The Prince (1)

The floating castle Asteri which has housed the royal bloodline of Alfonsi for centuries was in a state of extreme caution.

Maids, butlers, knights and mages alike were all going about their duties as quietly as humanly possible. The King was upset, and while he was not as immature as to take his displeasure out on his subjects it was a known fact that Matteus Alfonsi had never been the most patient man.

After the prince had been rushed to the west wing on the fifth floor, where the Court of Mages reside, Matteus had been quick to go to Adaline. He stayed with her through her sleep and only long enough to sooth her worry once awake.

There was only so much he could do for her besides offer words of comfort. Adaline was a woman who showed a smile to all. Letting her kindness touch everything just as the sunshine would. Even so, she was scared, Matteus could see it in her mesmerizing lavender colored eyes.

He had only managed to get a glimpse of his son before the Court of Mages ushered everyone out of the room. His little hands were balled into fists and his familiar lavender purple eyes glazed over and out of focus. Not to mention the sickly pale blue color of his skin.

How could a human be so tiny? He was barely bigger than Matteus' hand.

It was strange, he had only glanced at him and had yet to even hold his son. Still, he had become the single most important thing in his life in that one moment. Now there was something he treasured above his life and above even Adaline's as well. How scary, the amount of power his son already held over him.

"Your majesty,"

Matteus looked up and almost let out a hopeless laugh. He had subconsciously passed all the other rooms and compartments on the fifth floor until he was back at the west wing. Both his impatience and anxiety brought him here.

The King scowled as the Head of the Court of Mages and his closest friend bowed in his presence.

"Enough of this, haven't I told you countless times to stop speaking with formalities when it is just the two of us?"

"These hallways are so big, you never know who could be hiding around the corner. Besides, I know you secretly like it."

Matteus narrowed his golden eyes as if telling the man to get to the point.

Scott sighed and ran a hand through his mahogany brown hair which was already a mess. His gray eyes showed the seriousness that he refused to verbalize. Humor was his coping mechanism in such serious times like this one after all.

"How is he?"

Scott had known Matteus since he was a child. Although the king didn't display it with how neatly he was dressed in casual clothing and how unbothered his face looked; Scott could still tell.

He hadn't seen the man this nervous since his coronation ball, and he almost threw up then.

"There is both good and bad news. The good news is that his Highness is in a stable condition."

Matteus felt his shoulders relax at that. If their son had died already he hadn't the faintest idea of how he would approach Adaline with such heartbreaking information.

"The bad news?"

Scott nodded towards a pair of high wooden double doors displaying intricate leaf carvings on it's naturally white surface.

Without further prompting the two men entered the room, two knights stationed by the door closing it behind them.

The theme of white and light colors that was centered around the entire palace had left this room no different.

The glossy marble floor with gold and silver veins running through it glittered as the two walked. Large glass windows lined one side of the room and as they drew deeper in their steps were echoed back at them from the high pointed ceilings.

All of its pure beauty was lost on Matteus having long been desensitized to the glamours of the palace.

Instead, his focus was on the only piece of furniture in the room. A tall large white crib stood dead center and its contents had Matteus feeling weak in the knees with the wave of relief that washed over him.

His son lay sleeping in the cushioned bedding peacefully. His eyes closed to display long snowy lashes laying against pale white skin, the slight pink flush on his cheeks giving him more of a healthy look.

Unconsciously Matteus reached out to brush the tips of his fingers against the fluffy white hair that was sticking up at odd angles on his head. It felt shockingly similar to the down feathers maids used to stuff the pillows on his bed.

If it weren't for the soft breathing and steady rise of his chest the king would have mistaken him for a porcelain doll.

"His Highness's heart is underdeveloped."

Matteus frowned but kept his eyes on the baby even as he spoke.

"Underdeveloped?"

"I have scanned his heart with mana and found that the left side of his heart responsible for sending oxygen to the rest of the body was severely underdeveloped. This was most likely why his skin was a bluish color and why he was so quiet after birth."

Matteus looked at his son who was sleeping so peacefully with a heavy heart.

He knew the risks that came with child baring, the Alfonsi blood was potent and despite its many advantages it was not without its own set of cons.

Still he needed a son, as much as his people needed security for the future. Perhaps it would have been better if he didn't try at all.

With the product of his and Adaline's work before him Matteus was unable to bring himself to really mean those thoughts. His son was a blessing sent directly from the All Father, and he would spend the rest of his life proving it to both his child and himself.

"How will this affect him?"

Scott tapped his chin in thought.

"Well there are a few symptoms I can name off the top of my head. His Highness probably won't eat much, he'll sleep a lot more than normal and won't be as energetic and his body temperature might be lower than normal."

"Scott, you are the best healer I know. Is there really no way to heal him permanently?"

The gray eyed man let out a sigh of frustration that was directed more to himself.

"Trust me Matteus I would if I could be we need to remember that this is a newborn. The process of healing something as delicate and complex as a heart could kill him while he's in such a fragile state."

Matteus finally turned his head to look at the man dressed in thick royal blue robes accented by the gem pin on his chest to prove the importance of his status. It felt as if his friend wasn't telling him everything.

"But?"

"But... There may be a chance when he comes of age, when his Highness has developed more and passed the initial stages of puberty."

"There is a chance?" The King didn't hesitate to hope. Knowing his son may be able to live normally was something he was willing to put all of his faith in.

"Of course there is. I'm the best healer you know."

Scott puffed out his chest in pride and Matteus almost regretted what he said previously.

Quickly he turned back to his son, who had shifted slightly in his sleep. How swiftly this little thing was becoming his greatest source of happiness.

"Will he wake if I hold him?"

"Probably not, being born and the healing took its toll, I think he'll sleep for a while longer. Are you thinking of taking him to see Lady Adaline?"

"Yes, she is beside herself with worry. I do not want to keep her waiting."

"Very well. I'll be taking my leave."

Scott bowed and was heading to the door when his friend's low voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Wait."

The Head Mage blinked at Matteus's back when he turned around. He was using his serious voice that only came out during important meetings.

"Y-your Majesty?"

Scott wondered if he had said something to piss him off. Was it the joke he told earlier? But Matteus usually ignored all forms of humor.

The King tilted his head to the side and set one golden eye on the man, despite his stoic expression there was a slight blush of embarrassment painted lightly across his cheeks.

"How do I hold a newborn?"