A/N:
*Laughs in glam*
I am so weak towards you guys so I can't follow my schedule so here is an early chapter!
Things won't follow cannon. It never did and never will.
Warning:
(foul mouth)
Cussing (well it's normal in this story I guess. Claude hasn't taught Ambroise how to filter his mouth)
________
Claude is a jerk.
He hates to admit it but he is.
What father watches their 5 year old daughter drown in a lake and makes a sorry excuse meaning; "she doesn't know how to swim so it's her fault" with a careless expression?
Claude would.
He didn't mean it. He really did not.
The reason why he turned their usual "tea time" into a "trip on the lake" was for a closer bounding experience.
He didn't anticipate any of this to happen.
He shouldn't have ignored the red flags.
The way his daughter grips him tightly while they walk closer to the lake.
The way his son is having a small panick attack while holding Felix like he's a lifeline.
The way Mary -that scary nanny- gave him a disapproving look and Lilian York watches with anxiety.
This wouldn't happen if he wasn't careless.
His daughter was drowning and the voice in his head keeps telling him to watch.
"Let her die," it says with this amused tone. "Watch her die.. then kill the other."
He watches as his Athanasia gets dragged down underwater. Not doing anything to save her.
He watches his Ambroise panicking and giving him a look of disappointment with shaking pupils.
Claude's heart sank.
Ambroise realized that his daddy isn't going to make a move and if no one will his noona will die from drowning. So Ambroise would have to do it himself then.
He only made a move when Ambroise was about to jump out of the boat. He grabbed him and let the scared child bite him and claw him like a terrified kitten.
"Let me go! My noona!" The high pitched shriek pierced his ears but he let them be.
He was about to save Athanasia but before he could the lake was in flames.
'it's strikingly beautiful ' he would have praised if the situation wasn't dangerous.
The flames - he can't even bring himself to call them mere fire - were spreading fast, his daughter is drowning and his son is quickly losing his wits.
He had do to something
He was glad the flames are weak.
They are strong enough to match a veteran mage level but the user is a three year old toddler. It made it easier for Claude to clear the flames.
He placed his panting toddler on a seat, worried for any muscle loss, before he jumps in the water, personally, and grabs an unconscious Athanasia.
Freeing her from the messy tentacles grabbing on her ankles.
When he got back up his world turned topsy-turvy when he watches in horror as blood spilled from the toodler's ears, nose, eyes ( the blood resembling tears), and mouth.
A small mumble of "I am fine tho?" is heard when Claude asked where it's hurting.
Claude doubts that.
Bleeding that much blood is not normal.
This is dangerous.
So is he.
He quickly brought them to shore, carrying both of his kin in his arms, securing them.
Athansia woke up once he touched land.
He told his slav- Felix to teach her how to swim. His pride building up and swallowing him whole.
He'll apologize.
He'll make sure he will.
Not now.
Later.
"Your Majesty, what happened?"
That's not important.
Right now he needs to make sure the toddler in his arms is alive.
Ambroise is important
Ambroise is Claude's solace
His last string of sanity
"The Prince?"
"He'll be with me. I need to teach him a lesson. Mary, call a doctor. "
__________
" I see nothing wrong with the young prince, your Majesty. "
Again.
It's the 12th time in 4 hours.
The same words repeating like a never ending cycle.
It's filling Claude with anxiety.
Swallowing him whole and dragging him down like a curse that just won't let him go.
What do you mean nothing is wrong?
Just look at him!
He's suffering.
Their baby is suffering.
He looks at Ambroise.
He's laying in his bed at the Emerald Palace.
The soft white mattress oozing with blood. Staining it like it's meant to paint the mattress like a canvas.
Ambroise's favorite light pink blankie is now deep red and his baby blue comforter now occupied with fresh blood.
The poor child is panting heavily, blood still falling from his mouth - the ear, eye, and nose bleeding stopped - sweat dripping down his pale skin, brows furrowed like every inch of him is painful. Small grunts and groans of pain with the call for "Daddy" and "where are you? " audible.
Everything must be hurting.
Claude is sorry.
He's such a bad father.
He could have done something to prevent this from happen.
He should've actually treated his daughter well right from the start.
Where did it go wrong?
How did it go wrong?
He's pathetic.
His baby might die.
His other child almost died.
He's the worst.
Claude feels like he could kill. He'll go insane if it ends up in a bad pace.
He will.
"Send him to prison. Torture him like the rest. They can't save my son. If no one can tell me what's wrong then I'll kill them myself." Claude's cold voice shows no remorse. No shaking is heard but they were sure the Emperor, the one who always stands tall and proud (with a pinch of bloodbath), is anxious. Who wouldn't? Whatever is happening to the prince must be dangerous. But they don't know what it is.
They could lie but that will be off with their heads and may their soul rest in peace.
The few remaining mages and medics shake. They are terrified.
Death is awaiting them.
Someone please save them.
Knock knock
The sound of the door being knocked is heard. A head popped out showing a young lad.
Red eyes, short black hair and pale skin. He looks like he's in his teens.
"Felix, what is he doing here?" Claude glares at the young teen with a cold blizzard in his eyes. It could frighten anyone but this lad just bowed and smiled.
Felix gulps as he lowers his head. "He told me that he can examine the young prince."
'a young child? ' were the collective thoughts of the remaining people in the room.
"Alright. Do your work."
Anyone is alright.
Be it old or young.
Anyone will be fine as long as Claude finds out what is wrong.
The lad walks closer to the prince and places his hand on the Prince's forehead. Stroking his fingers up and down until the former furrowed eyebrows softened up. Mana strings connected to his fingers wrapped the shaking child.
There is something/s that this mage finds amusing in this prince.
Besides the natural feeling of nature..
He's also covered with the essence of 🅾︎ 🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎ and 🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎ 🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎. There is also the 🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎ 🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎ of 🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎. It seems he is protected but even these faint 🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎🅾︎ won't escape from his 1000+ years of living.
And it looks like this young Prince has a secret. Lucas is good at keeping secrets.
He won't tell this to anyone. Not even to his Majesty.
"Ehem... Your Majesty," the young mage removes his hand and looks directly at the Emperor. They made short eye contact before he scans the room. "This is confidential information, it would be better if only you and your trusted aids hear about this. "
The rest look restless. What is wrong with the prince?
"Felix, Mary, stay here. Adin, escort the others out. Make sure no rumors are spread. "
A short command and everyone is out.
__________
Claude brings Ambroise to the throne room.
Lucas - the young mage - said it's alright.
He'll give Lucas whatever he wants. If it's money then money. If it's working in the mage tower then sure.
If it's his own tower then fine.
Claude can give it.
He's rich anyway.
Lucas also said he'll make a short term medication today and will proceed to make long term medicine after research and supplies are given.
Claude agrees. Anything for his baby.
Claude puts his mini look-a-like on the soft mattress of the bed behind the throne.
He had it made so that he can sleep after all the stressing work is done.
The late Empress also likes sitting there. Listening to conversations that nobles in the throne room have while she reads or embroider a handkerchief for Claude or is knitting a blanket for Athy.
She would laugh when everyone is gone and Claude stays inside. Telling him "those stupid mother fuckers. They must be out of their minds. Even oxygen is tired to keep them alive since they are a menace to living beings. They should suck a dick once, it's better and tastier then all the shit they keep spouting" with elegance while giving him a scary grin.
The late Empress has a blunt and foul mouth, but that doesn't mean she is bad at her duties. She can't be compared to anyone when it comes to her sincerity for her duties as the head of the Empire.
- She was made into an Empress so she needs to remain that way. -
She's a head throb with her blunt attitude and realistic view of life.
Also spouting bull when she declares scamming everyone or commit mass vandalism to anyone that wrongs her or Mary.
Although there are still remains of naivety when it comes to some things.
Claude wonders why his brother-
No.
Claude shakes his head, not wanting to think about it anymore.
It's meant to be forgotten.
Claude brushes his fingers on Ambroise's blood red hair and closes his eyes.
......Something that resembles his mother.
"Mmm.. hungry."
Claude opens them again when he heard the raspy words of the unconscious toddler.
He will bring in some cookies that Ambroise loves so much.
He could ask a servant but it's for Ambroise.
He'll do anything personally for Ambroise.
****
"I am not a bastard." ( A/N: Lisps are hard to write. Just pretend he has one)
Claude dropped the tray full of cookies and the lemonade - "Mary, please let the child rest for once." "No Claude." - that was handed to him.
Felix was behind him as they heard the pained voice of the toddler. It sounded bittersweet, like reminiscing about something.. hurtful yet blissful.
"Father.." he cried.
Claude sprints to the back of the throne and held the shaking Ambroise to his chest. His heart beat beating fast.
"I'm here," Claude whispers. He then starts humming the lullaby the late Empress sang to him in his early years.
A bastard? How did the child think of something like that?
Are there any servants mistreating him? How could they.
How dare they.
If Claude finds these pest he'll make sure to wipe them out with their remaining clan.
He'll hunt them then haunt them.
How dare they say that Ambroise is a bastard? He married the late Empress and Ambroise is in the official registry of becoming the next heir.
- He'll need to add Anastasia in the official Obelia registry, he notes. -
How can they call such a sweet and loving child a bastard?!
And whatever Lucas told them is making him more pissed off.
"Felix," he calls out for his closest aid. Someone that's like a brother to him.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Once he heard Felix's voice relief dawned into him.
Right. He doesn't need to hunt them alone. He has Felix that will do it with him.
"It seems like there are rats inside the Empire."
"It seems like there is. What should we do about it?"
"Terminate the rats."
"I will."
Claude wipes away the tears that descend on Ambroise's pale skin.
"I am sorry."
___________
The first thing Ambroise saw when he woke up are pecs.
'cheken tiddies? '
They moved up and down in a calm rhythm and Ambroise could guess who these chiken tiddies belong to.
He felt a huge weight on him and he also knows who these muscle fish arms belong too.
Ambroise snuggles deeper into the pecs of his self-heating heater, soft breathes blow on his face as he squirms in happiness.
And a realization hits him that this guy is his father but he's mad so he stealthy gets out of the self-heating heater and goes to the night stand to grab the pill or whatever Bob handed to him. He also saw a cup but froze cuz..
'fuck! Is it lemonande or lemon tea? Ah.. no it's just milk.' and then he consumes them.
Walks back to where Claude is sleeping, climbs up the bed - he's happy that his diapers feel fresh - and gives him a knuckle punch on the head.
*WHACK!*
Claude woke up ready to attack anyone that harmed him and relaxes as he saw a tough looking redhead toddler giving him the look of "I am strong so don't mind me".
They had a short staring contest.
It ended when the toddler starts tearing up and wails.
Claude lets him. The baby must be feeling heavy.
"Daddy's an idiot," Ambroise hiccups.
"I know."
Cluade outstretched his arms towards the redhead. Said red head came closer and wraps his tiny arms around Claude. Claude doing the same.
"Daddy's a Jerk."
"I know."
"Daddy should apologize." Claude held Ambroise tighter.
"I'm sorry. Daddy is sorry." He whispers into Ambroise, head on the younger's small shoulder. He felt the small hands he loves to kiss, patting his head. It's comforting.
"Not to me. Ambroise wasn't hurt."
Claude stiffen and pulled the redhead away from his embrace. Claude stared at those swollen midnight blue eyes with the look that screams "utter bullshit! "
Ambroise looks at Claude with confusion. Head slightly tilting. 'Why did he pull away?'
He then proceeds to look at Claude's arms and holy moly it's red and look at those bite marks and cla- scratch marks. A few deep enough for bleeding to happen.
‘*gasps!* Is daddy angry at me?’
Claude just momentarily gave up and sighed. He'll deal with this side of his son another time.
And brought Ambroise back into the embrace.
"Daddy should apologize to Noona."
"I will."
"While hugging her."
"Alright."
" Promise? " Ambroise brought his small pinky finger to Claude's face. Poking Claude's right eye with that action.
Claude took his long pinky out and links it with the smaller one. His nose touching the small excuse of a nose as both of them stare at each other's eyes, examining it like it's important information, before they closed them.
"Promise." Ambroise giggles when Claude's minty choco breath touches his face and enters another warm embrace.
They stayed on the bed, hugging each other.
They felt another presence hugging them. They welcome the presence thinking it's just each other's warmth or the air around them.
_____________
Athy is restless.
She fell from the boat, watch Claude watching her drown, lost consciousness, and woke up to see her baby brother dripping blood from everywhere while that monster carried him to the Palace.
Leaving a blood boiling knight, an anxious Lily, a traumatized five year old, and a... wait.. wasn't there a maid here a few seconds ago? Where did she go?
It's been a day since that happened and she worries for the well being of her brother.
She's sure Claude won't kill Cale but what if Cale is mentally unstable? He's a friken three year old decorated with golden laces and a silky robe almost resembling Claude's Siodonna outfit. It isn't a Siodonna outfit but it's close.
"I guess that plan didn't work out." Athy mutters as she crosses out her plan. She still needs to scam people for money but she'll find a way so she can escape from here.
'maybe join Cale and his looting plan? It seems flawless. His plan has backups. His backups also have backups. Little to no holes can be determined. Isn't Cale a genius? '
Athy has now concluded that her baby brother is a genius so she'll help him expand his knowledge longer.
She's already lived as an adult once so she has the most experience out of them.
Athy nods with a smug smile as she plots her baby Cale's education that she herself will teach.
She's already involved Cale in her plan. With his consent, she'll take Cale away from here.
Then they would live happily at another kingdom with the Empire's looted money.
As Athy humms in excitement Lily walks up to her and calls her out.
Seems like she has a visitor.
Said visitor has red hair - 'it's less prettier then Cale's' - and knightley armour on him.
Behind him are several maids and butlers bowing their heads.
"I, Felix Robane, will be Princess Anastasia de Alger Obelia's temporary knight starting today." Felix informed her while kneeling.
Both Athy and Lily were taken aback.
What is the Emperor plotting?
___________
Currently Athy is standing inside Claude's room when Felix basically yeets her in.
She starts banging on the door asking them to let her out but she failed, miserably like our life.
When she gave up on trying to escape she looks at the room decorated with gold lining and paintings hung on the wall.
She also saw some framed drawings that looks like they are made by a kindergartner.
One of them catching her attention
There are 5 people on the drawing.
3 blondes and 2 redheads.
The family of redheads on the right, the older looking girl is holding the right hand of the blonde male and a smaller redhead clinging on to her legs.
She also saw two blonde girls on the picture. The older holding the man's left hand and the little girl in between them.
All of them has smiles in their faces.
They looked happy.
Athy smiled and she looks down to see the date. This time it looks written by an older person.
“XX/X/XXXX”
So this was made last year.
It wasn't that long ago.
Her eyes went back to the drawing and she feels mortified.
She hasn't noticed that detail.
The two older women both have wings attached to their backs. Halos hovering above their head as beautiful black light shines apon them.
Athy realized what this photo was.
It's highly likely to be a family picture drawn by a child.
And that child being her baby brother Cale.
If it was last year then Cale should be two by then.
How did he know?
And damn he really must be a genius. This could be mistaken as a work made by a 5 year old like her.
"Mary helped my back then."
Athy gasps and clutch her left chest.
That surprised her.
She slowly turns around and saw a toddler with blood red hair tied in a low ponytail and sapphire eyes.
He is wearing a purple long sleeved pajamas. Designed with light pink and purple dragons and small pillows.
She also noticed the white patch on his head that Athy gets to use when she has a fever.
"I have a fever so it's best you don't get close, noona." The toddler warns her. Athy can't leave those sapphire eyes alone. They are alluring. "How are you? You are not ill, right?" The child asked in genuine concern.
Athy could never miss how formal her brother talks to anyone BUT Claude that stuck-up Ahole.
She smiles brightly at the genuine question and replies "yes. Athy noona is alright." She watches in satisfaction when Cale's trembling hands stopped trembling.
"How about Cale? Why is Cale sick?" Athy has a hunch that it's because of the incident that happened a day ago.
She bets 8 pieces of her lovelies.
"Oh," Cale places a a smol index finger on his thin lips as his eyes squint in distaste. "I went to the Imperial garden at dawn. There was a slight drizzle and I got wet causing my illness. Mary got mad and she told daddy, Mary's a tattletaleeeeee, so daddy trapped me here with him." Cale's voice seems annoyed.
-8 pieces of her lovelies are now gone.-
"Trapped you here with him?" Athy asks in anticipation.
The bastard is here with them.
" He's on his couch, asleep." Cale's eyes darted to the sleeping figure of Claude before returning his gaze to Athy. "Daddy doesn't sleep in his bed.. I think it's conaviminated with bed bugs so I sleep on top of daddy or go to my room inside the my playground during playdates. "
Thanks for the information Cale, very helpful indeed.
Athy has made a mental note to never approach the bed. Never.
'and dear Cale, it "contaminated".'
Athy glares at the sleeping Claude while the sick Cherub is behind her.
She needs to teach this man a lesson.
She comes closer, giggling when she caught Cale watching her with confusion as he waddles behind, raises her hand up - "Go noona! I already hit daddy once so you should get your turn too!" - and was about to hit him when a piece of chocolate fell off her sleeve and damn... she was hurt when Cale facepalms himself.
The Oldest in the room now has his eyes open so Athy quickly sang a lullaby.
"What song is that?" Claude ask the 5 year old in front of him. In the corner of his eyes he could see his sick son looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"It's a song to say " bye bye bad dreams"!" Athy with her bright smile hides her horror and nervousness.
" I see. But what are you doing here? "
...
When Claude notice Athanasia won't answer his gaze landed on the red head rummaging through his drawers.
Is this child looting him again?
- Last time he successfully took the Imperial seal (Claude was sure he hid it inside his safe). Good thing Felix snatched it away from the trouble maker. -
Ah.. no.. he saw the few flowers that Ambroise brought in with him. He doesn't know why the toddler hid them inside but oh well..
"Fefe threw noona in. He locked the door so noona stays inside. Like what you and Mary are doing to me right now."
Athy then turns around and saw her baby brother holding assorted flowers wrapped in paper that screams "I am expensive and peasants can't afford me".
Cale with his duck-like waddle, butt raised up high, runs - stops to pant after 7 steps, and decided to walk instead - towards Athy.
Shoving the flowers in her face. Well.. almost. Athy took a step back so it won't hit her.
She took the flowers and look at the assorted wildness -not forgetting to pinch the grinning cheeks- examining them.
She notices the bow and paper is wrinkled so she assumes that Cale made them.
And she stares at the flowers
She isn't good with with flowers but she knows a few and their meaning.
Inside the wrinkled paper and lopsided bow are 3 tulips, 5 lilies, 2 blue Hyacinths, 8 madonna lilies, 1 pink carnation, and green ivy on the side.
"I'm sorry" it represents.
Athy smiles warmly at Cale. This must be the reason why he's sick.
-it also has something to do with the incident so Athy still has four out of eight lovelies left -
She approaches Cale, but the younger shaking his head and telling her to hug him when he's well.
"Athanasia, come here." Athy looks at Claude that has his arms stretched out.
Is he angry?
Or does he want a hug?
"Noona, go to daddy please."
When Athy reached Claude he scoops her in and holds her tight.
"I am sorry."
'eh? '
"Father is sorry."
'what the frick?! Claude is apologizing? The great Claude de Alger Obelia? The Emperor?! What the fuck?? ' as she has her melt down internally she returns the embrace and pats his back.
"It's okay. Athy forgives papa." She whispers.
Clearly she did not, she still wants that hit and she's petty about it but Claude is trying hard and it's cute so she'll let it go this once.
"Thank you, Athanasia."
Athy can feel the warmth in Claude's embrace. It seems that Claude is still a human being.
It feels nice.
She only had Lily and that Lady to hug in her life.. so this feels a bit foreign to her.
She snuggles deeper into Claude. Forgetting her current resentment and just let the hug comfort her.
She doesn't know when or if she'll ever forgive Claude...
...But she can try.
***
Meanwhile Ambroise watches the interaction with his arms on the table and his head on top.
A chubby grin on his face as he watches in satisfaction.
It's different. It's different from the novel but it's alright.
At least they became closer.
Ambroise watches more until his eyelids feel heavy and his head is heating up.
He slept.
Not knowing that Claude scoops him in his arms with his noona holding the hem of Claude's outfit.
They walked out the door and Claude places him in his very own room inside his play groun- the Imperial palace- and tucks him in the sheets.
Claude gave him a small peck on the forehead before leaving the room and joining Athanasia outside.
______________
A/N:
Ayooooo!
Gosh this was a hard chapter to write (what will become the struggle of writing the next?) I had to rewrite this multiple times. Deleting, backspacing, etc etc untill I am satisfied (the trouble of being a writer).
Still not satisfied but this will do.
Next chapter is the last for this arc!
(Wondering if I should update tom or next week)
(It excites me when you guys try to decode or try to figure out the fonts. Kinda sad no one wanna try the morse codes but that's better. It has major spoilers(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧)
Don't expect me to actually follow the canon of WMMAP. I wont (≧▽≦)
Anyways... Bye byeeeeee