ɴᴏʙᴏᴅʏ; ᴡᴍᴍᴀᴘ

ᴅʀᴏᴡɴɪɴɢ

(Warnings: Harming, Bad thoughts, Claude)

☹︎☺︎︎☹︎☺︎︎☹︎

Making a new ally

☹︎☺︎︎☹︎☺︎︎☹︎

IJEKIEL ALPHEUS was on his daily secret visit with the prince. No one knew about this except some of Adelio maids and Adelio nanny. Ijekiel couldn't visit for a while since his father wanted him to study more.

Ijekiel wanted to visit Adelio because he heard that the Emperor has showed affection towards the Princess. Ijekiel knew how much the Emperor meant to Adelio, he was worried something happened.

As he arrived, he went to the secret passageway he always went through. As he went through the passageway, he saw Adelio. But Adelio was wearing his dancing attire, Ijekiel blushed as Adelio was showing a lot of skin.

Adelio who just realized that someone was watching him, he turned around only to see Ijekiel. Adelio smiled as he saw him, he felt his nervousness go away. He rushed to hug Ijekiel, they both fell to the ground. Adelio was on top of Ijekiel and Ijekiel was holding his waist.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming here!?" They were still in the same position, Ijekiel coughed and sighed. "I was...worried"

——

They were both sitting down drinking tea watching the clouds pass by. Though, Adelio was crying instead of smiling. He was telling Ijekiel his feelings about the whole situation with his father and sister.

Ijekiel was angry, why would someone do this to someone. All he did was hug him and kiss his forehead, "h-huh!" Adelio was shock, this was all new to him.

Adelio just melted in Ijekiel warmth and closed his eyes.

———

||ADELIO POV||

After spending time with Kiel, I made my choice. I would just pretend to love and protect Athanasia, maybe father would pay more attention towards me.

I was currently walking around the place until I made my near the lake, I heard a big splash noise.

I saw Athanasia falling of the boat, doesn't she knew how to swim. I sighed as I made my way towards the lake, and went to grab her before she drowns.

———
EARLIER

||ATHANASIA POV||

"Follow."

He stared with his eyes thinly opened, then turned away. It was then Lilly and Felix exhaled the breath they held very quietly. I felt like crying blood of how my death string was being pulled then let go, pulled then let go repeatedly.

"I was going to go on a boat today coincidentally, so prepare for it."

'Prepare? Hah! Moreover 'coincidentally' go on a boat. Ha, I know you planned it out and brought me when it is time. How dare you pretend it is 'coincident'!'

If you needed something, it probably was already prepared beforehand, so I am pretty sure it meant 'shut up and follow me'.

"Your majesty, sorry to interrupt but it is too early for the princess to play on the water..."

"What are you concerned about when jim will be with her?"

That's the problem, bast*rd!

Lilly who was brave enough to speak started to look at me with worry expressed eyes. Since people who are not invited to join the royal blood's boat time, I was sure she was worried that no one could have me if something happened.

But don't, sister Lilly. What will you do if that bast*rd decides to harm you?

But I actually don't want to ride the same boat Claude will ride! You suddenly became not so entertaining. Die. And splash! Into the lake I go! Who knows he'll do that?!

This rotten bast*rd stopped in track, then asked.

"Do you not want to ride the boat with me?"

"Ahhh, Atti will ride with papa."

Once again, I smiled innocently and answered. Hearing my answer, Lilly's face paled but I didn't have a choice. That is how I had to have a boat time with Claude feeling that its forced.

How big is the place that it actually has a lake big enough to have a boat time. With my lifeless face, I floated on the water with Claude sitting across from me.

Claude picked me up himself for me to mount, and during it, I had to shiver in fright without no one noticing of if he will drop me into the water. When I had completed 'getting on the boat' mission, I had no strength left in my body.

Huh? This boat though, it was so controlled. Do boats that royal blooded people ride always like this? Its not shaky at all and just slips on the water!

Wait. We both aren't rowing the boat. Then how does this thing even move? Is there like a motor or something? Or maybe this boat has 2 floors in total and the workers are moving their legs hard? Huhhhh.

"What are you thinking of?"

Don't speak to me. Don't look at me. Wahhh.

I was thinking of answering with 'Today's weather's nice!' or 'The lake is so pretty!' at Claude's question, but decided to just go for it.

"Papa's hair is shiny shiny! Sparkly! It's pretty!"

Well, it was true that Claude's hair was pretty. My light blonde was pretty too, but Claude's honey-like dark blonde was more of my style. Ahh, did I get too addicted to gold? Sniff.

"Sparkly sparkly! I like it! Hehe."

Claude smiled very faintly at my response. No, wait... If he smiles like that... I feel like something bad is going to happen.

"When I look back, you had some pockets full with gems that day."

Dun Dun DUN!! It's a goal! Competitor Atanasia is in the first stage for mental breakdown!

"I am storing your treasures well, so come next time yourself to take them.

... It's mine. It's mine! Everything is mine that I can't avoid it! AHHHH!

I was in shock I left my pockets filled with my beauties, but who knew that Claude actually took it! Ahh, craze, crazy! I really don't think I have a future of a peaceful death.

When I was lost for words, Claude was already emotionless. He's bored. His eyes were set on the place across the lake beside him. That gave me the opportunity to examine him a little more freely.

Umm... Which country is Claude's clothes from? Egypt? Greece?

I don't know. Forget that, but anyways. This kind of big and loose clothes suited Claude very well.

Last time I saw him, he looked like a lion. But now? Now he looks like a leopard resting in the sunlight. Well either way, he is still a wild carnivore. 

I didn't realize it at first as I was too shocked, but Claude was very good looking that anyone would gasp when they saw him. Sh*t. I don't want to admit it.

How to describe... Hmm, a handsome man with a wild aura surrounding him? He was wearing a gown-like clothes like always, so the way his muscles show... Gasp! No! I felt blood gathering around my nose.

I found out that Atanasia's mother Diana truly loved Claude while reading <Lovely Princess>'s after story.

I didn't get it at first, but now I feel like if girls saw him, they would fight for him like a fire giving spark.

Claude's eyes that are looking elsewhere than my eyes were very beautiful that even I could compliment, because his blue eyes with no warmth at all looked as if they were really gems. From this angle, it was a colour lighter than the lake we are on, a faint turquoise. Does mine, too?

Even so, it took me too much to keep on staring too much, so I slowly turned my head. Hmm? Then I saw a flower very mystic.

At first I thought I was seeing things but as the boat went closer to the flower, I could see it clearly.

Wow... what is this? Its a blue lotus flower! Ah? No its not. It looks blue because of the lake's colour, but the leaf itself was clear see through. It looked similar to a lotus flower but the leaf's see through. But did lotus flowers bloom in the lake?

I want to have that.

I had a feeling I could reach it if I reach out my hand so I moved to the very edge of the boat. I knew Claude was watching me but even that couldn't have my interest leave the flower.

Even though it was mystic, it wasn't that prettty. However, I still felt like I had to get that thing in my hand.

Little more. Just a little more.

And when my fingers was about to touch the leaf.

Splash!

I was thrown off the boat.

"Pffff!"

The water entered my mouth and nose with a speed. I just crazily flapped my arms and legs.

What is this? How did it turn out like this? I was mentally crazy as I couldn't breath from the water. The heavy many layerd dress sister maids dressed me up with as the day I am seeing Claude was all wet and heavy.

Wait! I can't swim! I can't!

"H-help...."

No matter how hard I flapped, I couldn't get a hold on anything. I could only scratch the boat with my two wet hands, I didn't even have the strength to pull myself up from the water. Even though I knew that, I was continuously flapping to reach in fear.

And when the eyes which were as calm as always met with mine, my body which was already cold seemed to freeze 'till the very end of my toe.

Claude was just quietly watching me flap in the lake. The very moment I looked into the calm eyes of his, I knew.

He's not going to save me. That man won't save me. He is going quietly to stare at me drown like this with those emotionless eyes.

Splash...

When I realized that, all strength in me gave up. The thing that was wrapping itself around my ankle was pulling me down. The time it took my head to completely go underwater was quick. Water filling my lungs felt terrible.

I can't believe this life's death is by drowning. The thought of mine before I rode the boat became real. Is this what they mean by words you speak becomes real? Even so, you.... -

"Pffft ack!"

"Gasp! Hah! Urgh, cough..."

Just then, a strong pressure pulled me back up the water.

I coughed uncontrollably as I coughed out the water. The sight was blurry, and my head was dizzy. I also felt water stuck in my ears so handling all that, I couldn't fully control my body.

"My goodness, princess!

I don't know how much time has passed. I thought I heard someone running to me, and then I heard Lilly's worried voice entering my ears like a dagger."

I then realized that Claude took me out of the boat that has reached the land just now.

"Flelix."

"Yes, your majesty."

"Teach this princess swimming starting tomorrow."

He shook his wet hand once, then turned away from me, I saw someone there as well but I can't see well enough to see who it was.

Lilly looked busy calming me who was shaking using a big towel to wrap me around and hugging.

"Princess. Princess.... It's fine. It's all fine now princess."

———

Adelio was jealous, he saved Athanasia and he gets ignored. While Athanasia gets all the attention, she would of died.

He wanted to kill her no he wanted to kill them all.

His thoughts were interrupted by his father. Adelio eyes shined, thinking he was going to get praised.

But all he felt was a sting on his left cheek. Adelio quickly looked up to see his father glaring at him with pure hatred.

Adelio was about to cry until he heard his father say something, "Don't you dare cry. Just from a mere slap, you want to cry. How pathetic of you." Adelio hearing those words made him wanting to vomit, more like he wanted to force himself to vomit. Felix was speechless from the emperor's words, then followed Claude's back with a shock filled expression.

Adelio looks down, he felt someone tap his shoulder, he looked up to see Athanasia nanny.

"Thank you prince! Thank you for saving Athanasia!" Lillian said as she was bowing her head down.

But Adelio just ignored her and started to make his way to his bedroom. He didn't care, nothing he did was right. He was always punished, making him think he always did the wrong choice.