NOVEL NEXT Everyone’s break: Claire
Claire POV
“Do you understand, milady?”
“Yes.”
“Very good job, milady. Our lesson has concluded for today but we still have some time before it ends. Do you want to do anything?”
“Really? Then, tell me a story!”
“Of course, milady. What kind of story do you wish to hear about this time?”
“Hmm, how about something that you are not allowed to talk about.”
“Oh my, milady. That is quite a request you have for this old lady.”
“Oh? What is too hard? Sorry, nanny. You do not need to tell me a story like that.”
“Well, now. Such a police and nice young lady you are, milady. No worries. I do have a story that comes to mind.”
“Really!?”
“Yes. But you have to promise me something.”
“Promise?”
“Yes. It is very important.”
“Okay!”
“Do not tell you father about what I will tell you.”
“Huh? Is it a bad story.”
“Do not misunderstand, milady. This is a story that you father would rather forget. It is a sad tale.”
“Oh.”
“Do you still wish to hear it, milady?”
“Umm. Okay.”
“Alright, then. Did you know that your father had childhood friends when he was growing up?”
“Yeah. It was Duke Eterna, right?”
“That is right, milady but he had another childhood friend as well. Before, all three of them were always together.”
“Another one? Father has not told me about that before.”
“Yes. That is because this is a sad tale. Do you still want me to continue?”
“Umm. Yes.”
“Alright. The three of them were very close. There are only a few people who could become close to royalty after all. It was the current king while he was a prince, the current duke Eterna when he was the heir and the son of our fallen duke.”
“Huh? Another duke?”
“Yes, milady. This is a secret that all of the previous generations have kept. We once had two duke households. The three of them were so close that in their later years, they would promise to wed their children to each other.”
“Wow.”
“However, it had not been a harmonious relationship in the future. As they each inherited the position of their parents, things would start to change. There would be conflict between them leading the once group of three fractured. It would take years before any of them would even talk to each other.”
“Oh.”
“Do you still want me to continue?”
“Hmm-mm.”
“Alright. This silence was broken when Duke Eterna sired a child. The other duke was the first to reach out as he had also sired a child on the same day. Both dukes would have children at the same day.”
“Wow.”
“There was harmony again at least that is what the king wanted to believe. But both parties would never reveal their child. They would keep them secret that during that time, even their gender was not known to the outside. Then, it would be truly broken once the King finally had an heir. The prince was born as the new year struck.”
“Woah. Brother is amazing!”
“Yes, he is.”
“The king was excited. He wanted to renew his friendship with the dukes as soon as he can. He would make a public announcement and would invite all to a grand banquet. Sadly, both dukes did not reciprocate. The king was devastated and he would continuously reach out to the dukes but none of them would reply. As the years pass, the prince grew older and then, another change would occur.”
“Woah.”
“The other duke would reach out to the king after a long silence as rumors start to circulate. After years of silence, there were rumors that the duke would be proposing a union between his daughter and the prince. However, this would not last. As the days pass, the king would become sad once again. As the duke never arrived.”
“What happened to the duke?”
“He was found dead, milady.”
“What?”
“Yes. The duke and his wife were found dead and their daughter became missing.”
“Did they find the daughter?”
“No. After years of searching, the king gave up. He was never properly introduced to the daughter after all and no one had reached out to share any information about her. And so, she was announced to have disappeared.”
“Aww. That is so sad.”
“Yes, it is, milady.”
“Wait, what is the name of the other duke?”
“I cannot say, milady.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because father forbids it, Claire.”
“Brother!”
“Do you really find it appropriate to talk about such a story to my sister?”
“I apologize, your highness. But I have received information from your father that I can tell this story to milady once she is old enough.”
“I know. You were there after all. You were the one taking care of father, then me and now Claire.”
“Thank you for understanding, your highness.”
“Did you know about it already, brother.”
“Yes. Father told me personally. This is why duke Eterna’s daughter is my fiancée.”
“Woah.”
“Father sometimes still looks up at the sky missing his dear friend. Even if father’s relationship with the duke Eterna is now better, it would never be the same again.”
“The fiancée is the one who is evil, cruel and other things, right?”
“Yes, Claire.”
“Wow. Is it true?”
“I do not want it to be.”
“Huh?”
“Sorry. That might be a bit complicated for you. Just think of it like I am still trying to figure it out, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Why don’t you tell me about that friend of yours?”
“Oh! A-, wait. I promised that I will not say her name. She’s really nice! I like spending time with her.”
“Her name starts with an A?”
“Shhh. Be quiet, brother. I made a promise.”
“All right. All right.”
“Anyway, she is really nice! I like it when she gives me hugs! She smells nice and her voice sounds nice, too! Oh, but the other day, I had to use- uh. I mean, I had to help her out with something!”
Whew. I almost told brother that I used my healing magic on her.
“Her name starts with an A? It cannot be right? There is no way.”
“Brother?”
“Uh. No, it is nothing. Do not worry about it.”
“Okay!”
I continue telling my brother about how nice Athena is.
“There is no way, right? But what if it is? What should I do? But she has not done anything yet.”
Brother is ignoring me again. Oh well, Athena will never do anything like this with me! But it is alright! I still love my brother, after all!