Praesidium (WMMAP Fanfic)

Chapter 6

"Your Grace, I apologize for interrupting your work but we have a small problem sir" a knight assigned to Ijekiel said nervously as he stood before Duke Alpheus

"The last time you said we have a small problem, you lost my son in the royal palace. Don't tell me you lost him again or it'll be the last thing you'll ever say" Roger Alpheus stood from his chair and glared at the knight

"N-no your Grace, his Majesty the Prince suddenly arrived inside the young master's room through the window and asked for tea and snacks and proceeded to feed the young master" the Knight explained in one breath, too afraid of his master's wrath to stall any longer

"What?! Why didn't you start with that"

Duke Alpheus speed walked, because nobles don't run down hallways, towards his son's room with the knight following him closely

"I greet the great star of Obelia" Duke Alpheus greeted witha deep bow after he opened the door of Ijekiel's room and saw that his son was sitting on the Prince's lap while happily munching on cookies fed by the Prince

"Yes yes, I hear you Duke Alpheus. Now leave" Ambrose said while nonchalantly waving him away without sparing him a glance

"But your majesty, it's rude for the head of house to leave a guest unattended" Duke Alpheus said with a strained smile, he tried to reign in his anger at being disrespected by a mere child

"I am with the young master of House Alpheus, I think that wouldn't count as leaving me unattended. I am getting tired of repeating myself. Leave now" Ambrose said with a glare that is undoubtedly inherited from his father which made Duke Alpheus back down in fear and leave the room quietly

"Puppy, your father is annoying" Ambrose said to the toddler beside him staring at him with big golden eyes "repeat after me... A-nno-ying"

"A- a-nno-ying" Ijekiel repeated with a serious expression on his face

"Good boy" Ambrose patted his head with a grin, making the younger boy's face light up from the praise looking like a puppy indeed

While Ijekiel enjoys his cookies Ambrose closed his eyes and concentrated his mana to seep into the very foundation of the Alpheus mansion and carved complex magic circles causing him to scrunch his forehead in difficulty. He found books about black magic inside the magic tower when he ventured out into the forest, in his dreams there is a connection between the house of Alpheus and black magic. With the information he gathered and memorized all throughout the week, he decided to visit the Alpheus mansion and decided to try out a spell that can block all forms of black magic

He will do everything he can to try and destroy anything that will cause harm to his future baby sister.

🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰🕰

The day Ambrose will leave for Arlanta has finally come. All the staff of the Prince's and Rabia's palace stood behind the family in front of the carriage to say goodbye to their little Prince, all of them getting emotional because they'll miss the way he would silently walk the halls of the palace and grace them with his adorable face every day, the way he would seem indifferent to others but adoring to his parents and the way he would try to help the staff without their knowledge in his own way.

"I can't believe this is happening. Is there no way for you to change your mind?" Rabia said sadly as she hugged her son close to her, not wanting to let go

"Mama... need to breathe, please" Ambrose said as he tapped his mother's arm lightly and she instantly let him go with an apology

"Always send me and you mother a letter... you can come back home anytime you want, regardless of the reason. No one would dare stop you" Claude said seriously as he patted his son on the shoulder

"I'll miss you both the most, I'll rotate spending my school breaks here and at Gaudin just like promised... I'll make you all proud" Ambrose said with a determined smile that made Rabia tear up and Claude hug his only son

"You've already made us proud"

Soon after Rabia also left for Gaudin leaving Claude alone in Obelia, a cloud of gloom hanging around him everyday. Felix bore the full brunt of his Majesty's annoyance but just powered through it with sheer will and determination, he was even given things to do that is out of his job description

"The spring festival is coming up. You need to choose something for entertainment soon, your majesty" Felix said while reading the paper in his hand and walking after Claude

"Do whatever you want, don't disturb me" Claude said nonchalantly as he got inside the sleeping nook he built for Ambrose. He laid down and stared at the ceiling, it felt so big without his son and Rabia and it's so difficulty to sleep without their lullabies.

He closed his eyes trying to will away the loneliness in his heart without their constant presence beside him

"Sister welcome home" Azrael greeted Rabia with a hug as she got down from the Carriage

"Azrael, my little brother. You've grown well these past years" Rabia said as she looked over her brother who has gotten taller and looked more mature

"It saddens me to welcome you back in these circumstances but I am happy that you're back home" Azrael said softly as he escorted her into the palace and started go in the direction of her room but was stopped by Rabia

"I want to see father first, Azrael"

The expression on his face darkened momentarily at that before turning towards her with a small smile

"Of course, sister"

They turned towards the King's quarters and the moment they entered Rabia immediately went straight towards the bed and knelt beside it cradling her father's sickly pale and cold hands in hers

"Father, I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. Please forgive this stubborn daughter and wake up" Rabia sobbed onto her father's hand, her heart breaking while seeing her father laying down on the bed motionless. The only thing that signifies he is still alive is the slight rise and fall of his chest while breathing

"Shhh, sister. Father will be alright, let's have faith" Azrael said softly as he patted his sister's back in comfort but contrary to his words but his expression shows of boredom behind Rabia