"Well, why so depressed? You're supposed to be happy!"
Aerisse tilted her head, genuinely confused.
"And why would that be?" he replied, exasperated. "What do you even know about me?" he muttered bitterly.
Not quite the reaction she was expecting.
The plan was to make him relax, not to make him more miserable.
"Well, what can I do to make you happy?"
"What?"
"Did you not hear me? I said—"
"Yeah, I heard it! But how can you just say that?"
"Is it difficult?" Aerisse blinked, not seeing the problem.
"Is it not?"
"Well… not really. I'm just being honest. I want to help you feel better."
Now his face was burning red.
"Don't say that," he muttered, looking away. So shy. So dramatic. So… mortal.
Aerisse smirked. "What are you thinking right now?"
"Nothing!"
"Really, so cute. But now—seriously—our training begins!"
She said it like they were about to charge into battle.
They were still inside the tower, but the poor boy already felt the pressure. His chest tightened. Still, he had to be brave—he couldn't fail his family.
"I'm ready," he said firmly, tightening his grip on the sword. Aerisse could practically hear his heartbeat from where she stood.
So serious. Too serious.
"Okay then, time to get serious about this…" she gestured dramatically, spreading her arms toward a newly revealed area of the tower. "The bathtub. Ta-da!"
A steaming, luxurious spa unfolded before them.
"Are you serious?" he asked, disbelief written all over his face.
"Well, do you need me to push you in?"
"N-not really! Just—turn around, I can do it myself!"
Aerisse smiled. Oh, this was fun.
Totally worth all the trouble.
Once he finally relaxed, she leaned back in her chair. "Now that you're all calm and squeaky clean, mind telling me why your sister seems so hostile toward you? And why your father...they just... let you go so easily."
"What could they possibly do against a goddess's emissary?"
"You have a point," Aerisse said, sipping tea, "but that sounds like only half the story."
"You're right." He sighed, setting down his cup. "They say I'm not the empress's son—but they gave me her family name. They say I'm not the heir to the throne—but since I'm the only male descendant, I was raised like one. That's why my sister hates me… and why my father avoids my eyes."
"Well, you are the empress's child," Aerisse said simply. "There's no doubt about that. What's strange is that the emperor would hide it. Doesn't do him any favors, really."
What kind of sorcery would that be? The empress had died giving birth to the princess, and the prince was brought to the palace afterward… Something wasn't right.
"What… what did you just say? How would you know that?"
"Not hard to guess," Aerisse replied, utterly unbothered. "If your sister remembered her mother even a little, she'd know too. Sadly, she never had the chance. Honestly, I think she's the only one who doesn't know. Everyone else just pretends not to. You're the spitting image of the empress. I liked her—she was a kind soul. And your mortal body looks exactly like hers."
He froze.
Was that… a tear?
What a pain.
That was definitely not the reaction she was going for.
"W-why would you tell me this now? Why would they all hide it from me? All this time, I thought… I thought—"
More drama. Aerisse sighed.
"Well," she said, tapping her chin, "now I'm curious too. I suppose there's only one way to find out."