Ch. 12: The Returnee [1]

He sat and swept the surroundings. A familiar view he saw in the subconscious manifested–he was inside Adrian's chamber. A spacious and fancy chamber that fitted the status he bore as a Prince. His head turned to the door the moment it swung open and an old lady whom he saw in the 'sight' could be seen.

She gasped and covered her mouth with both hands, she was surprised beyond words, "Your Highness…"

Tears streamed down her cheeks. "His–His Highness Prince Adrian has regained consciousness! Informed Her Majesty!" She shouted to announce his awakening and hastily ran towards the boy.

Maids and butlers entered the chamber and some of them were crying in relief upon seeing him. The Nanny cupped Adrian's face and looked at him worriedly.

In contrast to her reaction, Adrian didn't show any interest and looked apathetic, "Excuse me, who are you?"

The old lady in front of him stiffened, she was stunned by the words that came out of Adrian's mouth. Although he knew who the woman was, it would be better if he faked his memory loss as he had no recollection of this boy's past.

Moreover, there was no way he would act like the original Adrian until the time he died. It was crazy in his opinion, he just wanted to be himself and no one else. So, memory loss could be a perfect alibi for him to start a new life in this world.

"Your Highness doesn't remember?" The nanny asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"I don't." He shook his head in response.

Her surprise became more potent to the point that it looked as she watched how the sky crumbled down before her eyes. Not only she but the maids and butlers also shared the same expression–they were shocked by the revelation.

Panic, the nanny bellowed urgently, "My goodness! Someone, please call the Imperial Physician immediately!"

The news of Adrian's awakening spread like wildfire and the first one who visited him was, doubtlessly, his mother.

"Ian!" A woman with wavy blonde hair with blue eyes rushed in and embraced him tightly. She cried on his shoulder and expressed how relieved she was–that he finally regained consciousness, how much she missed him, and many more.

A mixed feeling swirled inside him, he didn't know how to react upon receiving the worries and love she gave. Even by how she treated him, he knew how much she loved her son, and it made him uncomfortable. What he meant was, what would happen if she found out that he was not her real son?

In the end, he gave up thinking about anything and chose to shut his mouth. Feeling satisfied, she let go of him and they exchanged stares for a few seconds. Even though her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, the beauty she had remained. The woman in front of him looked like someone who came out of a painting–it was surreal.

A sob escaped her lips and she hugged him once again. This time, she kissed Adrian's cheeks and forehead.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, the Imperial Physicians have arrived." The Nanny prompted Aerilyn and she released Adrian, then wiped her tears.

"Ah, yes, please." The Empress stepped aside and the old man with long gray hair and a mustache–which reminded him of Gandalf, stood by his side.

"Please excuse my rudeness." He took his left hand and checked on his vein.

Adrian was startled a bit at the sudden surge of power entering his body and he assumed it was the infamous Blood Controlling.

When someone fully mastered the Water Elemental, they could control anything in liquid form, and blood was not an exception. Differing from other fantasies or games, as this world was based on Elemental and no God here, there was no such thing as a cleric, priest, or priestess that could be used as healing instant magic.

The only healing magic in this world was water elemental.

But as controlling the blood of a living being was considered dangerous, doctors must make a Mana Oath, the oath content was; that they would not use their power for evil purposes. A Mana Oath meant waging your Mana Pool on the line. If the oath was broken, the Mana Pool of the person who bet it would break by itself, which later led to Mana Poisoning.

Also, there was no limitation upon making Mana Oath, everyone could form as many Oaths as they wanted with whomever they liked.

"It's weird, I can't find any abnormality in His Highness' head."

Aerilyn was flabbergasted after hearing the physician's monologue, "Head? W–what's the meaning of this?"

He let go of the boy's hand and turned to the Empress, "Your Majesty hasn't been informed that His Highness the Prince has a memory loss?"

"Memory loss?!" Her eyes stretched wide and she scanned all of the maids and butlers; looking for an explanation, but no one dared to say a word.

Aerilyn returned her sight to her son and only after she carefully studied him, she met his indifferent–expressionless face. Now that she thought about it, it was understandable why Adrian just kept quiet when she cuddled him. Usually, he would hug her back and often cry; saying that he was scared but right now…

"Oh, dear…" Her heart fell. Aerilyn hastily embraced him and attacked him with kisses, "You must be confused right now."

Honestly, he was way too old to be pampered like this, but the thought of him taking over her son's body made him taken aback.

"His Highness' memory loss may be due to the mental shocks." The physician concluded.

She caressed Adrian's face and spoke in a warm tone, "It's all right, your memories will return soon."

Adrian nodded in response.

"His Majesty the Emperor is entering!"

A middle-aged man with white hair and red eyes entered the chamber, standing proud and tall among his attendants. The people inside bowed and curtseyed as he walked towards the boy who sat on the bed.

Well, meeting him directly was different from seeing him from a screen. The man before him had no shortage of charisma or dignity to lead the entire continent. His ruby eyes stared at him and he fearlessly glared back at him.

"You didn't say hello to your father?" Arthur asked.

"You're… my father?"

Arthur was dazed by the words that penetrated his ears and the Empress immediately stepped forward, "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but Prince Adrian has lost his memory due to the accident."

He peered at the Physicians, "Can you do something about it?"

The old man shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't."

Arthur sighed and returned his vision to Adrian, then placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't worry, your memories will be back."

"Thank you."

Soon, the Emperor left, simplicity, he was too busy and the Empress continued to pamper him. She fed him food, explained who he was, and many more. Only after the sun was set that she finally return to her Palace and hand over the nursing to the Nanny.

As the Nanny vehemently refused for him to step down from the bed, in the end, he decided to go to sleep. However, a moment after he closed his eyes, his Nanny announced something unexpected.

"His Highness Prince Nathaniel came to visit, would you like to meet him?"

His eyelids slowly opened, uncovering a set of azure eyes that shone brightly in the dark. 'How surprising…'

He didn't expect to meet the protagonist of this world so soon. Adrian sat and answered, "I'll meet him."