Raizel’s Endless Headaches

Lucius sat across from Diana, watching her with quiet curiosity. The Empress—who had once been known as a lovesick fool for the Emperor—was nothing like the woman the rumors described. Right now, she was seated gracefully, sipping her tea as though she hadn't just upended his entire life in a single night.

His fingers tapped against the polished armrest of his chair, his mind still processing everything. Across from him, Diana was gently humoring a small girl, her voice soft as she reassured the nervous child.

Cassandra.

His sister.

Lucius didn't think much when Diana first tasked him with attending the underground auction. He had assumed it was another one of her cryptic schemes. But then, among the human chattel being paraded for sale, he had found her. His sister—the little girl who had been taken from him years ago.

She was different now, thinner than he remembered, with wary eyes that had learned too much cruelty for her young age. But it was undeniably her.

Diana knew.

Lucius exhaled sharply and leaned forward, staring at the Empress with a calculating gaze. "How?" he finally asked, his voice low.

Diana didn't even glance at him. Instead, she smiled as she handed Cassandra another sugar cube to dissolve in her tea. The child hesitated before nodding in thanks.

Lucius felt something tighten in his chest. His sister was safe. Alive. But that didn't answer the question burning in his mind.

"Diana," he said again, voice sharper.

The Empress finally turned her golden eyes toward him, her expression a perfect mask of serene amusement. "How what?" she asked innocently.

Lucius clenched his jaw. "How did you know Cassandra would be at the auction?"

Diana hummed, swirling the tea in her cup. "Isn't that obvious?" she mused. "It was a gift."

Lucius narrowed his eyes. "A gift?" he repeated, skeptical.

"Yes," she replied, setting her cup down with a soft clink. "I told you before, didn't I? The mermaid necklace was just a distraction. The real gift was your sister."

Lucius stiffened. He had suspected as much the moment he saw Cassandra, but hearing Diana say it so plainly made his stomach twist. His mind raced.

There was no way she could have known this. No one, not even he had known where his sister had been taken. He had spent years searching, finding nothing but dead ends.

And yet, Diana Hinsdale had simply told him where to be.

Lucius leaned back, studying her. "You're cheating," he accused, eyes glinting with suspicion. "You didn't send me to the auction for the mermaid necklace at all. That was just a trick to get me to Cassandra."

Diana tilted her head, lips curving into an amused smile. "Does that make the gift any less valuable?"

Lucius scoffed, running a hand through his dark hair. "It makes it suspicious."

Diana chuckled, unbothered. "Oh? And here I thought you'd be grateful."

Lucius clenched his fists. Grateful? Of course he was. He had his sister back. But the fact that Diana had orchestrated it, as if she had some divine knowledge of the future, unnerved him.

Cassandra, oblivious to the silent tension, carefully took another sip of tea.

Lucius exhaled, forcing himself to focus. Fine. Diana wanted to play mind games? He could play too.

"What do you want?" he asked flatly.

Diana smiled, slow and knowing. "Why, Lucius," she said sweetly, "I only want to ensure my son's future. You understand that, don't you?"

Lucius stiffened. "You're roping me into Lucien's education," he realized.

Diana didn't deny it. "I am in need of a good political tutor for my son," she mused. "And you, dear Lucius, are a rather brilliant option."

Lucius scoffed. "And if I refuse?"

Diana leaned back, lazily swirling her tea again. "Then, I suppose, I'll have to send a letter to Marquis Hansford informing him that his illegitimate son is in the capital."

Lucius froze.

His entire body went still as his sharp green eyes locked onto Diana. "You wouldn't," he said, voice dangerously low.

Diana just smiled. "Oh? I wouldn't?"

Lucius's mind raced. Marquis Hansford was one of the most conservative nobles in the western territories. The old man despised illegitimate children—he had spent years pretending Lucius didn't exist. But the situation had changed. Hansford's eldest son was dead. The only heirs left were three daughters, none of whom could inherit.

If Hansford found out Lucius was alive and well in the capital… he would demand him back.

Lucius scowled. "You are an evil woman."

Diana merely took a slow sip of tea. "Flattery won't get you out of this, Lucius."

He exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll teach the boy."

Diana clapped her hands together, looking pleased. "Wonderful!"

Lucius groaned. "This is blackmail," he muttered.

Diana simply smiled, golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, Lucius," she said, "I prefer to call it persuasion."

Cassandra, confused but happy to be near her brother, simply watched them with wide eyes.

Lucius sighed, finally accepting his fate. He had been thoroughly played.

And yet, as he glanced at Cassandra, who was safe for the first time in years, he couldn't bring himself to resent it.

Maybe, just maybe, Diana Hinsdale wasn't as heartless as she seemed.

*****

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass as Raizel observed Lucien's stance.

The five-year-old stood with a wooden sword in hand, his small frame perfectly aligned, his breathing steady. It had only been a short while since Raizel started training him, but the boy absorbed knowledge like a sponge.

And that was the problem.

Raizel had trained knights, squires, and even young nobles before, but this child was on an entirely different level.

"Again," Raizel instructed, stepping forward.

Lucien nodded, adjusting his grip before executing the sequence perfectly. His small feet moved with precision, his gray eyes filled with unwavering focus.

It was unnatural.

No—it was terrifying.

A five-year-old should not be able to copy movements after only seeing them a few times.

A five-year-old should not have such precise instincts.

A five-year-old should not be this dangerous.

Raizel rubbed his temple.

Diana's son was monstrous.

And then—

The doe eyes.

Lucien blinked up at him, tilting his head in that innocent, wide-eyed way that made Raizel feel insane.

The contrast between his overwhelming talent and his soft, childlike gestures was too much.

Raizel inhaled sharply, pushing down his growing existential crisis.

He had dealt with warlords, spies, and assassins. He had fought battles at the borders. He had endured his sister's complete disregard for common sense.

But this?

This was breaking him.

And then—he sensed it.

A presence.

His fingers instinctively tensed around his sword.

Someone strong. Someone dangerous.

Raizel turned sharply, his eyes landing on two approaching figures.

One was Diana.

His runaway, reckless, completely unmanageable sister.

And beside her—

Raizel's pupils contracted.

Blond hair. Violet eyes.

His fingers twitched.

That man.

Raizel knew exactly who he was.

The King of the Underworld.

The man who controlled the Empire's most dangerous information network.

Diana was walking beside him.

Casually.

Calmly.

Like it was just another morning stroll.

Raizel exhaled slowly.

He was tired.

Lucien noticed the shift in his teacher's demeanor and instinctively took a step back, his small hands gripping the wooden sword tightly.

And then—

Raizel moved.

Steel met steel.

The sharp clash of Raizel's sword striking against a dagger rang through the training grounds.

Neither man spoke.

Neither showed any hostility.

But their weapons remained locked in place, a silent exchange of questions.

Lucien's breath hitched as he stared at them with wide eyes.

Diana, however, merely sighed.

"Raizel," she said, exasperated. "Stop."

Raizel's golden eyes flickered to her. "Do you have any idea who this man is?" he asked, his voice controlled but firm.

Diana gave him a small, amused smile. "Of course."

Raizel waited, his grip still firm on his sword.

Diana motioned toward the blond man, her tone light. "Lucius is Lucien's new political teacher."

Raizel froze.

For a moment, he just stared at her.

Then, slowly, he turned back to Lucius, who gave him a tired, unimpressed look.

"You caught him?" Raizel finally asked, voice dangerously close to cracking.

Lucius sighed. "She blackmailed me."

Raizel closed his eyes.

Of course.

Of course, she did.

Diana had not hired a tutor.

No.

She had hunted down a political manipulator and forced him into service.

Raizel could feel the beginning of a headache forming.

Diana, completely unbothered, turned to her son.

"Lucien," she said, "greet your new teacher."

Lucien hesitated before stepping forward. He glanced up at Lucius before giving a small, polite nod.

"...Teacher."

Lucius raised a brow. "Just like that?"

Lucien said nothing. Instead, he turned—and hugged Diana.

Lucius blinked.

Raizel blinked.

Diana chuckled, brushing a hand through Lucien's dark hair. "Well," she mused, "at least he's getting better at tolerating new people."

Raizel watched the scene unfold, his grip tightening around his sword.

Lucien was intelligent. He was gifted. But he still sought safety in Diana.

Which meant—despite his talent—he was not ready.

Raizel exhaled.

He turned back to Lucius, his blue eyes sharp.

"She got you good, didn't she?"

Lucius groaned, rubbing his temples. "I don't want to talk about it."

Diana simply sipped her tea, utterly pleased with herself.

Raizel… Raizel needed a drink.