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[Alexander POV]
I did the right thing by letting him go.
Yes, I did the right thing. If I didn't let him go... If I didn't– he'd have been consumed and shackled by this man.
Jayad and the rest of the elders have been in a frenzy ever since Charles left. The loss of a special talent like him was too much for the old heads to bear. But I'm pretty sure Jina, my second wife– felt relieved. She'd definitely started plotting to make her son– James, my last son before Charles, the Patriarch.
Ah, Flameworth family tension, always have to sleep with one eye open.
I think they even tried tracking Charles, but... I thank the stars that his maid– Jennette, has adequate trail-covering skills, so no matter how much they searched they couldn't find him.
I've had to endure countless visits to my office by people who came to find out the whereabouts of Charles. Something that even I don't know.
Klaus; the vice-captain, asked me, his expression was sad, it seemed he'd really taken a liking to the child. Even the stoic Sin Morderego who barely shows emotions came to ask me, like I'm the one who snuck him out.
Although I'm pretty sure that some of the elders have figured out that I helped him escape. Judging from the fact that his personal maid disappeared the same day he did– it's not hard to put one and two together. But they can't dare ask me about it though.
I shake my head.
Forget about all that.
Right now, I'm not at home...
I'm in the Palace of the Emperor. One of my knees on the cold ceramic tiles and my other knee up with my head low.
The palace is dark but the ceiling is adorned with glowing stones that make the place glow with a soft and warm hue like that of moonlight.
"Lift your head, Alexander."
He commands, his voice low and tender like a loving parent.
I lift my head, and my gaze ascends to meet that of the Emperor. His purple eyes lock with mine, and immediately we make eye contact, he grins gracefully.
He's sitting on his throne... His back is straight, his posture refined, creating an air of regality around him.
His golden crown etched with red rubies lies on his white hair that cascades down his forehead.
His skin is as pale as a ghost, he's just like a porcelain doll.
With his graceful smile, regality and tenderness, no one would know that he'd be the source of the wicked energy that's pressing down on me right now.
Evil bastard.
"I greet you, Your Grace."
I say, my voice low and humble, detached from the hostility that's writhing in me.
As he hears my greeting, his grin stretches wider.
"Alexander. You hid him from me."
He says without warning.
My heart immediately contracts as I hear those words, my breathing unstable and my eyes darting.
The filthy energy that's neither mana nor... Aura or even holy power is swirling around my heart.
I grit my teeth.
I should be used to this by now. It's been this way ever since I became a Patriarch. Endure it.
"You know... You never told me that you had another son after James. If I didn't get the information from... A special source, I wouldn't have known."
He's still smiling. No one would know that he's the source of the pain that I feel right now.
"Oh, my good dog Alexander..." His voice becomes deeper and his purple eyes glow with malice. "You hid him for seven years. That demands punishment, no?"
He asks. As soon as he asks that, he disappears from his throne.
I search left and right frantically, twisting my neck like a machine.
"But before the punishment..."
I hear his voice from my back, just a few inches away from my ear and I turn and see him crouching, his lips not too far from me.
My heart beats uncontrollably.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Where is the boy? I heard he has an affinity with all four elements. What a talent!"
He disappears again and I turn my head to see him on his throne.
"I don't know," I answer him, my voice low and shaky because of my unstable breath.
It's the truth, I have no idea where he is. This must be why Charles suggested that I shouldn't know his whereabouts. Smart boy.
I grin unintentionally.
And at the same moment, I feel that wicked energy squeeze my heart tight like it's gonna burst it.
"Argh!"
I groan as I clutch my chest.
Huff Huff
My breathing is raggedy, I can't even use my breathing technique at this point.
"Oh? You're right. You don't know where he is..." He nods his head with his eyes closed. "But I need him. No... WE need him, hmm."
What does he mean? Need him for what??! Who is 'we'?!
I want to hurl questions at him but I can't. This strange entity called the emperor... I can't so much as talk bad about him.
This is why I told Charles to run.
My breathing is still unstable as I look into the purple-spiraling eyes of the Emperor. It's like an endless abyss.
This ancient evil... What does he want with my child?
"Hahahaha!" His loud laugh echoes throughout the palace.
"Alright. Go, Alexander. I have no mission for you today. But await my punishment." His grin stretches one more time and he stands up from his throne.
I'm on the ground, kneeling and watching him walk away, toward the direction of a blue-painted door.
I will kill you one day.
I tell myself, my eyes flash with hostility that I've been suppressing.
And then he turns his neck to look at me one more time and I snap the hostile look away from my face.
"Charles right? If you're protecting him then he must really be worth something." He says as he opens the door and walks off.
The pressure on my chest finally dissolves and I lie down on the floor, catching my breath and heaving.
I smirk.
Wrong. He's not Charles... He's Ed.
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