Chapter 7 - Surprising Events

The next day, Luke was awakened by the sound of the golden curtains being opened and sunlight coming in through the huge windows and touching his face.

The room was beautiful and Luke had already gotten used to it in the two days he stayed there. The large and soft bed with pure cotton bedspreads and the feathers of the best animal, all the fabric ornate with golden floral details.

He grunted and sat on the bed. There was no one beside him. This fact made him mentally thank Artanis for not having had time these days to sleep in the same room as him. Luke feared his reaction to seeing his horrible body and the scars left by his parents. 

Returning his thoughts to reality. Luke already wondered who had opened the windows. 

"Good morning, Lily. I'm glad you're here." - he smiled. 

"Good morning, sir. I'll bring you breakfast."

Before she left, the young man could see that the uniform of the palace officials differed from those of his house. The bust was covered by a thin, white puffy shirt and a black bodice. The skirt, on the other hand, was also puffy with three layers that alternated between white and red. It made perfect sense for the staff to wear the colours of the palace.

In a few minutes, Lily came back with a tray of cheese, bread, honey, grape juice and milk. However, something disturbed her. 

A cat came running across the room, followed by a girl. Both had heterochromia, a blue eye and a green eye. Luke already knew those two and had gone through that situation. But poor Lily was not ready.

"By the gods. What's going on?"

She got scared and almost dropped all the food.

However, someone faster held her. A young man with light green hair and brown eyes, the knight Cole who was always seen, running after the princess Athanasia, trying to prevent her from committing some mischief. But I was never successful.

The boy supported her waist with one hand and the other held the tray. Lily blushed fiercely with the whole situation. Cole also seemed surprised and looked away. 

He placed the flag on the round mahogany table in the room and helped her stand.

"Did you see that? " - whispered Athanasia in Luke's ear, after all, she and Chaos were already in her bed. 

"Yes, I saw yes." - he laughed. After the awkward moment passed.

Cole and Lily bowed and said in unison:

"Sorry for the mess, Your Highness." 

Luke laughed at the whole situation and just said,

"Sit there. Let's eat." - he pointed to the table where there were two chairs and asked Lily and Cole to sit down. 

There was a lot on the tray. Luke took only juice. It was well enough to disguise. The good thing about having a lot of people eating was that the attention wouldn't turn to him.

They all ate in silence, amid Luke's laughter as Athanasia dodged Chaos trying to get his food.

"It can't. It's bad for you. " - she said and hit the cat's paws lightly that it didn't care and kept trying to get her snack. 

When they were all finished, Athanasia turned to him and asked excitedly: 

"Can we have our first class today, master? "

Luke had almost forgotten about classes. He had no apparent commitments. Her husband had said nothing after that incident. Perhaps he wanted to spare you? This fact reminded him that the prince had not tried to suck his power from order with a kiss.

This memory made him blush slightly. And soon he entered a confused sequence of thoughts, trying to figure out why he cared about it. Athanasia's voice brought him back to reality:

"Are you thinking of my brother, master?" - she asked innocently.

Luke promptly replied:

"What nonsense. I was thinking about our class." - he disguised. "Get ready. Do you have sheet music? I'll get ready and meet you soon. Are you not excited?" 

Athanasia smiled and jumped out of bed hurriedly, running out of the room with Chaos. It is obvious that Cole said goodbye with a bow and a kiss on Lily's hand, rushing to follow the girl. 

"I will prepare your bath, Your Highness." - Lily said still embarrassed. 

"I thank you, Lily." - he replies with a smile. 

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After the bath. He dressed himself in a shirt and usual pants, which hid well his excess thinness. Touching her wedding ring and wondering where Artanis would be. 

On leaving, there was someone waiting for him. It was Samira who was surely on guard. 

"Did you see everything?" - the young man smiled.

"I only heard, Your Highness. I restrained myself in giving a little peek, I confess. But I was only content to do my job and protect you, in case someone appeared." - the woman laughed.

"Thank you, Samira, thank you." 

He introduced Lily to the Woman and the maid went to the kitchen while he and the guard went to the music room, where Athanasia already waited impatiently in her light green dress. 

Chaos lay upon the piano, sleeping. Lucky not upon the keys. 

The instrument was the same as the day of his presentation at the palace.

Luke sat next to Athanasia and thought about how he could teach her. He shook hands and bit his lips, nervously. Could you really teach a child? Your mother said your skills weren't good. Wasn't there really a better teacher? What if he got distracted? He could not neglect the girl. But when he saw her hopeful eyes, the teacher calmed down. 

"Show me what you know. What did they teach you? Think it's your first class. What do you do at the beginning of class?"

The child sat upright and positioned his hands and fingers correctly, starting with C major. She could understand some things, but the sheet music was very difficult for a beginner. Besides the fact that his fingers were hard and stuck. And of course, the lack of heating to prevent pain and injury. 

"Has no one ever taught you how to prepare?" 

She denied. 

So the old teachers were not even as good as the child had said.

Luke then taught her the basics. Starting with stretching her fingers and arms. Then he revised the first notes of his right hand and simplified the scores. You couldn't learn so much in a single day. It was something to be careful and patient about. 

It seemed to the man that the previous tutors, used the fact that Athanasia was a prodigy and so forced her to learn everything in a quick way. Perhaps because they believed she was capable and forgot that the girl had limits or maybe to promote themselves by saying that skills were fruits of their teaching. He couldn't answer. But the important thing was that she was doing well now.

When Athanasia finished playing the first song. Luke stroked his head and complimented her. She smiled beautifully and her teacher sat her heart warming.

"What a magnificent presentation Your Highness. Nothing less to be expected of the palace's prodigy princess."

Luke looked curious at the owner of the voice. Cole and Samira also did the same with a serious look. From your looks, that woman couldn't be a good thing.

She was a short woman, perhaps five foot tall. Her beige and gold dress highlighted her olive green eyes. She bowed before him and exclaimed:

"I am honored to meet you, Your Highness. I am Tiana Amorim, daughter of the Earl of Rheatos. I have always been a great friend of the prince. I think Your Highness must have talked about me."

Luke bit his lips. Was that a tease? Was I trying to make him jealous? What did she want?

Luke squeezed his fingers slightly and calmed down, he wouldn't play into her game.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Amorim. I believe my husband never mentioned you. I couldn't even see you at our wedding. I don't remember seeing your name on the invitations. After all, only the highest nobility was invited to our party. But if you did, forgive the confusion, a lot happened that day. Since you were there, you must have seen it."

Tiana looked at him with an angry look that in a few seconds was replaced by a fake smile. 

"No problem, Your Highness. I'm sure it's been a busy day for Your Highness. But I hope you remember my face now and that we can be friends."

"Of course." - he smiled politely, still feeling the aura of hatred of the woman.

Luke thought about her next move, until something surprising occurred: A portal was opened in the middle of the room and Artanis appeared in the room.

His shirt was torn and bloody. His mouth also bled and he looked weak and apathetic. 

"Artanis. What happened? " - Luke stood up to help him.

However, the prince was faster. He went towards Luke and pushed Tiana to the ground, saying: 

"Get out of the way, you whore."

Artanis looked at Luke, his gaze looking a little vague and distant. 

"I was attacked. I need magic. A little of yours will help." 

As it is, Artanis pushed Luke against the piano so as not to lose balance, and kissed him. His hand trembled and was dirty, the lower could feel the moisture. Your shirt also became dirty with the contact of the husband's clothes and he began to feel his clothes wet with so much blood. The kiss had the same taste as always, but was more rough and urgent. Luke felt his power being sucked in, as he also felt the chaos of Artanis filling him. 

Did the kiss last for seconds? Minutes? He didn't know.

What he knew was that soon after they separated, Artanis fell into his arms. And in his left hand was a dead raven that turned into a red and black powder as if leaving its last tracks behind.