"Rise for the Crown Prince Zerath!"
Along with the palace maids, Azarael and Vespera, the head maid, too, stood to welcome Zerath. The head maid bowed, expressionless.
"Welcome back, my lord. This servant is happy to see your safe return."
"You're always so stiff, Madam Moira. Don't call yourself a servant."
Moira's sharp eyes flicked toward Vivia and Eurus, but her expression remained unchanged.
"If you refrain from bringing unwanted guests to the palace, then I might think about it, my lord," she replied with poise.
Unwanted, Vivia coughed.
Among all the demons she had met, Moira's hostility was the most striking. Behind her, Azarael was sweating bullets, while Vespera looked unbothered.
Zerath smiled. "Does that unwanted guest include me too, Madam?"
She threw an unreadable gaze. "Why would I think so, my lord?"
"You never smile for me."
"I'm merely a maid, my lord."
"Does any law state that the realm's subjects cannot smile for the Crown Prince?"
"I'm only here to work."
"Alas, Madam Moira. You're as immovable as Mount Lavos. I sincerely hope you show your beautiful smile some more."
She squinted her eyes, then changed the subject. "Shall I prepare a separate chamber for this child?"
Vivia said, "I think we can share mine. I don't want him to be alone."
"I agree," he said, "Though I believe he'd surely appreciate a cup of warm chocolate milk."
"Vespera," she turned. "Ask Chef Andras to prepare some hot chocolate milk immediately and then bring it to Princess Clairette's chamber."
"Yes, Madam!" She turned and made a disgruntled face.
Moira bowed. "I'll take my leave if my lord has no further commands."
Vivia exhaled quietly as she stepped away. It had felt like her head was on guillotine the entire time.
Azarael bowed. "Rise for the Crown Prince, Zerath."
Her sparkling gaze then turned to Vivia. "We heard the pleasant news that the curse of eternal winter has been lifted from Nethermoor!"
News travels fast, Vivia thought.
Her eyes moistened. "Everybody was losing hope with no answer in sight. But this is such a miracle! You should've seen Chef Andras's face when I broke the news, Princess. His jaw had dropped in disbelief," she laughed heartily.
Vivia's ears perked up. "Oh, oh. You personally conveyed the news to him~?"
Unfortunately, her subtle teasing went over Azarael's head.
"Yes! He was so over the moon!" She beamed. "I'm so happy for Chef Andras."
Zerath and Vivia exchanged a sympathetic glance.
It's a long road ahead of you, Chef Andras.
—
"Hope you have a pleasant night," Zerath said as they reached Vivia's chamber.
She felt an unease burrowing a hole in her heart akin to a calm before a storm. She didn't know what Eurus's fate held tomorrow, but she placed her trust in Zerath.
As he turned away, he felt a tug at his coat. Eurus clutched the hem, watching him intently with his silver eyes.
Zerath knelt to his level, smiling. "Yes? Do you wish for anything else, Your Highness?"
His eyes peered into Zerath's as if his gaze itself was the answer to his question.
"My lord."
Vespera, who just arrived, bowed respectfully. She held a tray in her hands with a steaming mug.
"Oh, please give it to me."
Vivia took the tray and cheerfully smiled at Eurus. "It's delicious hot chocolate!"
Eurus looked up at her and then focused back on Zerath, still holding his coat. Vespera almost half-turned to leave when her eyes slightly narrowed at Eurus.
"It cannot be that…"
Zerath asked, "Yes?"
"Pardon my rudeness, but is he perhaps trying to say that…he wants my lord to be in the chamber too?"
Vivia's heart nearly dropped.
Zerath blinked once, then looked at Eurus. "Is that what you want?"
He nodded once.
He wants Zerath and I to share a chamber together?Wait…does it mean that…sleep…on the same bed too…? Her lips parted, stunned.
Vivia's imagination, by now, had reached the zenith. Her mind wasn't in the present conversation anymore.
Zerath held Eurus's little hands in his. With a smile as warm as his golden gaze, he said, "I'm honored that you want me beside you too. However, Princess Clairette and I reside in separate chambers."
Eurus didn't move. His innocent eyes held questions like Why? So he refused to release Zerath's coat.
Vivia clutched her chest with a sharp pain gripping her heart. It ached her to think how Eurus would sulk if his wish wouldn't be granted. She cleared her throat and explained responsibly.
"You see, adults live in separate chambers once they grow old enough. You'll get your own chamber too when you grow up," she beamed. "Isn't that wonderful?"
As opposed to her expectations, Eurus wasn't much thrilled. He only cared about the present, not the future. He pressed his lips, signaling his mild disappointment.
She swallowed a gulp.
I-I can't do this anymore. I don't want to crush this little boy's hopes. But Zerath and I cannot stay in the same chamber either…
Firstly, I am a respectable, unmarried lady.
Secondly, Zerath is a respectable, unmarried demon.
Thirdly, I am the Human Realm's Princess.
Fourthly, Zerath is the Demon Realm's Crown Prince.
Us staying in the same chamber is a blasphemy in all the endless possibilities that exist in the world!
Zerath's eyes looked to be searching for an answer too.
"How about you sleep with Princess Clairette tonight? Tomorrow, you can sleep with me in my chamber," he offered.
The glow slowly returned to Vivia's faded complexion.
Eurus knitted his brows. The question and accusation in his eyes was easy to decipher.
It still means that we cannot sleep together. Are you fooling me?
Zerath eyed Vivia as if saying, 'I did everything I could.'
Vivia was just as helpless. Given everything Eurus had suffered, they couldn't bear to hurt him more.
Zerath gazed at Vivia and offered. "I think we can share a chamber tonight."
Vivia almost stumbled while Vespera's eyes widened in utter disbelief.
"Y-Yes?"
"I understand Princess's concern. However, I can sleep on the floor and Princess and the child sleep on the bed."
Vespera gasped.
My lord…the Crown Prince of the Demon Realm would sleep on the floor?
The more Vivia thought, the more reasonable it seemed. But her concern of possible rumors spreading was still clear - especially affecting Zerath.
Zerath stood and eyed Vespera as if reading Vivia's mind.
"Vespera is the witness. She has seen and heard everything. I trust the matter wouldn't go so out of hand," he smiled.
Her back automatically straightened with a slight chill passing through her spine.
"Yes, my lord! I understand the circumstances. I assure my lord that nothing would damage my lord's reputation."
"Not mine but Princess Clairette's. This must not damage her reputation," he stressed on that part with slightly squinted eyes.
She stammered. "A-Apologies, my lord! Princess Clairette won't face any grievances."
"Thank you. You can retire for the day."
She bowed and quickly took her leave. A long stretch of silence hung between them.
Vivia coughed, averting her eyes. "P-Please come in."
He bowed and expressed his gratitude with a smile. "Thank you."
—
"Did I hear you, right? He is…staying the night with that human princess in her chamber?"
"Yes, Sir Balam," a figure stood in the shadows.
The bright moonlight poured through the windows cast a sharp oundary between Balam and his informant.
"This is…blasphemy! How could the Crown Prince stoop so low? To share the same chamber with a human?" Malphas, the Minister of Knowledge, shared the same sentiments as Balam, who was seated opposite him.
"Calm yourself, Sir Malphas."
"Sir Balam looks quite at ease," he frowned. "Especially after my lord's interference with Nethermoor's situation today."
Balam smiled. "At first it was indeed so. But it's so kind of my lord to give me a golden chance himself. A chance to secure his own downfall."
He pulled out a pouch filled with gold coins and tossed it across the table. The shadow quickly leapt to catch it.
"Good work, Vespera."
From the darkness, Vespera smiled, the golden shimmer visible through the fabric.
"I'm ever grateful, your grace."