ℂhapter 5

As soon as the training was over, I was completely out of breath. We argued the entire time all while I still learned useful techniques so I guess i'm grateful.

I went to go wash myself up after the exhaustion had took over

...

A couple of days later

Rumia has been teaching me swordplay these past few days & our bickering, slowly turned into silence...where we only focused on the clashing sound of the swords.

I know I was pretty decent in swordsmanship from the beggining, but it doesn't hurt to learn a few things, especially given how well Rumia fights.

"Felix." The Emperor says my name so clearly, through the echoes of the inside halls.

"Yes, your Majesty?" I turn around. "What is it?"

He strolls closer to where I stand. Footsteps heard so loudly.

Why is my heart beating so fast all of a sudden?

When he steps right in front of me, his scary appearance frightens me. "I heard you were taking sword lessons from my daughter."

I step back, taking in a big gulp. Why is he suddenly so intimidating? is it because he stands tall while looking down on me? His eyes appear as if they have burning flames in them.

"Y-yes...s-sir..." I stutter. "Sh-e...has been teaching me a few t-things..."

He glares at me coldly, lifting his arm up. I flinch as he puts it on my shoulder roughly.

"That's wonderful!" He exclaims. "Nothing wrong with learning a thing or two!"

What?

I look back up at him. His smile is genuine...why was I scared just now? did I see him as the scary man my mind had created just now?

"That...and i'm so glad you & Rumia are getting along!" He tells me.

I point my eyes to the side, avoiding eye contact.

If he only he knew we bicker more than a divorced couple.

"You know..." He begins. "Rumia had a tough life growing up...she always keeps to herself & she is a very serious girl...i'm glad that you at least spend your days talking with her."

He puts his hands on his hips & sighs. "Til' this day, I still don't know what goes on in her head on a daily basis."

I do get where he's coming from. Rumia is very mysterious & I still haven't gotten close enough where she's ready to open up about her inner thoughts...but perhaps it's for the best. Maybe there's a reason she's not saying anything, even though I am aware that she's full of secrets.

"I think she just doesn't want to trouble you with her thoughts." I assure him. "I do know that she cares about you a lot."

I have been seeing Rumia out in the gardens late at night almost every day. I don't want to involve myself like I tried to do last time but at least she comes back safe.

"Felix..." The Emperor breaths. "When i'm gone...I know Rumia will live a full life..."

Where is he going with this?

Staring directly into my eyes, he gives me a full kind hearted smile. "A life where she needs someone by her side...and so...I want you to be the one whom she'll care about more than her old father..."

The Emperor still appears young & healthy so i'm not sure we he speaks this way so suddenly.

"I trust this matter to you."

My eyes open wide with surprise.

I didn't do anything really, so i'm not sure what he means by that.

"W-hy me?" I mutter.

His face looks at me with such pure...like the love of a father.

It's a faint distant memory...but I still remember what the love of my own father felt like.

"Because I trust that you can make her happy." He informs me.

My heart. It feels so warm & fuzzy. I used to think that the Emperor must feel bad because he only has two daughters & no sons who can be heir to the throne...but he never really cared about that. He is trusting his daughter to me because he believes in me. I'm not sure that I am the proper person for the job but I can't tell him that.

...

After dinner, I meet Rumia at the same balcony I keep meeting her at. I have days were I couldn't sleep & apparently she seems to be the same way.

"So what's on your mind today?"

I lean on the balcony door, arms crossed & one leg over the other, holding my balance.

I say that, but I know she won't actually tell me. It just happens to be a conversation starter.

"The amount of times your sword left that tight grip you had on during practice." She bluntly speaks, holding in her laughter.

Ah yes. I never said anything but she purposely tried to have me let go of my sword because she found it amusing.

"Anything other than my failures?" I tilt my head & close my eyes, smiling sarcastically.

She looks up at me, sorrow in her eyes. "Do you think it's right for my sister to be in a loveless marriage?"

The sudden question. It came out of nowhere.

To be honest, I was just happy that it's mutual...but I never thought that it was wrong.

"Why are you suddenly asking me this?"

She looks straight to the front & there you see it, at the bottom of the railing. Silas & Rias are arguing. Even when the sun goes down, they're still at it. I wonder what it's about this time.

"I don't have any shade towards Silas..." She tells me. "But in fact, I have always thought that those who love eachother...should only then, be with eachother."

I really haven't considered it that way. How will it be in the long run? when they have kids?...perhaps maybe then, as they get to know eachother more, they will develop feelings for one another, won't they?

"I think your father had good intentions when he chose Silas." I inform her. "They might not have any feelings now...but your father might have planned it for a reason..."

I take a deep breath as I look at the two bickering. "And perhaps...they won't always be like this."

The Emperor could have chose anyone for Rias but he specifically chose Silas because he knew his father. He knew that in the future, Silas will always be trustable & good enough for his daughter that he cares so much about.

"I guess you're right..." She says with a saddened tone. "True love only really exists in books..."

She glances at the sky. "I shouldn't have said anything..."

I hurriedly bend down, instantly holding onto her hands as my knee had touched the ground because I couldn't take the sadness in her voice.

"True love does exist...so don't talk like that!" I look over the balcony for a split second. "For them, it will take longer than others."

She holds onto my face, smiling & leaning in. "Being comforted by a loser...feels oddly nice."

Way to ruin the moment.

I back away from her & she moves foreward. "Why did you move back?!"

I bring in my sarcasm persona & turn around.

"A loser such as myself, doesn't deserve to be next to a princes of the Erstonia Empire."

She pulls my arm without thinking & I look back at her with surprise.

"I-I was only..."

I incline back into her. "You were only what?...you were only joking?"

She chooses not to admit it so she lets go of my arm & sits back while pouting. "No!...you are a loser & I stand by that!"

Chuckling, I sit in the seat behind me.

I have got her to be at least a little nicer to me so i'm glad. It's not like that time in the garden where she didn't even want to make time for me.

"Uhm...Felix?..." She randomly speaks, concerned about something. "I have a question."

She appears serious. I wonder what this is about.

"Yeah?...what is it?"

The wind blows heavenly. The light grows dimmer & both of our hair flows in sync until she finally opens her mouth.

"Do you believe in a separate dimension?"

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