A/N: The chapter ahead has been grammar-checked but may need proofreading and editing. The author will do so if she has free time in the future.
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Davorin clapped to cut the forming tension between his Dad and Uncle. They are used to their bickering. They always get on each other's nerves but will weep if the other gets hurt.
"That said, we can't just stick around Mom constantly, or they will be suspicious of us. I vote for Kuya to stay here and guard Mom,"
[A/N: Kuya, a Filipino term addressed to older men (relative or stranger) used by any gender to express respect and courtesy.]
Izaac gave him a finger gun gesture, "Sick, I'm in. Agent Baby Izaac, undercover. You're protected, Mom!"
It warmed Siofra's heart. "Thank you, sweetie."
"Why's the Princess in the Empress's womb for 21 years? Is it part of her curse?" Titania queried with calm.
It left them shrugging.
"Uhm, who knows?" Eddrien.
"Third lady, huh," Locke murmur while massaging his jaw.
Everybody looked at him. When he noticed their stares, he asked them consciously, "What?"
"Speak. Things that come out of your mouth are convincing. Spill it, bro," Liore smiled, waiting for his statement.
"Yeah, your guess or theory better be interesting," Izylidas agreed before elbowing his Father when he tried to kiss him.
"It's just that... The Oracle Tree glowed, right? But the Princess' body didn't. What could that possibly mean?"
Silence occurs on them.
They've been doing and thinking this and that; they've completely forgotten about that part.
"It glowed for someone else, then..." all whispered in tension.
"The Pure Nobles didn't mention anything about their daughters being God candidates, so the glow is not for them either. Could it be..." Thorn raised his stares at the people around him. They're thinking the same thing.
There was never a God candidate in history who was not royal blood. No regular Ancients have been a god candidate: the Princes and the Princesses are always there. That baby would be a history maker if the Oracle Tree glowed for a common Ancient. But no couple has made noise about their child glowing.
"Or, maybe it's a different sign?" Locke. "The Third Lady was born, and the artificial Princesses was a success. Maybe it's about them. The glow is for them, honoring the Warlock Empire for having three new Princesses. After all, ladies are rare to have in this male-dominant lineage,"
They respected his theory.
"That maybe it or not. However, there's no date where the Oracle Tree glowed for a different purpose other than selecting God candidates, right?" Chase.
"What if the Princess's body did not glow because she was cursed?" Emperor Maxism guessed, getting their attention, "Maybe some negation happened there. I believe she's a God candidate, or even the next God, since the other ladies, the Matriarch and Siofra, were."
They are unsure which theories to believe because every bit of them made sense, especially what Maxism shared.
"If I were to decide..." LIFE blurted between their silence, gathering everyone's attention.
He looked at his wife. "I don't want her to be a God. I don't want her to be an Empress, too. I just want her to be a little girl, watch her become a woman, find her purpose, and seek what she truly wants to become. I'd shatter all her responsibilities if I could. Ancients are as cruel as humans. They can be ungrateful to the person who saved their lives. I don't want to see my only daughter risk her life for people who will never appreciate her,"
At this time, they couldn't tease him for the miraculous words he said. They understand him. Their parents, too, like him, and they know more than any Ancients how difficult it is to keep peace in a nation. The thought of becoming a lady in Warlock's Imperial Family is pure bliss and fantasy if the advantages and privileges were to be listed down. But the weight of it? Heavy.
Maxism sighed loudly and crossed his arms across his chest, "My, I bet she will turn into a wonderful lady. If possible, she can marry my favorite boy. He's pretty good, you know," he grinned while wriggling his eyebrows.
LIFE pulled Excalibur from its space. "The fuck are you saying, Lee? Your unworthy son already has my Selene, and you want my Azarese too for your Casanova prince? You're asking for death, aren't you? I'd give you a quick and painless one."
Empress Siofra instantly pulled him back when he left his seat. She removed his grip around Excalibur and put it back in its space.
"Calm down, he's just teasing you!"
The rest shake their heads in disbelief. "You're so hungry for power, Maxism. You never changed,"
The Emperor rubs his palms together, still grinning. "Hell yeah. I'll have a half Dragunovv-half Covry and a half Warlock-half Dragunovv under my family tree. I'm great, aren't I? That's how you raise sons, folks! That's how you should do it!" He bragged and laughed evilly.
This time, Empress Siofra pulled for her sword in its space. "So, it was your device all along. That's sad, I'll end your dreams right now."
"Mom, he's just joking!" Izaac cried and calmed her down. LIFE glared at Izaac for stopping his mother from murdering Maxism.
"If she's stupid, then she might fall for Maxigaufeas. But if she has standards, my son is the best choice for her," Volt suggested with class and cool.
Their jaws drop.
"Y-You're selling your son now, too? I thought you were pretty strict. Didn't you say you don't want to meddle in affairs like this?" Paris, shocked.
Volt shrugged. "I only said that because I understood Ohms when he rejected Axeore Empire's second Princess. I do not trust them. Siofra is my best friend; she will understand."
"SINCE WHEN WERE BOTH OF YOU ARE BEST FRIENDS!?"
Xerene couldn't help but burst into laughter while clapping her hands. "I-I thought I was the only one who was crazy here! Ha, you're so funny, Daddy!"
Volt blushed by the name she called him. Their friends grimaced.
Empress Siofra smiled softly. She held LIFE's hand, and he intertwined their fingers together.
"Then, it should be Watts. Watts is a good boy. I've never met anyone as courteous, polite, and gentle as him. I trust your parenting ways, so I am comfortable that he won't hurt my Holy. Also, he's smart and responsible. They will look good together."
It's like an angel flew around them, and they lost their ability to speak.
After collecting himself, Voltage hands her a piece of paper and a pen. Empress Siofra was confused.
"That's an agreement paper. Once the Princess is of age, she will date my son," he seriously said, but there's a hint of excitement in his voice. He even raised her a thumbs-up.
Davorin's eyes widened when he saw what was written on the paper. "It's a marriage contract, though?"
Voltage acted surprised. "Is it?"
"VOLTAGE XIRQUIT, YOU SLY SNAKE!" Paris, Maxism, and LIFE grunted before attacking him all at once.
Empress Siofra hid her face between her palms, regretting what she just said.
"Your Watts is a good boy, but my Maxigaufeas is better! He's my disciple, you know! I taught him well about sex education so that the Princess will be happy every day, every night!" Maxism fought while choking him. LIFE pauses from kicking Voltage's stomach and looks down on Maxism.
He grabbed his head and forcefully turned it to him. And for the hundredth time, he pulled Excalibur again as he transformed into a Veil.
"You think my daughter is a sex object for your son to use? Call his wife. He will return by dawn, but as a corpse."
And the fun began.
Izylidas did the honor of calling Empress Clastigaufeas. He went to the balcony with the device in his hand. Behind him is a battlefield: everybody's stopping LIFE from beheading Maxism.
As the device owned by the Vernignacs rings, Maxigaufeas is awakened instead of her mother. He had snuck into his parents' room earlier and won a jackpot because his Father was not with her. Had he been there, he would've shot him with a pistol to shoot him.
"Hello? Who this? Maxigaufeas handsome speaking," he yawned before putting his asleep mother's arm around him.
"Ah, Maxigaufeas, you should prepare yourself to lose your Dad," Izylidas said on the other line.
Maxigaufeas blinked his eyes widely. "Excuse me? Why? What's happening?"
"IS THAT MY SON? MAXI, HELP---"
Maxigaufeas jumped from the bed upon hearing about his Father's suffering. "Dad!? What's going on!? Where are you, Dad!?" he turned to his mother and rocked her awake. "Mommy, wake up! I think Dad is dead!"
The Empress angrily opened her eyes and glared at her youngest son. "And? Good for him." And she turns to the other side to continue her sleep.
Maxigaufeas's jaw fell wide open.
"If you come here, the monster will kill you too. I warned you." Izylidas hung up after his warning and watched the rumbling inside. Soon enough, the tower exploded and collapsed. Izaac instantly fixed everything with his magic, and they continued.
Maxigaufeas left his parents' room and ran to his brother's. He opened the door without knocking and saw him sleeping peacefully with his girlfriend, Selene Azazel.
"KUYA!" He called before jumping to their bed.
"WHAT THE HELL, MAXIGAUFEAS VERNIGNAC!?" He growled monstrously after the shock.
"DAD IS DEAD!"
Claxiord, the Crown Prince, furrowed his eyebrows at his sibling before kicking him off the bed. "And? Good for him! Get out, Maxi! We will mourn for him once the sun is up!"
Selene Azazel stared at her boyfriend in wonder. "Are you for real? What if Uncle Max is dead?"
Claxiord kissed her forehead and caressed her hair. "Don't worry, that old man is stubborn. He's a cockroach. Let's...sleep."
"Oh... Okay." And they did.
Maxigaufeas's shoulders fell. "Really? None of you cares about Dad?"
Claxiord looked back at him. "Uncle Lucrese is probably killing him because he said something stupid. Get out, Papa's boy. For goodness's sake."
Maxigaufeas left his room with a pout. He slammed the doors loudly and heard his brother shout his name from inside. He only made faces while going back to his room. He looked for the teleportation spell sheets and tore them apart without thinking and hesitation.
After arriving at Base X, he comfortably walked inside the Palace and to the tower. When he opened the door, he saw his Father hanging on the chandelier.
The tower is in a complete mess. LIFE is imprisoned inside Ocean's water ball; Titania's group enjoys snacks in the kitchen. Fiery and Zephyrus cry because their sleep is cut short, burning and ruining everything. The Aunts and Uncles are bickering---they're just too loud; he couldn't understand what's going on and describe how messy the place is.
"Uhm, excuse me? I'm here to fetch my Dad???" he said with a hand rising, trying to get their attention.
Maxism lifts his head, soul returning to him after hearing his son's voice.
He smiled at Maxigaufeas energetically. "Wazzup, son! What chu doin' here? Are you here to flex your body? Your only clothing is your pink pants!"
Maxigaufeas blinked. Then, he takes a look at himself. That's when he realized he was topless and wearing his favorite pink pants. He's embarrassed, but his conceitedness wins over him.
He smirked because he knew he was beautiful and sexy. "Don't mind it. I thought you were dying. We're supposed to come here tomorrow, so why are you already here? Hmm?"
Maxism jumped down the chandelier and opened his arms. Maxigaufeas ran to him like a giddy kid and accepted his hug.
"Oh, my big boy. You're such a Papa's Boy!" Maxism smiled while feeling his grown son.
Izzac sniffed. "I'm jealous. Why can't Izy be like that to me, too?"
Izylidas only grimaced at his Father.
They broke the hug. "An emergency call. I told you not to waste teleportation spell sheets, right? God, you're so stubborn!" He ruffled his son's bed hair.
"But Izy said you're dying! Mommy and Kuya weren't even alarmed when I woke them," he pouted, crossing his arms.
"Your Mom is so cold to me as always. I like that about her, though."
The Father and son looked at each other meaningfully and chuckled like they shared a dirty secret.
Empress Siofra clapped her hands. "Alright, let's rest now. Maxism and Maxigaufeas, you can spend the day here and wait for your family to arrive tomorrow. We will discuss this soon, so let's enjoy our little holiday. I am glad that our daughter became an instrument for us to gather as one in our home. Thank you. "
They smiled at each other and shared a group hug, including Maxigaufeas.
"How can my Aunties be so youthful? If only you're not married, I will marry all of you," Maxigaufeas sighs with a hint of disappointment.
The ladies chuckled.
"Aren't you a player? You sure know how to flatter ladies," Minerva grinned.
"Kid, you still have much to learn to become a man. Their standards are not on your level," Voltage roasted.
Maxigaufeas acted hurt. "Ugh, you don't have to kill me like that, Uncle Volt!"
Maxism laughed while tapping his back. "He's an alpha male! Be careful next time, my boy!"
"You two better leave first and hide. We'll handle Dad here," Izaac giggled and pointed at his Father, who glared at Maxigaufeas.
"Uhm, what did I do?" He innocently asked and even pointed at himself after noticing LIFE's glares.
Maxism placed his arms on his shoulders and went on their way to leave. "Don't mind him. He's being grumpy because his new daughter will bear our name."
"Huh? Me and the new Princess? Dad, she's only a baby!" Maxigaufeas winced. Now he understands why his Uncle almost killed his Father.
"And? This world doesn't have the concept of age here since everyone's immortal! You are immortal; she's an immortal. You will live together for the rest of your life, so what's there to be conscious about?"
Maxigaufeas parted himself from him. "Dad, she's a newborn, and you want me to marry her already!?"
Maxism's eyes widened. "Of course not! Are you an idiot!? Wait for her to grow up and woo her! What the hell are you thinking, son? If we do that, your Uncle LIFE will wipe our Empire and lineage out of the map and history. Goodness."
It gave Maxigaufeas a breath of relief. "But you won't force me to marry her, right?"
Maxism smiled at his son and put his arm on his shoulders again. "Of course. Choose the woman you want to be with, like how I freely chose your Mom,"
His son smiled at him back.
They shared the same bed. Maxigaufeas sleeps with his head on his Father's chest. Maxism kissed his son's head. Maxigaufeas, for him, will always be his baby. He's a grown-up but still wants cuddles from his parents. Maybe they raised him too dependent on them. Claxiord is a man on his own now. And soon, he will be building his own family with his girlfriend. He's mature and independent, taking after his mother the most. The only thing he got from his Father is Maxism's nasty attitude when angry.
Maxigaufeas just turned 35 this year, while Claxiord is 47. Both are young immortals.
"Such a baby. I love you, my baby boy," Maxism whispered to his son and gave him another kiss. Maxigaufeas smiled softly and tightened his hug on his Father.
Maxism closed his eyes, preparing to sleep, when he remembered his sister. They probably forgot to talk about her because of their petty bickering. But he's sure they will open it up tomorrow even if he's not the one to initiate. His sister, Aviana Lavender, and her husband, Cold Forest, belong to Titania's circle of friends. He can already bet that they are planning on how to look for them by now.
The Deities know how much Maxism values her. They had a rough past, but his sister suffered the most. She was a victim of sexual abuse and was raped by men and women. It was Paris who avenged her for him because they believed he was dead. However, Maxism is not satisfied. He wants to kill them himself and torture them twice as much as they make his sister suffer.
That's why he swore that he would lose his mind if something terrible happened to her.
He's one of Earth's deadliest assassins. Among Voltage, Xerene, and Paris, he's got the nastiest attitude and ways of revenge. He's a torturer. He's an entirely different person when mad, and Empress Clastigaufeas has witnessed it once. She doesn't want to reencounter it; most of all, she made it clear to him not to show their children that side of his. Maxism is the goofy-funny type, but push his buttons, and you will wish you had never been born.
"My baby Lavender, I hope you're safe," he wished with all the hope left.