered what he had previously said to Claude.

FLASHBACK

Arius barged into Claude's office

"Dad!! "

"..Ugh" Claude sighed. He was doing paperwork but upon his son's visit got up.

"Felix."

Soon the maids came in with their coffee and tea. They sat on the couch.

"Have you been sleeping well? You look pale. As I thought you shouldn't drink coff–" Claude asked Arius as he sipped on his tea.

"I've been sleeping perfectly fine. If someone looks pale then it's you, Dad. You've been working too much , Rest is important." Arius replied Smiling Brightly

"...Coffee's are bitter.. I thought children wouldn't like it..."

"The one I drink has a slight chocolate flavor in it. I don't like sweets like Athy does."

"...Still coffee isn't good for you at your age."

"Put that aside , the reason I came here is because I wanna go out of the Palace."

"Felix."

"Wait! Hey!"

And thus Arius was forcefully kicked out of The Emperor's Palace or also referred to as The Garnet Palace.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Olivia Grantum. " Claude said in a sharp tone as he stared at his son who refused to have eye contact.

Olivia was now in the Emperor's Chambers, standing before the royal siblings and the emperor. Arius was looking at Olivia with desperation in his eyes. Olivia could understand him just by looking at his eyes.

"Tell me about Arius's sleeping schedule for the past week."

'*Mentally Crying* Just savor the taste of the coffee I'm drinking right now. This is probably gonna be my last one for a while.' Arius thought and began peacefully sipping his coffee.

"His Highness, on the first day of the week, slept some time after midnight. He was exhausted throughout the next day and took another nap in the afternoon. He drank coffee with Your Majesty in the evening and once again slept after midnight. "

"That's enough. Arius you will no longer be drinking that. " he said while glaring at the coffee mug he was holding

Then he looked towards Olivia

"I want his sleep schedule fixed within a week. He should be asleep long before midnight."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Olivia bowed.

The coffee in Arius's hand was taken away by Olivia, and instead he was served milk. Milk. MILK.

Athanasia smiled towards him while Claude continued to glare. Arius mentally cried before saying,

"I want mango juice..."

The maid went to get it.

"Brother! Why don't you try some cake? It's not morning right now." Athanasia smiled brightly as she shoved a piece of cake into his mouth. Arius didn't resist and just stayed quiet while chewing it.

The day ended with Claude remaining silent for the rest of the evening. He seemed mad but oh well. It's night time right now. Athanasia had gone to sleep, but as the lovely princess slept a black shadow appeared before her bed.

"There... that's enough stabilizing her mana for today. I should go back to bed. Olivia might come to check on me."

Arius left Athanasia's room, he felt a little dizzy because when he said 'stabilizing' he was actually absorbing some of her mana and that overwhelmed his body for a while , that's why he would do it at night. As Arius got to his bedroom door, he felt someone's presence behind him.

'Shoot! An Assassin?! Now?!'

Arius quickly turned his head to reveal a tall figure. It was Claude. The dizziness got to him and he stumbled, but Claude caught him before he hit the ground and picked him up. He then whispered to him

"You're still awake?" Claude asked while looking Arius straight in his eyes.

Arius averted his eyes.

"Olivia tucked me in bed an hour ago, but I couldn't fall asleep so I sneaked out!" Arius whispered back and smiled at the end.

"Time to Sleep." Claude said and opened the door to his room.

"But I'm still not sleepy." Arius complained.

Claude laid him on the bed and put the blankets over him. He then used magic to make him fall asleep.

Arius again dreamed of his mother. This time she was practicing her swordsmanship. She looked beautiful as always.