12 Chapter 12 (1/2)

*fwishh!*

Alexis heard a loud whistling noise in the sky.

It has been exactly two years since he was thrown into the beast forest and while it was a once in a lifetime adventure and helped him alot, he knew he had to go...

He turned to the beasts hiding from him and cautiously looking at him and spoke,

”I'm going to miss you guys, the fun times we had together when I chased you around... goodbye!” He said and wiped a tear.

Some beasts sweatdropped while others cried.

Not because they were sad but because they were happy that the real beast of the forest was finally leaving!

Alexis then ran in the direction of the bright white flare in the sky.

He arrived at the same walls he was thrown into from... Alexis then walked out of the barrier and saw Philip waiting for him...

”Master, I'm alive!” He said with a smile as Philip scoffed but Alexis was sure that he could see a small smirk on his face.

”Brat, you've changed!” He said while looking at Alexis with one eye open.

”Eh, really?” Alexis said and checked himself out, not that he could, but just for the sake he did...

”Whatever, let's go...” He said and touched Alexis' shoulder and disappeared in a flash of light.

-●-●-●-

Aurelius, Annalise and a few maids were waiting at a certain area waiting for someone to come.

”Mommy, what is happening?” A small cute girl around the age of five asked Annalise. She had bright red hair unlike Alexis who had a darker shade.

”We are waiting for your elder brother to come back home!” Annalise said with tears in her eyes.

”...Elder brother?” She asked Annalise cutely and tilted her head, the maids struggled to stand still, looking at the cute girl, they just wanted to cuddle her...

Aurelius was already clenching fist to control himself from hugging her.

”Yes! Yes! Your elder brother!” He answered her enthusiastically.

”...” She quietened down, her eyes turned red as tears fell from them.

”B-But I don't want Elder brother, he will take mommy and daddy...” she said.

”...this” everyone looked at each other awkwardly.

Annalise looked at her gently and pat her head.

”Big brother won't take mommy and daddy, he was always distant with everyone...” she said as depressing dark clouds gathered around her, Aurelius laughed dryly at his remark...

”Although he might take you away...” Aurelius said with a sigh.

”Let's see how he would react to seeing you!” Annalise encouraged her daughter who nodded slowly, taking in everything everyone said into her head, slowly...

-●-●-●-

”Where are they?” Annalise asked Aurelius worriedly, her beautiful face now marred with a frown, they have been waiting for Alexis for nearly two hours now...

”I don't know honey, I was with you the whole time... maybe something happened?” Aurelius said without thinking, it has been two hours, he then turned to Annalise who pouted at him.

'What did I do??' He asked himself but stayed quiet.

Just as he was about to say something, a bright flash of light engulfed the Hall of the Imperial castle...

The couple, the maids and the small girl heard two people talking about something as they arrived.

”Master, you didn't have to buy new clothes for me...” Alexis complained as he touched the luxurious clothing that Philip bought him just before coming to the Castle...

”Do you really think I would let you walk into the Castle in dregs?” Philip asked him with no emotion on his face.

”They weren't dregs, I made it out of beast skin and they were comfortable for me!” He retorted in a blank face...

The other group stared at the duo awkwardly, the duo did look like Master and student, they both had cold and distant faces...

”MY BABY!!” Shouted Annalise and hugged him tightly, for once Alexis lost his breath and suffocated.

She then proceeded to cry on him while Aurelius came forward and ruffled his hair with a proud smile on his face.

The little girl who was next to the maids felt neglected and ran away...

The maids quickly informed the Emperor who sighed and smiled wryly.

”Was that my sister?” Alexis asked Annalise who nodded, still sniffling after crying for so long.

”What's happened to her?” He asked his father who explained how children think.

”I see... such complex creatures!” He nodded and decided to search for her, the audience could only shake their heads at his comment but smiled.

Their Prince was back!

-●-●-●-

Alexis walked though the hallway, it was filled with the portraits of all the Emperors of the nation.

He then touched the walls, feeling it's cold and smooth texture he felt nostalgic as the corners of his lips turned up into a small smile.

Alexis saw a small figure enter a room and quickly went after it.

”Where do you think you are going?” He asked the figure...

The figure turned to Alexis, it was his younger sister who was currently crying.

He sighed, he had zero experience with children.

'Maybe?' He thought and tried to smile gently at her...

She who saw the smile cried louder, the smile would make even the Gods turn around and walk away without thinking twice.

It was such a horrible smile that even Alexis who saw the reflection decided not to smile anymore...

He trailed his fingers through his blood red hair and sighed.

Alexis slowly walked upto her and pat her head.

”Don't cry!” He ordered her, who immediately stiffened up, more tears fell down her face.

”I said, don't cry!” He shouted at her sternly.

'Its... not working!' Alexis screamed inside and kneeled down to her and gently wiped away her tears...

”Look, I'm being sorry for something I never did!” He told her gently. While the words did sound rude and insensitive, the tone in his voice helped her...

She nodded meekly...

”Do you want a hug?” He asked her, she then slowly looked up at him.

His face was blank with no emotion whatsoever but his voice was filled with warmth.

If Alexis heard her thoughts, he would kill himself... Warmth? Him? What a joke! He was just being Ge..Ge-Gentle!

She observed his face and giggled.

”Pwetty!” She said and hugged him while giggling.

Alexis was about to reach for his sword but decided not to... she might have flaws but nobody is perfect, besides it wasn't all that bad...

”...I'm handsome” He muttered and lifted her up and threw her up only to catch her again.

”So... what's your name?” Alexis asked her.

”My name? my name ish Ireen!” she said and touched his hair.

”So your name is Irene huh? not bad...” he said and threw her up again and caught her once she came down.

The Imperial family and the maids who heard her giggles smiled widely, while Philip who saw everything, smirked...