Chapter 3 -- Nightmare (2)

"Who, exactly, are you??"

When she first heard those words, she couldn't believe her ears. What did Claude just say to me? Did I hear him wrong, perhaps? Right? That must be it, right? Thinking of this, Athy felt as if she was going to have a mental breakdown... The way Claude looked at her at that moment had been shockingly cold.

"Didn't I ask you who you are? Ugh…" He repeated his question as he tried to sit up. But, as soon as he raised his upper body off the bed, he clutched his chest and groaned. Seeing him like this, Athy completely forgot the words he'd spoken to her just moments ago.

"Ah, no! You can't suddenly move like that." Moving quickly, Athy grasped his arm to keep him from trying.

How could you suddenly and forcefully sit up even when you're so clearly sick! You were lying on the bed just a moment ago like a dead person! Then, Claude's eyes slid to where Athy held his arm. His eye twitched.

"Felix!" Claude called for the knight.

Ah, that's right! Now that Claude opened his eyes, I should have called Felix and Lily, who were standing outside! And I should call for the palace doctor too. Claude looked better than I thought so I'm relieved. But I have a very strange feeling about something. Wait. Now that I think about it, didn't he say something nonsensical earlier? He asked me who I was.

"Your Majesty?"

As expected, Felix appeared as soon as Claude called for him. Upon opening the door and seeing Claude's finally awake after 15 days, Felix's eyes grew wide with surprise.

Well, he did seem depressed about Claude being unconscious even as he was bringing me to Claude's room.

"Your Majesty!!" As if he couldn't believe what he was seeing, Felix lingered at the door for a moment before bursting forward and enthusiastically embracing Claude. Well… that might be a bit of an exaggeration. In reality, Felix approached and joined Athy, kneeling beside Claude.

"My goodness! Your Majesty, you opened your eyes! I'm so relieved!" Felix looked as though he might cry a river. Lily had followed Felix into the room from behind. She was staring at them, wide-eyed with a hand clasped over her mouth.

"What is this? You're acting as if I've woken up after sleeping for ten years." Claude, on the other hand, looked as if crazy people surrounded him.

Upon hearing such a thing, Felix almost glared at Claude. His expression seemed to say, How can you joke like that right now? But Athy couldn't shake the ominous feeling that came over her as she watched Claude scowling, as though he couldn't understand why Felix was making such a fuss.

"By the way," Claude continued, "You look particularly weird today. How is it that you've aged so much in one day?"

"You're too much, Your Majesty! Whose fault do you think it is that I became like this? Furthermore, it's not just a day. Your Majesty has been unconscious for ten days already."

"What?" Felix's words made Claude's baffled expression even greater. The emperor looked as though he couldn't tell whether Felix was making a bold joke or if he'd simply gone crazy, to such things to him. But Felix was obviously very serious, and even Lily nodded her head. She looked like she might even cry. It was only Claude who genuinely seemed not to understand the situation.

Athy had been watching Claude's expression in silence. For some unknown reason, unease had been crawling up her spine. He remained silent, staring at Felix with piercing eyes. Finally, as though he'd decided that the knight wouldn't be able to give him a proper response while he was sniffling, Claude spoke. "I shall listen to your nonsense later." He clicked his tongue and changed the subject. Turning his head towards Athy, he asked: "When did I allow you to bring anyone into my bedroom?" His icy voice cut through the air.

"Ah. My apologies. I didn't consider your wishes." It appeared that Felix had only now caught Claude's bad mood. He followed Claude's stare to Athy. She assumed that the knight thought Claude was worried that his daughter would suffer if she were to see him unconscious. But Athanasia knew that was not what Claude meant, not when he was glaring so coldly at her. When she noticed the way his eyes were looking at her, she unconsciously moved her hands away from his arm.

"What are you? If you were an assassin, your body would have been ripped to pieces the moment you stepped into this room."

Athy guessed that her current expression must have been very similar to the baffled one Claude had earlier. Not being able to process what he was saying, Athy stared dumbly at him.

Athy could guess that her current expression must have been very similar to Claude's face earlier. Not being able to understand what he was saying, Athy dumbly stared at him.

I-I mean… I didn't think I'd be acting out tearful reunion scene like something straight out of a tragic play. But… isn't this genre a bit off? I'm pretty sure this isn't the reaction the average person would expect.

"Who is it? The one who brought in that young wench into my room?"

The princess was not the only one who couldn't understand what Claude was saying. Felix and Lily also remained silent and wide-eyed.

"Was it that old raccoon from Monberk? Or Rachel, that crazy bastard? Whoever did it must be insane. Tell me what trash pile did she come from, honestly? I'll be especially merciful and simply end their lives with a guillotine." As Claude continued to make his disturbing statements, a bewildered Felix asked, "Your Majesty, what are you talking about?"

"Are you asking me because you don't know? I'm talking about that wench in front of me," Claude jerked his chin directly at Athy.

"W-What is Your Majesty… Were you referring to the Princess, just now?"

"Princess? Where is this princess from, that she so fearlessly entered my bedroom?"

At that moment, everyone except for Claude froze on their spots.

"Do you think I cannot kill a foreign Princess?"

Surprisingly, Athy realized the unbelievable: that Claude honestly thought she was someone he'd never seen before. Upon recognizing this, Athy was at a loss for words.

"Who exactly are you?" The words Claude had mumbled when he woke up replayed on a continuous loop in Athy's mind.

"Your Majesty, do you perhaps… not recognize Princess Athanasia?" asked Lily.

"Are you that wench's maid?" Claude spoke as if he couldn't recognize Lily's face either. Shocked, Lily had questioned Claude. But his reply had left her unable to speak.

Then Felix shouted with utter disbelief. "Your Majesty! Please think about what you're saying. Is Princess Athanasia not your only flesh and blood? You must be momentarily confused because you only just opened your eyes."

Claude, however, only scowled as if it was the knight who was confused. "Felix, have you gone mad? When have I ever had something like flesh and blood?"

Athy could only stare dumbly at Claude.

I mean, the fact that the person who was wavering between life or death finally opened his eyes is good, but what kind of unfunny situation is this?

While Lily and Felix looked shocked and serious, Athy was in a daze. The current situation didn't seem real to her.

What? Can't he remember me? How does that even make sense? Ah… perhaps…

"Is this a hidden camera prank?"

"Pardon?" Athy's dumb remark made Felix and Lily turn to look at her.

But isn't that it? Didn't they all plan this earlier, just to surprise me? Claude woke up the moment I entered the room as if he was waiting for me. He said something bizarre when he saw me. Yeah, this situation has been ridiculous from the beginning. Just the fact that he almost died instead of me during the magical rampage is unbelievable.

"You guys are all joking, right? None of this is funny."

Athy turned to look at Claude again. She then extended her hand toward the man who was still half-up in bed.

Really? After everything, how could they joke about something that serious? It seemed so real for a second that my heart almost dropped. What a relief that everything was a joke…

"Dad…"

"Do you want to die?"

The icy voice pierced her ears and made Athy's hand freeze in place.

"Who do you think I am, that you dare gibber such nonsense?"

At that moment, Claude was not the Claude whom Athy knew. Her hand frozen in the air trembled. What is this… Why is he glaring at me like I'm an enemy? A strange feeling washed over Athy, overwhelming her.

"But… wait…"

Unable to breathe properly, Athanasia watched the eyes that were so coldly observing her, until Claude scowled as though he couldn't believe what he saw within her.

"But… why is my magic… in that body?? Ugh!!" A groan slipped out of his mouth, and Claude doubled over. Black blood splattered onto the white comforter.

"Ugh!"

"YOUR MAJESTY!"

Blood dripped out of Claude's large hands.

"Your Majesty! A palace doctor, I shall call a palace doctor!"

"Why am I... Ugh!" The sight of Claude bending over and vomiting more blood reflected in Athy's crystal blue eyes. The scent of blood began to fill the room. Felix rushed out the door, and Lily quickly moved to wipe the blood from the emperor's face. But their efforts to help were meaningless, Claude continued to vomit black blood, staining the white comforter.

Athy stood in her spot, staring stupidly at the sight before her. She couldn't remember what happened afterward.

According to Lily, palace doctors, and some people who appeared to be magicians ran into Claude's bedroom a moment later. A ruckus ensued, and Athy had apparently fainted due to her poor physical condition and mental shock. After being examined by the palace doctor, Athy was taken to the Emerald Palace. One week later and she had yet to see Claude again.