Seraphiell
The walk to the dungeon was silent. I tried my best to ignore it, but it hadn't been like this between us two since when Lucas first became my knight. He was fresh out of war, shrewd and quiet. He only spoke to me when needed, and I got the feeling he didn't like me very much. I wonder when that started to change...
We take the back exit and go down the stairs leading underground. The walls are made of smooth stone, and the cells are surprisingly clean. I don't know what I was even expecting. We don't have to walk too far down the cells; Aetherwyne's crime rate is quite low. We stop in front of one and he really is a child. About 11 or 12 if I had to guess. Lucas uses his fire magic on the lock, and it opens. Yet it doesn't appear to be melted or broken. "The princess of the empire is here to see you. You ought to bow your head." I raise a hand for Lucas to move so I can take a good look at him. His skin is pale, and his hair is pure white, although it has been stained by blood.
White like Calister's.
"Hello, what's your name?" His angry, crimson eyes meet mine.
"I owe you nothing." His voice is full of hatred.
"No, you don't, so can it be a favour?" I ask softly. No one wants to be kept in a dungeon. What I said takes him by surprise, and his eyes soften up. "River." He huffs. I won't lie this kid is adorable. "Nice to meet you, River, I'm Seraphiell. I want to know what happened to you, and why you left your country."
"I wanted to save my sister." He replies curtly.
"From what, dear?"
"From monsters like you!" He screams and throws a punch, using his nails to graze my forearm. Lucas quickly uses his gravity manipulation to hold him down, and he grunts. "Leave him be, Lucas."
"Princess, you-"
"I said leave him be." I stop his protest. He sighs through his nose and I'm grateful I am not facing him. Things are already awkward enough. The child sits up. "Why did you do that?" He asked, now trembling at the sight of my bruise. "I'm here to speak with you as a person, not interrogate you as a captive. I hope you'll at least do the same." His eyes glistened and his lips tightened. Tears began running down his face as he wailed and sniffed. I held him in my arms until he quieted down a bit. "Would you like to come stay with me in the castle for now?" I ask gently. He nods; his head still buried in my chest. "Then let's go." Lucas unlocks the chains on his leg without me having to tell him to do so. I get up and River clutches unto my dress as we leave. On getting into the castle, I tell Cindy to get the room next to mine prepared for him to stay. I order a bath and a change of clothes for him too. By the time they're done, he looks like an angel with his suspenders and white long sleeves. He sits on the other couch across the coffee table in my room. "So, how are you feeling today, River?" I ask him calmly, trying not to laugh at how cute he is holding his cup of hot cocoa. "Enjoying the drink, I see."
He blushes. "I guess it's okay..." He says, but his face is screaming otherwise. "Alright. So, are you ready to talk about why you came here?" His expression dampens. "I came looking for who took my sister."
"Would you mind telling who took your sister?"
"Those evil kidnappers did! They took some of the kids in the village. And then when the adults decided to track the mana of all the kids they took, it led us into Aterwan." A child who can't even properly pronounce Aetherwyne having to leave his home country to find his sister. Can you even imagine? "I just want to see Beth again." His eyes tear up again, and his little hands start to shake. I go over to his side and give him a hug. "It was incredibly brave of you to come to save your sister, River. I promise I will find her for you." He truly is brave. The only child among a band of adults infiltrating an enemy nation.
Why would they let him do that, though?
"W-will you really?" He sniffs. "I said I promise, didn't I? In my country, promises are never to be broken." To be exact, promises are sealed with a contract spell so they can't be broken. But oh, well. My words just have to be enough for him to believe me. Whether the chances of winning are slim or thick, I will not allow a war to break out in my regime. Where innocent people who have nothing to do with anything are killed mindlessly and forced to live below proper standard, over issues concerning people they haven't even seen before.
After he finishes his cocoa, he's already drowsy, so I put him to sleep on my bed. Let him sleep peacefully like this for as long as he needs.
I sit at my study table to sign all the permits sent to run stalls at the festival. I read through every one of them, rather try to read which feels impossible right now with my head all over the place because of Lucas. His words keep playing in my head like an opera on repeat.
"Who even speaks to their lady that way?" I mumble. Nighttime comes along slowly, and the stack of letters reduce at the same pace. Before you know it, my candle burns out and I need a new one. Better to start father's parliament speech now. Normally, I'd call for Lucas, but that is currently out of question. I turn around to look at my bed to see River still asleep. I walk towards him and run my hand through his hair. He holds my hand in his sleep. He is warmer than he was before. There's colour in his cheeks. I sit behind my desk once again and close my eyes. Perhaps I can rest them a little.