"You… are so lucky. But I guess that damn son of yours is luckier. I'm so envious he was able to hurt you this much."
Conan took a step closer to the bed, keeping his distant and unfeeling pair of eyes on his father. He slowly extended his arm toward his father's neck, flexing his fingers until his nails grew longer and sharper.
"I could've killed you so easily now, Your Majesty," came out an airy and quiet voice. "But I won't. Not when you have already lost everything but your life. I am looking for the day you will come face to face with this reality."
The corner of his lips curled up into a sinister smirk, retrieving his hand while straightening his back.
"Perhaps that is the reason he had yet to awaken," he continued, turning his head toward the open door. "Once he opens those eyes, he surely knows that what awaits him is this unspeakable dishonor he brought upon his existence. He'd rather die than know one of his sons he used to call a bunch of disgrace had finally shown what disgrace means."
Abel, who came as silently as possible, was leaning against the jamb. He had his arms folded under his chest. He had been here since Aries left the forbidden mansion and just watched Conan stand beside the bed.
"I'm not saying I support Maximus, but I cannot deny I am glad to see his father bedridden," Conan confessed through his gritted teeth. "I loathed the blood in me — I loathed him, Your Majesty. He deserved the downfall of his reign."
"I don't think I am the person you should tell me those words, Conan." Abel shrugged, peeling his side from the jamb as he marched inside. Abel sauntered toward the window, looking out at the vast expanse surrounding the forbidden mansion. "I do not share the same sentiments. Your father and I were good friends in the past, and I bet the reason Sunny saved him was that my dearest sister had grown fond of him as well."
"I wouldn't be surprised if he had been bugging my sister before everything went south on that land," he added, holding his hand behind him. "My dearest friend… is an unfortunate man."
"He is good to you, but definitely not to me."
"And you were good to me, but definitely not to him or to anyone in the royal family," Abel returned calmly, narrowing his eyes as he gazed at Conan's faint reflection on the glass. "Conan, I took you under my wing for only one reason, and that is because you are his son. You stayed until now because you earned it."
"It is not my position to meddle with your family matters, but you and your father… are the only few friends I have," he continued, tapping his wrist mildly. "Therefore, as someone who had been watching from the distance, the problem lies with the weight of the world."
"Your father is a king. He has people to protect, subdue, and tame," Abel added. "It would be easier if the nation he was overseeing is just like Haimirich or those countries reigned by the oblivious humans. However, he has a country full of vampires — capable pureblooded vampires. Not to mention, the Grimsbanne, who was said to carry the blood of the devil."
Abel paused for a moment as he lowered his eyes. As soon as he did, he caught Sunny running with a freshly plucked flower in her hand, a stick on the other. Following her was Leon, Sunny's uncle, who was currently the one looking after her at all times.
"Being a ruler almost means you have the world at your feet. This was the case for many, but for him, for your father, is quite the opposite. His options were limited, and he couldn't make a decision without considering all possibilities. Not only did he have to protect the Grimsbanne but also the peace of those in the past sought." Abel slowly turned to face Conan. "Conan, my dearest vassal, have you ever wondered why the mainland was kept away from the rest of the world?"
"Because this world is particularly unforgiving to our kind. The mainland, those vampires whose footsteps had long vanished, had known that." His eyes softened. "Although many in that land think it was unfair, I was certain that is because they didn't know what it means to be out here and share this world with everyone."
Abel wasn't sure if he had this sort of conversation with him in the past, but even if he did, it was better to remind Conan of what they already knew: the truth.
"The king had simply upheld our peace, even if that means he had to sacrifice his own — his everything," he added softly. "I'm sorry you have become a part of his sacrifice, Conan."
Conan's jaw tightened, holding Abel's gaze before looking away from him. It was not like he didn't know everything Abel said, but he had mentally denied that already. Because if Conan accepted everything that Abel spewed and the realization that dawned on him living outside the mainland, it would only mean his feelings weren't valid.
"Regardless of his reasons…" came out Conan's shaking voice. "... he is aware that neglecting his own family and forcing us to be the sacrificial lambs to serve his purpose will create this catastrophic outcome."
"That, I don't disagree." Abel sauntered toward Conan and planted a hand on the latter's shoulder. "I'm not asking you to forgive him, Conan. What I am telling you is you… have us now. Don't let this get to you; your brother will use this feeling against you."
He squeezed Conan's shoulder mildly. "Aries would've said the same." Abel stared at Conan's side profile for a moment before retrieving his hand.
Without a word, Abel walked away from the chamber. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he paused and turned to his right. There, standing at the end of the hallway and in front of the window, was Isaiah. The latter was just standing and staring at the window, but Abel was aware this was Isaiah's way of comforting Conan.
'He should just show up to Conan so they can fight all night,' thought Abel, resuming his steps to join his wife for dinner. 'That will be more comforting and therapeutic.'
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