Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Shortcut
Carlton sighed heavily as the triplets scampered off, ignoring his instructions to walk normally. Of course they wouldn’t listen - why would they? He found himself ducking behind walls and columns, mimicking their furtive movements like some sort of bumbling secret agent.
His mind raced with the absurdity of the situation. Here he was, a grown man and Duke or Empress no less, hiding behind suit of armor like some kind of thief. And for what? To appease the whims of three tiny tyrants who seemed to have him wrapped around their little fingers.
As he crept along, Carlton couldn’t help but notice Malcolm and Helena following suit behind him. The precocious pair were clearly intrigued by their father’s antics with the triplets. Carlton suppressed a groan - if this wasn’t bad enough already, now he had two more accomplices in this farce.
The maids and guards watched the bizarre procession with a mixture of amusement and concern. Here was the Empress himself, tiptoeing behind armor alongside his crown prince and princess, all in pursuit of three toddlers who had only recently mastered running without falling over every five seconds.
Carlton’s face burned with embarrassment as he realized how ridiculous this must look to everyone else. But there was no turning back now - not if he wanted to maintain even a shred of parental authority in front of his children.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of crouching and creeping, the drawing room came into view. Before Carlton could even think about knocking, Cristian and Cristyn had already burst through the door.
"Brother Nikolai!" they cried in unison, "We’re here to get you!"
Nikolai looked up from his easel, startled by the sudden intrusion. "Cristian! Cristyn! What are you doing here?" he asked in surprise, his paintbrush still poised mid-stroke.
"We came to rescue you!" Cristian declared grandly. "We’re going on an adventure!"
"And Daddy’s coming too," Cristyn added unnecessarily, gesturing towards Carlton who had just entered.
Nikolai blinked in surprise as Carlton entered the room, his brush hovering mid-air. It had only been a day since their father had awoken from his stupor, but Nikolai could already sense a profound change in him. The gentle, loving man who had once doted on them with boundless affection now seemed distant and cold, as if he barely recognized his own children.
The sight of Malcolm and Helena sneaking in behind Carlton only added to Nikolai’s confusion. They were usually so busy with their studies that it was rare for them to join in the triplets’ antics.
"Daddy... you’re here too..." Nikolai murmured shyly, setting down his paintbrush and rising from his chair. He scurried over to Carlton, wrapping his small arms around the man’s legs in a tight hug.
Carlton looked down at Nikolai fondly, ruffling the boy’s hair with a gentle hand. This child was always so sweet and affectionate - even more so than Cristian or Cristyn at times. Though Cristina was inherently sweet and adorable herself, she often got swept up in her siblings’ more boisterous behavior.
"Hmmm... we’re here to pick you up for some playtime together," Carlton explained, his voice softening as he addressed Nikolai directly. "Would you like to join us, or do you prefer to continue with your painting?"
Nikolai peered up at Carlton through long lashes, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. When he saw Carlton nod encouragingly, the boy’s face lit up with pure joy.
"I want to come too!" Nikolai exclaimed happily. "I’ll put my paints away!"
Carlton watched affectionately as Nikolai scampered back over to his easel, carefully cleaning and putting away his brushes before returning once more to Carlton’s side. The man then turned to Amelia, appointed art tutor to the royal children, who had been patiently observing the exchange from her own workstation.
"Lady," Carlton began politely, "Would it be possible for us to postpone Nikolai’s lesson for today? I’d like him to join in on some family time."
Amelia smiled warmly at both father and son. "Of course, Your Majesty," she replied with a respectful curtsy. "Prince Nikolai’s art can certainly wait for another day. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to spend some quality time with you and his siblings."
Carlton thanked Amelia gratefully before turning back to Nikolai, who was now bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet.
"Alright then. Let’s go find out what sort of trouble your younger brother and sisters have in mind for us today!"
With that, Carlton took Nikolai by the hand and led him out into the hallway where Malcolm, Helena, Cristian, Cristina and Cristyn were already waiting impatiently. The triplets grinned mischievously as they took in their father and brother’s arrival.
Not long after... Carlton rolled his eyes as the triplets once again insisted on taking a "shortcut" through the palace kitchen. In just two days, he had grown surprisingly fond of these seven children, despite their constant antics that bordered on insanity and even death at times - that’s why he’s still follow them now. The man sighed internally, realizing that he was already getting used to this chaotic lifestyle.
As they crept behind the pillars and made their way into the bustling kitchen, Carlton couldn’t help but marvel at the royal chefs’ skills. They seemed unfazed by the royal family’s presence, focused intently on preparing meals for the palace residents. However, Carlton failed to notice the chefs’ growing unease as they watched him and his children pass by.
The chefs exchanged worried glances amongst themselves. Were their culinary efforts not up to par with what Empress Carlton expected? Had they somehow offended him or Crown Prince Malcolm? The thought sent shivers down their spines as they redoubled their efforts, determined to impress their royal patrons.
One chef stood before a blazing grill, his tongs waving like a maestro’s baton as he proclaimed dramatically, "Behold! The dragon’s embers consume all! No morsel can withstand the inferno of my flames!" Sparks flew from the sizzling meat as he brandished it triumphantly.
Meanwhile, his sous-chef spun a frying pan filled with vegetables overhead like an Olympic gymnast performing her floor routine. With both hands gripping tightly to either side of the pan handle, she whipped it around her head in a dizzying tornado of motion. "Flavor-enhancing tornado spin skill!" she cried out, releasing the pan just as it reached its zenith before deftly catching it on her way back down.
Another chef didn’t want to be outdone, dancing around his grill as he grilled the meat, shouting "Meat-burning dance full of explosions!" His hips gyrated and twirled with the agility of a flamenco dancer.
Carlton and his children watched in stunned amazement at this display. Were all royal chefs so... theatrical when preparing meals? It was quite the spectacle to behold!
After observing the culinary antics for a spell, Carlton shook his head in disbelief and gestured for his children to continue on their way. Cristian puffed out his chest importantly as he led the group through the kitchen’s back door. "Daddy," he declared in a serious tone, "by taking this shortcut, we’ll reach the training ground where brother Austin is practicing his swordplay much faster!"
Carlton nodded along, trying to appear supportive of his son’s ’brilliant’ idea. However, a nagging feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Something about this ’shortcut’ seemed off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Forty minutes later...
Carlton felt like he had just completed an epic quest by the time they finally emerged into the palace garden. The journey from the kitchen to this point had been a labyrinthine ordeal, leading them through storage room, narrow windows, library filled with dusty tomes, and even the servants’ quarters. He was beginning to question his sanity for agreeing to this ’shortcut’ in the first place. It felt like they had embarked on an epic quest just to reach the training grounds - climbing mountains, crossing valleys, and traversing oceans all within the confines of their own home.
As they stepped out into the open air, Carlton’s heart nearly stopped as Cristyn made a beeline for the palace lake. Acting on pure instinct, he lunged forward and snatched the toddler up just before she could plunge headfirst into the water.
".....?" Carlton blinked rapidly as he processed their circuitous route.
Helena, who preferred spending her days engrossed in books rather than physical exertion, looked utterly exhausted. She glared at her three youngest siblings with a look that could curdle milk.
"You three..." Helena began, her voice dripping with exasperation. "We should have reached our destination ages ago! Why on earth did we need to pass through a lake?!"
Cristina, Cristyn and Cristian immediately cowered behind Carlton’s legs like frightened kittens caught raiding the pantry. Helena’s stern demeanor was enough to strike fear into their hearts, even at her tender age of nine. In modern terms, Helena now resembled a mother figure wielding a sandal with 100% critical rate and damage - a terrifying prospect indeed!
"Daddy told us to take the normal route, so..." Cristian confessed fearfully, clinging to Carlton’s pants for dear life.
"So... we purposely took other routes to make it seem like an exciting journey!" Cristyn chimed in, hugging Carlton’s leg tightly.
Cristina looked close to tears. As the designated leader of their little troupe, she had inadvertently steered them far off course in her quest for adventure. Her siblings had blindly followed her lead, trusting that she knew where she was going.
Carlton pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to maintain what little composure he had left. These three mischievous imps seemed determined to drive him mad with their antics. He made a mental note to be much more cautious about agreeing to any future "shortcuts."
Fixing the triplets with a stern glare, Carlton spoke in a voice that brooked no argument. "You three must not do this again. You promised to travel the normal way, and I expect you to keep your word. No more detours or adventures - straight to the training ground, and that’s final!"
The triplets hung their heads in disappointment, but nodded solemnly in unison. Carlton felt a pang of guilt at scolding them so harshly, but he knew it was for their own good.
Carlton then gently patted Helena’s back, sensing the exhaustion in her young body. With a soft smile, he offered her a way out of their predicament.
"If you’re feeling tired, would you like Father to carry you, Helena?" Carlton asked kindly.
Helena’s eyes widened at the suggestion, and a rosy blush crept across her cheeks. As the eldest princess, she had been rigorously trained in proper etiquette and decorum. Being carried by her father was not something befitting her station... but oh, how she longed for that comfort!
Despite her internal struggle, Helena shook her head weakly. "It’s alright, Daddy. I can manage," she insisted bravely.
However, Carlton paid no heed to his daughter’s protests. In one smooth motion, he scooped Helena up with only one arm as if she weighed nothing at all! The little girl let out an adorable squeal of surprise before quickly wrapping her arms around his neck for support.
Helena buried her face against Carlton’s shoulder to hide the huge grin spreading across it. Even though Daddy had lost his memories, he still showed them all so much love and care. Her heart swelled with happiness.
Meanwhile, Cristian and Cristyn watched the scene unfold with envy burning in their eyes. They immediately began climbing Carlton’s legs like a pair of adorable koalas desperate to hitch a ride!
"Daddy, I want to be held too..." they whined in unison.
Carlton fixed them with a stern look and shook his head firmly. "Not this time, you two. You’ve misbehaved by leading your older siblings on a wild goose chase. Only Helena is being rewarded for her patience today."
The other children nodded solemnly in agreement with their father’s words - even Malcolm and Nikolai seemed to understand that sometimes consequences were necessary for growth.
Helena snuggled contentedly against Carlton’s chest as they made their way towards the training grounds at last. The triplets trudged along behind them, trying not to let their disappointment show too much... but secretly hoping Daddy would relent and give them piggyback rides next time!
