Chapter 25

"Mother? Big brother?" Leo peeked into the main study room where the two people that were his mother and big brother were reading and signing paperwork.

Most of the complications come from making sense of their choice to blatantly ignore their king's order and make Chris the crown prince again and directly have him inherit the throne that was, as of now, empty. Mother was the regent and nobody has complained about that.

Then there was a how to deal with the pregnant woman he forgot the name of. The unborn child who currently held the title of crown prince because of their dearest father's muddled actions. Leo could only hope he repents in hell.

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Clang! The sound of metal clashing rang in the sparring area. Aiden gave his opponent no time to rest before unleashing a barrage of attacks onto him. His blood boiled, loving the feeling of a good fight.

The Aqua Royal Guard held up both hands, successfully timing out and immediately plopping into the grass.

"Your highness is really energetic today." He groans, closing one eye, the opened one's pupil darting back and forth to the right and back at Aiden. The prince hummed and winked, "Time's up! Come on, don't be lazy!"

He rushes at the guard before suddenly spinning on his heel and throwing a throwing knife at the assassin behind him, hiding. A gush of blood splashed onto the grass, dying it red. The closer Aqua Royal Guards came up to investigate which faction he belonged to before managing to take out a brooch with the simple symbol of fire.

A rush of sadness hits Aiden.

En. So this was what his family really thought.

Since he failed then they might as well get rid of him. Not a single attempt of rescue.

A spark quietly died and he suddenly collapsed.

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The queen moved and the game was over.

"Checkmate," Astara quietly said, grinning. Shadows curled around Allan's neck and stroked his cheek lovingly, she cooed at the darkness as the tendrils gathered back into her shadow. He smiled at her, "I still have a lot to learn from you."

Usually, he would tell her, "I still have a lot to learn."

Her face immediately changed once more, darkness looming behind him and shadowing her expressions. Allan continued to smile. As expected, his sister was the smartest.

"Tell us," garbled voices came from the darkness as it slowly wraps itself around him. "What is it that you need, bond of blood ours?"

Allan continued to smile, not daring to relax his guard or wind blades. So cute, this sister of his. "Two, Elroy will probably be sent to the battlefield for merits and to prove his capabilities. As a strategist, I am unable to accompamy him on the field itself."

The darkness croons and drgas itself around his neck, loosening its hold ever so slightly. "You want us to protect your beloved."

"Its not a bad thing to do isn't it? And my sister can prove herself to be far more than worthy of the person she is chasing." He only dared use this as a bargaining chip because of their excellent relationship. Though, normal siblings probably don't have their lives on the line every time they ask a favor of one another. "She is unable to differentiate diamonds and rocks, I truly don't know why you chase after her."

A cold harrumph stood out among the murmurs and his smile grew wider, more sincere.

Of course, now was the time to destroy this slowly relaxing atmosphere.

"One, Ignis' third prince, Aiden, has switched sides. He appears to have contracted a magic-related problem and—" Allan didn't manage to finish his sentence before he was suddenly thrown out of the room. Darkness roared and rampaged but very soon quietened down.

Astara opened the door, looking as if an intense battle had not just happened inside her room.

She frowned, "You know they hate Ignis, why must you say that?"

He replied with a grin. "Because I wanted to see how strong you've gotten. You lost this round."

Finally. One for Allan, uncountable for Astara.

"I lost this round." His sister nodded. "You wanted me to diagnose and maybe even solve the problem?"

"That's what the royal family is hoping for, yes."

"Hmph. How annoying."

"It's not their fault you're the most trustworthy magic researcher and physician around."

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The sky was growing grey.

A bad omen, most people say. There would be a big storm and tensions were at an all-time high. People were starting get antsy and worried, especially because the royal family has been quiet for a while now.

"Did something to happen to one of them?" The whispers in the street grew more uncertain by the day.

Rey knew not what to do about it and could only pray that Chris, his brother, Aiden and Lily are alright. Should they be hurt, he wouldn't have any idea what to do.

Without noticing, Rey had finished the new mask he had made.

The old one was worn and he didn't want to wear it down too much, choosing to preserve it for the sentimentality. Besides that, Rey has always liked crafting things.

He took off his current mask and put on the new one, leaving the room to ask his parents how he looked, but they had probably gone out and were having together time because he couldn't find them anywhere. That was fine, there would be time to do such a thing later.

The bell to the bakery rung and he hurried out.

It had been long days for a while now, with less and less customers coming in. Rey understood, everyone wanted to get everything done quickly and go back home to their families just in case.

The customer was new, someone he had never seen before. Her skin was pallid, as if she had spent long times in a dark room and never saw the sun and it contrasted greatly with her hime-cut long black hair and eyes. An elaborate black and grey dress and a black choker around her neck. Was this person a noble?

(The hime-cut did not exist in this world, however.)

The feeling she gave off was familiar to her past sister. It made him almost sad, he missed her a lot.

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Andddd there you have it! Another chapter this unreliable author has put out after so long...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years by the way!

Guess who the person Rey met game, begin!

Words: 1095

Psst, can you guys guess that I'm a complete sucker for long hair now? Yes this is "fanart". Yes this is how I see them. :)