Season 1; Can A Father Be A Father Even If It's Too Late? Can He?

The palace entrance radiated beauty and light. It was wondrous, more extravagant than the Emperor's Estate. The Muelaemoar palace is built in the middle of the city, surrounded by walls and fields. Lawrence felt as if he walked the corridors of Arthur's castle. Indeed, Lawrence was fascinated.

"Right this way, Prince Xavier." a maid interrupted Lawrence's roaming eyes.

Estella was behind Lawrence, just a meter or two away. She followed as she roams her eyes in the corridors. 'It feels as if they've renovated the palace. Have they now?' she wondered.

There were castle guards with armour that were in their posts inside the corners of the corridors. After a few minutes of walking, they stopped before a door. It opened, and the large guest suite welcomed Estella and Lawrence's eyes. There were three lengthy sofas on the left side and few singular sofas on the other.

"Would you care for anything, your highness?" the maid asked, her head low.

"A tea would be delightful."

The maid nodded and left the room. It was just Lawrence and Estella left in the room.

"Quite a place, isn't it?" Estella asked.

Lawrence sat down and smiled, "Indeed it is, Mother."

"It was less extravagant the last time I visited. I guess it has renovated."

Lawrence sat silent.

Estella sat down across Lawrence's sofa. "Are you okay?" she asked out of concern. Lawrence sat still, spaced out. "Lawrence?"

Lawrence regained his consciousness, "Ah-" he stood. "Yes... I am."

Estella sighed. "Sit. Talk to me. Let's get that worry out of your system." Lawrence listened.

"I wonder why he would call me. Today is certainly not an occasion. And simply acknowledging the minor defence we've done for the past two years isn't comparable to other fortresses." he let out an exasperated sigh.

"I wonder too, dear. Don't excessively think about that. If my observation is right, the Emperor might have invited you to ask about your whereabouts and your 'Genius' situation. Or is likely to give you an opportunity. I'm sure it isn't because of any troubles. Plus, you haven't done anything to affect the Empire, not even minor problems." Estella explained in an easing manner. She smiled at Lawrence.

Lawrence smiled and blanked his thoughts. A knock sounded from the other side of the door, "Pardon my intrusion." a maid came in.

"Tea and biscuits, your highness." the maid announced as she moves the food from the wood & steel trolley cart. She set the fancy blue teacups and porcelain biscuit plates on the table and poured the brew from the teapot.

"Thank you," Lawrence smiled and delightfully lifted the tea with his left hand. It was delightfully enlighting, the tea. It relieved his stress and anxiety.

Estella joined Lawrence with her tea and relieved her worries. Nothing like a lukewarm tea to alleviate stress, they both thought. They both chatted as they compliment the tea and biscuits' pairing compatibility. The two mixed well together, almost like they are for that purpose.

After a few more minutes, the two continued to chat about other topics, like what happened in the past three days while Estella was away.

"So then it was that." Lawrence finished his story.

Estella giggled, "What an exhilarating experience. Well, now I don't have to worry about your safety."

As they finished their chat, the doors of the suite room opened. There, a man who looked troubled stood. His ash black hair swayed from the breeze. His dark lapis eyes with greyish eyebags had a troubling look as they wandered the room. And his suit had a few wrinkles. Who was it? The Emperor, Leighton.

Lawrence and Estella stood abruptly, "Glory upon the sun of the Empire." they greeted.

"Ah..." he held both of his arms. "Please raise your heads."

Lawrence and Estella nodded.

"I'm sorry for calling you out here." Leighton apologized. "Please, sit."

Estella spoke, "I shall take my leave, your highness and majesty." she bowed and left the room.

As the door shut, Leighton began to open his mouth, but his mouth uttered nothing. He sealed them and smiled. "Xavier..." he called in a strange tone that made Lawrence flinchy.

"Y-your majesty?" Lawrence called, not meeting his eyes, sipping on his tea. "What did you want to discuss, your majesty?"

Leighton coughed, "I-I just wanted to see you."

Lawrence stopped his hand from advancing the teacup into his mouth. He was appalled, taken aback. An unspoken phrase that had never crossed Lawrence's mind. His eyes start to darken as he shunned speechlessly. Lawrence opened his mouth and was about to vocalize his thoughts when he retreated them. He was unable to apprehend the situation, so he remained silently evading Leighton's eyes.

Leighton felt his sudden intrusion into Lawrence's life, felt saddened. He looked south and smiled sadly. His memories of Viola's moments when she was sad and anxious suddenly flooded his mind. It saddened Leighton more. He opened his lips. It took a second until he spoke, "You had your mother's gorgeous eyes and her hair. I love your mother so dearly and cared for her the most. She would often say how much she would love to have a younger brother for Lewis. There you are as if you are Viola herself." his eyes moistened.

Lawrence stared at his father - regretting how much he hated him - becoming emotional. He felt as if everything was genuine, but his stubbornness did not let go. Lawrence refuses to give in and be nice to Nicholas after what Leighton had done- which was nothing. He did nothing to protect, nurture, nor care for Lawrence and the rest of the people who helped him, including Estella.

"Your Majesty." cold as a winter breeze, Lawrence spoke.