Veloria stared at her husband, her pale face twisted with resentment. "Zerath's mistake is not trivial."
"I decided on an appropriate punishment based on the established facts."
"Appropriate? This is biased. Zerath will only grow more arrogant if his actions go unpunished."
Nefarion glanced briefly at Vivia, then back at her. "Let's discuss this in our chamber."
Veloria's expression flickered, but she maintained her composure. She dropped a final, cutting gaze at Zerath before allowing Moira to help her in walking away.
When only the three remained, Zerath immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
"Rise to glory, Your Majesty."
Nefarion stared at him quietly and clasped his hands behind his back. "Stand, Zerath."
As he rose, Nefarion stepped forward and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I'll speak with your mother. You need not worry about your lordship. It's yours and the festival will proceed as planned."
A small, complicated smile tugged at his lips as Veloria's loatheful gaze lingered in his mind.
"Father, about Casca…I think Her Majesty is ri-"
A sharp, painful jolt crackled in his right foot. He glanced down just far enough to find Vivia grinding her heel into his boot, the action being hidden under her flowing dress. Despite the serious pressure, a sunny countenance remained lit on her face.
"Is something the matter, Crown Prince?" She chirped with a not-so-threatening smile.
"Zerath?" Nefarion's eyes squinted slightly.
Zerath felt trapped between a well and a cliff. His death was imminent no matter his choice. Vivia's murderous intentions were expertly masked behind her pleasant gaze which felt like an outright threat to his life. He exhaled quietly and smiled at his father.
"Please accept my sincere gratitude for entrusting me with Casca."
His expression remained unchanged. "Naturally. You'll lead Rudaheim in the future. Casca is merely one step toward that responsibility. Work hard and…" he held his gaze at Clairette for a moment.
"Do not disappoint me."
Zerath bowed. "I'll never disappoint you, Father and Her Majesty."
Nefarion hummed in satisfaction and only when he took his leave did everyone finally release their choked up breaths.
The knights who had been watching the entire chaos unfold collapsed on their jelly knees. As if Veloria wasn't enough, Nefarion had also entered the scene. They had reached a unanimous consensus that someone would die today. Fortunately, Nefarion sided with Zerath and a crisis was averted.
They stared at the princess and exchanged glances. A complicated feeling perplexed them.
The leader of the troop cleared his throat. "Back to your exercises everyone! Enough chit-chat for today!"
But you were invested in the drama just like us!
A threatening glare greeted them. "Do I hear some unnecessary commentary? Back to your training!"
They jumped on their feet. "Yes, Captain!"
From a distance, Vivia saw the knights scurry away like frightened birds.
Ah, they're gone. I was getting used to their glares now, she felt oddly lonely.
She sighed and noticed Zerath's gaze on her. With her hands on her waist, her sunny expression clouded like a foggy night.
"What were you thinking by not fighting in your defense? How could you just let your lordship be snatched away?"
His eyes never left hers, tracking the storm of frustration on her face.
"Thank your stars that I was here," her nostrils flared. "Otherwise, you'd have served them your lordship on a silver platter. Or should I say a golden platter?" She rubbed her chin.
Waving her hand dismissively in the air, she gave him a stern look. "You'll make a great King, Zerath, but before fighting for your people, you must learn to fight for yourself."
Though Vivia understood Zerath's perspective too. She had sensed a disturbance between him and Veloria. Their strained relationship became evident in how he always addressed her so formally but could address Nefarion as Father with ease.
Veloria had not accepted Zerath as her son and because he didn't want to antagonize her further, he was willing to give up his lordship. Perhaps he even hoped this could make her take a small step closer toward acceptance.
"I…" her stern gaze softened a bit. "I can understand where you're coming from, but it's important to realize where you should compromise and where you shouldn't. As much as you've a duty to your mother, you've a duty to your people too."
Zerath listened to her intently the entire time, his golden eyes locked onto hers with absolute attention. His uneven breaths choked up the words in his throat. He instinctively raised his hand, an urge to hold her face tingling through his fingertips. An even stronger impulse to embrace her surged within him that he could barely contain.
He remembered how resolute her emerald eyes shone against the sunshine falling upon her eyelashes. How straight and unyielding she stood in the Queen's presence. How her voice asserted a cold dominance, yet…it had also felt incredibly warm.
Calm down…
He closed his eyes momentarily and when he looked at her again, a placid expression rippled across his face.
"Thank you."
Zerath was a kind and easygoing demon to talk to. He always carried an air of elegance and politeness. It wasn't the first time he had smiled for Vivia. Yet for some inexplicable reason, her hand reached to her chest. There was something so pure and genuine in his gaze and smile that she wished she could simply stand there and watch him all day long without getting tired. It were only two simple words - Thank you, but she perceived his deep gratitude for her.
The faint vibrations of her heartbeats pushed against her fingertips, and she swore she probably had to learn how to breathe all over again.
"Th-That's good. Now don't ever repeat this or I'll punch you in the gut."
"...That harsh?"
"It can be your face too based on the severity," her eyes narrowed.
He blinked twice, and a hearty laughter escaped his lips. "I see. Then I'll be sure to never offend you."
"That's right."
She then clapped her hands in delight, while also wanting to put a distance between her and the strange anticipation bubbling in her chest.
"Now, let's finish cleaning these grounds! Work together, win together, hoho!"
Knowing there would be nothing that would change her mind from helping him, Zerath simply sighed and accepted defeat.
"Yes."
—
"Veloria, listen to me."
Nefarion followed her to their chamber but was only met with her silence. He sat beside her on the bed where she rested and gently held her hand in his.
"Veloria, I've never been biased toward Zerath. Don't you remember? I've punished him myself countless times in the past."
Veloria remained unmoved. "Don't explain anything, Nefarion. You've already made your decision. There is nothing I can do."
"It's not like that, Veloria. I honored him with Casca's lordship because he deserved it. He has proved himself time and again. Even with Nethermoor, he acted as the dutiful prince and cared for its people despite it being Astaroth's duty. How could I not reward him for his exemplary actions?"
Her eyes narrowed. "You didn't hesitate when punishing my nephew. You didn't even consider how my sister would feel."
"Velo-"
"Just as you never considered how I'd feel when you decided to replace our son with that boy. We lost our child, but…you so easily took in some brat and declared him as Rudaheim's prince," tears welled in her eyes and she looked away. "You always do whatever you please."
"Why are you saying this, Veloria?" Nefarion trembled. "Zerath is not a replacement. I loved our lost child as much as you do. But Rudaheim needed an heir and I thought…it might make you happy too."
"Do I look happy to you?"
A drop in the temperature brought a slight chill in the air.
He whispered softly. "Veloria. Years ago, Zerath won the tournament fair and square. We adopted him because he proved his courage and valor."
Veloria clenched her jaw. "There's no way an orphan from the streets without any family, money and education could defeat the talented participants, especially Astaroth. But you…I saw. You favored him from the beginning! Instead of my nephew, you handed the title to a nobody…" tears plopped down her cheeks as she sobbed.
"Veloria…"
She only gave a bitter smile and turned her back to him, pulling her hand away from his grasp.
"I want to sleep. Please leave."
Nefarion closed his eyes and quietly exhaled in the heavy silence. He tugged the blanket over her shoulders.
"Sleep well, dear."