Reflection of the Moonshine by the Lake

“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.

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

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