Chapter Fourteen
_ The Flow
The Empress's doubts were justified, but Elite smiled and said:
" It is not difficult, is it, Ian?! "
Ian nodded his head and opened the cage. The children and adults stepped back as the hybrid emerged, but Ian held it calmly despite its shrill, annoying cries..
" Mama said it hatched just one day before they came to us. It is only a week old.."
"..."
" Taming it is easy, but risks remain, so there is a method to prevent danger."
"..."
He placed the hybrid between Johann's hands, and Ian explained in a kind voice with a serious and practical tone. Then he looked at Johann, who remained calm despite holding the hybrid in his hands.
" Currently, it is under a spell to soothe it."
" You seem accustomed to this..."
" Mama says that to make friends with someone, we must share the same interests..."
The Empress and her son looked at Ian in amazement; he was quite a good speaker..."
"And because I heard of the Crown Prince's love for small beasts, I suggested raising magical beasts. So, my mother bought twin Griffin hybrids, to give my new friend one of them so we can share the experience."
" Tell me, what is the way to tame it completely?!"
" You might shed some tears and blood for that?!.."
" And do I look afraid?!.."
Ian laughed cheerfully and shook his head in denial. Johann smiled broadly and spoke with sobriety; he was harmonizing excellently with Ian, and the conversation flowed between them..
Everyone was wondering how the Young Duke could speak with such ease to the Crown Prince. Some saw it as a good thing, believing the Duke of Altan would be a good supporter; others saw it as normal, while some were annoyed by the matter.
" Is he that arrogant?! Does he ask the Crown Prince to get hurt?!.."
" Perhaps the Duchess was harsh in raising the Young Duke?!"
" He is asking for the shedding of noble blood..."
" What a behavior.."
Elite and Sophia were listening to all that gossip. Sophia did not know how to act out of her anxiety, while Elite approached the two children and said in a clear voice..
" Your Highness the Crown Prince, the wound is not large, but it is necessary to establish a loyalty contract. It is much safer than taming by the usual method.."
Johann nodded his head in understanding. Elite looked at her child, who understood her intent and drew a magical circle on the heads of the hybrid and Johann. Johann took out the pin decorating his cloak, and before he could prick his hand, Sophia approached him and whispered anxiously:
" Johann, what are you going to do?! "
" Do not worry, Mama. I have heard of the loyalty contract before. Besides, the Duchess and the Young Duke will not harm me; they have no interest in doing so..."
After responding in a whisper, he smiled at his mother, stepped toward Elite, and placed the pin in her hand..
Elite looked at the Empress, then at Ian, and then she kissed Johann's hand tenderly, saying with a kind and affectionate smile:
" It will hurt a little, but it is necessary for your safety, my little one... Are you ready?!"
Her words were very affectionate. Johann was moved and looked at Ian, who was looking at his mother with intense love, and nodded yes...
Elite pricked his index finger quickly and gently, pressed it with moderate strength, and let the blood drip onto the small magic circle on the head of the Griffin hybrid. Quickly, she placed an ointment on the child's hand, who was amazed at how the pain vanished instantly as if it had never been..
Although Johann knit his brows from the pain, he did not moan or groan, nor did he shed tears; he was strong for his age. Suddenly, the pain disappeared, and he realized that Elite had acted with precision and kindness, just as she had spoken to him. Before he could say anything, a golden light emitted from the white Griffin—or rather, the one that was white. Its color became a bright gold, causing everyone's mouths to drop in awe..
Ian patted the hybrid's back and handed it back to Johann, then spoke in a friendly manner:
" You can give it a name; it will be happy..."
Johann admired the golden Griffin and felt his Griffin's belonging to him. Then, curiously, while petting his hybrid Griffin:
" And what color did yours become? "
" Its color didn't change..."
He said this with a cute pout. Elite suppressed her laughter and said:
" It became a silver-white..."
" But it doesn't look any different from before, Mama..."
Ian complained, turning to look at his mother. Johann laughed at that and then asked Elite seriously:
" Why does the color of the Griffin hybrid change? "
" It changes according to the magical nature of the master, and His Highness the Crown Prince's nature is as bright as sunlight..."
" Then the Young Duke's magical nature is as pure and beautiful as a bright moon in the darkness of the night... "
It was the Empress who spoke with a kind smile. Elite responded with a smile to Sophia and said with pride:
" It seems Her Majesty has a sharp eye..."
Johann, ignoring the adults, looked at Ian with sparkling eyes and asked curiously:
" What name did you give your hybrid Griffin?! ..."
" Moon. Mama gave me some suggestions and I found the name Moon suitable. And you, what name do you wish to call it?! ..."
" It must be a name suitable for him..."
Johann placed his hand under his chin in thought, but a small, sweet voice pierced his thoughts...
" Beautiful... bright, looks like Brother.."
The two children looked at the source of the voice. It was a little girl with sparkling golden eyes. The girl looked at the hybrid Griffin with excitement and then at her brother...
Ian, who was accustomed to children younger than him, approached her, took her small hand, and brought it closer to the Griffin, saying in a kind way:
" Would you like to see it up close?!"
Little Lydia nodded yes and followed Ian, approaching the Griffin in her brother's arms as he looked at his sister and then at the Griffin thoughtfully..
" Dia!! What did you say about the little one?! ..."
Little Lydia moved her hands cutely and said in broken, lisping words:
" Bright, Brother... the little one, Brother..."
Lydia was very young and didn't have many words to explain her meaning, but Ian laughed and said:
" Do you mean he looks like your brother?!!.."
She nodded yes. Ian turned to Johann, who also understood his sister's words and smiled at her, then suddenly remembered:
" I found it... I will call him Lux. What do you both think?!.."
Lydia raised her hands in admiration, and Ian gave him a thumbs-up. Then the children looked at the mothers who were watching quietly.
" Mama, do you like the name? "
" You have chosen well, Johann..."
" Lydia is the one who gave me the idea..."
Johann kissed his little sister's cheek and said sweetly:
" Thank you, Dia.."
The little one smiled broadly. Ian patted the little girl's head as his mother does, making Lydia laugh gently...
The children approached to see the hybrid Griffin, many excited about the matter, while the adults exchanged compliments and refined talk. Sophia turned to Elite, who was watching the children with a kind and affectionate gaze...
" I have heard much and more about the Duchess..."
" I hope what the Empress heard has gained her admiration..."
Sophia laughed cheerfully then looked at the children with tender eyes.
" How much love will you give the Young Duke? "
" I apologize, Your Majesty! I do not know the aim of the question, but I will not compromise my child for anything..."
Sophia smiled weakly and said in a nearly trembling tone:
" But he is a Duke; he will be stained by the filth of power..."
Elite smiled playfully and said in a warm voice, for she understood Sophia's suffering well...
" I will protect his heart and mind from this chaos, and surely the Empress will do the same in protecting His Highness the Crown Prince... and the Princess..."
" And why would I need protection for Lydia??! .. and.."
" We greet Her Royal Highness the Empress... We greet the Duchess "
Sophia asked in confusion, and before she could ask again, she was interrupted by a group of ladies. Elite smiled, gestured for a later time, greeted the ladies, and left...
* * *
Since the beginning of the banquet, she had been feeling somewhat bored, but Ian's presence gave her some fun...
'My child is wonderful at winning people over..'
After moving away from the Empress, she looked at every part of the hall to search for anything abnormal..
In my previous life, a great catastrophe occurred; the birthday party turned into chaos due to the entry of a group of saboteurs who targeted Prince Johann. Prince Eric, who was in charge of protecting the halls, was criticized. Because the matter was controlled quickly, it was just a memory, and no one was affected except for Eric's reputation..
That time, Ian and Johann were together as well, and they weren't harmed despite no one being with them..
' The relationship between Ian and Johann in my previous life—Johann did not harmonize with the other children as they were less mature than him, and he chose Ian himself when he found him alone in the garden. I saw that conversation, and the strange thing is they understood each other...
[" Everyone is enjoying and laughing at the party, and you are alone here!! ..."]
Johann's aim was to provoke Ian with his tone, but Ian, who didn't even turn to Johann, sighed and said:
[" It is annoying. Those smiles and laughs are so fake. I hate everything fake and untrue..."]
["..."]
Before Johann could speak, Ian turned to him and said:
[ " You also realize that... and you don't like it..."]
Johann sighed and sat next to Ian, saying in a muffled voice:
[ " The Duchess hates you, doesn't she?!!.."]
["..."]
Ian turned with a shocked face and reddened eyes.
[" Everyone knows. The child whose mother hasn't even touched him. It really hurts..."]
["..."]
[ " For I too, my father hates me intensely; he might kill me if necessary..."]
The two children exchanged sorrows; they laughed bitterly and were able to harmonize in a strange way, and I allowed it. The two became allies and friends. Why did Ian betray the Empire?! And why was the death sentence carried out against him?! ..
The strange thing is they remained friends until Ian's death. After Ian's death in my previous life, the person who delivered Ian's will was Johann, the Emperor at that time. Was it because he was still grieving for his friend that he buried him in Altan Palace and did not throw his body away as was done with traitors in the past? ...
I sighed with exhaustion from thinking about the past, and my feet took me to the place where Ian and Johann met for the first time..
It was amazing and strange: Ian, Johann, and even Princess Lydia were playing together. Ian was very focused on Lydia as she held the hybrid, and he was responding to Johann.
" Ian! You seem accustomed to small children..."
" Certainly, Johann, for I have many relatives "
' When did they start calling each other by names?!..'
I pushed aside other thoughts and focused on the conversation...
" Really!! "
" Danny and Lori are my cousins, and they are older than me, and a new baby is coming for my aunt Elaza at the end of spring... and I have Hugo, my cousin Louis's son, he is only two years old, and also Harris Stanley, he is four years old. I love playing with them from time to time..."
" Harris Stanley is not your relative, I believe.."
Ian looked at Lydia, who was playing with his brooch, then looked with a sweet smile as usual..
" It is not necessary to be a blood relative to cherish and protect them. The important thing is that we love them and they love us... Mama says that..."
I saw Johann's gaze at his sister, who was playing with Ian's pin, and despite that, Ian was dealing with her kindly. Then he looked at Ian and said:
" You said you would become my friend, right?! ..."
" Yes ..."
Ian responded spontaneously and looked at Johann with a kind and sincere gaze.
" And will you protect me and cherish me?! ..."
" Certainly "
Johann laughed and extended his hand for a handshake, saying:
" and I too will protect you and cherish you very much ..."
Ian shook his hand with his kind smile. As for the sweet Princess, she stepped between them and said while jumping:
" And Dia?! "
Ian shook her other hand and said kindly:
" And Dia too ..."
Their atmosphere was sweet, which made me feel warmth in my heart. Ian is very kind to the Princess, he was even very harmonized with her. Is it because he wants a little sister?! ..
I don't think so, for Ian is honest in his desires. In my previous life, Ian and the Princess were like water and oil; they never harmonized, and there was a severe war of nerves between them..
The Princess was fighting to take the throne from her brother, and because strangely Ian was in the Crown Prince's faction, they clashed much. In the end, she died at Ian's hand in a terrifying fight; after all, she was a powerful sorceress despite her sick and broken body...
'Will the relationship differ in this life?! They are harmonized; perhaps I might make her become the Duchess?! ..'
' Don't talk nonsense, Elite. I will not decide my child's future selfishly. The final decision is Ian's right, and I will not interfere. The only important thing is that he be well '
I moved toward the hall while I monitored the situation. I haven't seen the Emperor since the announcement of the Crown Prince...
' Where did he go?! ...'
" Are you looking for someone?! ..."
It was a cheerful and very familiar voice. I turned toward the source of the voice to be met by bright golden eyes and dark black hair. It was evidence of the meeting of day and night at once. It has been a very long time since our last meeting. He hasn't changed at all; the last time I saw him was in my previous life, one day before his murder. I sighed and answered with a kind smile and a sense of relief because he really is still alive.
" I am not. I have just returned from checking on Ian.."
" He is a smart and perceptive child.."
" He is my wonderful child.."
I smiled broadly with pride and spoke sincerely.
" He is as bright as his mother, but I hope he doesn't learn stealing from her.."
" What?! "
What is this man saying? I looked at him as if to say 'what did I do now?', and he let out a loud laugh that almost caught everyone's attention if the dance music weren't loud and we weren't somewhat far away. I tried to quiet him with a frown, so he suppressed his laughter with difficulty and said in his usual cheerful way:
" You are a naughty child who steals my ideas. Didn't you buy the hybrid that I was planning to buy for Johann? ..."
" I didn't know, so it is not considered theft of ideas.."
In fact, I knew it was his idea, and I wanted to precede him so that one of the reasons that caused his downfall wouldn't be repeated—the hybrid Griffin attacking the Crown Prince, which broke the relationship between the child and his beloved uncle...
" You stole my idea anyway; I must be compensated.."
His words woke me from my lost thoughts, making me look at him with suspicion, which made him step back dramatically.
" Alright, I will compensate you. What do you want?! .."
" I don't mind having a special handkerchief made for me..."
" But I haven't returned to embroidery seriously.."
He gave me a look then said:
" Alright, I will think of a compensation.."
I laughed at his childish way of exploiting situations and asked permission to leave, but he...
" Lite! Are you happy?! ..."
I turned to him with a complex look. The nickname he gave me, and his eyes which carried a kind of comfort, trust, and loss—this person, despite the violence of experiences in his life, is still as warm as I used to know him. I smiled at him sincerely.
" I am truly happy. Thank you, Ric "
And I returned to walking. I felt my heart skip a beat. For him, our last meeting was more than a year after my marriage to the Duke, and it was at the wedding of the Emperor and Empress. He was nervous at that time, and despite his young age, he was taller than his brother because after his early graduation from the Academy, he joined the border knights to protect Sardia's borders. His presence contributed to protecting the western borders, and he moved to the south after the war broke out with the neighboring kingdoms of Peron and Landa, as well as the pirates exploiting the wars to launch attacks on Sardia's ships. One of the reasons was also the Kingdom of Estroyn, which vanished due to the treason of one of its followers and the killing of all remaining direct and semi-direct relatives; the only one remaining was Prince Eric von Di Roshan, son of the late Empress who was the precious Princess of Estroyn...
... To be continued ...
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@sara_luffy11