Jealousy

"Master~Please focus on the documents."

Jafar nagged him until Erebus forcefully went through half a stack of yellow pages and leather scrolls.

When the other half was placed Infront of him on the wooden desk he gave up and jumped out of the window before Jafar could catch up to him.

"This won't end there Master! You can't escape from it forever." He called out from the window.

He was lost in his own thoughts to pay attention to his words.

He felt slightly guilty for not comforting his wife when he was with her.

Recalling the bits of his memories of when he brought her to Stygian Fortress was already eating him away.

He couldn't apologize to her for his rash behavior towards her.

He knew that she did not like him. She only stayed for the honor of her empire and for the sake of their unborn child.

He headed to the training grounds when he saw Derran crouching near the wall and observed at something roughly hidden in the thawing snow. The weather was warmer.

He went over to the old man and interrupted his concentration by the ice crushed beneath his leather boots.

Derran slightly straightened up and look at him.

"Greetings master." He lowered his gaze and greeted him briefly.

"It seems like you're in search for something?" Erebus glanced at the place where the old man was gazing at intently.

"Ohoho~ I was merely studying tiz lil fella." He chuckled and showed him a little sprouts by the tree.

"Plants?" He raised a brow.

"This mysterious one ain't from this place milord. It must've travelled all the way here by wind." Derran explained.

But Erebus couldn't understand how plants flew all the way to this cold place and planted themselves on cold soil.

"I see."

"My lord. This old man wanted a lil of your time." He said hesitantly.

Erebus looked at the old man who was nervously fidgeting his hands.

"I-it is about madam."

"What about my wife?" He asked abruptly.

"Did something happen to her?"

He grabbed the old feeble man by his shoulders.

"T-the madam is doing better than before!" He said terrified by his dark expression.

"Then is it my son?" He inquired about Nemesis.

"The young master is healthier than before."

" Then what is it?"

"This old man only wanted to give advice for madam's sake." He insisted as Erebus let go of him.

He looked at the old man who was catching his breath.

"What is it that you need to ask of me?"

" A-as you know my lord." He cleared his throat.

" It is the lady's first pregnancy."

" You mean Nemesis is not our first born?"

" I'm afraid not my lord. The young master is your adopted child. If he were your first born the lady's symptoms would've been somewhat different. But when I diagnosed her, I'm convinced that it is indeed her first time. I am only a physician my lord. I won't be able to attend to the lady's needs during this time."

"So you have no knowledge about it?"

"My knowledge alone won't be sufficient to aid your lady wife. What I'm trying to say is that she needs a female companion who is already knowledgeable about it and she might be at ease with sharing her problems when the need arises."

Erebus thought for a moment and then asked about Derran's opinion.

" Then what do you suggest we do?"

The old man figured that he was about to bring in another worrisome face in picture.

" I do have a person in mind. Someone close to being human and can aid the lady throughout her pregnancy."

"And who might this person be?"

"Lord Jafar's close relative."

"Mina's not married." Erebus said blatant about the fact that the young maid was just sixteen.

"No no my lord. Lord Jafar's other sister. Lilith Who married and left the Stygian Fortress. She is a mother of a child now."

Hearing the name brought a vile taste in his mouth.

"Lilith..." He frowned recalling the unpleasant events that happened between them.

"Do you really mean it?" Erebus sighed.

"If there were better options I would never have mentioned her my lord."

"Why her of all people?" He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger.

" I know it brings ye back unpleasant memories ...but what other choices d'we have?"

"That woman...even Jafar had tough time dealing with her."

Erebus had to take the old man's advice for Luciana's sake.

He could hardly focus on the training regimen.

"Milady it's good that you want to talk a walk but don't strain yourself."

He heard Mina cautioning Luciana from other end of the grounds.

He dismissed the trainees after making them run last lap around the grounds.

He saw them walk with Leo trotting in the front with Nemesis on his back giggling gleefully.

Mina held Luciana's hand to provide her support through the mostly thawed snow that made the ground wet and slippery.

Despite reassuring her that she was fine walking alone Mina insisted on sticking to her side.

-" She expresses herself without fear to them..."

He stood watching them head for the ice gardens.

Leo suddenly turned around and leaped towards Erebus.

"N-Nemesis! Leo?" Luciana panicked.

Nemesis giggled and laughed as the wolf jumped on Erebus and started to lick his face.

"Milady! Watch out."

Mina caught Luciana from sliding on the slippery spot.

Erebus was flat on the ground with Leo licking his face. Nemesis was on top of the wolf.

"Bad Leo!" The child reprimanded the wolf for his behavior which the others found comical.

Erebus patted the wolf and let it get off him.

Both of them stood infront of him apologetically.

"Be careful when you're riding him. He's a feisty one." Erebus cautioned Nemesis as Luciana approached them.

She felt her body quicker to tire out as her belly became bigger.

"Is everyone alright?" She asked them and examined Nemesis thoroughly.

"That was a dangerous run." She told Nemesis to be careful with Leo.

Mina took Nemesis with her but Leo only stood and bumped his head in her back.

"He's apologizing for his mistake." Erebus translated the wolf's whining.

"Is that so?" She turned around and accepted his apology.

"He's very precious to me. So please protect him." She squatted a little and patted the wolf on his head.

It gave a little lick on her cheek and trotted away as if it understood what she meant.

Erebus felt as if something hit him in his chest.

He felt suddenly annoyed with her lukewarm reaction towards him.

"Luciana." He called out to her.

She turned around and saw him come closer to her.

"There's something I need to talk to you."