Vol.0 Ch.126 Dealing With Cruel Fates
<span ss="userText">The month has been uneventful <span ss="editText">for Quinus <span ss="userText">as he turned five months old. Besides finally being able to see colors<span ss="editText"> as his eyes developed<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">His face was still mostly the same as he continued to suck his thumb as his red-brown<span ss="aiText">hair <span ss="editText">started growing<span ss="aiText"> out and his g<span ss="editText">olden<span ss="aiText"> eyes stayed the same.
<span ss="aiText">The o<span ss="editText">ther thing was his gums started to ache.
<span ss="editText">''Damn! Stupid teeth! Now I know why babies chew on everything<span ss="aiText"> they can,'' Quinus thought as he rubbed his gums<span ss="editText"> with his fingers
<span ss="aiText">At the moment he was in his room with his wet nurse who was sitting on the bed watching him <span ss="userText">with a smile on her face. A royal knight standing in the corner and three maids moving around the room straightening things up after Quinus had a little y session<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">The young princ<span ss="aiText">e ha<span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText"> a lot of energy<span ss="editText">. He''s chewing on everything," Ariana said with a smile as she put away Quinus''s toys<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">''I''m sorry. My teeth just ache and it''s really distracting me. I wish I could stop them,'' Quinus thought as he rubbed his gums.
<span ss="userText">"You better watch out Miss Wina. His teeth will being in soon. I hear it''s unpleasant to feed them when theye in<span ss="editText">," Ingrid<span ss="aiText"> said with a grim face.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus gave a pitiful look at the mention of his teeth as he knew that <span ss="editText">Ingrid<span ss="aiText"> was right.
<span ss="userText">''Yeah, I''m not going to bite my mother or Wina<span ss="aiText"> when they give me <span ss="editText">their breasts. Well, at least I''m picking up some of their alphabet. Maybe I can find<span ss="aiText"> a <span ss="aiText">bo<span ss="editText">ok of magic or something<span ss="aiText"> to help me learn some spells,'' Quinus thought as he continued to chew on his finger.
<span ss="editText">"I can handle a few bite marks, Ingrid.<span ss="aiText"> But it will make feeding him harder," <span ss="editText">Wina<span ss="aiText"> said with a serious face.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus just gave her an irritated look. ''<span ss="editText">Have some faith in m<span ss="aiText">e!''
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Hahaha! That''s the joys of mo<span ss="aiText">ther<span ss="editText">h<span ss="aiText">oo<span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText">," Arian<span ss="editText">a<span ss="aiText"> said as she looked at Quinus who was giving her an irritated look.
<span ss="aiText">Ingrid then took Quinus''s fingers out of his mouth <span ss="editText">and gave him a teething toy<span ss="aiText"> as she spoke, "It''s not nice to give your <span ss="editText">us<span ss="aiText"> an irritated look, Prince Quinus."
<span ss="aiText">Quinus made a pout face as he put the toy in his mouth and sucked on it.
<span ss="userText">''Yeah, I know. I wish I could have some ibuprofen or something. To dull this pain<span ss="aiText"> in my <span ss="editText">mou<span ss="aiText">th,'' Quinus thought as he continued to suck on the toy.
<span ss="aiText">"I''m sure the Prince will grow out of it soon enough," Ariana said as she started to <span ss="editText">fill the bathtub with water.
<span ss="editText">"So, Sir Mathew. Have you gotten closer to breaking even with Miss Wina in chess?<span ss="aiText"> I''ve been seeing more and more people betting on you two," Ingrid asked as she went to the side to get a chair for Wina.
<span ss="aiText">Sir Mathew was the royal knight in charge of guarding Quinus.
<span ss="editText">He had a pained look<span ss="aiText"> on his face as he spoke, "It seems Miss <span ss="editText">Wina is a master<span ss="aiText"> tactician at chess. I''m afraid I''ll never break even in my lifetime. I''m d that I can at least y a few matches with her."
<span ss="editText">"Hehe! But you have gotten better, Mathew. I fear someday you''ll figure me out<span ss="aiText">," Wina said as she looked at Mathew with a mischievous smile on her face.
<span ss="aiText">"Hehe! That is the dream. To be able to predict your next move and beat you at chess," Mathew said with a smile on his face as he moved over <span ss="editText">to look at the prince<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus watched the two interact and it was starting to be <span ss="editText">interesting. Wina was warming up to Mathew day by day. And they started flirting with each ot<span ss="aiText">he<span ss="editText">r<span ss="aiText"> w<span ss="editText">hen it was only the two of them in the room with Quinus<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">The idea that they would eventually get married was bing more and more probable.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus started to suck his fingers again as he continued to think about the rtionship between Wina and Mathew.
<span ss="userText">''I wonder if I get to choose who I want<span ss="aiText"> to marry one day.<span ss="editText">..<span ss="aiText"> Or <span ss="editText">since I''m a prince it''s most likely not in my hands anymor<span ss="aiText">e.'' Quinus thought with a worried expression.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus''s eyes looked up to see Ariana giving him a warm smile as she spoke, "<span ss="editText">You two are getting bolder<span ss="aiText"> every day."
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">We went a littl<span ss="aiText">e <span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText">oo<span ss="editText"> bold when we first met. I just needed to know if we can<span ss="aiText"> get along with each other," Mathew said as he looked at<span ss="editText">Wina<span ss="aiText"> with a smile.
<span ss="aiText">Wina justughed as she shook her head.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus decided to focus back on his toy.
<span ss="userText">"Well, I hear that all the nobles in the Fiafyr Kingdom areing to see the prince for the first time. It seems the Queen is organizing<span ss="aiText"> a feast to introduce you to the world," Ariana said as she <span ss="editText">poured some soap into the tub.
<span ss="editText">"Yeah. The King and Queen will show their adorable prince to all the nobles and royal family," Wina said as she smiled at the thought of the prince being showcased to the world. It was strange how she was bing so attached to the boy in such a short amount of time.
<span ss="editText">Wina''s will toplet<span ss="aiText">e he<span ss="editText">r mission was in jeopardy the more time she spent with him. And she experienced something she has only heard about.
<span ss="editText">She had her first menstrual cycle. It was a shock to her as she felt the strange cramps before the bleeding.
<span ss="editText">It made her have mixed emotions. A part of her didn''t like the idea of having this type of difort every month but the other part of her realized that she could have a child someday and it made her giddy<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="editText">She could no longer deny that sh<span ss="aiText">e ha<span ss="editText">d changed not only physically, but<span ss="aiText"> emotionally as well. She didn''t want to kill the prince and she now wanted to have a future. She didn''t know what this future was yet, but she wanted to enjoy <span ss="editText">it.
<span ss="editText">Wina wanted to find a way out of this contract. But she didn''t know how. And at some point, she will have t<span ss="aiText">o <span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText">ea<span ss="editText">l<span ss="aiText"> with <span ss="editText">the consequences of not fulfilling her <span ss="userText">obligation or fulfill it and try to start a new life elsewhere.
<span ss="userText">''Why must the fates challenge me<span ss="aiText"> so? Why must I be cursed with <span ss="editText">being raised as an assassin,<span ss="aiText">'' Wina thought as she looked at the prince.
<span ss="aiText">She <span ss="editText">hoped the fates would give her a way out but she knew better than to hope for such a thing<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus sucked his teething ring as he looked around the room and saw Mathew staring at Wina with a happy smile.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus made a frown and sucked on the ring harder as he continued to watch the two.
<span ss="editText">''Those two need to getid! I don''t know what is up with Wina, but she needs to stop ying hard to get,'' thought the prince.
<span ss="editText">***
<span ss="editText">A few dayster at the<span ss="userText"> Divalo Manor.
<span ss="userText">Duke ric Revelia was <span ss="editText">in th<span ss="userText">e <span ss="editText">courtyard examin<span ss="userText">ing his son''s p<span ss="editText">rogress with his wind mag<span ss="aiText">ic <span ss="editText">training <span ss="aiText">as the<span ss="editText">re were three straw dummies set up in three different locations.
<span ss="aiText">A small breeze started to form around the dummy that had a human shape to it as Duke ric observed his son who was standing with his eyes closed and arms outstretched.
<span ss="editText">"Wind bullet!" Yelled Marcus.
<span ss="aiText">The gust of wind hit the dummy causing the dummy to blow apart.
<span ss="aiText">''A decent attack. But that is the limit of his wind magic. It''s just a light breeze<span ss="editText"> to most monsters. My son may have been blessed to be a mage. But of course, he got a support element instead of a primordial element, like fire or water. Are the fates testing me and my family again<span ss="aiText">,'' Duke ric thought to himself as he continued to watch his son.
<span ss="editText">"<span ss="userText">That''s good, Lord Marcus. With a bit more practice. We can venture out to the Bronze Catbs to help grow your mana vein," said Marcus''s tutor<span ss="aiText">, Armitage.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">The Bronze Catbs? But there''s nothing but slimes in there! I can barely feel my veins grow, even after ughtering <span ss="aiText">over a <span ss="editText">hundred of those weaklings!"<span ss="userText"> Comined the 9 years old Marcus<span ss="aiText"> Revelia.
<span ss="aiText">He had <span ss="editText">his father''s gray<span ss="aiText"> hair that he wore short and wore a re<span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText"> tunic with <span ss="editText">ck<span ss="aiText"> pants.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I''m sorry Lord Marcus. I know you wish to be an Elite or a Demi-God when ites to mana growth, but you''re lucky enough to be a Master level like your father. It''s always wise to continue to grow<span ss="aiText"> your vein as much as possible. You need patience and dedication if you are to grow into a powerful wind mage," Armitage said as he tried to calm the young noble down.
<span ss="aiText">"I-I know! But <span ss="editText">I need to learn<span ss="userText"> Razor-phoon as soon as possible<span ss="aiText">! I refuse to stay in my father''s shadow any longer!" Marcus yelled as he crossed his arms over his chest.
<span ss="aiText">"You<span ss="editText">''re still young and you have to kill a few thousand of those slimes before the possibility of your mana vein growing strong enough for you to use a lesser version of Razor-phoon<span ss="aiText">, Lord Marcus... Let''s master the basics before we attempt using a novice spell," Said <span ss="editText">Arm<span ss="userText">itage<span ss="aiText"> with a worried face.
<span ss="aiText">Marcus just pouted.
<span ss="editText">Duke ric shook his head as he recalled the tim<span ss="userText">e when he was his son''s age. And had a simr anger <span ss="editText">within<span ss="aiText"> him.<span ss="editText"> Especially when his younger brother not only had his father''s golden eyes but seemed to be an Elite and was abl<span ss="aiText">e to<span ss="editText"> catch up to him while defeating fewer monsters<span ss="aiText"> in thebyrinth.
<span ss="aiText">It took <span ss="editText">Cyndre 5<span ss="aiText"> years to surpass hi<span ss="editText">m when he turned 10 years old while ric was 17 and still regrly going to thebyrinths to try to stay ahead of his younger brother<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">It was something that still bothered him. But now he had to worry about his son<span ss="editText"> and he prayed that hisst-ditch effort to kill his nephew<span ss="aiText"> wouldn''t backfire on him.
<span ss="editText">''My <span ss="editText">boy might be cursed just like me<span ss="aiText">. He may <span ss="editText">be the rightful heir but <span ss="userText">life can be cruel. That assassin bettere through. So my boy can get his birthright back<span ss="aiText">,'' Duke ric thought to himself.
<span ss="aiText">Marcus yelled out, "Wind Bullet!"
<span ss="aiText">A gust of wind shot out and the dummy blew away.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes! Another one hit! I can do this!" Marcus yelled as he pumped his fists.
<span ss="aiText">Duke ric just nodded with<span ss="editText">out showing<span ss="aiText"> any emotion.
<span ss="aiText">Marcus looked at him and sighed before he calmed down.
<span ss="aiText">"What is it, Father? Did I do something wrong?" Marcus asked with a worried face.
<span ss="aiText">Duke ric shook his head, "No.<span ss="userText"> Just do as Master Armitage says<span ss="aiText">. Continue to kill those slimes and you will be able to cast <span ss="editText">higher level spells. We can''t have you experience mana exhaustion<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">Marcus looked down as he didn''t say anything as his father just walked off leaving him behind.
<span ss="aiText">"Lord Marcus, your father <span ss="editText">doesn''t want you to go the way of many other young ambitious mages. It''s what makes us dangerous a<span ss="aiText">nd unstable<span ss="editText"> when we push ourselves past our limits<span ss="aiText">. I''m sorry that I can only offer you my assistance but I will continue to guide you the best I can," Armitage said as he put his hands on the 9-year-old shoulders.
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">Duke ric walked back inside the manor and was heading back to his study when he heard one of his Butlers hurrying towards him<span ss="aiText">.
"<span ss="editText">Duke ric. There''s a message for you from Belial. He''s gotten word from one of our people inside the pce," said the duke''s butler named Weint, as he stood at attention before his master.
<span ss="editText">Duke ric just stared<span ss="aiText"> at Weint before he spoke, "And what does this message say, Weint?"
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I-I don''t know your Lordship<span ss="aiText">. I was told to get you as soon as possible," Weint said as sweat started to drip down his forehead as he realized he must have made a mistake in delivering the message.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Tell Belial to meet me in my study<span ss="aiText"> when he returns," Duke ric said as he continued to walk off without saying anything else to the butler.
<span ss="aiText">Weint gave a sigh of relief before he started to bow and then hurried back to <span ss="editText">wait for Belial. Who was busy with some other <span ss="aiText">work.
<span ss="aiText">''<span ss="editText">Does Weint serve me or Belial? That fool should know better<span ss="aiText">,'' Duke ric thought as he arrived at his study and sat down at his desk.
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">After an hour passes Beliales<span ss="aiText"> to the Duke''s study with a report.
<span ss="aiText">Duke ric sat at his desk as he looked at Belial.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">So, Weint said that you have some news for m<span ss="aiText">e," Duke ric <span ss="editText">asked<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, <span ss="editText">your Lordship. <span ss="userText">Our people finally got in contact with the... Frencer. She thinks her earlier estimate ofpleting the task was incorrect but she has broken ground and is expecting toplete her task in five to six months," Belial spoke in code to his master<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"I see... <span ss="editText">Belial. You don''t need to speak in code when you''re in my study. I appreciate your caution, but your paranoia isn''t needed in this room<span ss="aiText">," Duke ric said as he pulled out a bottle of wine and two cups.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, my Duke. Forgive me, your Lordship," Belial said with a bow.
<span ss="aiText">The Duke poured two cups of wine for the two of them.
<span ss="userText">"Is there anything else I should know?<span ss="aiText"> Has anyone been suspicious of me?" The duke asked.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">No one suspects a thing, your Lordship. But Grim seems to be worried about some rumors about the assassin falling for the royal knight, Sir Mathew,<span ss="userText">" answered Belial as he declined to drink wine with his master.
<span ss="userText">ric took his wine ss and swirl the <span ss="editText">red liquid<span ss="userText"> around to let it breathe <span ss="editText">whil<span ss="userText">e he turn his chair to look out the window before taking a sip of the dark red wine.
<span ss="userText">"Is Sir Mathew the head of security detail?<span ss="aiText"> It''s not strange for the assassin to get close to the royal guards. <span ss="editText">She said t<span ss="aiText">hat is her job after all," Duke ric said as he stared off into space.
<span ss="aiText">Belial nodded and just stayed silent as he waited for his master to say more.
<span ss="userText">"If these rumors persist after five months, then we might need to reevaluate our little viper<span ss="aiText">''s contract. Send a message to Wina that she can take her time <span ss="editText">and that<span ss="aiText"> we will honor her request.<span ss="editText"> But tell her,<span ss="aiText"> I''ll give her an extra 15,000 gold if shepletes her task in the next two <span ss="editText">months. The sooner Quinus is out of the picture the sooner my son can get the throne," ric said before taking another sip of his wine<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"As you wish, Duke ric. I''ll send the message," Belial said as he got up and left.
<span ss="aiText">Duke ric drank the rest of the wine before he looked out the window and he thought to himself.
<span ss="userText">''If this fails to get my son''s birthright back. We may need to ept our cruel fate... I hope my boy can handle being a Duke for the rest of his life<span ss="aiText">,'' ric thought as he stared off into the distance.