Alfred

It is common knowledge that members of a royal families and nobles usually have more than one spouse. Actually, even the commoners - man or women - can have however many spouses they want as long as they have the power to do so. Or as long as they can stand the judgement of people. This is also the case for the Empire of Roland.

Alfred Maximilian Roland is the eldest son of the current emperor and late empress, as well as the heir apparent. Meanwhile, Theodore Dwight Roland is the third son to the emperor and queen who has - to Her Highness' displeasure - relinquished all rights to the throne.

The two brothers are the closest amongst the royal siblings. It is a miracle that any of the emperor's children could grow so close to each other like they do. Politics tend to make even blood siblings enemies of each other. Well, this right now is none of his concern. The politics may bring troubles in the future, but if Alfred could be honest, his brothers and sisters could shove it for all he cares.

The crown is heavy, dear.

In Alfred's mind right now, the most important thing is the sulking Lady Blanc. The young prince sits quietly, listening to the soft voice of the lady opposite to him. Despite the fact that she is displeased with his visit, he finds it adorable that her displeasure stems more from her awkwardness toward him, more than anything else. Well, they have a remarkable but short history together - a story for another time.

"Anyway, the most recent one is a dragon happened," she said. Alfred perks up at the mention of a dragon. It's a mythical creature impossible to be sighted. With how detestable they find humans to be, the last sighting of a dragon occured centuries ago.

"He's dead, sadly ," Blanc said. She could feel the chill climbing up her spine whenever she recalls the experience. Alfred feels his excitement dissipates at the suddenly solemn atmosphere. "Noir is currently studying the plants that grow around there. We told people that a new species of poisonous plants caused the miasma plaguing the village, but it's actually an effect of multitude curses," the lady continued.

Alfred stiffens. "The dragon's death is unnatural?"

"He's still young, and you know the legend, don't you? If a dragon's life ends as destined, it brings blessings. But this one..." she trailed off.

Alfred puts a hand under his chin in a thinking gesture. "If they die untimely, their deaths brings forth curses. And that's exactly what happened right?" Blanc nods absent-mindedly. "We procured the purest flame we could and burnt the affected area, then cremate the dragon."

"Then did you happen upon the dragon's core?"

Blanc nods. This earns Alfred's concern. "Are you fine?"

"No, I'm sorry," he took back his words. Then, as if berating himself harshly, he continues "That's a particularly foolish question to ask."

"Yes," the lady agreed. "Unusually stupid of you."

"How have you been recovering?" At his question, Blanc shrugs. "I have been recovering well. But you ruined it, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern, however." She adds a flat laugh at the end of her sentence.

Alfred frowns in concern, bypassing her sarcasm. "Do I need to invite the imperial healers?"

Blanc sticks out her tongue at the mention of the imperial healers. "Phonies, the lot of them. I do better. Not to mention, I was once under the high priestess."

"If you said so," the young prince sighed.

Then, a heavy silence envelopes them. Blanc fidgets on her seat while Alfred just watches her. As usual, he has a separate storage of patience meant for her. Finally, Blanc takes a few gulps of air. "It was horrible, Alfred. I feel nauseous everytime I think about it, seriously."

"The dragon -" she brought herself to continue.

"It's fine," Alfred cut in. "Don't talk about it if you're not ready. You're pushing yourself too much," he said. The young prince stands up and walks to her side. His hand gently pats her back. "I could look into this myself."

Blanc shivers. "No. The more information you have, the better. I just couldn't fathom how someone could kill a dragon that way. It's impossible that they don't know of the consequences. It could be intentional and this brings much unease, so just..." she heaves a sigh. "Give me a few minutes. I'll be fine to talk again."

"Are you sure?"

Blanc nods determinedly. Her hands are unconsciously clutching at the sides of her chair, as if to ground and separate herself from the horrible memory pertaining to the dragon. Alfred lets her be, just standing still beside her and occasionally patting her back. When Blanc has gathered herself, she speaks again

"The core 'exploded' in a sense. When we forcefully purified the area, the dragon's core erupted with all these emotions. And perhaps since I was the closest, it pulls me into this weird space."

Alfred has once read about a book detailing a priest's experience with the corpse of an old dragon. In it, is a similar event. To sum it up, when the priest was purifying the affected area, he finds foreign emotions forcefully insert themselves into his brain. Later, he wakes up to find that he has fainted. Having been rescued by a villager, the priest has actually been unconscious for 2 whole days.

Then, when he returns, he finds the dragon's core has crumbled into a pile of ash.

"What sort of space?"

"... A dark space filled with black waves. Then there were so many emotions, just raging and drowning me. I even felt like I would actually die from it," Blanc uttered in a hushed voice.

Alfred flinches at her words.

"Don't get involved with a dragon ever again," he said through gritted teeth.

"That's unreasonable in many ways, Alfred," Blanc scoffed. "And let me say it again, you don't get to point where my life goes. We're only good acquaintances at best, Your Highness."

Alfred smiled benignly. Seeing this, Blanc immediately covers her ears. "No! Don't say the words! Please, please don't!"

The young prince easily pulls away her hand despite her struggle. Then chuckling, and with amusement in his eyes, he said, "We're not merely acquaintances, Lady Blanc. We're engaged. As I'm your fiance, you are my fiancee."

She screams. "That's not formalized yet! And never will!"

"Are you saying that the words of a priestess-in-training can never be trusted? It's an engagement that took place in the church, with the high priestess and Theodore as witnesses, and you - formerly an apprentice priestess - the directly involved party," he explained teasingly.

"I didn't know you are a prince!" she refuted, trying to stomp on one of his feet while struggling to escape his grasp of her arms. "I'm engaged to the Alfred who is a commoner!"

"Are you saying your love for me couldn't surpass status, Dear?" he asked with a theatrically sad expression.

Blanc feels goosebumps rising all over skin. "Don't call me that! It's - eww - disgusting! I'm not your 'Dear'! Alfred, you liar!"

"Yes, yes, but I have apologized very sincerely, with all my heart and -"

She finally stomps on his foot. "Stop that!"

Keeling over in pain, Alfred whines as he holds his boot-clad foot. "Ouch, dear. That hurts!"

"Serves you right!" and she proceeds to hurl her teacup at him.

Alfred almost yelps, moving away in a hurry to avoid her wrath. "Dear - no, I mean Lady Blanc, I'm sorry. I won't tease you again!"

After another round of screaming and hurling one more teacup, Blanc finally settles down. Huffing and puffing from anger and embarrassment, she sits down on the floor with flushed face. Alfred crouches down in front of her, rather close despite the danger earlier.

Carefully, he tucks in a strand of silver hair behind her ear.

"Stop smiling like that!" she groans.

"I am always under the impression that you find my smile endearing though."He chuckles. 'She once said she loved seeing my smile,' he thought fondly.

"That's in the past!"

"Yes, yes. I won't smile like that in front of you," he went along with her in words only; the boy is still smiling. How is he to believe in her words when she blushes rather heavily whenever he smiles like this? He still makes her heart skip a beat. Alfred feels relieved at the thought. 'I still have a chance to make her accept me again.'

Noir and Theodore join the scene not long later. Hearing no more ruckus outside, they deem it safe to come out. "Have you settled down?" Noir asked them. Theodore goes to stand behind his brother obediently. "We have," replied Alfred. "We're talking about the dragon prior to this. I'd like to listen to your point of view as well, Lady Noir."

Noir pulls Blanc up from the floor. Theodore casts a fixing magic to the two broken teacups and send them back on the table. "Take a seat, again, your Highnesses," Noir said, gesturing to the four chairs around their dining table.

Alfred casts one more glance at the blushing Blanc who hides behind her friend. When Blanc notices his gaze, she glares at him and harrumphs. Alfred feels the corner of his lips unconsciously tucked up again into a smile. His brother's patting his shoulder brings him back to the present situation. Alfred begrudgingly returns to deal with yet another problem.

Indeed, the crown is heavy. He hasn't even been made the Emperor, but the young prince is already thinking of early retirement. Fleetingly, he gazes at Theodore, subtly frowning. Why did the only sibling whose ability he recognizes have to relinquish his right to the throne? It's such a pity he can't work to turn Theodore into the crown prince in his stead.

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