I've been awake for quite awhile. Even before my alarm, which is yet to go off to signal me to get up. I casted a look off to the side at the window panel that was counting down the minutes until I had to get up. I still had fifteen minutes left. I contemplated a bit before I sighed and got up, pressed the button on my alarm screen to cancel it, and went to my wardrobe to change.
Auriana was still fast asleep as she usually sleeps in until breakfast. It was five forty-five in the morning and I was to wake up Kliene in forty-five minutes. His Highness specially requested to be woken up an hour before he was supposed to just so he was fully awake during meetings.
I pulled on my dress shirt, buttoned the cuffs, buttoned my shirt, and then reached for my dress pants.
A message shot up in my face and I quickly moved my face back.
『 "Are you up?"
- Kliene Vincent 』
I hit the button to reply, but another one flies up.
『 "If you are, could you bring me a scone from the bakery?"
- Kliene Vincent 』
I huffed and replied quickly that I'll be sure to bring one in due time. I waited for a response, but none came. I reached for my pants again, just as a message panel flew up from Kliene.
I grabbed it and threw it across the room, not caring what the hell it said. This Princeling! I sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of my nose. I'm going to punch him.
"Seth…" Kliene said to me without turning. He was sitting at his desk talking to the Duke of Edinburgh about possible plans to build another bridge connecting the two cities.
I was smiling very fake and I'm pretty sure Kliene noticed. "Yes?" I said slowly through pressed lips.
"You're scaring the Duke." Kliene sighs.
"Ohh?? How so?" I said, still smiling.
Kliene turned to look at me and he looked at me as if I was serious about asking that question. "He's been glancing at you, and it's not because of your good looks." Kliene whispered, "fix your face!"
I smiled again with my eyes. This jerk!
"That's even worse!" Kliene hissed, "you look like you're about to murder the Duke!"
"What if I am?" I said just for fun.
"Seth!" Kliene growls. He got up and the Duke stood up with him. Kliene looked at him quickly in question.
"I-it seems like it's a really bad time…" the Duke said hurriedly, "How about we try to finish this discussion some… other time your Highness." The Duke bows and goes to the door in a rush.
"W-wait, your Grace!" Kliene tried following him.
"No no. It's quite alright! Good day, your Highness!" The Duke bows again and leaves quickly.
Kliene sighed as the door shut and he fell back into his chair heavily. He slams his head onto his desk and groans. I folded my arms and looked at him. Kliene was half propped up by his arm looking at me while resting his head with his hand. Wow…
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Kliene said flatly.
I glanced at him and looked away, "Nothing."
"Psht, yeah right Seth." He grumbled, "I've known you long enough to know." Kliene gestured at my body, "there is something, meaning you, wrong. What is troubling you?"
"Oh?" I huffed, "what makes you think that?"
Kliene sat back at his response, "excuse me? What makes me think that?" Kliene lets out a huge breath and rubs his forehead, "wow, okay, let's see… was it this morning when my scone was burnt, or at breakfast when my hot tea was iced tea, or you stomping hard on my foot, that I almost died of pain?" He brings a finger up to his lips and hums, "Definitely the tea…"
I moistened my lips, "glad you caught on."
Kliene folded his arms and stared at him, "you had to let your foul mood seep into my meeting, didn't you."
"Yes, yes I did."
"You're petty." Kliene said dryly.
I shrugged. He's right, I am pretty petty. Kliene sat there in silence, his eyes moving over me like reading a book. He smiled faintly before standing up.
"Why are you mad?" Kliene asks.
I sighed. Ugh… I turned my gaze away from him, "personal reasons."
"That is?" Kliene jumps into my view.
I pushed him aside. He is not letting this go. I looked at him, "that's none of your business, your Highness."
I walked past him to the table the Duke used and bent down to retrieve the dishes. Kliene grabs my shoulder and yanks me up. I spun and looked at him.
"Hell yes it is my buisness." He shouts.
I scowled, "my personal issues are not your business, do I need to repeat this twice?"
Kliene pursed his lips, "was it the scone?" Kliene's hand flew up to his face, "gah, I knew I woke you up."
I dead panned, "it wasn't the scone." Why is he like this? I turned back to the dishes on the table. He didn't touch his tea.
"Then why did you burn it?" Kliene asks.
"You wanted it early in the morning. They didn't have any made yet and they wouldn't have been done on time." I collected the cup and spoon.
"The tea?"
"It's hot outside your Highness. I doubt hot tea would have been appropriate."
"My foot then?" Kliene pressed.
"That was by mistake." I stood up and went to the door.
Kliene sighed behind me and I turned to look at him. He was shaking his head and smiling, "you sure have really good excuses Seth."
I smiled back, "glad you think so, your Highness." I pushed my back to the door and walked out.
"Hey, Ryan will be accompanying us by the way to the Holy City." Kliene said as the door began to shut.
I froze and walked back in, "What?!" I bristled.
"Aha… nailed it." Kliene was grinning he spun on his heels and walked back to his desk. "Reminents from last night huh." He says while sitting down.
He just won't give up… what's his deal?! I walked back to the table and sat the dishes back down. "Yeah, so what if it is?"
Kliene looked at me while folding his hands, "what's truly bothering you?" Kliene asks.
I sighed, just to get this over with… "Auriana." I said finally.
"What about her?"
"It has never occurred to me that she is needing friends or someone. Maybe her age?" I bit my lip, "she's lonely."
"So why not try sending her to school?"
"You know we can't, it's her powers."
"Seth… trust her… trust me. She can do this." Kliene offered a small smile.
"What if she gets bullied or taken advantage of?"
"I won't allow it."
"I really just can't help feeling I failed as a parental figure." I sighed.
"Stop… you're doing fine. I'll have the staff arrange for her to go to school, okay?"
I took a small breath, "okay." I said after some time.
Kliene smiled again, got up, and walked over to me. He placed a hand on my shoulder, "you are bent out of shape over this? Really Seth?"
I brushed his hand off, "stop. I really don't need you to judge me on this."
Kliene put his hands into his pockets, "I'm not judging, I'm just saying. You blew things out of proportion. Come talk to me more often. Don't bottle it up."
"Doesn't help that I was put into a semi coma from your personal Auxilium." I glared at him.
"Hey! I didn't tell him to! Plus he only fluctuated your energy levels. Not a coma." Kliene huffed. He crossed his arms and held my gaze. I snorted and looked away. I grabbed the dishes and Kliene shifted away as I went to the door again. "I'm just glad you eventually spoke your mind. I'm here for you, you know that, right?"
"Yes." I said half heartedly. I left the room and passed off the dishes to a maid that held their hands out for it. Kliene was due for another meeting in an hour. I just need to get my head on right. I sighed and rubbed my head. I'm pathetic… I had to have Kliene untangle my thoughts. He's the High Priest, he shouldn't have to do something this trivial for a palace staff member. He has better things to do than do some therapy sessions.
I glanced out one of the palace windows and proceeded to the fountain court. Kliene will be sitting outside with Maria to discuss our Kaelos monster outbreaks in the city. The palace staff left me to decorate the meeting with two full carts of decor to choose from.
I gagged to myself as this really looked more like a date than a meeting. Though Kliene liked Maria, she's a really caring Auxilium and she delves into Mira technology to help cross train other Auxilium in Mira technology. Although she possesses no dual abilities, she's as knowledgeable as David and Heather, the two main leading Mira in our HQ. Kliene likes Maria for her passion to help her nation and she's a really hard worker as well. I get why he likes her so much but I have a hard time seeing Kliene with anyone.
Don't get me wrong, Kliene is a great person and he would make a great father. I just don't see him ready to settle down with someone just yet. Sadly, he's around that age and Kliene's personal attendants will be starting to pressure him into finding a lady for the nation. I placed the last of the decoration and frowned at it. It looks a bit…
"Wow. You really out did yourself." Ryan's voice sounded to my left.
I turned and looked at him. What does he want? Ryan had a fake smile on his face and I really do not like him one bit. I don't see what Kliene sees in this man. He's also so.. What's the word… ah right, snobbish.
5 '11, brunette, green eyes, and a very punchable face. He's also a bit buff and Kliene questions him why he is and why an Auxilium has to be this jacked. I mainly question why Kliene is toned. He's the High Prince.
"Don't flatter me, Doctor Allen. Save it for Kliene." I turned away and began moving the carts back inside.
"You're cold… you need to smile more, it's good for the heart."Ryan follows me.
I rolled my eyes, "I just got told my smiles are murderous looking. I rather not have someone pee their pants." I walked faster.
Ryan continues to follow me. I sighed and the palace staff moved out of my way, glancing at Ryan in question. You see, no one really bothers me and or tries talking to me besides Kliene. I made it to the storage unit finally and stopped hard on my feet. I turned around and folded my arms.
"Why are you following me? Don't you have something better to do? Like shadowing his Highness?" I said sternly.
Ryan laughs, "I should be asking you that question." He waves his hand.
I tipped my head and narrowed my eyes, "I'm busy as you can see. So Kindly leave me alone."
Ryan snickers.
I narrowed my eyes even more and a blast wave expelled from my body. Ryan's eyes widened as he was shot backward and he slammed into a wall. "I think I made myself very clear, leave me alone." I growled through pressed lips. Ryan rubs his head and winces. Some of the palace staff hesitantly looked at me. I sighed, "Help him up." I turned and walked back in the direction of the fountain court. They rushed over to Ryan and I heard him groan in pain.
That'll keep him away from me for a few days. I sighed and pushed open the doors to the fountain court. Kliene should be arriving with Maria soon. I'm very aware of what the palace staff thinks of me. Arrogant, short fused, and cold. They question his Highness why he hand picked me as his personal guard. They don't question my abilities per se, just my personality. Kliene's caretakers view me differently since he talks to them about me and they see me talk to him in return.
I walked up to the spot where Kliene and Maria would be meeting and they were already seated. I bowed and took my position to their sides.
"Your Highness, you should really get a personal butler. You work poor Seth to death." Maria sighs.
Kliene dips his tea bag into his cup and looks at her, "He does his job well. I don't see why I should replace him." Kliene sat back and folded his arms.
"Let him rest. The palace and your nation might think you just want him for yourself."
Kliene side glances her, "And so what if I do?"
I silently sighed in my head, here he goes again.
Maria giggles, "Careful, they might believe you. You two are practically glued to each other."
Kliene picked up his tea and he sipped it, "Gods, this is hot!" Kliene flinches and sets down his tea cup. He waves his hand in front of his face and looks at me, "Making up for the iced tea this morning?"
I kept a neutral expression, "If that's what you wish to believe, your Highness." I bowed.
Maria snickers, "You two are so funny."
I glanced away and Kliene smiled nicely at Maria.
"Anyways, the Mira increased the barrier's strength. David and Heather had their strongest members help them." Maria said while she pulled up her screen. She swipes a few times and then turns it around for Kliene to view it. The window floats over to him. The window showed the barriers around Valoria and the energy levels.
Kliene looked at it, his eyes running over it. He raised his hand to his chin and scrolled looking at the statistical numbers. He sat back after some time and the screen transferred back to Maria. Kliene folded his arms, "Avalorne." He said outloud, calling to his god.
His wolf materialized next to me and his wings twitched. Avalorne looked at Kliene. The god's head towered over me even while seated, 'Yes?' Avalorne spoke.
"The Kaelos monsters have breached the city. The Mira have increased their barriers. If they continue to infiltrate, what should we do?" Kliene asked him.
The wolf stayed quiet for a while before responding, 'You're going to the Holy City in a few days, why not ask them for support? They are, after all, the biggest supplier of Mira Technology.'
Kliene frowns in question, "Our relationship with them has dwindled over time for some reason. I don't know why though. It might be a bit iffy."
Avalorne snorts and turns his head away, 'I do, but won't tell you. You need to solve it by yourself. Also, take this boy with you.' Avalorne shoves me forward with his massive paw.
I looked at the god and the wolf in return looked at me sternly. He disappears and Maria smiles.
"I guess that call wraps on our meeting." She said and got up.
Kliene nods and looks at me, "Get Ryan and the horses, I'll meet you two in the courtyard soon." He said and continues to stare off into space.