Chapter 139: Chapter 139
"... The bordering Lands have informed the villages..... Troops are ready for any conflict that may surge.... That would be all, your Majesty..."
The flimsy noble had eventually resumed his reports and finally had ended his duty to communicate the dense scripts contained on his long parchments.
Meanwhile, the wandering mind of the Emperor was showcased by the restless tap of his finger on the armrest of his throne. Echoing lonesome through the awaiting silence in the Hall, Francois noticed the disappearance of the neverending chatter of the man before him and raised his eyebrow as his chin lifted to look down on his audience.
The Emperor gave a refined yet arrogant grin, feigning interest and delight for the nice job his server had done.
"Is that so?... I see my Empire is being well kept, by its people. You may retire now, Sir, shall the season bless the next report to be as wonderful as this one."
"... Thank you, you Majesty... Let Fenrir walk beside Your Excellency."
Seeing the noble turn to leave, Francois stood up from his seat, excited to finally have an entertaining breakfast.
*******
Little Dioclecià had started his scheduled studies in the early morning when the sun was yet to fully illuminate the vast sky enveloping over his Royal residence.
The child was outstanding in his studies, just like his siblings. Yet, the young Prince was adamant about excelling himself every day, for his only pride was that his teachers were always praising the child’s intellect as one that resembled his older brother’s at his age.
Dioclecià had not interacted much with his family members, yet... he knew what type of personality all of the members had.
His mother was a proud woman, yet from time to time, she would give him a soft and short smile while reading her youngest son’s learning progress and would incite him to do better even though his performance was already outstanding.
"You are already doing so well... Keep at it son, and become even better."
Her words were enough to make him happy every time, which was why the little Prince waited for the weekly report to be handed to his mother with impatience every day.
The other female in his family instead, his sister, was outspoken and sincere... However, very difficult to approach and understand.
As to The second Prince, Dioclecià had understood that his second older brother was cold to anyone and an extremely calculating man.
The way he always used to glance at the child with little interest and contempt had made the little Prince warry of him for he instilled slight insecurity within him.
Nonetheless, His other sibling instead... Made him feel admiration.
The young boy had been scared of his oldest brother ever since he attained consciousness.
The red glow of his eyes was frightening and the fearful gazes he always got from the servants and even his family members used to make him believe he was indeed the Crazed for blood Prince.
He had witnessed his unique "seizures" where animals would be taken into his quarters to then be retrieved as mere blooded pieces of corpses. And, from time to time... Even people would end victim to his thirst.
The thought always made him tremble... Until he returned from the wars his older brother had sought
It was not his prominence as the Empire’s hero that had changed his perspective... But the way he had greeted him once he met him by chance after his return.
Just as he did now, the child was walking through the Labyrinth the main Palace’s wide corridors were, to arrive at the following lecture scheduled in his day.
The Crown Prince had appeared all of a sudden in his path, making him flinch from the surprise and fright.
At the time, his older brother noticed him and stood in front of him for a long while staring impassively at the trembling child, who was too afraid to greet his brother properly.
Then, after his pause, Zeleskiaz ultimately talked to the Third Prince first.
"You are Dioclecià, right?"
The child nodded profusely, restraining his tears from coming out, wondering if his family member was truly asking his name.
"... You’ve grown taller, Dioclecià Leodogari..... Ha... Sounds like a Prince’s name, indeed." — he said as he smirked.
"... G-G-Good morning, Your Highness" — The child swallowed and answered nervously.
"... Don’t do that."
The child jumped to his cold voice and peeked at him with a shrunk body, only to find a displeased countenance on the scary Crown Prince.
"... Zeleskiaz is fine. Call me that, kid... I saw many like you on the battlefield... So rest assured... The beast won’t touch you." — The Crown Prince told him with an aloof tone as he passed by his side, ruffling the little Prince’s short hair as he left.
From then on, every time they crossed paths, the child would cautiously greet him without addressing him either with his name nor his title.
A normal greeting like "good morning" or "good afternoon" would be said by the child and, every time without exception, the Crown Prince would pass by his side with a severe expression to pat his head and remind him.
"Zeleskiaz."
It took him time, yet the child ultimately braved himself to say the name on his greetings.
"Good morning... Zeleskiaz..."
The satisfied smirk he gave him at the time was still vivid in the child’s memory... Along with the passing words he said as he ruffled his head strongly.
"Good work, shorty."
It was unknown to the child what had made the Crown Prince only act this nicely to him. Yet the child felt elated because for once, he truly felt a nice connection with a sibling.
It was indeed an amiss behaviour to be portrayed by the Crown Prince. Regardless, every little thing in the world has a reason behind it... And this case was not an anomaly.
The Crown Prince was the only one who knew the motive, for it was something he had experienced in his years on the lands where blood was easier to breathe for its abundant stench covered the ground like falling rain.
Only one of many meetings had craved this motive.
The misstep of a sword, the victim of it and the one left behind because of it.
Children were easily found homeless and starved in those lands... yet the child left behind was begging for death now that his brother was gone.
It was the words that the child told the Crown Prince in The short conversation, that had been crucial to this new attitude meant solely to his little brother along with what landed in the middle of it.
—... Not running? —
—... Brother wasn’t my family. Brother died so I have nothing... And might find a death worse than my brother’s as I starve to death. —
— Is that so? —
— If I were my Brother... Maybe I could grow older and fight for myself. Yet, my body is tiny and has no strength... Sir... Do you have Brothers? —
—... Unfortunately.—
—... I hope they won’t die young as I am by your hands too. —
A rebellious kid with feigned nice words in a filthy mouth had tried to provoke him to gain death sooner.
— Sadly... Thanks to your challenging words they won’t die young now... Just like you–.. —
... Swiiish... Tok–
The sound of an enemy spear wounding the youth in front of him through the thin skeletal torse... Meant to reach the Prince’s throat in a cowardly ambush.
His instinctive skills stopped the spear from touching him with rapid reflexes. Yet, the already dead eyes of the child were no longer able to listen to the sarcastic attempt at a promise.
That day on the battlefield was later named "The Crazed Hero’s Hellish Slaughter"... For the Crown Prince unleashed his rage trying to appease the conflict the neverending flash of the dead child’s image and voice, driving his soul with powerful rumblings to kill with the same spear that dared end the forgiven child’s life... Any geared man that crossed his path with crude violence.
It was at the time he first crossed paths with the little Prince that, Zeleskiaz recalled the events of that day and his thoughts only came to say their parting words to the child that incited his beast to attack... while he paused in front of his blood-related little brother.
’Just like you... I won’t let him die like you, annoying brat... The kid should keep living as healthy and innocent as he looks... Instead of you.’
Watching how different to himself the youngest sibling appeared... The Crown Prince felt pity.
Because at the time... Zeleskiaz wanted to absolve the battlefield child’s life... only to make an excuse to ensure his hands wouldn’t get stained in the near future with his still immature sibling’s blood once he took the throne.
In previous generations, it had been seen as common for the other Princes to rise against the Crowned one after getting their throne. Whether it was envy or feud... The Royals would go against each other from time to time in greed for power.
Seeing the pure boy, obviously frightened, relieved him and the child’s cautiousness after that also assured Zeleskiaz that at least when it came to Dioclecià... No rise would come...
No need to threaten him was to be needed. Eventually finding the perfect excuse... To make the battlefield child feel envy for his challenging sarcasm wouldn’t come true when it came to the only true child in his family.