Moulin felt like a worm at the end of a hook. Well, he did agree to the proposal during the eting and even suggested his own captivity. And now thinking about it once more, it does sound quite stupid of him. He wasn't afraid of criticism. Only the thought of implicating hundreds of survivors in their plan made him fearful. Yes.
He was hurt and murdered, but it did not make him an unsympathetic monster. But the thought that it was his existence that caused most of the catastrophe, made him sotis think that he wasn't ant to survive at all.
And it cos again. The self-hate and disgust. Like ants crawling all over his body.
Moulin's pupils trembled as he tried to tamp down the unwanted feelings. While he wallowed in his thoughts, he suddenly felt a warm sensation fill his tight chest. The bond thrumd, making Moulin raise his head and et a pair of golden eyes staring at him with faint concern.
Moulin deeply sighed, nodding his head as he felt Hadrian place a hand on his back. The man was silent but gentle.
'I will be fine...' Moulin internally thought.
"Are you opposed to the plan?" Hyantor's voice drawled and Prince Vascilicus and Lady Klaria waited patiently for his answer.
"I am overwheld. What should I do to beco a patron of a God I barely know anything about? How should I make it believable? Does that an we plan to deceive the common people?" Moulin questioned with a line between his brows.
"You should not worry about those things, young master." Lady Klaria smiled helplessly as she went to refill the silver-head's empty teacup.
Hadrian nodded, "Leave it to them."
Hearing the high lord speak those words, the three esteed people nodded in agreent.
Although Moulin still has a few questions to ask, Hadrian decides to dismiss the three. And return to the bedroom.
"Did I do the right thing? Revealing a secret I had kept with for so long..." Moulin softly asked as he lay down on the bed. Then the mattress dips at the additional weight.
Hadrian slightly closed his eyes and held the youth close to his chest. Gone were his lavish robes, replaced with simple clothes, fitting his large body. Moulin wanted to embed himself into his warmth.
"It will be alright."
Moulin furrowed his brows. "You didn't interfere..."
"Did you want to?"
"...no," Moulin answered after a mont of thinking. He felt Hadrian smile.
"They know what they are doing. You have had enough people to deal with today. Sleep."
It was only in his arms did the youth experienced the most peaceful sleep, especially as he was surrounded by stressful experiences enough to keep him awake at night. Now, he hoped he could sleep like this every night.
....
The next day, Moulin woke up early. He stretched his body with flexible poses while he let Snow run around him. Hadrian had left to deal with so matters and Moulin dreaded that he would have to et more strangers again.
"Do you want to take a walk?" Tessley suddenly asked.
Moulin and Snow stopped. A walk?
"Am I allowed to leave my quarters?" The youth hesitantly asked.
"There hasn't been a final order yet. It wouldn't be such a big deal to step outside for a minute. What do you think?" Tessley raised an eyebrow.
Moulin had slowly accepted his fate to beco a prisoner for the greater good. But with Tessley dangling the carrot before him, he hesitated. He looked at Ordan who stood waiting expressionlessly for his response. Seeing the man act silent and uninterested, it seems Moulin wouldn't be stopped if he did step out for fresh air.
In a heartbeat, Moulin nodded.
They arrived in a large empty garden with a gentle river. There were bright flowers that seed to glow even without the sun's essence. The emptiness was sohow suspicious. But Moulin paid no mind. He didn't rember a garden this big in the Leonile Manorial before. It seems the nobles had so much ti to construct fountains.
Moulin sneered as he took in his surroundings.6
"Stay in sight. Just because we let you out, doesn't an you could go wherever you want." Tessley scolded as she followed behind Moulin with short strides. Ordan stood at a distance, watching them from afar.
Moulin ignored her, calmly walking towards a circular fountain. His long hair shimred like the ripples of the fountain water. A sigh escaped his lips as he sat on the marble edge, inhaling the cool air around him.
Snow jumped on his lap before barking at his reflection in the water. After a full minute of being noisy, Snow suddenly stopped and turned his attention away to a specific location. Sensing the little furball's actions, Moulin opened his eyes and turned his head.
"Moulin..." Dark brown hair and steel grey eyes. The man wearing the noble Fraunces family crest on his noble clothes approached the fountain.
Silver eyes widened. "Second brother?"
Moulin was suddenly engulfed in a warm embrace.
Emlen heaved a sigh of relief once he felt his brother's warmth in his arms. He hadn't seen his brother in a while. Though he knew Moulin was safe and protected, he couldn't shake his unease. Moulin's circumstance made him even more worried. Were they treating him well? Why did he look so pale?
"Brother, I am alright..." Moulin spoke softly, returning the embrace. He leaned his head against Emlen's chest. "How are you?"
Emlen gritted his teeth. "How am I? I'm doing fantastic. Why should you be curious? You should be more worried about yourself!"
Moulin chuckled and tightened his embrace. At the corner of his eye, he saw Tessley retreating silently from afar. Perhaps, she had planned for this eting. No wonder why the place seed quite secluded.
Moulin felt his brother's arms shake. It puzzled him. Was he that worried about ?
When they pulled away, Moulin let his brother fuss over him. Internally, Moulin had to admit he missed his brothers worrying over him. However, Moulin sensed sothing off.
"I am well, brother. What's the matter?" He asked in a concerned voice.
Emlen stopped. His grey eyes beca deep as they stared into Moulin's gaze. With a sigh, he spoke. "I was worried we wouldn't be able to et once you were brought here. When I arrived, they forbid anyone from eting you, including myself. Fortunately, Lord Hadrian allowed this opportunity to talk to you.
"
Moulin blinked. "Hadrian did?"
Emlen nodded. He excluded the part where the High Lord had rejected him at first until he convinced him of the reason behind requesting an audience with his 'own' brother.
Moulin's heart softened. He had been missing his family. He was glad Hadrian had given him this chance. However, he wasn't sure if Emlen would be able to even co close to him if the others found out.
The two sat down by the fountain and talked about small things from Snow missing the green grass from Helios's garden to their mother's improving health. Although it was only the first few days since Moulin arrived in the Leonil- the stronghold, it felt as if weeks had passed. Before he could roam freely wherever he liked, now he couldn't even step out without being followed.
"Mouin... I have sothing to tell you..." Emlen began with brows furrowed. In Moulin's eyes, he looked worried.
"It's father..."
Moulin suddenly felt uneasy. "F-Father? What happened? Is he alright? What did the healers say? Is he going to wake up?"
Seeing that his little brother was panicking, Emlen held his shoulders and tried to calm him. "Calm down... he is fine..."
Moulin stopped. Relief filled him once he heard the words. "He... He's fine?"
A corner of the lord's lips slightly perked up. "Yes, he is well. And he missed you. We all do."
The youth's shoulders slowly fell. He exhaled in relief. "I see... I missed all of you as well. I-"
Moulin frozed as he realized sothing. Silver eyes imdiately lifted to et Emlen's gaze. "Father... missed ?"
The smile on his older brother's lips beca more prominent and wistful. "Yes..."
"You an... he's..."
"He's awake..." Emlen took Moulin's hands, encasing those slender fingers within his own. With a trembling voice, he spoke like a man forgiven and redeed. "He is finally awake, dearest brother."
Moulin stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief. For a mont, it felt like a dream—one of those sweet, unending dreams that you never want to wake from for fear of shattering the wonderful reality. Then, a powerful wave of emotions surged through him: relief, joy, gratitude, hope, and love, all interspersed with monts of anxiety and exhaustion.
Tears welled up in his eyes and, before he knew it, they were streaming down his cheeks.
Father is awake?...
He's... finally awake?...
Emlen was startled by his reaction but allowed Moulin to pour out his emotions. When he learned the news, he was as emotional as his little brother was right now.
Moulin was thanking, praying in gratitude to whoever had fulfilled his hopeful wish. He felt Emlen wrap an arm around his shoulder.
"I was called to Father's chambers because of an ergency. Mother and brother had already arrived. Father... had already awakened. Confused and disoriented. Colahn said the Guardian of the artifact had been corrupted and imprisoned father's soul in exchange for hers.
If it weren't for the little child you had rescued, we wouldn't have known. Colahn had vanquished the spirit easily. And father... He is well. Our family has finally reunited."
Moulin listened as he dried his face with his sleeve, abandoning any sense of elegance. He paused. Child?
"Erthyl?"
Emlen's eyes brightened. "Yes, the aphrodite child with different colored eyes. He has the talent of a mage. Mother had already taken him under her wing in gratitude. Even Colahn was surprised by his gifts. The child could see through evil and expel them.
Complex acts for a child his age had never perford."
Erthyl... Moulin closed his eyes and smiled. When they et again, Moulin promises to express his gratitude a thousandfold.
"But all he requested was to see you again... " Emlen smiled, reaching out to stroke his little brother's head as he used to when Moulin was a child.
Moulin smiled wistfully.
"When you return... Father, mother, and brother shall be waiting."
The youth nodded, feeling sentintal and longing for his family.
Moulin picked up Snow who whined pitifully, nudging his head against his master's thigh. Both looked like pitiful creatures who had found hope within the darkness.
"How touching..."
A deep voice spoke, belonging to a person watching from afar. Within the elegant cover-walk and concealed behind the shadows of the trees, Prince Archaen's bright gold-hued eyes zero upon the two siblings at the fountain. One could mistake his smile for a sneer.
"Your majesty..." Lady Celeste furrowed her brows, feeling uneasy about the prince's prolonged attention towards Moulin. "Soone will notice your presence."
The prince narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "Do you see attempt to hide myself, dear friend?"
Celeste could only shake her head and sigh.
Prince Archaen turned his gaze back to the white-haired youth seated by the fountain. "A king does not hide; he conquers."
"You will test the wrath of the high lord? Do you think that's wise?" she questioned.
"I do admire your bravery, standing up for your beloved in every little way you can. But you must see that it's futile. You've already realized that his heart belongs to soone else. That formidable dragon has discovered his precious pearl and won't trade it for anything. Instead of wasting your efforts, why not channel your frustrations into assisting ?"
Every word he spoke ignited a fierce desire in Celeste to incinerate him. She only rolled her eyes. "Duty cos before your desires."
"On that point, we are in complete agreent, my dear," he replied smoothly before turning around. His cape billowed as he gestured. "Co... I am eager to hear what new proposals they have for us in today's eting."
User Comments
0 comments from readers