Chapter 19 -- That Dad, Claude (2)

"It's been days already; are you going to keep dragging out this joke of yours?"

Claude paused briefly in the middle of stamping an important foreign document. He scowled. But the target of his ire only continued speaking.

"It's not a joke. I've told you multiple times already. Princess Athanasia is Your Majesty's one and only…"

"Felix, do not test my patience." Claude's voice sliced through the air.

Catching up on the many overdue documents had already given the emperor a headache. Yet the knight continued his nonsense. That, combined with his weakened physical condition, put Claude in a horrible mood.

Felix's explanation was beyond unbelievable. Why, exactly, would he have been caught up in a magical explosion? At his age, Claude was perfectly capable of controlling his mana. That meant he had intervened in someone else's exploding magic. Was there any magician stronger than him - that their magic had knocked him unconscious?

"That's because you shielded Princess Athanasia from the worst of it, Your Majesty." Felix's babbling continued, "Don't you remember how you brushed me aside and entered the magic whirlwind of your own free will, just to save the princess?"

That was something even more unlikely than the notion that he'd been unconscious for ten days. Princess? Since when did he have a daughter? And he had risked his own life to save her?

"Felix, have you gone mad?"

The knight's explanation had Claude questioning Felix's sanity. It was true that he looked older than Claude remembered. What had happened that, overnight, the redhead was saying such outlandish things? Had he eaten something funny, perhaps?

Eventually, Claude remembered the girl he'd seen when he had first opened his eyes. That girl who, bizarrely, had called him "Dad."

It wasn't too surprising. Many women had crawled into his bed, greedy at the thought of becoming his empress. But never before had someone tried to claim that they were his daughter. It was all very perplexing. Now that he thought about it, that wench clearly possessed crystal eyes.

"It seems as though there is a problem with your memory, Your Majesty," said Felix with an unusually severe face. But Claude refused to accept that.

Now I see. That evil wench or whoever commands her must have used black magic.

He didn't know who that person was. But to have fooled Felix they must have had formidable skills. Felix's sudden aging must also have been a side effect of evil magic.

Feeling that he finally understood everything, Claude nodded to himself. Everyone's insistence that he had lost his memories were part of some spell. That had to be it. He had no flesh and blood to sacrifice himself for. There was no way he'd ever do something as stupid as to risk his life to save that girl. It was as likely as his dead older brother crawling out of the grave to mock Claude for his foolishness.

Because there was no logical explanation for anything that was happening, Claude focused his energy on recovering. Due to his supernaturally strong nature, it didn't take him much time at all to heal.

However, once Claude resumed his typical duties, he was able to recognize that at least some of what Felix said had been true. Obelia's political landscape and foreign affairs were all different than what he remembered.

In truth, Claude had already begun to have his suspicions. He had been bothered by his reflection in the mirror. Both it and Felix looked more mature than what he remembered. When he vomited black blood, the palace doctors and magicians visited and spewed claims of internal damage.

Scowling, Claude glared at the documents about Obelia's domestic affairs. He spent the rest of his day mulling everything over in his office. Claude could no longer deny the fact that he had indeed lost his memories of the past ten years. Still, he could not bring himself to believe that he had a daughter.

"If you have time to prattle on with all your rubbish, why don't you sit there and help me with these documents?"

Completely ignoring Felix's intentions, Claude handed the knight a mountain of documents. As he did so, an unfamiliar sofa caught his attention. It was something he'd been wondering about for the past few days.

"By the way, why is there a sofa over there? No one ever comes to sit in my office."

When something pressing was at hand, Claude would summon his ministers to have brief conversations. Anything that required more time and they would make use of the meeting room next door. Also, the sofa looked far too cushioned for a politician. Perhaps he had sometimes used it to rest? As far as the emperor knew, he didn't make it a habit to sleep in his office.

As if he'd been waiting for Claude to ask that very question, Felix eagerly replied, "The sofa was placed here so that Princess Athanasia would not have to stand and wait too long while she waited for you, Your Majesty."

"What?"

"Additionally, you ordered that the sofa be customized for maximum bounciness."

What Felix was saying was so bizarre and unbelievable that Claude was at a loss for words. Finally, in his element, the knight ran and turned the sofa toward Claude.

"Please look carefully. Doesn't it feel like you might remember something? Princess Athanasia often sat here and watched Your Majesty work."

Staring back into those desperate eyes, Claude finally had to scoff.

"At least it was a fresh joke this time."

"I keep telling you that it's not a joke." Utterly vexed, Felix's voice rose. Claude had never seen the knight look so serious. The man's expression was so bitter that it looked as if he'd bitten into a lemon.

"And I have told you that I don't have time for jokes. Now, seeing as how there's somewhere for you to sit, don't even think about opening your mouth again until all that work is finished."

If Felix had told him that the sofa was placed in his office so that Claude could give him work to do, that would have been far more believable. Rubbing his aching head, he banished all thoughts of the strange sofa.

Unfortunately, he would have many other questions after that.

"Since when has that building been there?"

"Reading is Princess Athanasia's hobby. Three years ago, you ordered the construction of a library for her personal use."

"Library? Don't make me laugh. I've never ordered any such thing."

"Of course would say that since you have lost your memory, Your Majesty." Felix gave Claude a pitying look. He was treating the emperor as if he was mentally-infirm.

The emperor scowled and walked away from Felix and towards the building.

"YOUR MAJESTY! YOU CAME!"

"GLORY AND BLESSINGS UPON THE OBELIAN EMPIRE!"

It was grander than he'd thought. The knights guarding the door stood at attention the second that he arrived. They greeted him quite energetically.

"What are you doing here?" The utterly annoyed emperor asked.

He had no recollection of ordering the library's construction or for knights to be stationed there. Felix had already put him in a bad mood. The knights greeting him as if he'd been there before was even more irritating.

Upon being questioned, the men became deathly pale and began to apologize.

"WE'RE VERY SORRY, YOUR MAJESTY!"

"IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY SECURITY ISSUES WE ARE TO BLAME!"

"FROM NOW ON, WE'LL HEIGHTEN SECURITY!"

"TO MAKE SURE PRINCESS ATHANASIA FACES NO DANGER WHEN SHE COMES. WE WILL SACRIFICE OUR LIVES TO PROTECT THIS DOOR!"

A deep crease appeared on Claude's forehead. Just how extensively had that wench used her black magic? It wasn't merely enough for the knights to guard the door. They were going so far as to declare that they would sacrifice their lives to protect her?

Later, Felix explained. "An intruder entered Princess Athanasia's library once before. After that, you got rid of all the previous guards and had them replaced, Your Majesty."

"You're still babbling nonsense."

"You were furious, Your Majesty. That's why the new knights are so enthusiastic."

Felix's explanation made sense, given the knights' behavior. But Claude merely shook his head. No. No. Even if it seemed reasonable, it didn't mean it was real.

You may as well go inside, Your Majesty. When Princess Athanasia was not here, you'd visit instead."

"Shut up. I don't have any such memories."

Claude turned on his heel and walked the other way. The library guards shouted their farewells.

He hadn't gotten very far when the scent of flowers tickled his nostrils. That was when he noticed the rose garden.

That overly extravagant entrance. Doesn't it seem like something a princess or empress would enjoy?

Felix, who had been following behind uncomfortably closely, whispered, "After finding out that Princess Athanasia liked roses, Your Majesty personally that rose gardens to be planted throughout the palaces."

Claude flinched.

"Among them, the rose garden in Princess Athanasia's Emerald Palace is the most beautiful. There, you and the princess would enjoy having tea parties together, Your Majesty."

This time, although Felix was blubbering on, Claude merely pretended not to have heard a word. However, as he walked towards the Garnet Palace, his steely facade was crumbling.

"That isn't all, Your Majesty. You granted Princess Athanasia multiple coffers and secret safes. If you're curious, I can lead the way, Majesty."

"Felix…"

"My apologies, Your Majesty. But even if you glare as though you are about to eat me alive, the fact that these things happened won't change."

Claude scoffed dryly. If what Felix said was right, it meant he had lost his mind. He wasn't the neighboring emperor, who was oblivious to his empire's financial state and gave anything and everything to his empress. Claude almost fell for the knight's nonsense, but he knew that it couldn't be true.

His mood considerably worse than it had been when he'd first left the Garnet Palace, Claude entered his bedroom.

"I'm exhausted after listening to your boring nonsense all day. I must rest. Leave. Immediately."

"Shouldn't I stay nearby? In case Your Majesty feels any discomfort, I can be your hands and feet. Also, if you have any questions, I can…"

"Leave. Now." Claude ordered once more through clenched teeth. And the knight would have left if the emperor hadn't discovered something when he parted his bed's curtain.

"Wait."

With narrowed eyes, he walked briskly towards the corner of the room. He preferred taking shorter naps on a chaise to sleeping in his room. As such, it was the first time he'd approached his bed since he'd woken up.

He yanked the curtain back and what he saw made his expression stiffen.

"What is that weird thing? Some sort of talisman?"

It was an odd paper that emitted peculiar energy. On it was drawn a deformed figure that looked like either a human or a monster.

The strangeness of it put him on edge. Also, the fact that the paper had been secretly tucked away on a wall where no one would generally be able to see it added to its suspiciousness.

"My goodness, Your Majesty!" Exclaimed the knight, as he approached the wall. Having convinced himself that the paper was indeed a charm of some sort, Felix's next remark was rather unexpected.

"Your Majesty treasured them that much? Ah, I have always known that you loved Princess Athanasia, Your Majesty. But to this extent…!"

Felix's eyes were sparkling at the heartwarming sight.

"This is a drawing that Princess Athanasia gifted to you when she was a child."

"That means the wench DID draw this enchantment…"

"What do you mean by an enchantment? Ah, now that I see it again, it does look like protection magic was cast on the paper. This was drawn a long time ago, but there are no imperfections."

After listening to Felix, Claude turned his eyes to see the drawing once more. Although he initially believed that he'd found evidence of that wench's evil workings, what he saw was only his magic. As the knight said, there was protection magic cast on it.

Then...does that mean this drawing is just that? Only a drawing?

"Even so…"

But even if that were true, the fact that the drawing was suspect did not change.

"What are these bizarre figures? That wench must have gifted me this ominous picture to curse me. Also, I must have been insane to hang this pathetic thing on the wall…"

"To be honest, I was surprised too. Your Majesty always scoffed with disapproval whenever you received a drawing present from Princess Athanasia, but to think that you saved them with such care, behind everyone's backs! And you cast protection magic to prevent anything from happening to them, Your Majesty!

"What kind of nonsense…"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I, your humble servant, won't say a word. I will never tell anyone about how you secretly preserved Princess Athanasia's drawings on this bedroom wall, where no one could see them. Have no worries, Your Majesty."

Felix's enthusiastic promise didn't elicit a response from the bewildered emperor.

I kept these drawings because it's precious to me? And I personally cast protection magic over them so that no harm would come to them?

"Seeing them again makes me feel so nostalgic. It seems that you ordered them from left to right in chronological order. How like you, Your Majesty! Ah. If it's all right, I will explain them to you:

The first is from when the princess was five-years-old. She drew the two of you playing together. When Princess Athanasia was eight, she drew herself flying through the air with you, Your Majesty. Then, when she was nine, our princess drew the secret vault that..."

The knight's explanations were getting more and more disturbing. Suddenly, an intense headache overcame him. Claude clutched his head. He couldn't and didn't want to believe the things Felix was saying. If anything the redhead was saying was true, then it was some sort of mind control. That or someone had been masquerading as the emperor.

Either he was crazy, or Felix was. And the evidence was all adding up to it being Claude who had gone mad.

Suddenly, Felix seemed to remember something and shouted, "Ah! Now that I think about it, Your Majesty, do you want to see that picture?"

"There's another drawing in addition to these?!" Irate, Claude raised his voice.

How can there possibly be more?

"From what I know, there is one more."

Claude returned the curtain to its place while muttering, "No, that's enough. I don't need to see any more. It'll just be another crazy illustration."

"No, Your Majesty. I am referring to the portrait drawn by the court artist."

Claude's hand froze mid-air.

"Portrait? I asked for a portrait?" The emperor's tone had shifted.

Apparently, this madness hasn't ended.

A portrait. He, of all people, had allowed a court painter to make a portrait.

"To be more precise, it's a portrait of you and the princess together, Your Majesty."

Even when he had been a prince, Claude had never had his likeness hung in the great wall of royal portraits. Even though he had every right to one, his father and older brother had forbidden it. After becoming emperor, Claude didn't want one. And yet he had apparently requested one with that young wench who called herself his daughter.

"It was done at Princess Athanasia's request. The painter began work on it not too long ago, so it is still unfinished."

"Where is it?"

"Would you like to go see it?"

A mixture of lava-like rage and icy-hatred churned inside of him. With a hateful, destructive impulse, Claude followed the knight.

"It's over here. The smell of paint might still linger…"

Claude opened the door without listening to what Felix was saying. The air was thick with the scent of paint and oil. Not a single ray of light entered the room. This time, he used magic to part the curtains.

The heavy fabric moved neatly to the side. Bright sunlight poured through the window as if it had been lying in wait that whole time.

"The color of the paint can change when it's exposed to natural light, so please don't have the curtains open for too long."

Beside him, the knight babbled on about how to protect the portrait.

However, time had stopped for Claude. He stood still and frozen before the painting. It was undoubtedly him there in the middle of it.

Claude was sitting in the violet chair that sat, even now, in the corner of the room. That girl stood beside him with her hands on his shoulder. Because it was still incomplete, parts of the portrait had yet to be finished. But he wasn't paying attention to those imperfections. His eyes were locked onto the faces of the two people in the painting.

Ha!

A moment later, Claude couldn't hold back his laughter.

What is this? Were you so spellbound by that wench's theatrics? How laughable. What family? What a father and daughter, they are.

What he saw was so hilarious that he could not suppress his amusement. Whatever the evil spell that had been cast on him was, he had stupidly fallen for its lies and trickery.

But...why are you making such an expression?

Why?

Why?

WHY?

Never in his life had Claude made such an expression. His face held none of the irritation or ennui that had been his constant state. Instead, the emperor in the portrait had a comfortable, almost warm, expression.

Not once had he imagined that he could be capable of making such a face.

Who was it? Who was the pathetic person that wore his face so brazenly?

It's an evil spell. Just as I thought, it must have been an evil spell. That's why I must summon that wench and kill her right away…

Before he did that, Claude went to raise his hand and destroy that uncomfortably outrageous painting. Yet, his hand refused to move. It stayed limply by his side. He tried to will it to move, but it refused.

"I will leave first." After observing Claude's face for a brief moment, Felix quietly left the room. The door clicked behind him.

Claude's eyes were locked on the girl in the portrait. He could not understand why he felt so frustrated or the tightening in his chest. The emperor could not look away from that pretty, pale face.

"Dad, I have a wish."

A small voice, barely more than a whisper, brushed against his ear.

"If it comes true, it can be my birthday present for next year. Will you grant it?"

"A wish you say. What is it? Tell me."

"I want to have a portrait, like the other royal families, hung in the gallery. Together, with you, Dad."

Claude groaned, as a wave of pain struck his head.

Yes. There is no need to dwell on this. If' it's annoying, I can just be rid of it.

That pathetic and worthless painting. The emperor had to destroy it. He had to destroy it. But...he couldn't bring himself to do it.

That person in there means nothing to me.

The young wench must have cast an extraordinary spell, for him to feel this way even when he was of sound mind.

"I must be crazy."

Claude stared at the portrait, stupefied. He felt as though he had swallowed thorns. It was like he had lost something without realizing it, and had finally found it again. The emperor felt a profound sense of longing.

For the rest of the day, he stood before the painting, wondering if he had gone insane.