03 : To Change The Owen's Destiny

Struggling with his work as the heir of an Earl, there were no real changes to Cakra’s life. It was the repeated routine over and over again. Even today, he was grilled and took everything with a calm façade. The result was the same usual; he was good at everything, but magic.

Cakra’s dad, Earl Klein Owen, didn’t comment about this fact. He just stared pointedly at Cakra before he strode off wordlessly. But somehow Owen knew that his father was currently thinking about how his son could better master his magic.

It’s not that Cakra couldn’t. He could use his manna; it was just that he had difficulty in changing the shape. It was a real shame that he had a strong manna but couldn’t actually use it.

“We will move to the capital,” Klein announced a few days later.

Klein’s announcement made the lively living room quieted in a stunned silence. His three daughters stared at their father in confusion. Their beautiful faces expressed their bewilderment at declaration that seemingly came from nowhere. Meanwhile, Cakra, who was sitting with a book in his hand, quietly closed it and turned his attention to his father; examining his expression closely.

“From what I’ve heard, Cakra’s soulmate is in the Capital. I don’t know who it was specifically,” the wavy-haired man said, scratching the back of his head that was not actually itchy. He continued, “And to register for the Mask Ball, we have to request an audience with the Emperor, Cakra.” A sharp look was delivered from the father to his eldest.

From the way he looked at him, Cakra knew what his father didn’t actually say; because he was the Earl, it was the proper thing to give the joyous news of Olvfas appearance to the Emperor directly—face to face.

Cakra could only smile softly. With an appreciating tone, he replied, “I understand, Father.” Then he clapped and turned to his three younger sisters who turned their attention to him, “Then, it’s time for the girls to go to sleep now.” His love for them was shown in his eyes.

Understood that his sisters were unhappy being made to sleep earlier—not to mention his youngest sister—Cakra stood up. He moved towards Aina who was still absorbed in her drawing book and knelt next to her. The small girl in red dress looked up, stared at her brother with gleaming eyes—hoping that her brother didn’t give in to their father’s words, but of course, Cakra did what he had to.

“Aina…” the young man said, stroking his sister’s wavy hair. “We would have to pack up tomorrow, dear. The faster we go the better. It wasn’t possible to go through the teleportation canal, we would have a few days trip. Let’s sleep now, okay?”

As expected, the little five-year-old girl blew her chubby cheeks into a pout in discontent and went back to her drawing. “Aina wants drawing! Aina wants here! Da and brother can go on your own!”

At this, Cakra turned to his father. His eyes pleaded. He had thought so, but he thought it was improper to say it himself. So now that Aina was throwing a tantrum…

“It was fine if only me and your brother were going. But your brother has to stay in the Capital and Aina will not be able to play with Cakra every day. Is that okay?” Klein said calmly, sipping the tea that his wife, Isabella, had made. His sentence was told easily, controllably, and leniently; but it had the intended effect.

As if a bomb had been thrown, Aina was shocked. She stood up immediately. “Noooo! Cakra have to be with Aina!” The little girl said as she hugged Cakra with all her might. “Aina don’t wanna be aloooone!” She yelled, rubbing her face to Cakra’s gold brocaded high collar that he was wearing. Uh-oh, Aina was crying.

Holding the back of Aina’s head, Cakra stared sharply at his father. He frowned, “Wait a minute, Father. Why do I have to stay there?” He asked quickly.

“That's right, dad. Why does Cakra have to stay in the Capital?” Now his first sister joined in the fray. The girl who was only younger by two years from Cakra stared at Klein; her expression showed open denial. “As your heir, brother doesn’t have to stay in the Capital! If there is something for him to do there, he still could stay and go back and forth! Besides, this is our home!”

“Virny…” Cakra was touched by his sister’s words. He stared at the tomboyish girl with shoulder-length hair and simple dress; she was already standing up.

Cakra hadn’t got over the fact that his sister was standing up to him when his second younger sister—the one who was younger than him by four years—stood up too. Her ponytail waved together with her hand gestures as she protested, “That’s right! Let Cakra’s soulmate come here to Keldirya instead! We don’t have to move anywhere!”

Cakra could only chuckle seeing what was happening. He didn’t expect his sisters to deny him from moving away. Oh! Or maybe they were just too lazy to move? Haha, he didn’t know. But they clearly refused to move without a fight.

Just like Cakra, Elhas smiled. He was satisfied with the bond his children shared. However his decision was final. Thus, he dropped the second bomb, “Your brother will register to Duke Roosevelt’s battalion.”

In shock, Cakra stiffened. “Father!” He stood up.

“Cakra, if you’re serious about being my Heir, you know you have to be perfect. Duke Roosevelt owned the strongest troop in the country. You can learn a lot from him.” He said calmly after putting down his cup.

He leaned back and crossed his legs in a languid form, but his eyes stared dead toward Cakra’s bright eyes. “You. Need. To be. Perfect. Cakra.” He said firmly, before suddenly activating his power. His manna swirled around him before fading and made Cakra fold his knees.

Cakra gritted his teeth, panting. His shoulder felt heavy as his father’s energy pressed down on him and made his knees fold from underneath him.

“You see? No matter how skilled you are in hand to hand combat, no matter how fast you are in swordsmanship, if you don’t master magic, you will die.” His father said, resting his chin on his hand.

Cakra heaved, trying to stay upright with all his might. His sisters were scrambling all over the place, trying to either help him or convince their father to stop. Aina was screaming the loudest.

However, ignoring his daughters’ wailings, the Earl smirked at Cakra as if they were the only ones in the room. “Earls exist to protect the Empire. What can you do if you’re down with just this?” He paused, taking in the form of his kneeling son, before continued harshly, “Even the prince you’re supposed to protect is stronger than you! You are not allowed to embarrass me, Cakra! You have to shine brighter than me!”

Cakra hung his head down in surrender. His family, The Owens, had never shown off in front of the public. The Owens didn’t have anything to be proud of. They were too ordinary to inherit the title Earl--or at least that was what the other Nobles thought.

Even though the administration that the Owens were trusted with by the Emperor were always flawless, they were too weak and could easily be dethroned by other families who wanted their title. Especially considering how their story was. Ha! Someday, the superior nobility  would definitely target and crush them as their pleased.

Klein desired to be free from that chain. He wanted to ascend up, even if he had to crawl--at least, breaking the history line—their destiny—and making the world admit that they too, have pure blood. This was the first step toward his ambition; making his heir flawless.

But, zonk! Cakra couldn’t do magic, like any other true Owen bloodline. The common blood flowed too thick in his veins. What a shame.

“I understand, father.” Cakra said finally, after adapting to his father’s crippling energy. He still had his head hung low in obedience.

Then the pressure disappeared. “That’s my boy!” Klein said proudly, standing up from his previous position.

Here, Cakra mustered a bit of courage to look up. However, when his eyes met his father’s dark ones, he felt shivers down his spine. He truly understood that his father’s eyes promised an unpleasant future if he were to disappoint him.

“Do not disappoint me, son.” He said firmly before turning to his wife who was barely holding her tears seeing the state of her eldest child. “Isabella, let us turn in for the night.” He called in monotony, reaching his hand to her.

Isabella understood. She stood up and strode towards her husband’s side. However, she slowed down and paused near Cakra; she reached out to help him stand up and pulled him against her chest, stroking the back of his head. “I’m so sorry, dear…” was what she whispered in his ears before she kissed his temple and pulled away.

Then both of them, Earl and Countess, left the living room in a depressed silence.

From where he stood, Cakra bit his lip; realizing how idiotic he was. His father didn’t even modify his manna--he was just making an energy and Cakra was instantly subdued!

What did that mean? It meant Cakra was weak! Pathetic! Idiotic! Shameful! He was a failu--

“Cakra…” Aina, who had been staring at the frozen form of her brother, tackled his leg in a hug.

Cakra paused in surprise before looking down and saw his youngest sister. Her dark eyes gleaming with sorrow and unshed tears. She clearly looked miserable witnessing her brother being oppressed by their own father. And her honest reaction had warmed his heart.

Ah. He was still needed.

Cakra leaned down to reach for Aina and pulled her into his arms. He stared at her dark eyes and smiled, “It’s okay, dear. I’m fine…” He said as he kissed her chubby cheek softly.

“Are you sure you’re fine with this? I heard Duke Roosevelt was very harsh and disciplined. Are you going to be okay?” Virny moved towards them with a worried face.

Seeing that, Cakra was tempted to tease her a bit. He tilted his head and made a thinking face before he chuckled, reaching out to pat Virny’s head softly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

Then he turned to his next sister who was making a sorrowful expression mixed with disbelief. “I’m fine, Anna. Trust me.” He said, pulling his hand away from Virny’s head and putting Aina to the carpeted floor.

Cakra turned to Anna and opened his arms. Anna, who instantly understood what that meant, quickly tackled her brother into a hug, burying her face to his chest.

“We can go through this,” the 19-year-old young man said, calming down his sisters. “Besides, by going to the capital, we can end The Owens’ destiny. I don’t mind being Father’s experiment.”

Virny frowned. She looked unsatisfied with Cakra’s mindset, but wisely didn’t comment. Cakra was thankful for that because he honestly couldn’t deal with more arguments. Heh, he couldn’t even picture his future in the capital later.

Above all, the Capital was a harsh place to live.

Luckily Anna has an alternative to break through Cakra’s fears. “I know, Brother! You can ask for the Prince’s help!” She said as she looked up at him without letting go her grip on him.

“I heard Second Imperial Prince, Prince Harris, is a very strong man! He’s a genius in magic! Instead of suffering under Duke Roosevelt’s tutelage, you can ask for help directly to the Second Prince to tutor you!” She continued eagerly. She even pulled away from his grip and continued in a fangirling rant about her genius idea and how strong their second Imperial Prince was.

Cakra blinked in confusion over Anna’s enthusiastic blathering. He knew his sister idolized the second Prince of Schaefer, but he never thought it was to this length.

But somehow, he didn’t hate it. Instead he was intrigued by her subject, because, well… Keldirya was too far from the Capital and it made Cakra rarely attend the Noble’s events. He was sure he had met the Prince before; he just forgot when.

“Anna, if I may interrupt,” He said, cutting through Anna’s rant. “The Second Prince’s name, what is it?”

Anna smiled widely, “It’s Prince Harris William Antares!”

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