Lucas was quiet the whole way as we made it out of the forest. I wanted to ask him how he survived the fall, but it wasn't the right time. Lucas decided to let the pegasi mourn and if they wanted to help later on, they'll find us. I fell in line with Seth. He was smiling gently while holding Auri's hand. Gods… I wish he smiled more. My heart ached. His facials quickly changed as he noticed me looking at him. Seth usually has this one displayed twenty-four seven. Passive with no emotion in his face. He waited for me to talk, though I just wanted to talk to him. Auri grabbed my hand and she sang happily.
"Auriana Marie!" Seth looked at her, "you're supposed to ask his Highness to hold your hand, don't just grab his!"
Auri blinked up at Seth confused, "Isn't he your friend?"
I grinned, "Yeah Seth… friend." I said with a bit of playfulness, "It's fine. You need to stop taking your job so seriously, relax cutie."
Seth blanched, "don't call me pet names. If anything, your Highness, you need to take your Royal status more seriously or you'll be walked all over."
"Kliene." I corrected him.
Seth looked away, "No."
"Kliene." I repeated myself.
"I can't, your Highness." Seth said dryly.
I sighed. He's way too far into his job. I give him credit, he is a really good worker. "I do take my status seriously and if you would notice, Ry and the other staff at the palace are jealous of how I treat you. For one, I allow you to shrug at me, use a snappy tone, and so on." I smiled gently.
Seth stared at me with his light golden eagle like eyes in disbelief. I smiled more and he turned his head away with his other hand to his mouth. He definitely was blushing. Seth coughed and Auri giggled, she was happy.
"Prince Kliene?" She looked up at me.
"Hmm?" I looked down.
She smiled sweetly, "Can I call you dad?"
I blinked, huh? Whaaat?!
"Um… you can think about it… I just think you would make a nice dad." She skipped and sighed, "Momma seems too lonely."
"I am not!" Seth huffed.
Auri stayed quiet and I don't blame her.
I smiled, "I'll talk to Seth, okay? Go on."
She nodded and let go of our hands. She went over to Lucas and Ry. Seth watched her and put her hands into his pockets. We walked in silence for a while.
"Why don't-" I started.
"I was thinking-" Seth cuts off.
"You go first." We spoke at the same time, "No you." We sighed.
"Go ahead Seth." I smiled.
"Auri has been asking for another parent for quite some time now. She seems to take a liking towards you… do you mind?" Seth says quickly, "It doesn't have to mean anything between us at all." He starts to stammer, "The palace staff will definitely start gossiping." Seth then covers his face with his hands. He was breathing heavily.
His anxiety… I walked closer to him and we paused. Seth was shaking. I pushed his hands down and he began to move back. I grabbed him around his back with my arm and held him in place.
"Breathe Seth." I spoke softly. Seth stared at me wild eyed. I held him firm, "Breathe." I repeated, "Slowly, ground yourself."
Seth was in flight mode and he was gasping instead of breathing correctly. I covered his mouth and stared at him. Seth's golden like eyes were beginning to tear up. He was still shaking. I smiled gently at him, still holding him in place. Seth slowly began to calm down.
"Let them gossip Seth. There are already cycling rumors about us anyways. If they want to talk, they can talk. If they want something to talk about, I'll give them something to talk about. Nothing will change between us." I said softly, "It won't change our relationship, work, or my view on you. I'll gladly be her father figure."
Seth stared at me and I removed my hand from his mouth. I smiled and patted the top of his head. Seth hits my hand away by reflex and I let him go. I turned and sure enough the others were watching.
"Remember. Let them." I spoke gently into Seth's ear. We began to walk back towards them.
"Wow~ what was all of that about?" Ryan snickers.
I glared at him and walked past him, "Nothing that concerns you." I said sharply.
Ryan sighed dramatically, "I was only poking fun. I know you care deeply about Seth and I wouldn't ever mock you over that. I would get my head sliced off if I did."
I glanced at him, "Oh? Then why did you even attempt to do so? That was ballsy."
"My apologies." Ryan rubbed the back of his head, "I wasn't thinking."
"Obviously." I rolled my eyes and glanced around the forest. "Um, where are we going?"
Lucas walked up and pointed to a clearing, "We can camp there."
We followed him to the clearing and we sat down and started to pull out our mats and blankets from our system menu. Ry went to tend a fire and Lucas went to find something to eat. Seth was staring up at the sky. He seemed to be lost in thought. I went over to him and he didn't notice me walking up to him. I stood next to him for a while until he registered that I was beside him. Seth sighed deeply and his eyes wandered back and forth in thought. He seemed to have something to say.
I tipped my head and nodded, "go ahead, what is it?" I asked him.
Seth moistened his lips and bit his lip, "Doesn't this journey seem a bit too easy despite us getting cut off early on?" He turned back and looked at the sky, "So far we haven't gotten stopped again."
He was right.
Seth folded his arms and brought his hand up to his chin. He shook his head and went back to the fire. "Or maybe I'm just being silly…" his eyes clouded over and he walks away.
No… he's definitely right. Though something was going on with him ever since we set foot in Solaria for the first time. I just hope we can make it quick and go back home, for his sake.