The Crowned Princess [ON HAITUS]

Chapter 26

Eight years ago.

"Why are you so useless?!" Sheikfreed yelled at eighteen year old Damien, who was injured, his abdomen bandaged and bed ridden. "First day on the front lines, and you got shot! What kind of a pathetic knight are you?!"

"Mr. Klaus, stop!" said twenty year old Alexander. "He is injured! He needs rest!"

"What he needs is more intense training!" Sheikfreed spat. "What kind of a useless knight are you, you pathetic little shit?! Getting injured at your very first day at the frontlines?! I taught you better than that!"

Sheikfreed continued yelling.

"Why did it have to be Christa who left? It should've been you! I never even wanted you!"

Damien didn't have his eyes open, but he could hear everything. Every venomous word his father spat out, it stabbed him right in his heart, making it hurt more than the wound on his belly.

I just wished that this impact was strong enough to kill me.

"Sir, calm down!" Alexander chimed in. "Once you say something like that, you can never take them back-"

"You stay out of this boy!" Sheikfreed yelled again. "If it weren't for you and that wretched princess, Christa would've been a competent knight today! But no, the two of you had to corrupt her mind!"

"But Sir-"

"This little shit, I hate him! He is weak, worthless, and useless, just like his mother!"

"Worthless and useless just like his mother, eh?" said a young girl. "Is that how you talk about your late wife who loved you till the end of her life?"

Sheikfreed turned to the source of the voice.

Sixteen year old Romelia stood behind him with fifteen year old Dimitri by her side.

"You know, I'd advise you to treat your only remaining kin better, because I don't think that you would want to die alone, would you?"

"Your-Highness-"

"It's wretched princess to you, Knight Klaus."

Sheikfreed stayed quiet, fuming with anger.

"Alexander, is Damien alright?" Dimitri asked.

"Even with magic, it would take at least a week for him to heal properly. However, if he is caused any more stress, it might take longer."

"I see..." Romelia turned to Sheikfreed. "Well, you heard the medic, Knight Klaus. Leave."

"What?"

"I said leave. Damien shouldn't be under any stress at this moment, and well, all of us know that you are the main source of his agony in this household."

"I am not!"

"The fact that you are berating your injured son instead of comforting him is a proof of that."

"He is my son! I will treat him however I wish to-"

"General Sheikfreed Ignis Klaus," Romelia interrupted him. "I hereby banish you from this house until your son's recovery."

Sheikfreed looked at her, fuming.

"This is my house-"

"And I am the princess of the Empire you live in," Romelia interrupted. "Even if this house is yours, I have the right to banish you from the entire empire itself if I wish to."