Mr.Villain Please Go Away [Under Heavy Revision]

Chapter 03: Finally Awake

Chapter 03: Finally Awake

"Cláudia." Fredric greeted the Duchess. She smiled as she let him in.

Her lack of words made his nerves tense. The Cláudia he knew was talkative and light on the heart. Now a cloud hung above her head despite her smiles.

He couldn't help but harden his face before taking the first step.

Upon entering, Fredric wrinkled his nose. Bitter herbs swallowed the room in a fog, tickling his senses in a bad way.

His eyes fell on a shattered mirror, glanced over the cracked floor, then squinted at his old friend.

"Von, I don't think you've ever looked so bad."

Von shrugged his shoulders, turning his gaze towards the canopy bed. "Can you blame me old friend?"

Fredric followed his gaze. If he didn't try to listen he'd miss the small coughs, those tiny short breaths.

"Is it that serious?" His friend's swollen eyes spoke tales. Apparently a foolish question on his part.

Fredric harden his stride as he stopped and opened the lilac curtains, sitting on the bed as he looked down with a pained expression.

"She looks so weak." It hurt him down to the soul to see her like this.

Fredric, the emperor would never be caught with such weakness in his voice, pain in his eyes, with downcast shoulders.

Yet right now he wasn't the emperor, but an uncle distraught over his favorite niece's condition, worried for her life.

Only god knew how much he adored this niece of his. Would he become her god father if not? Even threaten his old friend if he dared deny him this?

"Mghhhuu."

A groan caught Fredric's attention. A small smile lifted his face at the boy sleeping in the corner.

Cláudia giggled, lighting the atmosphere as she opened the lilac curtains wider. "Huan refused to let his sister sleep alone. Playing guardian angel."

"Good boy." Fredric bellowed, clearly proud of his sensible nephew.

Though he couldn't compare to Alicia since he was a filthy boy, he didn't short him on compliments.

Yet his good mood vanished at Alicia's suppressed chokes.

Fredric turned her on the side as he rubbed her back soothingly. Placing her on his lap as he caressed her hair.

His heart wrenched at her hand tightening on his pants. "When did she wake up last?"

No response. The room was deafening as only small breaths could be made out.

Silence was not what Fredric wanted to hear. He hardened his eyes and glared at Von.

Those who've sat upon the Eumus throne are overbearing men with cold tempermates, ice in their veins, hearts full of thorns, and hands soaked in blood.

On normal days, this was how the public saw Emperor Fredric. This side of him who was playful, full of energy, acting like a teen in his finally years of the academy, was only seen by his closest companions.

Now that cold giant of a man had appeared. Fredric had vanished and in his place was a furious emperor.

His voice was less kind as he stated instead of asking, "She hasn't woken has she."

Von couldn't look at his friend as he looked towards the floor in guilt, weakness seeping from his posture.

Fredrics veins from his arms to his neck bulged in anger and tensed nerves.