Alistair, who was feeling hopeless, sat on his bed, with his gray eyes facing the direction of the window while he glanced outside. The sky was bright and sunny.
Today makes it the third day Hermione has disappeared from his life.
Alistair had envisioned various scenarios, but none of them matched his current situation. He was not adored by everyone but instead was being ignored and despised for disrupting the tranquility of the castle.
His sister and Celeste were yet to be found.
Whenever his father returned, he would bring bad news, telling them that he couldn't find the children.
Aunt Agnes's powers which they had relied upon disappointed them beyond measure. The crystal ball was obscured as if someone was intentionally not allowing them to locate the girls.
If only, he hadn't been overwhelmed by jealousy. He wouldn't have found himself in this situation; restricted from moving around the castle and even starved sometimes. All these were punishments to reflect on his misdeeds.
Alistair sighed for the hundredth time, sensing water drop down from his eyes down to his cheeks. He sniffled.
"I'm sorry" He muttered inwardly, to everyone he had offended.
The door's sound alerted him, prompting him to slowly turn his head to the side. Alistair wasn't executing anyone and was curious about her presence.
She closed the door gently. Blair stood by the door, for some minutes. Her green eyes scrutinized her son who was sitting on the bed. She observed that the tear had wet his eyelashes.
Alistair hurriedly wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand.
She approached him, her steps steady and slow as she neared. She took her seat on the bed beside him.
"What have you been doing?" Her honeyed voice sounded in the room.
Alistair shook his head silently, "Nothing"
Blair smiled stiffly, turning to face ahead, "Hermione is yet to be found. Celeste also" She conveyed.
Her husband had just returned from the search and their efforts were once again futile.
Alistair didn't know what to comment. But he was certainly ashamed of himself and what he had done. There was nothing he could do to change the past.
Making his parents grief wasn't something he wanted. He just craved attention and love and now he had ruined everything.
"I'm sorry Mother" He expelled. His voice sounded genuine as tears began to fall from his face freely.
"I'm sorry for everything" He continued, and then turned to face her, "I let my hatred take control of me and now I regret every single thing I have done. To cause you to worry, to cause Hermione harm, to ruin everything. I am deeply sorry"
Blair sighed. She reached out to her son and pulled him into her embrace, where Alistair continued to cry out in regret.
"Everyone makes mistakes Alistair. Yours is forgiven now that you're regretful of it. We should only hope for Hermione's safety out there" She commented. She pursed her lips as she placed her chin on Alistair's head.
"Mother?" He called out, lifting his head to gaze at his mother closely.
She nodded, urging him to continue
"Do you hate me?" He suddenly inquired with tears in his eyes.
During the past three days, no one had come to visit him, except the maids who brought him food and then left thereafter. The food had remained untouched by Alistair as he had lost all appetite.
He believed that his parents had a grudge against him, which caused them to ignore him. However, he was solely responsible for the consequences of his negative actions.
Blair cupped his cheeks with her hands, "I don't Alistair, I have not and would never hate you. Same goes for your father" She responded.
"Is that so? Then why did you never come to see me? You also believe that I deserve to be alone..."
She interrupted his words and gently stroked his dark hair with her delicate hands.
"You see Alistair" she proceeded to explain. "We love you, more than anything you can imagine and we love Hermione just the same. It wasn't our intention to make you feel neglected"
"But how mother? You cherish Hermione more than me. Everyone does" He pointed out, his heart heavy as he breathed out those words in a bare energy, and he felt his chest tightening.
"Alistair, we only do that for a reason" She asserted.
"Hermione must feel at ease with us to speak more fluently and interact with others. Alistair, she is jealous of you because you have everything she doesn't and, you're a very important figure in this family. Someday you'll become king while your sister will marry into another kingdom. Until our demise, you will be with us, but she will rarely see us. Make the most of your time with her and cherish it because she's going to leave us one day." She finished, hoping she had talked sense into him.
Alistair felt his heart soften as he listened to the words his mother spoke. Perhaps she was right.
One day, Hermione would get married and leave them all and then he would have his parents with him till God knows when.
He was obligated to aid his sister with her current state so that she could be self-sufficient when not with them, but he had been an uncaring brother; acting out of selfishness.
"I'm so sorry mother. I never knew all of these" He admitted.
"I promise to take care of her once we find her, I'll love and dote on her and cherish her. I'll neither bring her harm nor anyone else. I promise you, mother"
She smiled sweetly at him. " You're such a lovely boy. I love you Alistair" She said and then wrapped him in a tight hug.
The sound of someone clearing their throat caught them both by surprise, causing them to release their passionate hug and look behind them.
Zephyr was standing against the wall with his arms folded across his chest, and his gray eyes were pointing toward the two of them. His gaze now had a softness to it, unlike the hardened one he used to hold.
" Father" Alistair's weak voice resonated in the room.
" I heard you Alistair" Zephyr's lips twisted as he began to approach the two of them.
"I think you've learned your lesson enough" He uttered, a smile coming to form on his lips as he extended his hand to caress the boy's hair.
" Yes, father. I want to look for Hermione too" He proposed with pleading eyes.
Zephyr's smile widened, " Sure" He answered without any hesitation.
Zephyr's gray eyes took in his son's appearance as he crouched to the ground, Alistair's eyes were puffy and red, he must have been hurt by everything that had happened.
Was this punishment harsh? Zephyr asked himself, his eyes narrowing to meet his wife's gaze and she smiled at him.
Eventually, the three of them found themselves wrapped in a silent hug, exuding warmth and protection.
"I'm sorry also Zeph. For not always trusting your decision" She whispered in his ear as he was next to her.