Die in a deep madness

How does the Balthasar Kingdom educate their princes and princesses, huh? Selah had never questioned it before.

Selah was said to be cared for by a nanny until she was five. After that, a new nanny doubled as a private tutor for her until she was eight years old. Only later, Selah left her nanny and began to be educated directly by her parents.

Meanwhile, according to Selah's previous knowledge, Aeneas and Blair were raised by Catalina. She doesn't know how old he was, but as Selah recalls, Blair started having private tutors at seven. Then when he was 10 to 15 years old, Blair went to the academy. Further education was continued at the Palace by directly assisting King Tristan.

"A tutor is summoned for me. But for early education such as writing and reading, Mother taught me," explained Aeneas when Selah asked that night. "Why suddenly ask?"

"Earlier, Lady Ischa mentioned it when I took her home," said Selah. Seeing Aeneas's confusion, Selah added, "It's about educating children."

"Ah, yes…" For some reason, Aeneas smiled broadly. "You mean about our child?"

"Yes." Selah turned around and lay down facing Aeneas. "I think I will be a strict mother figure. Well, I won't hit my son like my father did. But… surely there will be times when I accidentally act like Mother."

"I can already imagine how sad our children will be," said Aeneas amused.

"What I mean is, please be the gentle parent, okay?"

Aeneas raised an eyebrow, then smiled broadly. "You're pretty open, huh?"

Selah, who is now on top of Aeneas, lowers her nightgown. "I think it's all right while we're discussing it," he said. "You don't want?"

"No." Aeneas helps Selah get her nightgown down. "You know I'm not going to go first."

"What? Last time, you were the one who started…"

"You remember about that?" Aeneas let Selah's hand run up his chest. "I think our future child will have a strong memory like his mother."

"I would be happier if he grew up like you," admits Selah. She was silent for a long time before adding, "I don't want another one figure like me."

The thought of a tiny version of Selah with such a bad attitude and an unsightly face made her cringe. Selah did not want her child to live like her and endure all the feelings she had experienced. So no, just one "Selah" in this world.

Aeneas's cold hand rubbed the side of Selah's face gently, waking her up from her reverie. This time there was no mischievous smile on his face. Aeneas smiled gently at her at this time.

"Why not?" asked Aeneas. His fingers played on Selah's face, tracing her ears, eyes, nose, and lips. "Selah isn't as bad as you think. I have never encountered eyes as sharp and sure as yours." Aeneas then pulled Selah closer and kissed her briefly. "After all, who wouldn't be happy if their child was as smart as you?"

"I would prefer my son to have a pretty face like yours."

"Aha, so you find me handsome?"

Selah smiled crookedly. "If you're not handsome, I will think a hundred times before accepting your offer."

Before Aeneas could laugh, Selah had already silenced him. Aeneas welcomes her happily, and that actually makes Selah excited. She doesn't know what got into her or what she just ate, but now...

"Shouldn't… you have to go… tomorrow?" Aeneas' hands-on Selah's hips stop her movement. "Aren't you too excited?"

"You know I'm strong myself," Selah said. She examines Aeneas' face, looking for any sign of whether she has crossed the line or not. "Just tell me I was too… rough."

"Of course not," said Aeneas amused. But then he coughed.

"No, no," Selah said quickly. Inwardly, she cursed herself for forcing Aeneas. They've been at it for too long. "Let's stop it–"

Selah had not even finished her sentence, and Aeneas suddenly reversed their positions. And instead of being surprised by that, Selah was surprised because Aeneas still seemed willing to continue.

"I think I've said before... even if I look weak like this... you better not underestimate me," said Aeneas, smiling crookedly as usual.

"Let's see who's excited now," Selah quipped.

Aeneas lifted Selah's legs up to his shoulders and kissed her thighs. "When you return from Archibald's exile, let's call the healer. Maybe our efforts have succeeded."

"Yeah, let's do that."

***

Although it is called a place of exile, Archibald's villa is pretty good. Two maids still help him daily even though they use a morning come-and-go home system. The house is also very livable with heaters ready to welcome the winter. Meals are also provided thrice daily, although the menu may not be extravagant. Anyway, Archibald's life is still guaranteed.

"I feel like I really want to throw it to the outskirts," Selah muttered as soon as she saw the villa from the carriage. A small villa that stands alone with nothing but a large acacia tree.

"It would be difficult to prepare a place now, Your Highness. But we can prepare it next spring," said Lady Ischa.

"That could be considered," Selah replied. "Let me see how things are. We can move him if things look bad while he's here."

Lady Ischa snorted. "I think Archibald will be surprised to hear that the child he loves is going to jail."

Selah smiled upon hearing that.

The villa looked too luxurious to be a place of seclusion once Selah entered it. Selah's desire to quickly move her father to a rural area grew stronger. But she didn't see how things were going.

"Since arriving here, His Lordship has only been sitting pensively in the backyard, Your Highness. He didn't do any other activities," the maid reported. "Just now, he is also there."

Selah raised her eyebrows. "Is that so? There is a small library here," he said skeptically.

"I-I'm not lying, Your Highness. Once, I even found His Lordship sleeping there early in the morning. Looks like he's been there since the night before."

"It seems he has gone mad. Take us there," said Lady Ischa.

The villa's backyard is a small verandah with a simple set of tea tables. The view is a vast savanna and acacia tree expanse if you sit there. Nothing interesting there anymore. Everything was utterly blank, including Archibald's gaze now.

Sad, thought Selah without feeling sad at all.

And now, Selah was about to make Archibald even more miserable.

She hopes Archibald will someday die in a deep madness, just like Helena probably already felt.