1.09 Did I just say that...?

A story is written to follow the protagonist. It's all about their journey to achieve an overarching goal, defeat the big bad guy, save the world, and live happily ever after.

An extra within a novel rarely gets a follow-up or more than a sentence about their story before meeting the main character.

Information about Aelius, such as revealing the events of his 10th birthday, occurred while he was opening up to Sebastian. Even then, as Aelius described how scared he was when he saw Nicolas atop dozens of bodies, Sebastian merely commented about how intense the battle was and how he wished he was there to help. Hearing that and knowing that he ran away out of fear made Aelius feel worse.

'I honestly wanted to reach into the book, hug Aelius, and smack Sebastian on the head.'

This brings up an interesting point. What if novel-Aelius was also tested by Nicolas? An incident could have taken place where those two characters met, where Nicolas tried to communicate with Aelius, but the latter was too traumatized or afraid and simply didn't respond.

Nicolas would have gotten bored and assumed Aelius was not worth his time.

Such an event might have happened but was never mentioned by novel-Aelius.

'What should I say?'

Aelius wracked his brain over an answer

Pik.

Aelius looked toward the source of the noise.

Pik.

A type of bird was drilling away at a nearby tree. Where before Aelius couldn't hear it with the flow of the conversation, now it became deafening. How long has it been since someone said something?

When had Nicolas closed his eyes? Is he that bored? Oh no. Think!

Pik.

Pik.

Pik.

Pik.

Pik.

"Y-you're my dad?"

Just as Aelius finished speaking—

Cuckoo!

Cuckoo!

Cuckoo!

Nicolas opened his eyes. Aelius nearly started hyperventilating. That bird nearly gave him a heart attack! He swore that he would hunt it down if he lives through this…

The words he said started echoing in his mind.

You're my dad?

My dad?

Dad?

Dead. He was so dead. He uttered those words…

…To the patriarch. To the evilest, most cold-hearted, and ruthless vampire?

Within his mind, Aelius was gripping his head and screaming at the stupidity. Should he just get a rope and find the closest tree? Maybe give one of the knives on the table to Nicolas and ask him to just finish him off. Never mind, Nicolas has claws so Aelius should probably just wash his neck and prepare it to be sliced off.

'Aaaaahhhh!!'

At least the screaming inside his mind was drowning out the noise from the stupid bird.

"Hmm."

Nicolas tilted his head as if sounding out the word.

Aelius stopped screaming inside his mind. He looked at Nicolas properly.

'What? He's not angry?'

With a new lease on life, Aelius calmed down and tried to think logically.

Nicolas didn't like novel-Aelius and would have probably not spoken to him in the first place. Saying that they are related was grounds for death. But that was late into the novel. By the time Aelius tried to communicate with Nicolas, Sebastian was already in the picture.

Nicolas liked Sebastian.

Sebastian called Nicolas 'dad' as well.

As if finally figuring out how to solve a complex math equation, Aelius was struck with a lightbulb brighter than the sun. He knew the answer all along. Sebastian. He needed to act like Sebastian.

Under the table, Aelius tightened his hands into fists to give him courage. Taking a deep breath, he said the words that Sebastian used which caught Nicolas off guard. Which made Nicolas see Sebastian as someone 'interesting.'

"…You're my goal."

Silence.

Even the bird nearby stopped in shock. Shock? More like cringing. Aelius wanted to bury his head in the ground. Who the hell wrote that novel? Why had Sebastian thought it was a good idea to say that?

Thump!

Thump!

THUMP!

Nicolas stood up.

'Gaaahhhhh!'

Aelius was in too deep. He can't back out now, he needs to push through!

Standing up with all the confidence he could muster. He tried to project Sebastian, that charismatic child with unshakeable resolve.

"…My goal. Since you're my dad then that means I'm the only one who can best you and become the new patriarch!"

The five-year-old pointed a finger at the centuries-old vampire. The declaration echoed throughout the forest.

'My last words. Those will be the words on my gravestone. A generic one-liner from a basic protagonist. Kill me.'

***

The little prince wasn't half bad. Many of the servants have changed their opinion over the past few years. Sure, he was a half-blood, a royal contaminated by the blood of a lower specie, but the little brat had so many interesting ideas.

Samuel was somewhat looking forward to his afternoon language lesson. The child sometimes discusses his new ideas before implementing them and he learns fast, maybe too fast. A few months in and he can already read and write just as well as children twice his age.

Still, Samuel felt a little annoyed that Aelius kept skipping his lessons. Usually, if he wasn't in his room five minutes into the scheduled time then that meant he wouldn't be coming. Samuel sighed, maybe he could look about the room, and try to get some of the products early. The little glutton trades blood vials like the livestock trade items for gold. This was probably a trait from his mortal side.

He started looking over the designs for some projects, there were writings, but they weren't letters in any language he knew about. Making up a language is such a child-like act that it reminded him the prince was still five-years-old. He forgot that sometimes.

Time passed quickly but Samuel was lost in the weird schematics. There was an item that looked spherical with hexagonal shapes drawn over it, the image had someone… kicking it? there were question marks around what he assumed were the materials. It looked bouncy. Maybe the little prince didn't know about the Rummo trees, the sap can be processed into a stretchy and bouncy material. They were not around this region, but the merchants can provide them easily enough.

If he manages to get the materials to the little prince then maybe he can get the product first. It's a little petty but—

"Samuel~ Where is Aelius~?

The sickly-sweet voice sent shivers down Samuel's spine.

"E-Elizabeth?"

"Oh? What're you looking at?"

"I-I'm not sure, something the young prince is working on."

He felt a hand on his shoulder. If he could sweat…

"Indeed. For such a clever child, he's a little too brave to be missing my training. Again."

The hand tightened, and he felt his bones strain under the pressure.

"What?"

"He's late. He missed all his lessons today."

Elizabeth's face was smiling. A complete contrast to her icy tone. Samuel's mind whirled. What did that little brat do this time!? He wouldn't make it out of this room alive unless he gave Elizabeth something. Anything.

"I… Caught his scent in the eastern forest. Before coming here. I-I don't know where he is. H-he misses his lessons with me more often than not."

The pressure on his shoulder eased. Before a sigh of relief escaped his lips Elizabeth spoke again.

"If my little Aelius does not attend another lesson make sure to report back to me."

It wasn't fair. These lessons were something he volunteered not compulsory!

She leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"The blood vials stop. Until I say otherwise. Go. Search for him."

"Y-yes!"

She knew. Of course, she knew. That little shit is in so much trouble. Samuel moved like his life depended on finding the five-year-old, which it did. Hopefully, the little prince just lost track of time as he was exploring. What could have possibly happened to him in those short few hours?

***

Elizabeth leap out the window and caught the scent trail within seconds. She weaved through the forest, each stride covering a bigger distance than Aelius would have done in an hour of running.

Her mind wandered while she moved. How can someone so small cause so much trouble? The palace was in chaos looking for him. To be fair, she might have made not-so-subtle threats that if Aelius wasn't found then she'd use the servant's ashes to bake cakes and gift them to their families.

She wasn't serious. Maybe not fully. Her cooking wasn't good, she'd ask other servants to do the actual cooking. Maybe she'd feed Aelius the finished product, that would cut his rebellious phase short.

She trembled at the thought of catching him.

Then she paused. Could he be acting out because she was a little harsh on him? she immediately shook her head, discarding that line of thinking.

He was that glorious being's child. If he was meek or completely obedient then she might have lost interest in him already. But the defiance… the determination… in those beautiful eyes.

"Hng~"

She hugged her body tightly. She wanted to see the little prince as soon as possible.

The trail stopped in front of an unassuming tree. Elizabeth reached out into the crevasse and pulled out an empty vial with a note wrapped around it.

SWISH

Elizabeth caught the log that swung at her head. A trap that was trigged by whoever pulled the vial. She noticed the ropes before springing the trap but was intrigued by what would happen, so she did it anyway.

'If you're reading this then I hope your head hurts Samuel. Don't go snooping around the stuff in my room or try to follow me.

If by chance this is Elizabeth… Please don't kill me. You look beautiful and please give me a chance to explain before giving me my well-deserved and necessary punishment.'

Elizabeth almost laughed at the 'please don't kill me, being crossed out. She pocketed the vial and added it to the five others in her collection. Today has been interesting. After the first servant came back with an empty vial, a note, and a puncture wound on their shoulder that refused to heal…

Well, Elizabeth decided to follow the false trails herself from then on. The sheer variety of traps from pitfalls to crossbows to contact poisons… She was a little proud.

The amusement was fading quickly though. The language lesson was the last one before her own. Which meant that she had no idea where Aelius was.

It was time to get back to the palace and ask the servants if their search was more fruitful. It should be. They knew the consequences of failure.

Elizabeth was no longer amused. The servants were gathered with their heads lowered. There was no news. Everyone has reported that their searches ended cold. The servant who tried to suck up to her and say that her stealth training paid off… he was currently hiding in the shade of a tree, clutching a stump where his hand used to be. The severed limb, which had the daylight ring, was just out of reach, under the sun.

"Where is Samuel?"

Elizabeth looked around for the last servant she sent out.

No one answered.

Good. At least now she had someone to let her frustrations out on.

"H-Here!"

A figure came running over.

"I-I found him!"

A look of hope appeared on everyone's face.

Until they heard the details.

***

"Haha!"

Velan was carrying Aelius and laughing so hard that he had tears in his eyes.

"Y-you said—"

Then he laughed some more.

Aelius felt blood rush to his face. Yes, he survived, but at what cost? His dignity was beaten and bruised, but at least he was still breathing.

The day was getting late and Velan was carrying Aelius back to his palace. It was much later than he usually stayed out, but surely the servants will understand. It wasn't like it was the end of the world. He even had a yellow vampiricide flower to gift to Elizabeth. It kind of looked like Nicolas' eyes. Maybe that will garner some sympathy for the ordeal he went through.

He asked Velan to get a flower and said it was a gift for someone. The bodyguard looked at him quizzically before accepting the request. Aelius thought the bodyguard wasn't too bad until he realized that he'd heard the conversation with the patriarch.

Embarrassment. Today was just a rollercoaster of emotions.

Suddenly Velan stopped laughing and slowly set Aelius down.

Aelius looked up in confusion. Velan's expression was hard, and his eyes were darting back and forth.

"We're surrounded—"

Before he finished, Aelius saw the tips of claws touching Velan's neck.

'What the…'

Aelius' eyes widened as his perspective shifted from being moved away.

"Who—"

The servants. Dozens of them were surrounding Aelius from all sides, protecting him. The clawed hand aimed at Velan? Elizabeth.

Velan sheathed his sword.

'Where had that come from?'

He lifted his hands in surrender and looked at Aelius for help.

Aelius didn't meet his eyes. He hid between one of the servant's skirts.

'Not helping. You left me alone with that psycho.'

"Take it easy, ladies. The little prince was just spending time with the patriarch."

There was an instant shift in the atmosphere. It hit Aelius like a physical wave, from bloodlust towards an accused kidnapper to a holy messenger.

Elizabeth immediately flashed away. Aelius felt hands picking him up.

"Nicolas De Aldura stated that would like to meet with the young prince again in the future."

The arms that held Aelius shook slightly. Elizabeth was vibrating.

'Uh oh.'

Aelius looked around for help. The servants looked… Happy?

What.

'You traitors!'

Everyone had a look of anticipation. The abandoned prince has gotten the attention of the patriarch. What kind of situation was this?

'Refuse! Say that the prince isn't worthy! Help me!'

The royal bodyguard bowed and started walking away.

'Noooo! What does that weirdo want from meeeee?!'

Elizabeth put Aelius back down on the ground and knelt before him. she started checking up on his clothing, pausing slightly at the cuts around his legs and the flower in his hand. Yet seeing that he was still alive, she grabbed his face in her hands.

'Oh, gods no.'

The look on her face almost made Aelius wish he had a field of vampire flowers to hide in. Aelius felt sick.

Elizabeth's face was of pure ecstasy and expectation.

"Tell. Me. Everything."

"Blurgh!"

Aelius threw up. Today was just too much and he was too tired for this crap.

***

The moon was full tonight. The night was silent and pleasant. The palace was abuzz with activity, more so than usual.

That didn't matter to Aelius. At least for now, the servants were giving him some time to rest. Tomorrow would be a different story but mercifully they left him alone tonight.

He reached a book written in English. No one could read the language, so it was useful to put things down without others knowing his secrets.

The book had several plans written in it.

Plan A: Escape without ever meeting the patriarch. Priority: Highest level.

Plan B: Gather power and knowledge to survive the world outside. Priority: High

Plan C:…

…

Plan E: If by chance you screw up and somehow catch the attention of Nicolas… Well, you're screwed anyway. Try the impossible and win him over. I hope that day never comes. Good luck, you'll need it, future me.

"I wanna cry."

Aelius lamented the future. The cringe of acting like a badly written protagonist. The fear of standing at the edge of a cliff with one wrong step being his last.

The servant's eagerness.

Elizabeth's…

Aelius shuddered.

Tomorrow was going to be interesting.