46 Phoebe's Sorrow

-Sun Empire: Phoebe's Room-

Fourth Day of the Emperor's Passing, and Before the day Seraphine wakes up, Phoebe struggles with her emotions, while Doctor Edgar, Elinna, Lucianus and Duke Aether comfort and reassure her.

"Princess, please eat" Doctor Edgar pleads with her.

"I honestly do not have the appetite, doctor...I apologise" she says.

"Just take a bite, Princess Phoebe" Elinna asks her.

Phoebe shakes her head, and looks down at her hands, a knock comes into their attention, Phoebe just nods as a signal for the others to let whoever is outside to come in.

"Please Come In," Doctor Edgar says.

The Door opens and Lucianus and Duke Aether came in, they went towards Phoebe, and sat down at the edge of the bed, they notice the dark bags under Phoebe's eyes, they know Phoebe became restless when the knowledge of her fathers passing came to be known to her, the only thing that they can do is be with her.

"Phoebe, have you eaten?" Duke Aether asked

"No"

"I see" Duke Aether beckoned a maid on standby to come forward "bring a meal for me and the Crowned Prince, we will eat with the princess"

"Even if you eat in front of me, it will not work Duke Aether," Princess Phoebe says

"Whether it works or not, the Crowned Prince and I are hungry" the Duke stated

"Phoebe, everyone is mourning for the loss of Uncle, but if you are being like this, your health will degrade, instead of recover, you must eat so that your health, powers and energy come back"

Phoebe gave a look of distress at Lucianus.

"What's the point of recovering when my father isn't here with me, I heard his voice before I woke up, not just his voice but mother's voice as well, they told me to wake up from my slumber, but when I opened my eyes, father is no longer with me, why did they even wake me up, if they aren't next to me, Father is not next to me." Phoebe cried out, tears flowing from her eyes.

"They wanted you to wake up since you already slept for far too long Phoebe, your father and mother are watching you right now, and do you think that they are happy seeing you in this state?" Duke Aether scolded, Phoebe's cries', became louder "you refuse to eat, slowing your recovery from the poison, how many days has it been since the princess refused to eat?"

Duke Aether asked the Doctor, the Doctor inwardly sighs before he spoke.

"She had a spoonful of porridge the first day, but she didn't eat anything afterwards, but the following days, she refused to eat" Doctor Edgar reported.

"It is not required for a Vampire to eat every day but because you have slept for so long, your body needs the nutrients, Phoebe, if you die and your father and mother sees you, they'd be very disappointed"

"That's a bit harsh, Duke Aether" Lucianus gave a side comment

"I speak the truth, you can stay sad for the Emperor's passing, but you do not need to torture yourself by not eating" Duke Aether firmly says.

Phoebe's cries worsened, Duke Aether felt that he had said too much as well, he proceeded to wrap his arms around the princess shoulders and give her a tight embrace, Phoebe cried on the Duke's chest, loudly sobbing.

'Duke Aether has a soft spot for daughters, he dotes on his two daughters so much that he regretted it, since when the two, doesn't get what they want, they would immediately say, I hate you, towards his face, while he is strict towards the three of his son's…' Lucianus says in his thoughts.

"Cry your heart out, do not forget that everyone is here for you Phoebe," he says stroking the head of Phoebe.

"Your meal has arrived, Duke Aether and Crowned Prince" Elinna informs us.

"Phoebe, eat with us alright?" Duke Aether persuaded.

"Alright" Phoebe calms down, hiccuping.

'It's amazing how he can make a girl cry so much and then calm them down afterwards, what a talent...while with boys, his cold expression does not waver, and he instills fear into them' Lucianus looked at the Duke and shook his head slightly.

Phoebe finally got persuaded to eat, Elinna feeding her, while the Duke and the Crowned Prince ate alongside her.

"I am thankful that you and Crowned Prince Lucianus came to visit the Sun Palace, Duke Aether," Doctor Edgar says "I would not be able to do anything, if the Princess still refused to eat."

"I guess Daeemons, cannot handle this kind of situations."

"Apparently not" Doctor Edgar bluntly says.

"Elinna" Phoebe looks at the one feeding her.

"Yes, Princess?"

"You are connected to Seraphine by the blood oath, are you not…?"

"I am"

"You are?!" Lucianus looked surprised.

"Is she alright? I heard that she got kidnapped with Crowned Princess Aster"

"She is still alive, and she is still in the Sun Empire, but I do not know where her location is since our connection is only limited to whether she is alive or not."

"Please don't say the last part like that…" Lucianus says distraught.

"I apologise Crowned Prince Lucianus!" Elinna hurriedly says.

"It's fine, thankfully she is still alive"

"I can locate where she is"

"You cannot use your powers, Princess Phoebe!" Doctor Edgar immediately responded to Phoebe's suggestion. "I forbid it!"

The Doctor's Expression looked frightening, Phoebe's expression fell when the doctor forbade her to use her powers.

"Your psych energy is dangerously low not to mention your emotions is unstable, if you even use an ounce of your powers, you will follow after your father." Doctor Edgar angrily stated.

"I'm sorry…"

"..." Doctor Edgar pushes his hair back, and inwardly sighed "I apologise for losing my composure, as the royal doctor of the Sun Empire, please heed my advise, and do not be stubborn, it is for your sake as well Princess"

"I understand" Phoebe nods.

"Now, Phoebe" Duke Aether looked at the princess "do you promise to eat and not give Doctor and the lady-in-waiting a hard time?"

"..." Phoebe went silent "yes...I'm sorry"

"Good to hear" Duke Aether patted her head "when you gained your strength again, eat with me along with the other Royals that are staying here temporarily."

"...Okay" she nods.

"You won't be alone for too long Phoebe, your brother is going to come back."

Phoebe's eyes lit up, she looked at Duke Aether with an expression of disbelief.

"He is...going to take the throne?"

"He will, but right now we need to wait, and you need to regain your strength, he wouldn't want to see you like this."

"I'll eat from now on, I don't want to see my brother sad when he comes back."

"He will be here soon"

(Meanwhile)

From a distant Empire, a man and a woman wearing black robes escaped through the sewers, when they finally got out their ears picked up the crashing of the waves.

The Sewer led the two to an empty beach, it was dark, the stars are the only thing as a light source for them, but darkness is not a problem, for the two can easily see in the dark.

"There is no turning back now, Princess, I told you many times, that you cannot go back to this Empire once you come with me to the Sun Empire."

"I do not regret my decision" she pauses, then smiles "Crowned Prince Aeilus"

"I doubt that they would look for an abandoned Princess that's been left to rot in a deteriorating Palace."

"Yes"

The man took off his hoodie to reveal his blond hair, deep ocean blue eyes, and a smug smirk on his lips.

Aeilus turned to the sea and whistled a tune that he only knows, not long after something big shot down from the heavens heading towards them.

"My spying days on this Empire is over, I already know what your father is planning, on my Empire, not to mention what recently transpired in the Sun Palace."

"I apologise for what happened to your Father…"

"You are not your Father, do not apologise in his stead, for his actions."

A strong gust of wind blew towards them and a giant lion groaned, landing on the beach not far from where they were standing.

"So this is the offspring of a Holy Beast…" the woman says.

"Leonel, long time no see" Aeilus greeted.

The full-grown lion groaned Aeilus, the Crowned Prince pats the lions back, before climbing on it's back.

"Come on" he held a hand to the woman he was with.

"I am not the abandoned 23rd Princess of this Empire for any longer, Isemeine Adhelina is no longer."

"Oh? What shall your new name be?" Aeilus looked amused.

"Novia," She says to Aeilus.

"Alright, henceforth, your name is now Novia, and you will be a resident and a citizen of the Sun Empire." Aeilus announced, "Now let us go back, Novia."

The woman now named Novia grabbed Aeilus hand, and climbed onto the Holy Beast, Aeilus made sure Novia is safely seated before commanding the giant lion to take off.