บท 12: Keeping The Bunny Warm

In a large room with white marbles flooring, a white and gold couch in the center of the room, and a large king-size bed. In the bed lay Celestia who is still running a high fever. It has been two months since Celestia entered the Tower and she still hasn't recovered from her cold.

The moonlight shined through the large window while the white curtains flow along with the wind. Two healers just finished casting a spell on Celestia to keep her fever in check.

"It has been two months now, and her fever still isn't going down, has Archhealer Aeson found a new spell yet?" one of the apprentice healer asks her frien.

Her friend shook her head with a heavy sigh.

"Not yet, all we can do now is watch over her and pray that Goddess Serenity can guide us to find the answer."

As they finish cleaning the room they walked out closing the door behind them, not realising that there was a third presence in the room. The person walks out from the corner, making his way towards the sleeping beauty. once he arrived at the corner of the bed Citrine appeared in a protective stance giving a warning growl.

"Citrine, it's me." a deep voice said gently.

Taking advantage of the moonlight shining into the room, showing himself to the beast. Cepheus black hair shimmered in the moonlight, as his irises gently deepen when he looks towards the sleeping beauty. looking like a dangerous handsome devil king.

'What are you doing here, it's forbidden for any outsider to be here. You should've forgotten about my master once she enters the Divine Tower.' Citrine said in a deep voice.

Cepheus Chuckles.

"We both know deep down that this spell will never work on me. I'm too powerful for a spell of such mortal beings." He said with arrogance, lifting his left eyebrow.

Citrine mouth twitch a little knowing full well that trying to talk to the young man in front of him, was a waste of his breath.

'This little brat.' Citrine thought to himself.

'Well, what are you doing here, you aren't a healer so you won't be able to heal master.'

Citrine and Cepheus both knew that he is but a dark mage, and cannot heal her but will harm her more.

"I know I'm just here is keep my bunny warm," Cepheus said as he strides towards Celestia.

Cepheus lifts the blankets lying down in bed and pulls Celestia gently into his chest, this all happens within 30 seconds in front of Citrine.

'You!' Citrine gasps.

Citrine watch the young man in front of him behaving like a hooligan. Citrine knew he cannot go against Cepheus. Since the first day when Celestia introduces Cepheus to Citrine, he could feel a very strong presence that normal human does not posses.

Citrine could only sigh while Soul silently pats on the pather's back thinking to himself.

'Master why are you so shameless.'

Feeling embarrassed at his Master's behaviour. The two familliar exit the room giving space to their Masters.

Cepheus sigh as he watches Celestia sleeping in his arms, he wasn't in the capital for the last two months as his father sent him on a mission to the west. His father was informed that there was a plague that broke out. Since being the eldest son of the Ducal house and under his father's orders he went to inspect the situation.

During the time he wasn't in the capital Cepheus was also on his own mission, looking for the Vermillion Passion Blossom. Cepheus not knowing where he heard of a rumour that this is a unique flower it can help provide warmth to a person who has a lot of Yin in their central magic core.

Not knowing why but he has a feeling that he will find this flower in the west.

So he went to find that flower.

_______________________

one hour ago

Cepheus enters the Ducal Estate feeling exhausted from the long travel, taking off his coat that is covered with snow, he handed it to his personal butler Raymond.

"Young Master welcome back," Raymond said holding onto his jacket.

Cepheus nods his head at his young butler.

Cepheus heads towards his father's study to hand him all the paperwork that he has been working on for the past two months. Thinking that he hasn't seen Celestia for the last two months he really wants to see her.

Cepheus also wants to personally hand her the Vermillion Passion Blossom as he successfully found the flower in the mountain of the mist. Although it has taken him two months to find the whereabouts of the flower, and a week to obtain it.

Although he knows Celestia can find the flower herself, he didn't want her to suffer hardship in that small body of hers. Cepheus will also take advantage of this to visit her after five years.

Ever since Cepheus became an adult he knew he had to keep a distance from Celestia, due to being of different genders and not wanting to ruin her reputation. As they are both no longer children anymore.

So when he meant by visiting her it was more like stalking her from the shadows.

"Brother your back!" a little girl voice was heard from the corner of the corridor.

Cepheus looks towards his right and saw a look girl in a pink dress with black hair running towards him. Cepheus bent down picking her up in his arms.

"I'm back, little Lily." Cepheus said with a gentle smile.

Willow smiles and hugs his neck.

"Mhm, Lily misses you so much it's been two months. You know two months has been so long." Willow complains to her eldest brother.

Cepheus felt a little confused as this time of the month she should've gone and visit Celestia's greenhouse. Even though it's been snowing Willow will always find a way to sneak and visit Celestia.

"Weren't you suppose to go and visit Star last week?" Cepheus asks as they head towards the Duke's study.

Willow tilts her head cutely making her ruby eyes shine confusingly.

"Who's Star, big brother, did you make plans for Lily to meet someone?" Willow ask innocently as she honestly didn't know who this Star person was.

Cepheus looks down at his youngest sister starring at her ruby eyes, making sure she isn't pulling a prank on him.

"My fiancée, Celestia from the house of Marquise Septihanus" Cepheus answers.

They soon arrive at the Duke's study, Raymond knocks on the door and waited for the duke to allow them to enter.

Once they enter the room Cepheus places Willow to her feet.

"Father" Cepheus greets the Duke.

"Daddy, big brother said he has a fiancée. How come Lily didn't know about this fiancée" Willow says as she ran towards Duke Whisterial.

Duke Whisterial puts down his pen and places Willow on his lap.

Duke Whisterial looks confused at his young daughter than towards his oldest son, who looks identical to himself.

"How come I didn't know the Septihanus has a daughter?" he asks his son.

Cepheus stares at his father trying to figure out if they were playing a prank on him. Realising that they weren't and played along with them.

"No, they do not I was only playing a prank on Lily." Cepheus says handing the paperwork to his father.

After the meeting with his father, Cepheus walks to his own study. Once Cepheus sat at his desk he thought for a moment.

"Raymond update me on the past movements on the Septihauns movements for the past two months"

Raymond handed the papers to Cepheus respectfully.

" For the past two months, they have been quiet however, the second master of the Spetihanus frequently visited the first master on the first day of winter with his apprentice. once during the early morning and in the middle of the night."

Cepheus hand paused while lifting his cup of tea.

"Did you say the Second Master as in Astre, he frequently visits the Marquess"

Raymond finding it weird he nods his head in response.

"And with his apprentice too"

Raymond nods once again finding chills run down his spine.

"Yes master".

Cepheus slams his cup of tea down

"And you tell me this now, did something happen to Celestia, the second master will not visit their household in the middle of the night unless something happened"

Raymond looks confused at his master.

"Master sorry if this sounds rude but who is this Miss Celestia that you are asking about? Earlier you also ask Young Miss too."

Cepheus stood up scarring Raymond making him stand up straight, Cepheus grabs his butler's collar.

"What do you mean, Celestia is my Fiancee, the young miss of the Marquees. She's the one that gave you the cuffs that you're weari..."

When Cepheus lifts Raymond's arm in front of him he realises that the cuffs weren't there.

"Master what cuffs, I've never received any cuffs from any young misses." Raymond said

Cepheus lets go of Raymond and sat on the couch.

"You're dismissed," Cepheus says as he places his hand over his ruby eyes.

"Yes, Master." Raymond bows and leaves the room.

"Soul come out" Cepheus says as he opens his eyes revealing his ruby orbs.

A dark smoke appears in front of Cepheus and a handsome man with chocolate brown shoulder-length hair tied up in a gold string and black eyes appears in front of Cepheus. Soul has a sharp jawline, tall nose, and sun-kissed bronze skin tone.

"Master" Soul goes on one knee in front of Cepheus.

"Find out what happened in the last two months in 30 minutes I want a full report"

Soul could feel the frustration going through his masters' head as he heard his masters' order.

"Yes master" Soul says and disappears entering into the Spiritual Realm to investigate.

Cepheus sat on the couch clenching his fist while waiting for Soul to return Cepheus looks at his study and realise all the things that Celestia gave him for the past 10 years are all gone.

The room was silent and felt eerie, once the sun started to set leaving only the moon glowing in the night.

Soul Returns and saw his master back facing him.

"Tell me what you found."

Soul displays a troubled look on his face, knowing that whatever he reports will not put his master in a happy mood.

"Master, in the last two months, that we have been in the West, Young Miss Celestia has fallen ill, due to a high fever Marquess decided to send her to the Divine White Tower. However, even though she has entered the Tower the Archhealer could not fully heal her. For the last two months, the healers have only been preventing her temperature from rising."

I'm too late, if only I didn't leave the capital or left with her maybe I could prevent this from happening again. Cepheus looks at his hand and clenches it.

"Let's go to the Tower, I need to see her." Cepheus order

"Master, we cannot enter the tower without alarming the watchers" Soul says

"No we can enter without alerting them, you should know who your master is" Cepheus turns to his Familliar as his eyes glow in the moonlight looking like a demon king.

Soul knew that what he says will not change his mind anymore, he knows no matter what he says Cepheus will not budge.

"Yes master" Soul says following his masters' order.