“Pardon me, Your Grace but two humans of gold-breed types, monarchs from Feyline wished to confront you.” The message from the knights in charge of guarding the entrance drew in my attention.

Predominantly was because most common human won't effortlessly able to locate the floating magical land of Swancia unless they were some terrific magic wielder or they used to reach once.

“What are they up to?” Monarchs from Feyline would be the current 169th emperor, Julius the third, Julius Sebastian Frederic de Feyline. His empress would be the past little girl, without a speck of doubt.

“It appears that their only prince was in a sickly state and wished to know his sickness, also ways to treat him.”

“Hmm...A foreign sickness? Allow them in.” I resolutely decided to get my head around the problem. The truth was that it had been dar away in the time since I engaged with anything associated with the land of the habitation.

My tendencies in dismissing pleas ceased that very noon.

Two particularly imperial figure stepped in with a young boy clasping the hand of the empress.

“We humbly greet the greatest archmage of Swancia, Your Honourable Grace. Please, we beg of you to take a look at our dear prince ailment.”

“Your Majesties, the sovereign of Feyline... Is the fragile prince here your true breed?” My first question can be interpreted as rude as of raising a question regarding the prince origin.

Regardless, it was a crucial key to his sickness factors.

“Yes, Your Grace.” Emperor Julius bobbed his head vertically, consenting to my question.

“Claude, let Her Grace discern your face.” Empress Julianne gently lifted her prince's head's that kept facing the floor, almost as if he was lightly bowing the whole time.

“Hmm...? That's strange...” My eyes won't shift it gazes was from his pale white face... His empty eyes seemed absolutely lifeless, without a clear reflection. I wasn't able to define his iris colour, as his eyes which depicted a blue day don't seem to store any.

He appeared so thin, powerless and worn-out even with a tiny smile on his chapped faint lips that supposed to convince otherwise.

“Is it some serious matter?”

“Arielle, escorted the emperor and the empress to the majestic garden for some moments.” Gazing towards the boy widen my interest in comprehending more insight.

I'll be requiring some of the so-called heart-to-heart talks with the young prince that spent his entire while staring at the clear floor.

“I abide by your wishes, Your Grace.” Arielle abjectly obeyed to my request, hurriedly accomplishing the task given to her.

“What's wrong, Your Grace?” The emperor question remained unanswered as he was escorted outside. I would rather reply to that later after I testified something.

“Did something happened?” Empress Julianne concerns nonetheless were extra focused on his prince, as if she had figured something out already by my simple orders.

“Your Majesties, I suggest you wait a while until Her Grace request for your presence.” Arielle interrupted theirs denies, before escorting them out to the garden, sparing me times to have a so-called heart from heart talk.

“Your Grace, miss archmage, are you trying to heal me? If so, please don't, because there had been a lot of people who tried to but they weren't able to. I can't have you to waste your precious time on me.”

Claude enunciated his abundantly depressing thoughts to a fault that heeding it was enough for me to pull a full stop.

“What an unfortunate life you had been through to even had such a depressing thought...” I commented before concluding on the fairest decision possible for the current predicament.

“Ease up, little prince 'cause you're not sick. It's pretty natural for the chosen one to be going through this initially.” I made light statements that weren't sufficient as a brief explanation to him.

Out of the blue, I'm quite worried that he would have the idea that his life equal to burdens to others...that was a red flag, a very alarming sign.

“I-I'm not sick? What do you mean by that, miss archmage?” Claude stuttered his words, apparently was shocked by the sudden-like proclamation.

“Exactly as I said. You aren't unhealthy though usually, a hybrid won't go through the pain like this but you are a nascent lord, a hybrid called lord of underwater, born between a majestic serpent and a seawater dragon.”

I made my words distinctly clear by clarifying it properly to the prince that wore a perplexed look on his face.

“I actually am not sick? Is that even possible, miss archmage?” He questioned for the second time. Somehow, it's quite saddening how he assumed that no cure would be available for him.

“Well, to the least, you won't pass away or fall sick with my help. The worse possibility is that it won't be an ordinary life for you the whole period of your growth.” My remarks sound heartless but the more convinced he was, the easier he was to accept my proposal.

*snap *

I snapped my fingers once.

In a blink of one's eye, the emperor and empress including Arielle were instantly teleported into the throne room. The finger-snapping did nothing but it was Arielle who listened to it when I summoned her with that snap and teleported.

The throne room or the Instance Demise which was anointed by those who entered the room.

Regularly, it was attended by the grand chancellors, the head of the heavenly division's council, the twelve chief-inlead of departments, the two main elder nobilities and the four golden disciples for the daily summit conference.

“Do you find anything out of him, Your Grace?” Empress Julianne hastily rushed to her prince and spun his weak body, inspecting him from top to bottom.

That left me unsatisfied by that reaction that noted as if I've done anything weird to him.

“Your crown prince is completely normal but he won't be able to last long without the essences of Majeswans,” I answered back short without further rationales.

Well, I used to shed some light on it to some as enlightenment but it only has an unpleasant reaction. Either they blanked in puzzlement or doubtful and refused to believe in my words.

I even acquired to be labelled as an archmages con artist though it was in the past.

“Majeswans?! But, how would we be able to find something so invaluable and sacred, Your Grace? They had gone extinct for thousands of years ago...”

“Precisely. That's why leave him to me. Here's the deal.

I will treat him, assure his health before he reaches adulthood but until that times come, he will be staying here in Swancia.” My very first appeal ever to offer the invaluable droplets of Majeswans.

It was so precious that one willingly pay off up to millions just for a drop of it as its usual price would exceed six counts of zeros.

Even the richest royal family would have less than ten bottles of the essences.

“But....will it be fine? Also, regarding Claude...” Those thoughts were quite moderate compared to those who might have to accuse me as a paedophile or even kidnapper.

“He will be fine with me. Regardless of anything you perform, he won't recover easily without my aids and went through an immense unbearable pain soon. Make your decision wisely as to accept it or decline.”

Honestly, my offers were fairly favourable to both sides rather than be rejected. Nevertheless, to separate with their only prince would be relatively overwhelming.

Not in my aspect to the least, but theirs.

“Is there a particular reason for you to want our prince to stay here?”

“You wouldn't be able to infer it even if I do rationalise it. Decides soon, Your Majesties before I take my offer back.” The hesitation they expressed informed me about everything.

If they want him healthy, they had to leave him here but if they declined to, they will have to tolerate him went through an extreme pain which will occur on his first growing phase.

“According to your condition, we will be leaving Claude in your care, Your Grace. Please do take care of him in our stead, if this way he would return to his usual health.”

The small sigh he let out reiterated their reluctance of leaving him till his adulthood which would take a few years that was unmistakably wasn't short-term of time in their opinion.

“Excellent, you made your decision sensibly. Do bid your last goodbyes before parting shortly after. Later, send them back to Feyline, Arielle.” My final strict arrangement had them bewilder by the fact of really leaving.

It would be such a miracle already if they left with no remorse but presently, guilt almost split their mind box open in two.

“I will obey your request, Your Grace.” Arielle who's loyally waiting by my side responded with utmost polite, waiting for them to say goodbyes peacefully.

Honestly, a lot of things could happen in his period of growth to adulthood that one can't even guarantee thee possibilities of monarchs still being alive when they reunited again.

“Claude, my dear child. You need to grow up healthy alright. Forgive us, Claude, because this might be the only way to relieve your sufferings.”

“Its fine, father. I understand that you do this only was for my benefits too.” That kid...was he that emotionless type...those who had a mask of a smile on his face or was that words from him a genuine one?

“ Claude... We are going to be missing you very much so recovered fast and return to us quickly, alright?” Empress Julianne soft voice provided warmth that warmed up for instance before leaving again and again.

Alike some hopeless wishes of mine.

“Yes, mother. Don't worry about me as I'm sure I will be just fine with miss archmage.” The more words spouted out of his mouth, the more impatient I am for his unknown reasoning.

“Please excuse us, Your Grace and we're grateful for the help you offer.” They bid him goodbyes reluctantly, wavering their steps to leave the palace escorted by my attendants.

“Aren’t you tired of holding back your emotions, little prince?” I stated, defined my guess of him, not wording anything.

“It's fine because I am mature enough to understand their motives, miss. Thank you for your concern, I am happy to know that you care.” His smile radiated this luscious light just like the sun, an illusion of a light halo glowed behind him.

This decision of mine keeping him here at first was on a whim thinking of giving the prince essences easier from time to time but remorse stabbed me in the heart thinking separation would be the answer.

“Haha...you sure are mature for a little kid but that's what makes you enthralling, little prince.” I giggled, coating the rift in my sentiments.

“Miss archmage, am I residing here from now on?”

“Correct, Claude Julius Elfrederic de Feyline... I say it correctly...your name didn't I?” He was the only prince of those rulers...they just got united last year if I recollected it correctly.

“That's impressive! How did you know my name, miss archmage?” Excitedly, he requested with a curious face want to be fed with wisdom.

“Little prince, I'm not called greatest archmage for no reason. Anyhow, from today onwards, you will be living with me. Miss archmage is too formal, just call me master casually.”

He's quite young and calling me who's old enough to be his ancestors as ‘miss’ just doesn't sound right.

“If so, may I know master's name?” Claude's word prompted me of my forgetfulness as an old dame who even forgotten to introduce myself.

“Adelaide. It's Adelaide Felicia Elise Swancia.”

“Vowing to those who cure my brief life spans, hereby I pledge on my life upon this fantastic master...Adelaide Felicia Elise Swancia.”

“Claude! Once the pledged upon heart's stops beating, only then so does the pledging one! It's a once in a lifetime life pledge you refined for your vowed spouse.” This cute but daring brat just made a vow which can only be made onetime.

A heart oath was unremovable for a lifetime and when the being a pledge to die, the one who made the vow will also pass away as his heart was given to the spouse which naturally die when his heart was.

Ironically, the partner was called heart possessor.

“And it's yours now.” That lenient answer from Claude had me sighing for the second time.

“Hah... Remarkably, I now know that I took in someone both strange and special...”

“And I'm honoured to be that person, master.” That genuine smile conveyed the true meaning of tenderly sneaky.

By the day, I know that my daily life will have a turnover without even working sweats into seeing into the future.

“Come here, little prince. What do you think about your new chamber? Is it up to your taste, little royalty?” Adelaide clapped her hands, motioning for the door leading to the guest's room open.

Claude who'd been chasing after her tail was still, not moving as he thoroughly discovered the neat space that was rather elegantly decorated.

“I...I can live here?”

He pointed at the room. “Uhuh... why? Are you perhaps not satisfied with anything, Claude?” Adelaide brushed the little speck of dirt on the tiny globe using her sleeve.

As soon as her words fall, the little lad shook his head quickly denying it. Slowly Claude glanced up, although his eyes were yet to improve, there's a hint of excitement behind that greyness.

“All of these... all of these are mine?” He carefully placed his word with eyes focused rather at the ‘entertainment’ stuff she'd ordered Arielle to fetch in haste.

In all honesty, not once in her life has she'd ever thought there was a possibility of her being stumped at what kind of fun material the prince would be interested in.

Thus, this task was off-handedly handed to her capable right-hand man, Arielle Bellevyne la Soarine, a great noble sage to... buy a child's plaything.

She didn't disappoint, however, another different type of concern arose. Swancia was a floating land filled with only magical beings who for the most part wasn't human.

Such, the ‘toys’ in their senses weren't exactly the same as human toys.

The plaything mentioned was a few batches of harmless potions to-go, a dull and anti-stab sword, a crossbow to shoot bottled mixtures, protection sigils and magical charms also a ready-built protection barrier in form of a bubble.

That's... their young blood forms of entertainment.

Gratefully however seeing the prince's eyes lit up at the of these... gifts was rather worth it.

Although, all of the people involved with the plaything purchasing better pray that the stuff was harmless and safe to him for use.

Claude silently shifted towards her, before expressing his gratitude in a low voice, “Thank you, master.” How adorable, this little one was reddened by the enthusiasm, hah.

Seems like despite the love showered onto him, being a sickly crown prince at the age of 13 was quite tough and obviously wasn't in favour of a typical kid's life.

Even stuff like this seemed foreign apparently.

Adelaide stroked his hair a few times before nodding, consenting him to go check out his things and get used to the new room he'll now be inhabiting.

“Claude, I will be leaving first. If you have any other requests, simply shake the small globe by your bed and someone will serve your concerns. Be sure to be downstairs when it's time for dinner.” She noted.

Claude just nodded his head to her orders before seeing her off, sending her away with a courtesy.

***

Arielle stood by her side, collectedly pouring the scented tea of grounded spring bloom into the cup of a floral theme.

“Your Grace, what had you bring the crown prince of the land into the Swancia for?”

“I was begged by the most dominant monarchy pairs ever in history, how could I not?”

Adelaide chuckled, with her line of sight steady on the peachy petals that had landed so sneakily into her cup.

Grumbling with a straight face, Arielle refuted, “When have you ever been so compliant towards the request of others, Your Grace? The last time request from the Honourable Lord of North was also rejected flat-out by Your Grace, may I prompt?”

“That's because he's a piece of trash, totally not my fault. Honourable where? Should have been The Trashable Lord of North.” Adelaide tsked, taking her turn to complain.

Remembering the perverted face of that uncompostable piece of trash that's a waste of the land irked her.

“Well, regardless... What do Your Grace plan to do with the crown prince of Feyline? Going as far as to offer the precious treasure in exchange for five years' worth of the crown prince's stay here only to cure him with no actual compensation was too odd of you, Lady Adelaide.”

Rapping her knuckles on the board of the table, Adelaide remained in silence as if pondering the question so deeply she's lost in her thoughts.

Stopping her knocking, she then responded,

“An accursed premonition! Also, the little one's behaviour was too hard to dismiss. It's not easy to find someone with eyes that's ready to accept the embrace of death at any moment.

All and all, he's very much an interesting specimen!”

Arielle sighed, can't even be making a reasoning of her ladyship's trains of thoughts although deep down she's pretty much convinced it might have been for the better.

That, however, was a secret she'd never told Adelaide.

The door to the throne room then was knocked twice as someone came in, whispering something into Arielle's ear.

Bowing, Arielle relayed the message one by one;

“Your Grace... the Trasha--Honourable Lord Of North had paid you a visit again with the help of the eastern country this time.”

The porcelain cup Adelaide was holding fell off from its holder, shattering at its reunion with the floor. Placing down the remaining holder, she summoned her mighty white sceptre before harshly thumping the cane to the floor.

“AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!” An ear-shattering scream sounded from the outside of the palace.

“Who is it again?” Adelaide smiled.

Arielle, “......”

***

The nighttime had befallen and the night at Swancia was a hundred times more magnificent than a night spent on the land.

The moon's views were as clear as it could ever be and the stars glittered the prettiest with the night light as it shades.

Down from the moon was two people hanging under the moonlight with someone serving by their side.

Adelaide comfortably took a bite of her spinach salad for supper as Claude attentively brought the soup on his spoon into his mouth, silently enjoying the taste.

The two of them were enjoying the night moonlight inside the personal glasshouse where all of the lovely plants were grown personally by her and a few in-chiefs.

Arielle too was there, minding her own business which happens to be the scone with extra whipped cream on her plate, while attending to the two of them.

The silence was comfortable but even so, Adelaide still had a question she'd wish to figure the answer to in her mind.

“Claude, tell me about your eyes. Can you see from them?” Adelaide questioned.

The boy fidgeted, seemingly... guilty? “Um...no. But master, I'm fine with it! I still can be useful to you without my sight. I can do a lot too, so can I... stay here?”

Adelaide smiled, placing down the fork in her hands that she kept twisting in between her fingers.

“Little Claude, you can stay here even with or without those. What's more, I traded something rather precious in return for your cuperation so I'm just a little curious as I was the one to nurse you to health, Claude.”

“Ah, is that so...” “Yep it is so,” Adelaide replied while placing a piece of exquisite pastry onto his empty plate.

His little eyes glittered at those sweets, sending Adelaide another undiscoverable joy there was in feeding someone.

She snapped her fingers together, snatching his attention, “Look here, Claude. Let me take a look at your eyes.”

After some uncovering into the seemingly empty eyes, she commented cooly;

“Although you can see slightly with your right eye, both of your eyes are temporarily impaired as in disabled due to that you still haven't exceeded the growth phase yet. It's a side-effect of delayed growth. Your visions will likely return by the time you had matured.”

There wasn't anything truly serious about his eyes which was considered a good sign in his maturing. Rather, was the indication that he's in the proper process of growing.

“Really? So I am not forever impaired? Master, you are so incredible.” Claude praised genuinely as his hand reached for the pastry one after another.

Despite him still shoving those pastries down his throat, it was quite clear that his mood improved by a lot knowing that.

“Well, while there are endless possibilities ahead, I had promised you would be a completely healthy crown prince by your coming-of-age birthdate. I'd never promise something I can't realise, rest assured.”

Adelaide proclaimed, gently poking his forehead as it glowed with a little blessing trick she'd imbued the push with.

Stunned, Claude halted his munching. Instead, he immediately bowed courtly, with one hand at the back and a hand to the front, suitably placed as to greet his new master by the dusk.

“Then, I am in your care, for the time being, Your Grace the greatest archmage of Swancia, Adelaide Felicia Swancia. Please take care of me and possibly cure me... master. This disciple of yours abides by his master.”

He took Adelaide's gloved hand with his hand, placing a chaste kiss on his new master's hand as a sign of loyalty and greeting.

Chuckling at such abrupt greet, she replied;

“Great, Your Highness the crown prince Claude Julius Elfredric de Feyline. I supposed I will be in your care too, my deared disciple? I will take care of you too so hurry up and be cured by me, your master, yes?”

“Yes, master!” The small eyes reflected off the moonshine beamed with radiance was such a sight to see as his new master merrily tittered by his side.

Surely, such an odd disciple she's picked up.

_______________________________

Here's the treat for today. Thank you very much for reading, I truly appreciated it.🌹