An Adult?

"So he is the assistant of the duke Wiltcontanshire, the chancellor and administration head of the empire who retired 2 months ago?" He rubbed the temples as he felt tired. Who would have thought that his mother would choose an old man over marquis.

But how did she even know a man who did not hold much power now. If he would be kept as the student of a marquis, he would get more recognition when he would enter in the royal politics rather than a baron whose names would be forgotten soon.

He was sure he had never heard about that baron or seen him in the past. That was why he was taken so off guard when he saw that old man smiling at him in his own palace.

It took him all the excuses to ask the old man to leave who looked like he would cry any instant thinking that the prince did not like him.

Luci had never thought that convincing an old man that he liked him would be more difficult than fighting with a dozen knights at the same time.

He felt exhausted. Yet he had to drag his tired body here to find who he was.

It took him hours as he started to check from the family of archduke, highest of nobles to lowest and found his name in the second last book of barons when he was about to give hope of finding him and was going to think that he was an amiable version of phantom.

He could feel a headache bubbling in.

"What would be the benefit of coming back when her actions are going to change?" He had thought that he would be at an advantage since he knew the past and knew how his mother was going to behave.

He would have everything in his control but who would have thought that his mother had changed the script.

From the time he had opened his eyes, his mother was behaving differently giving him fast paced attacks he was unprepared for.

No! He could not accept defeat. She could not win the second time!

"Falcon, where is my mother?" he asked the knight standing behind him in a cold tone who blinked but did not know how to answer.

"Tsk! Then I will go and meet her on my own.`` He stood up but the knight came forward and blocked his way.

"My lord, her majesty had ordered us to not let you come to her palace until she called for you." he raised a brow at the strange command.

His mother only refused him to visit her when she was doing a deed she didn't want to show her son.

He had asked her why she hid it when he already knew everything and she always replied "knowing and seeing from your own eyes are different. What if you started to resent your mother too?"

Though she had always said in a humorous voice, he wanted to tell her that he already resented her so she did not need to worry about something that had already happened but in the end, he only said "do not worry about it." and hugged her when she treated him like a kid with a delusion that the warmth of her body was real. That love and care was real!

"My lord, why don't you rest for a while. I will ask the maids to prepare a meal for you. You have not eaten anything since morning." Martha, that was standing on the other corner offered with a worried look on her face.

Most of the time, the kid would sulk on how he was not treated fairly and then rub his head on his lap but when she offered him a meal, he would bloom like a flower in the spring and then eat food with a glowing face.

She had always prayed to god that he would not lose that innocence but now it looked like he boy had grown up into an adult overnight.

Those innocent eyes that used to be a mirror of feeling had turned calculating and shrewd in a single night.

In the past, when he used to talk about his mother, there used to be a feeling of longing in his voice and a sense of admiration for her but now.. He was talking like she was an enemy or a stranger at the very least.

"Why don't I tell you your favorite story of a crown prince after that while you take a small nap in your room." she added when the boy continued to stare at her but did not reply.

She could see that the frost in his eyes was breaking and a bit of warmth was returning. She felt encouraged and offered further,

"And then we can play in the park with your new toys and if you want.. I can ask prince Lennox to join you.

You know her majesty has informed me that you can meet with your brother anytime you want. She will not restrict you anymore.

So, shall we go?" She knew that the boy craved familial love and his brother would be best to offer that since his father and mother were always busy with one thing or another.

Just when she forwarded her hand surely that he would accept it, he smiled and his eyes turned colder.

"Nanny, you are still treating me like a kid. Could you not see that I have already grown up? I did not need to play but yes, I will have food and then spend the rest of my time in the library.

I do not have time for stories or balls!"