Chapter 100: Obsession
"How is she living with a demon that reeks of blood! A noble self such as her?" Octavius gnawed on his thumbnail.
"This seems too real to be a dream."
Cornelius remained seated an the couch. His mind was elsewhere.
He was worried about other stuff. Their persuers might be still at their tails. He had not sent a letter to reassure the emperor about their wellbeing.
He came down to sudden realization about the consequences that would unfold in the near future.
"If the princess ended up here. Then the Emperor of Wahrheit won't sit still. It's still odd that months have passed by and still no sign of movement from their side."
Octavius lamented on it aswell. He didn't know what his father was on about. But he did not like where things were proceedimg through.
He wanted to take back Luciana at all costs.
But the image of Nemesis kept hindering his plans.
"How is this possible? Is the time running different than in other realms?"
Cornelius half agreed but not entirely.
"If the time difference were too long the imperial family would not have sit idly. They would have caught up on this place and punished her abductor. Eventually we can say that the differences aren't much. It may be around a few months roughly speaking."
"Then what if war breaks out again between the two realms."
"This time... We will have the Armageddon that will cause all realms to cease their existence." He grimaced.
"The old prophecy from the First Temple?" Octavius was taken aback.
Cornelius nodded solemnly.
"Just because of this interference... Or maybe anyone is responsible for it. But it will happen. His Majesty tried his best to prevent it from happening." He sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"We need to talk this out with her highness."Cornelius suggested.
"Right now? When that beast sticks himself around her?"
"Octavius you need to reconsider your ways for now. Nothing will change if you keep going like this." He reprimanded him subconsciously.
"We might aswell take him on our side. Since what I saw in the Capital was not as favorable for him."
Cornelius had been secretly following him since the time Erebus had offered him some food in the Central Capital. He was soon caught tailing him and ended up requesting to come with him. Erebus asked for the reason and he only said that he wanted to escape that place.
Erebus let him come with him when he told that he could offer seeds for his land as a favor.
His garron had terrified him.
"This place is indeed a demon realm."
They left the guest room and walked through the hallways looking out if stained glass windows.
The soldiers were at work and some in guard while others left on their missions assigned.
Ahriman approached them. He was a little taller than them and had a bulkier stature than them.
"A ghost!" Cornelius shrieked and hugged Octavius.
"Get off! He's only a soldier." He pushed him away.
Ahriman was displeased to be called only a soldier. He was one of the closest men of Erebus.
"Who has allowed you to roam freely in this fortress?"
"Hah~? You-!"
Cornelius put his hand over Octavius' mouth before he could speak.
"Her Highness - I mean Lady Stygian allowed us. W-we are her distant relatives you see."
Ahriman was suspicious about them.
Cornelius prayed that he accepted his claim.
After a moment he was back to his usual self confirming twice.
"So you really are her ladyship's relatives?"
"Yes! I am her brother in law. We've known each other since childhood."
-"What nonsense is he blabbering about?" Octavius glared at him.
-"Don't glare at me! Get a hint already you muscle head."
"You must be the knight in command around here?" He asked him.
"How did you figure it out?" Ahriman was surprised with his keen eye.
-"Why is he dilly-dallying around with him? Oh Lord! Where did I get myself into?"
"That reminds me! I had a gift for my sister! Can you please guide me to her?" Cornelius implored to be escorted to Luciana.
Ahriman looked at Octavius suspiciously.
"Just you." He told him to follow his lead.
"What? Just you? Hey!"
"Octavius... Let me handle this." He stopped him from stirring trouble.
"Her Highness will surely want to talk to you.But now is not the time."
Octavius looked at his determined eyes and eventually gave in.
"Fine whatever."
Cornelius nodded and hurried after Ahriman.
Luciana did not look at Erebus. Her eyes were only fixated on the sleeping child.
She gently stroked his hair still asleep on her lap.
"Please let him be." She refused to let him take the boy from her.
"You know what Derran has told you. You must not lift anything since you're pregnant."
"He's only a child. What harm can he bring to me? You are overreacting my lord."
"Erebus. I've told you not to say that many a time." He roughly grabbed her wrist.
She still did not look at him.
He sighed and let go of her hand.
"Playing the hard way again." He said and sat on the couch beside her.
"Who are they?" He asked her.
She gave no response.
He frowned feeling agitated.
"Look...I was wrong. But I don't like that pink rascal the way he looks at you."
"Octavius...is my ex- fiance." She told him.
Erebus fell silent.
"Before I was came here. He and I were promised to be married." She stared at the burning fire in he hearth.
"Cornelius is like my younger brother. I have raised him along with my sisters and looked after him whenever he was at the palace." She smiled faintly.
Nemesis squirmed briefly in her arms and buried his face in her bosom.
She kissed him on the forehead lightly.
"He's finally calmed down."
Erebus felt tightness in the chest. He grit his teeth but in silence.
He was jealous of all of them. Even if it was his own child. He did not want anyone close to her.
He once again drew his hand towards her but stopped midway and pulled it away reluctantly.
He wanted to pull her to his bed and claim her for his own. His desire for her had grown rapidly. He wanted to leave his mark on her lips, her body and even her hair.
But doing so wouldn't let her heart open up to him.
He got up with his cloak and barged out of the chambers.
She finally relaxed herself.
-"He has become more obsessive these days."
"He will never let me go."
She fretted in these five months that incurring his anger was not a sensible choice.
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