"Sister!"
Xeraphine rushed into Veloria's chamber, her chest heaving in breathlessness. Veloria dismissed her maids and watched the turbulence in her sister's demeanor through her jitters and impatience, yet she exuberated her grace.
"Sister, I urge you. You have to talk to His Majesty. I accept any punishment for Astaroth but to take away his nobility? How is he supposed to live as a commoner? What will become of his reputation?"
Xeraphine tensely sat beside her and gently held her hand. "Sister, you and brother-in-law have always treated Astaroth like your own son. I understand he has made some mistakes, but is it really necessary to be so harsh with him?"
Veloria turned and stared out of the window, quietly listening to her sister's grievances. "It's out of my control, Xeraphine."
"Please don't say that, sister," She implored. "Don't you understand? Zerath humiliated my son to no end only because he wanted to get rid of him from challenging his position. Now Zerath has free reign. Do you really want a child picked up from the streets to sit on the throne? The throne that was supposed to belong to your unborn son?"
Veloria froze hard, her already despondent gaze dimming further.
"Does Zerath really deserve the King's throne, who has no relation with the royal family? But Astaroth is your nephew. A noble who understands the palace affairs more than anybody. If…"
Xeraphine pressed her lips, lowering her gaze. "If your son had lived, Astaroth would've been his shield and his most loyal aide. They would've grown up to become the closest brothers…"
She squeezed her hand and said, "That's why we cannot let a stranger's blood sit on the throne and command the Demon Realm. Let our Astaroth carry the legacy and follow the footsteps which your son would've walked upon…"
Veloria clenched her fists under the blanket, her lips quivering with an untold grief and fury.
My son…He was meant to be the King.
He was meant to bask in the glory and live as a respected sovereign…
She closed her eyes, tears wetting her eyelashes. "There is nothing I can do."
"You can, sister," Xeraphine said.
"Astaroth's punishment has been decided."
"But not Zerath's."
Veloria slightly furrowed her brows. "What would Zerath be punished for?"
"For sharing the chamber with that filthy human princess. I heard brother-in-law's punishment for him was to clean the training grounds like a servant, but isn't it too light? My son was given the harshest punishments possible, but Zerath? This just feels like a slap on the wrist. Isn't brother-in-law showing bias?"
Veloria looked unsure. "But what can I do?"
She exhaled a slow breath. "He must be given an appropriate punishment too, sister. That's why you must listen to me carefully."
—
Vivia peeked out of her room the next day, her gaze darting left and right. She closed her eyes and exhaled a nervous breath.
I don't feel like having breakfast…
Her growling stomach told a different story. She clutched it, willing for it to keep quiet. After the strange, inexplicable moment they had shared yesterday, she was yet to unravel her tangled thoughts.
How am I supposed to face him? I don't know what to say to him.
Vivia contemplated for a while but decided against cooping herself in her room for the day. She realized hiding would only make things more awkward between them. Steeling her resolve, she marched her way to the dining room where she saw Ronove setting up the plates.
"Sous Chef Ronove!"
"Princess!"
Ronove returned her sparkling gaze and hopped to her side, twirling with her merrily as if everyday was a festival. Once again, he failed to keep his distance from her as he held a princess's hands without a care in the world. Not like Vivia was bothered about it anyway. His pure sunshine smile alone dispelled the earlier anxiety from her heart.
Can I take him with me to my realm? She sobbed.
"I see breakfast is ready. Thank you so much Sous Chef. You always prepare such sumptuous meals for me," she dropped a curtsy.
"It's Chef Andras who deserves the praise!" He eagerly exclaimed. "He is so fast and efficient! Vassago and I can barely keep up with him!"
His bubbly enthusiasm felt like a breath of fresh air.
"Yes, yes, I can see how much you two adore Chef Andras."
Vivia glanced around but didn't see Zerath anywhere.
"Are you looking for my lord?" He blinked.
She choked and flailed to cover her sneaky expression.
"No, no. I wasn't looking for him. I assume he must be busy with work."
"Not work. Punishment."
That took her aback. "Punishment? For what?"
"For sleeping in the Princess's chamber! I didn't understand much, but I heard from some passing servants that His Majesty punished him with cleaning the training grounds all by himself! As the Crown Prince, it's unacceptable for him to sleep with the Princess!"
Her jaw dropped, dumbfounded.
"But we didn't sleep…we didn't do anything like that!"
"Apparently, sharing a chamber is as much of a sin! I don't understand why though! See, I hold your hands just fine!" he raised their still-locked hands proudly in the air as if making his point.
She coughed again.
Yes, and that's not allowed either…
"Thank you for telling me this, Sous Chef Ronove. Can you tell me where he is?"
—
On the training grounds, Zerath sat on top of the soil, sleeves rolled back and steadily pulling out the weeds in neat piles. Several maids stopped by to offer help, but he refused their assistance.
"It's my punishment. I'll see through it by myself. There is no point in this if I get help."
More than half the maids fainted at his dazzling smile. The other functioning maids dragged their swooning colleagues away with a heavy heart.
Zerath resumed his work when he sensed another wave of burning stares boring into his back. He glanced at the side and caught the knights peeking from behind the pillars.
"I'll get this done soon enough. Then you may begin your training."
The knights watched his dirt-stained hands and soiled boots, yet his regal aura didn't diminish one bit.
"M-My lord, please let us help you…"
"I've the same answer for you as I had for the maids," he smiled.
One knight fell on his knees in despair and pulled out his hair, frustrated.
I should've weeded out the ground yesterday itself! This way, my lord would've gotten a specking clean training ground! What was I thinking!?
Apparently, every knight shared the same self-loathing sentiment.
"Go. Warm up with some exercises until I'm done."
Tears welled in their eyes.
"This is an order."
Zerath shook his head helplessly and returned to work, until he felt another shadow loom over him.
Vivia stood before him, hands on her waist, chest puffed out with indignation and emerald eyes that narrowed dangerously.
"What is this I'm seeing, Crown Prince Zerath?"