That night Axelle finally opened his eyes.
How surprised he was when he found the King sitting at a set of desks with a pile of work on it. The King looked tired but showed absolutely no sign of resting.
"Axelle?" King Rexton IV looked so relieved to see Axelle. He rushed over to him and gave him a glass of water. "Here, drink it first."
"Why, Your Majesty–"
"Come on, Axelle. It's just the two of us here." The King kissed Axelle's forehead. "How do you feel? You still have a slight fever."
"I'm feeling better, Father," Axelle replied. "Why is Father here? It's already very late."
"To take care of you, my dear," said the King. "I wanted to make sure of your own circumstances since Hiero and your mother need to rest. The two of them took turns taking care of you all day."
"Father should also rest."
The King chuckled. "How can I rest when I know my son is sick?"
"Sorry, because I often go out at night…"
"It's not your fault, Axelle. You're just… sick."
"Do I have a serious illness?"
"Oh, no, no." The King looked after his youngest son. Twelve years old, small, still whining and crying at times, and not having any outstanding martial skills; that was the report the King got about Axelle. Secretly the King is actually confused about Axelle's future. What would he be without a prominent special ability? But now that it was known that Axelle had great divine powers, the King was worried.
"Axelle, what do you want to be later?" asked the King carefully. "You know, one day Hiero will become King in place of Father? Do you… also want to be like your brother?"
"What? No," Axelle answered quickly. "I want to be an ordinary person who can support my brother as King later. Well, though I don't know how yet."
"Really?" The King hugged Axelle. "That is very noble. I'm sure you can do it."
Axelle hugged her father back tightly. "Thank you for the trust, Father."
"You know," the King let go of his embrace, "if you want to support Hiero, you can become the High Priest."
"Like Father with High Priest Meical?"
The King's heart ached to hear it. "Yeah, like me with High Priest Meical," he said. "But being a High Priest is not easy. You have to study hard."
"I can do it!" Axelle said with great confidence.
The King hugged his son again, this time more tightly. He even buried his face in the crook of Axelle's neck. His body trembled, his eyes heated up.
"Father, what's wrong?"
"It's all right," whispered the King. "Please leave Father like this first."
***
It was around this summer, Hadrian thought while inspecting his territory.
Now it can be said that it has been exactly 10 years since the coup took place. The peaceful sunny summer had suddenly become a nightmare. The beasts attacking, the sudden rain, as well as the killings were all controlled and caused by someone capable of dealing with demons. The prime suspects were, of course, the residents of the Whitley area. Who else if not them? Binding a contract with a demon is strictly prohibited.
"It's been ten years," a priest in Paiton approached Hadrian, gazing off into the distance at the Whitley lands, which were all green and ready to turn golden during the harvest season. "Is there something troubling your mind, Your Grace?"
"Is there something bothering Father's mind?" Hadrian returned the question.
The Priest smiled faintly, then also looked at Hadrian's gaze. "To be honest, temples in Rexton have been split into two for a long time. It was subtle at first, but things have become clearer since Prince Axelle went to the Holy City of Zion."
Hadrian snorted sarcastically. "Even among religious leaders, there is such a thing as division."
"Oh, of course, there is, Your Grace," replied the Priest calmly. "Basically, we are just mortals, divine beings who are easily swayed. We, myself included, are still being seduced by the devil. But as a priest, we are usually able to get away from such persuasion because our faith and holy power are a little bigger and stronger."
"Usually, huh…"
"Yes, usually." The Priest looked at Hadrian now. He seriously added, "It would be a lie if I said priests are holy beings because we can also make a contract with demons."
"Father, that was a strong sentence," Hadrian rebuked sharply. "You can get serious punishment if you spread slander."
The Priest was silent for a while, then casually said, "Yes, I know that, Your Grace."
Hadrian narrowed his eyes. "Is there something you can't tell me?"
"Unfortunately, there are many things," said the Priest slowly. "But like you said earlier, it could become a serious problem if my words become slanderous. For I, too, love this ephemeral peace."
"It doesn't seem like something wise."
"My apologies, Marquess Hadrian."
"Okay, I understand that temples have things that can't be said to nobles," sighed Hadrian. "But please, if it is directly related to Paiton's peace, tell me immediately."
The Priest smiled faintly. "Of course, Your Grace."
Ephemeral peace, Hadrian repeated to himself as he watched the people going in and out of the temple.
It was obvious the Priest was hiding something from him. And if, according to what he said, then it is true that there is a binding contract in the important ranks of the kingdom. Whether it's nobles or even the religious leaders themselves.
Who? How many? Hadrian dizzy himself guessing.
"A demon is approaching," Hadrian muttered as he left the temple.