Cadere 15th, Year of Origin
We made it back to Valoria a few days ago and if I was being honest. I'm glad to be back in this stupid castle doing documents. Traveling for days upon end in the wild was just not it. I guess I am too used to living indoors all my life and rarely had to experience living outdoors for too long. This disgusted me. I don't like feeling higher than anyone else or more privileged than the average person in my nation. However, that feeling will forever be out of my reach, as I was born into something I wished I never had.
Lucas bid us farewell when we got back and said that if we ever needed aid from him that he is willing to provide support. I told him about our Kaelos monster issue and he sent a few Mira to help us. So far the repairs on the barriers are doing well and no breaches have happened.
I glanced over at my system panel that displayed the time. I groaned and slouched down onto my desk. It was not even evening yet, barely 15:00… I had at least two more hours until dinner, then I'm done with, "work." I just want to spend time in the garden and… and… no, I'm not desperate.
I just miss my friends.
Hayden cleared his throat and I sat up. He glanced at the documents on my desk and I frowned at him while still slouched over.
"Young master." He started.
I lifted my finger and placed it onto the top of the documents and they lit up on fire and disappeared. I withdrew my hand and sighed again. No one can stop me… plus, they're just reports and maybe some nobles wanting to visit for a meeting. I'm way too busy to do meetings right now. I glanced at the time again and I watched the time count. I sat up and back then waved my hand in front of my face. It's getting hot out. I slumped in my seat and closed my eyes.
"Hayden?" I called out.
"Yes, your Highness?" Hayden responded.
"When is Seth and Auri scheduled to come back?"
"Soon."
"How long is, soon?"
"If your Highness takes a bath, he should be back in time for you to be clothed and ready for dinner."
"Oh, so I can skip the rest of work?"
"You burnt the documents, your Highness."
I sat up and blinked. I did. I have no more work. Oh man, I should do this more often. My lips curled into a small grin. Hayden sighed and pushed his glasses up. He caught onto my thoughts as he usually does. I got up and bee lined towards the door and Hayden quickly opened the door for me to leave. I could faintly hear Hayden sigh.
I entered my washroom and quickly stripped. The Unda and Ignis Aetherial workers filled the tub even before I got to my room. Got to praise them later as they always get the temperature right. I mean. I could heat my own water as I still have access to Ignis as I was a normal Aetherial before ascending as a Pylae. I think people forget that I can and or think it's below a Monarch to heat his own bath water. I mean, I wouldn't care about heating my own gosh darn water.
Maybe I'm just too laid back as a figure head. I scratched my head and got into the water. I'm letting my own thoughts run again. I sat down and leaned back and sighed. If Valoria knew that their High Prince is a worrisome guy and talks to himself in his own mind, they would probably make up some crazy stuff about me. It also doesn't help that I have a god in my head eighty percent of the time. Do other adults have this going on in their heads? Inner thoughts? Or am I just going crazy? I began to wash my body and hummed to myself.
Seth should be arriving back soon…
Seth went off and joined a night patrol. Slaughtering Kaelos monsters as their outbreaks have been increasing outside the city walls in response to being closed off by the Mira. Auri has been going to school lately and doesn't get home until it's dinner time.
I finished washing my body and frowned. Normally Seth would rinse me off, but whatever. I grabbed the bucket of water beside the tub and rinsed myself off. I then began to wash my hair and smiled gently. I wonder what my life would have been like as a commoner. It was a life I always dreamt of. I don't like things being handed to me. I really am the worst suited Crown Prince for Valoria.
'You are not.' Avalorne grumbled to me.
"Oh really? What are your thoughts, all mighty Wolf Lord." I smiled.
Avalorne stayed quiet for a while and when I thought he wouldn't speak up he sighed and said, 'I know this sounds cliche but you're just the right person to lead Valoria. Listen to what the others tell you, your Highness. You need to give yourself more credit where it's deserved in your abilities to lead.'
"But I don't want it." I rinsed my head off and shook water from my hair.
'But they need you.' Avalorne replied firmly. 'You need them.'
I need… them.
I blinked and tipped my head. He's right, I need them. I really do. I got out of the tub and jumped when the door opened. I spun around and I saw Seth closing the door behind him. His back was still turned. I rubbed my eyes and stared. Seth? Isn't he early? Seth turned back around and folded his arms. He looked disheveled and scruffed up. His clothes were torn and he had dried blood all over him in spots.
"Stop gawking, get dressed. Auri is complaining." Seth threw a towel at me and turned to leave.
"WAIT!" I yelled and I froze as I was reaching out towards him. I quickly withdrew my hand and Seth stared at me with a frown of confusion on his face. I coughed into my hand and turned away, "Never mind. I'll be out as soon as I can."
I heard Seth exit the wash room and I glanced behind myself and sighed deeply. My chest was buzzing…
Seth was waiting for me where he usually does, sitting in an arm chair at the seating area that was in the middle of my room. He was reading reports on his holo screen with his head resting on the knuckles of his hand. His head was tipped slightly, he looked bored. I dried my hair off a bit more and peaked over his shoulder. My eyes went cross eyed as I saw a lot of graphs and data. I quickly walked away and went to my wardrobe to change.
"Your clothes are on your bed." Seth said in an even tone.
Huh?
"I picked out some clothes for you, so you didn't have to waste your time rummaging through your closet as you usually do." Seth continued.
I turned my head and moved over to my bed and looked down at the clothes. Seth chose a combination of clothes that I wouldn't ever pick out. I glanced to the side and bit my lip. If I'm being honest, people complement me a whole lot more when Seth chooses what I wear. I don't know why, I pick out clothing combinations that suit my taste and I've asked people if I dress myself okay and they never say no…
I quickly dressed and walked back over to Seth while tugging on my gloves. He had me outfitted in marble white with gold and red that matched the color of my eyes. Black accents and trim on my collar, cuffs, and the overlapping material that was cut in a diagonal line. My pants were mainly black with white trim down the side of my legs, white at black shoes, and white gloves. Seth closed out of his screen and reached out and pulled me down. My eyes widened and he shoved a pin into my tie to hold it down. He tucked it into my coat and pushed me back up.
He got up and walked away. I looked away with my hand to my face and my ears were burning. What is this? Seth looked back at me and I avoided his eyes. He went to the door and opened it.
"Come. Auri is messaging me that she's dying of boredom." Seth exited out of the room.
I stood there for a second and exhaled slowly. I ran my hand through my hair and slapped my face. Don't get worked up. Don't think too much about it. Shut up Kliene James Vincent. Shut up. Shut up. I shook my head roughly and exhaled one more time and followed Seth.
Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I can't stop thinking about it! I slammed my head onto the table and the attendants rushed over to me. They pushed me back into my seat and examined my forehead. I tried swatting them away. Seth stared at me and then got up. He waved them off and looked at me. "I'm fine!" I batted him away. "I'm just trying to get something out of my head."
"Do you have a bug on your head? Did a Kaelos monster infect your brain?!" Seth brought his hand up to my face and I froze.
"WAIT!" I pushed him away, "I'm fine! It's just thoughts!"
"Do you need to talk about them?"
YES! "No!" I shouted. Not with you, definitely not with you. I dropped my head into my hands and looked down. I sighed and groaned. "Sit down Seth Heart. No need to fuss over me. I'm a grown adult."
Seth's shadow slowly went back to his seat and he sat down. "Yeah, but you're also our monarch."
"I am, but not every little thing needs to be addressed about said Monarch." I glanced at him with my head still resting on the back of my folded hands.
Seth had his lips pressed in a thin line. He didn't look pleased. Auri looked at the two of us and shrunk in her seat. Her demonic fox had its paw up to its face and it was smiling slightly. I frowned. Wait, is it laughing?! I shot a look at it and the fox ducked behind Auri.
Seth was holding a knife in his hand. He did a quick motion and flicked his wrist. Slash lines appeared in the air and he then set his knife down. His lamb steak was fully cut in a second. I gawked. Did he just- Seth glanced at me and frowned.
"What?" He said a bit disturbed. He reached for Auri's plate and then just manually cut her steak.
I mentally face palmed. Seth…