Liberation (Twisted Wonderland x Male Oc)

Tactics at Play; Meeting Raven

[Important A/N: So... I didn't realize there would be a 2-year time skip. As a result, some events will be fast-forwarded, and I will need to rearrange the timeline. So now, the order of the TWST events will be Ignihyde -> Scarabia -> Pomefiore -> Diasomnia.

I just realized how much of a pain it would be to fit the entirety of season 1 + some season 2 before the Twisted Wonderland arc...]

"Words," -Demon Athanasios (unless stated otherwise)
"Words," -Angel Athanasios (unless stated otherwise)

Athanasios is pissed. He is irked.

All that work, all that swimming. 5,000 feet of swimming. And yet, the way back home was actually... the sea?! The seven-year-old prince seriously did not expect that after all the hard work, he would be met with a glowing sea. And he, who curiously walked into the sea, would end up waking in the library.

The poor prince wants to curse someone very badly.

'Three o'clock again...' Athanasios groaned into his arms. Swordsmanship class was next and he was not in the mood.

꧁꧂

"Again!"

The sword that was once held in Athanasios's hands flew out of his grip.

"Focus!" hollered the man in front. Athanasios huffed, wiping his sweat with the back of his hand. He bent down and picked up his fallen sword, trembling as he did so. The man, Sir Nicholas, frowned at the sight. "Your Highness, you are weaker today."

"Sorry," Athanasios huffed. I was too busy swimming.

Sir Nicholas, a man who knew when to stop, sheathed his sword. "We will stop here today. Get some rest and put in more effort tomorrow."

"...understood." The prince placed the sword back on the nearby sword rack. Grabbing a towel, he wiped his sweat. Today was not his day. And after spending hours in the sea, all he wants now is a warm, hot bath before relaxing on his fluffy, warm bed.

"Your Highness!"

"His Majesty wants to see you in the audience hall."

... or maybe not.

꧁꧂

The prince strolled quietly by himself within the palace halls. The maid who informed him of the news ran off the moment she finished informing him. Not only was it disrespectful, but it was also a negligence of duty to leave before he permitted her to do so. Sir Nicholas, his swordsmanship instructor, noticed this and frowned. Athanasios could feel the cold waves of silent anger rolling off the man, but thankfully he managed to calm it in time. He rejected the man's offer to accompany him and left.

He was lost in thought. On one hand, he was happy his father asked for his presence. On the other, he worried it was a serious issue, such as his lack of attention during swordsmanship class.

As he rounded the corner, he felt a soft thump on his chest. A blur of pink and yellow fell before his eyes. Before the figure fell, however, Athanasios grabbed their wrist, preventing them from a day of embarrassment. It was Athanasia, his sister. He let her go the moment she balanced herself.

The princess did not expect to meet her brother here. Her jewel eyes widened in shock. "B-brother!" She lowered her voice to a whisper-shout. "What are you doing here?!"

Athanasios raised a brow at the princess's peculiarity. "I am on my way to meet Father." He squinted his eyes in suspicion. "What did you do?"