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"Lucas," Athy said, "Heal him please?"

Lucas gave an annoyed look ready to argue but changed his mind when his wife glared. Anastacius woke up coughing after the magician healed him.

"I was supposed to marry your birth mother. A political agreement. But she wanted more than an outcast prince like me." Claude started. "Whatever I'm going to tell you, I hope you take it in well. At first I thought to let him tell you himself," he gestured to his brother. "But it doesn't look like he will. And that's not fair. Jennette, you were an experiment. You were just a specimen in his messed up experiment with black magic. Some wouldn't consider you human, Jennette. You and I were never related as father and daughter. I'm sorry if this came out harsh."

Jennette stared with blank eyes, unmoving. Tears began to well up as she processes the information.

"You were. I never knew the joy of having a child, before you. It made me strangely giddy. I love you, my daughter, Jennette." Anastacius said in a hoarse voice. He put his hand on top of hers.

"How did you know?" Lucas asked Claude. "How did you know that she was an experiment?" "I found out before....but that curse messed up my mind.""Curse?""Black magic experiment. Of course there's a curse,"

Lucas gritted his teeth. "So you're saying you abandoned your real child for a fake because of a damn curse?"Claude didn't answer. But everyone knew that was true.

"You're sick."

"I don't think it's just one curse." Attheia spoke up. Everyone faced her. "I found traces of black magic from another source when I was healing him." She looked at Claude straight in the eye. "You used it on yourself to forget her, didn't you?"

"She was the light of my life. Seeing that child, who looked so much like her, broke my heart even more. I... couldn't help it ....and blamed my child for Diana's death." Claude said slowly. "I should've been stronger. Instead, I wallowed in self pity and made mistakes that I can't erase."

Athy stared at her so-called father. To think a high and mighty man would have a weakness like that. Nobody's perfect after all.

"How about we continue family talk later. Aeternitas might be dead but his army isn't." Attheia brought their attention to more alarming matters.

"Evacuate the palace staff now!" Athy shouted."Done!" Lucy popped up. "Lucy, I told you it's dangerous here!" Lucas scolded."But I was so bored and you guys left me to do something more exciting." She pouted."Well, she's in the plan now." Arius said. "Lucy did evacuate everyone safely. Good job, buddy." He ruffled her hair.

Lucy smiled in triumph. Her parents sighed and let her do what she wants."So how do we deal with that."

"I have an idea. Make me look dead. I mean, fake kill me in front of the whole army." Anastacius said. "Technically I was the one who gathered them. If they see me dead, it might break their resolve."

"May I do the honours?" Lucas smiled slyly. Athy smacked him."I'll do it." Claude spoke up. "Think of it as revenge for being a shitty brother."

Nobody dared to object. It was befitting anyway. The emperor saved the empire by killing his brother, again.

With Lucas's magic, they were transported on the large balcony where everyone could see them.

Okay now imagine there was an epic fight because I do not know how to write those clearly and also I am extremely lazy right now. So please imagine however you like.

The important thing is that Claude 'stabbed' Anastacius repeatedly to demonstrate his confirmed death. The former was not amused of course.

"Attack!" Felix shouted to his troops. Another battle commenced and the enemies retreated due to having too many casualties. Of course, Lucas had a hand in this. Obelia won, that's all that matters.

"Yawn, Daddy I'm tired." Lucy said as she tugged on her father's robe. He picked her up, humming a soft tune for her to drift to sleep.

"Yeah. I'm beat." Arius slumped on a chair. Too many things happened at once drained his energy. Plus, it feels like a fever was coming.

....................................................................

Indeed he had a fever. As he lay on his bed to rest, works to restore Obelia back to its former glory were running.

Arius sometimes would wake up to take his medicine and go back to sleep. He finally got better after 3 days. Athy took him to see what he missed; Athheia's and Lucy's new rooms, the restored drawing room, and other parts of the palace as well as those in progress.

"Since this part is almost complete, take 30 people out so they could help with the main gate and the roof." Arius watched Attheia giving orders to the workers. She leads very well, like it was natural.

"Princess Attheia, you should rest for a bit. It is uncommon for a lady to stand in the heat for too long!" A maid told her.

Given that she helped evacuate the villagers and her blue jeweled eyes, it was obvious Obelians accepted her as a royal."Oh, do relax Marie. How could I enjoy the cool shade when my people are working very hard in this scorching sunny day building my palace?" Attheia said. Marie sighed but smiled nonetheless, knowing that the princess would never back down. They needed a princess like her; willing to do anything for the sake of her people.

Attheia noticed her mother and brother watching her and immediately ran to them, ignoring the calls of her maid. "Mom! Ari!" She shouted. "You're healthy now? Has your fever finally gone down?" She asked Arius.

"Yeah, I'm feeling much better." Arius answered. "You're doing really great, leading everyone here." He ruffled her hair.

She grinned but then her smile falters. "Um, now that you're well, um, are you gonna take over?"

He could how much she enjoys helping and being a leader. He ruffled her hair again. "No. I'm not suited for it. As former crown prince, I hand over the throne to you, Princess Attheia de Alger Obelia."

"YES!" she exclaimed. Everyone present also cheered. It was sudden, no official ceremony either, but with the current situation nobody gives a damn.

"You know one part of the palace that's untouched?" Arius asked. "The treasury!" They both said in unison.

"Come on let's choose a new tiara for you. And bring Lucy too."

....................................................................

The three siblings arrived at the tall double doors of the treasure room."Uh... How do we open it?"

"Forgot about the key..." Arius slumped.

"It's right here."

They turned to see Oriella holding a silver ornamental key. "New crown for new princesses! Let me be your guide." She curtsied.

She opened the door and walked in, gesturing for them to follow.

"This one is made from rubies. That one is made decades ago. And on the left here....." She explained each crown and tiara's history to the three siblings.

While Attheia and Lucy were busy looking around, Arius talked with Oriella.

"So, what arse you going to do now? She asked."Pardon? What do you mean?""I overheard people say Theia is the crown princess. What are your plans?""Hmmm. I don't know. Probably live a quiet life somewhere in the country.""With Lady Iraine?" She smirked."Depends. I have to ask first." He said.

"Then why don't you ask right away?" Attheia appeared behind him."Gaah! Theia!" He looked at the shiny crown on her head. It had blue gemstones with white crystals. "You look beautiful. It suits you very well." He smiled softly.

"How about me!" Lucy said showing of her tiara. Red and green gems surrounded by rhinestones on top of her small head made her look cute."You're pretty too." They laughed.

"Anyywayyy..." Attheia said. "A proposal to the girl you love?" She teased her brother. "Let's tell mom and dad!" She snapped her fingers and teleported them before Arius could protest.

"Mom, Dad! Arius wants to propose to his girlfriend. Can we help?" She said."You want to get married?!" Athy was shocked. "Oh dear, we have to prepare right away!" She smiled brightly. Lucas only supported his wife.

There's no going back. Arius can't deny now that his whole family is involved.

Attheia, being abrupt and excited, snapped her fingers once again. She changed everyone's clothes to something grand and teleported to the Iraine mansion.

The next thing they knew, Marquis Iraine was in the drawing room with the royal family which he never even met.

"I'm sorry for coming so suddenly. My daughter got too excited."Athy apologize with a smile.

"Ah..yes.. no problem..." He was too stunned.

"Let's get to the point. My son would like to ask your daughter's hand in marriage. We hope to receive your blessings"

Marquis and his wife nearly choked on the tea. That was unexpected. Their two children also had their jaws open in shock, the older blushing profusely.

Attheia elbowed her brother's ribs and he understood her signal. He move in front of Seraphina and  dropped on one knee, taking out a gold ring.

"Seraphina Iraine,— firstly I apologise for the sudden intrusion—, you're beauty cannot be compared to any gem in the world. You have charmed me, and so I ask, will you marry me?"

"Yes!!" She hugged him. Her family didn't know they were long acquainted so they were of course still too stunned to speak. "Oh, sorry. Mother, father, this is my boyfriend—now fiancee I guess— Prince Arius de Alger Obelia."

Marquis Iraine passed out of the final surprise of his beloved daughter hiding her boyfriend.

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Yayy we're almost at the end!

Tysm for reading.Sorry if this seems a bit rushed I just wanna finish quick.

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