Chapter 143 Ch. 143: Rumination [2]
Closing his eyes briefly, the Emperor let out a long sigh, a deliberate attempt to quell his rising anger.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from trouble?"
Arthur's tone was laced with a hint of exasperation.
"I asked both of your mothers, and they claimed to have no knowledge of your escapades. That means both of you sneaked out of the Castle."
A heavy silence hung in the air as his words sank in.
Arthur continued, his tone stern.
"And the fact that you went to such lengths, disguising yourselves in commoner's clothes and even changing your hair color... I can only assume this was not your first attempt. Am I correct in this assumption?"
Caught red-handed, Nathaniel nodded, realizing that any objections would be futile.
"Yes, Your Majesty, you are correct."
The Emperor's gaze remained fixed upon them, his disappointment palpable.
He had been preoccupied with his duties, and now he had to deal with his sons' reckless behavior.
Arthur sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and concern.
After a momentary pause, he spoke again, his words carrying the weight of his authority.
"As I am pressed for time, I will keep this brief. You are both banned from leaving the Sun Castle for a year. Do you have any objections?"
Arthur waited for his sons to respond, but the throne room remained silent.
"..."
Furrowing his eyebrows, Arthur couldn't help but feel unsettled.
It was unlike Adrian and Nathaniel to accept their punishment without a fight.
Normally, both Adrian would begin to object to escape their punishment, but now a gloomy atmosphere surrounded him.
Even his blue eyes seemed dull as if the light within them had been extinguished.
Worry began to wash over Arthur, forcing him to descend from his dais and approach Adrian.
He bent forward slightly, cupping Adrian's face gently to meet his gaze.
"Ian, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"
His voice carried genuine concern and worry, his fatherly instincts taking over.
Adrian shook his head, his voice barely audible.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I'm alright."
Arthur's gaze shifted to Nathaniel, silently asking if he knew what had happened to his brother.
Nathaniel, however, shook his head, indicating his lack of knowledge.
Letting out a resigned sigh, Arthur realized he wouldn't get any answers now.
"You must be tired. You are dismissed. Let's discuss this when everything has calmed down. Carriages have been prepared for each of you outside."
"Thank you."
Adrian and Nathaniel replied in unison, bowing respectfully before exiting the room.
Arthur watched them leave, his heart heavy with concern for his sons.
—Thud.
As the heavy door behind them closed, Fredinand immediately joined Adrian and Nathaniel, walking a few steps behind them.
The three of them made their way towards the courtyard in silence, their footsteps echoed in the hallway.
After a few minutes of walking, two carriages stood ready, their doors open, inviting the princes to embark on their journey back to their respective palaces.
Adrian approached the carriage designated for him, ready to step inside, however, Nathaniel's voice stopped him.
"Ian."
Adrian turned to face his older brother, his eyes meeting Nathaniel's gaze.
There was a flicker of worry in Nathaniel's eyes as he spoke, his voice filled with genuine care.
"If you need someone to talk to, you can call me. I'll be there for you."
Adrian forced a smile and weakly nodded his head, appreciating the gesture.
"...thank you."
With that, Fredinand closed the door, signaling that it was time to depart.
Soon, Adrian's carriage began to move, slowly leaving away from the Sun Castle.
Nathaniel stood there, his face etched with worry as he watched his brother's carriage.
Letting out a resignation sigh, he climbed the carriage to head toward his respective palace.
While it was true that Nathaniel was genuinely worried about his little brother, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the same time.
With this, the likelihood of Adrian joining that shitty organization diminished.
But still, it was not enough.
He needed more.
However, his thoughts were soon interrupted by the faint noise of war that reached his ears.
Despite the vast lake separating the Castle and the Capital City, the echoes of explosions and wailing could still be heard.
As Nathaniel glanced out of the carriage window, his Telesphere rang.
—Ring —Ring —Ring
Upon seeing the name of his subordinate displayed on the screen, Nathaniel received the call.
// Boss, I have bad news. //
The voice on the other end of the line spoke, a tinge of apprehension evident and Nathaniel braced himself.
"Tell me."
// Two items were stolen. //
Nathaniel felt a surge of anger mixed with a pounding headache.
"Not only one, but two?!"
He exclaimed, his frustration boiling over.
"What the hell are the Elders doing? They can't even protect the items?!"
However, the subordinate's next words caught Nathaniel off guard, causing his anger to dissipate.
// Boss, one of the Elders died. //
"...what?"
Nathaniel's disbelief was palpable, his heart sinking.
He sank back onto the couch and began to massage his temples as the headache intensified.
And in that moment, Nathaniel knew that the chaos and madness that had unfolded today was only the beginning.
"Fuck."
.
.
.
—Clip —Clop —Clip —Clop
Adrian sat there, his mind racing and his palms pressed against his temples.
He felt a wave of guilt wash over him, consuming his thoughts.
He was lost, confused, and unable to think clearly.
It was as if he was trapped in a dark abyss with no light to guide him.
The weight of his emotions pressed down on him, leaving him feeling helpless and hopeless.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Adrian let his head fall into his hands, seeking solace in the darkness that enveloped him.
He couldn't see a way out of the situation he found himself in.
The burden of his actions weighed heavily on his conscience, and he struggled to find a path forward.
Closing his eyes, Adrian tried to calm his racing mind and ease the turmoil in his heart.
He focused on his breathing, inhaling and exhaling slowly, attempting to find some semblance of peace amidst the chaos.
He tried to clear his mind, pushing away the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him.
After what felt like an eternity, the carriage finally came to a stop, and Fredinand's voice broke through Adrian's thoughts.
"Your Highness, we have arrived."
He announced, opening the carriage door.
Adrian wasted no time and quickly made his way to his chamber, hoping to find solitude within its walls.
However, as he entered the room, his eyes fell upon an unexpected figure.
A woman with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes sat on the couch, and Adrian's heart sank at the sight of her.
Unbeknownst to him, tears welled up in his eyes, and without warning, they began to stream down his face.
Overwhelmed by emotions he couldn't fully comprehend, Adrian ran toward Aerilyn and embraced her tightly, his sobs escaping uncontrollably.
"Sob, sob. Mom…"
Respecting the need for privacy, her lady-in-waiting discreetly exited the room and closed the door, leaving Adrian and Aerilyn alone.
Adrian buried his face in his mother's lap, his tears soaking into the fabric of her dress.
"Mom… it's my fault…"
Adrian managed to choke out between sobs, his voice filled with anguish.
He had always held a deep affection for Aerilyn, but the intensity of his emotions now overwhelmed him.
He couldn't comprehend why he was reacting this way.
He was perfectly fine just moments before catching sight of her.
Aerilyn held him tightly, her worry evident in her voice as she asked.
"What happened?"
But Adrian couldn't find the words to explain himself.
He continued to sob, his grip on his mother tightening as if he feared losing her.
What caused him to feel this way?
Were the emotions of the original Adrian once again blending with his own?
He had no idea, but it felt like the original Adrian's feelings within him were growing even stronger than before.
A thought crossed his mind.
Would the original Adrian eventually reclaim his body?
If that were to happen, what would become of him?
The uncertainty of his own existence loomed over him, adding to the turmoil in his heart.
Aerilyn's heart ached as she witnessed her son's body trembling with each sob that escaped his lips.
She had initially intended to address his recent escapade, but it became clear that this was not the right moment for such a conversation.
Instead, she focused on providing comfort and reassurance.
"Ian, it's okay."
Aerilyn whispered softly.
"Everything will be alright."
She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on top of his head, hoping to convey her unwavering support and affection.
Aerilyn held her son tightly, feeling the weight of his body against her.
But suddenly, Adrian's sobs ceased, and his body began to slide down from her lap.
Reacting swiftly, Aerilyn tightened her embrace, preventing him from falling to the ground.
"Ian?"
Aerilyn called out, concern lacing her voice.
There was no response.
She shook his body gently, hoping to rouse him from his unconscious state, but still, there was no answer.
Panic began to well up inside her.
"Ian?"
Aerilyn's voice trembled with worry as she repeated his name, desperately seeking any sign of consciousness.
But Adrian remained unresponsive, his unconsciousness deepening.
Without wasting another moment, she called out for help, her voice filled with urgency.
"Fredinand! Anyone! Please, help! Fetch the physician immediately!"
Aerilyn's mind raced with worry and confusion.
She couldn't comprehend what had caused her son to suddenly lose consciousness.
There was something deeper at play, something that had shaken him mentally and physically.
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