22

Chapter Twenty Two

S H O W : AND TALE

"We've prepared three separate events for you to enjoy today."

Osiris was grumpy again.

"Why do I have to meet them."

Mikael's smile pressed. He was just lucky his son was cooperative today.

Adam watched the bells move around at a frightening speed. Something big was going down again.

Adam bit a piece of jerky.

The King sighed before looking over his son once more. He barely managed to get Osiris to wear a clean white dress shirt tucked in simple, black shorts. Shoes were still a lost cause due to how quickly he keeps hitting the limit and destroying them. It was easier just to make a barrier, which was much cheaper than he imagined it to be.

"Because they are family."

Yet their mother is a crazy bitch.

Adam took another bite.

When they exited the doors to the outside Adam was hit with a hammering case of vertigo. It seems the wall he saw before was not a wall. With a small glance down Adam could see little gate ends peeking from the ground with their eyes on display.

".."

"So what first?"

The King lit up.

"I thought a nice show would be a good start to the day."

The King led them to the back end of the castle where a white canary with blue silk drapes hung in large bushels of blue cloth. Inside sat a simple set of chairs and tables with the Queen, and at the front was a small wooden stage.

Beside her sat one of the kids from that party.

Mikael stood behind Osiris and tried to place his hands on his shoulder. He smacked them away.

"L-let me introduce everyone. This is Osiris Lux, your youngest brother. Osiris, this is Axel Lux, your eldest brother. You've already met the Queen."

Even with the two sitting Osiris had to look up to greet them. Their noses were as high as the sky.

"When does the show start."

Osiris watched the prince's face flash a nasty scowl his way.

"In a few minutes."

Osiris sat as far away as he could from the duo, leaving Mikael to awkwardly sit beside the Queen and the prince. He made sure to kick over any chairs around him to cement that point.

Mikael waved off the maids who were going to fix it.

"Leave it. I don't want to see blood today."

Osiris watched Axel's face glower.

It was clear the boy was jealous. Who wouldn't be after seeing your dad treat another woman's child so lovingly.

It probably didn't help that the King spends nearly all his time at Osiris's castle. Not that it was his fault, but the boy has heard all his siblings hate him for this.

The snacks were brought out.

"I asked around and I found you new snacks to try."

An assortment of things were placed in front of him. Everyone else got what looked like a normal plate of fruits and cookies.

"Why is the boy's food different from ours?"

Axel was already in a bad mood being here, but the blatant favoritism was beginning to piss him off. Birthday or not, his lack of gratitude towards their father was repulsive to see.

A little bastard like him should be crawling just to taste the crumbs off their table. He shouldn't even be getting special treatment. Just being in their presence should be enough for him.

Mikael made a face.

"Osiris… has a condition."

Axel perked up.

"Condition?"

Adam bit into what looked like an egg roll. It was not an egg roll.

Mikael glanced at Osiris before sitting back in his seat. Mikael knew this wasn't something he could hide from his kids, let alone the country. He was sure there were already questions about how sometimes there was a sizzle when Osiris walked.

"He has a mana leak."

The Queen's glass nail taps paused before starting again. Axel tried to play it cool and hide his smile with his hand but Osiris saw it all. Adam put the egg roll to the side.

Axel looked at him.

"How unfortunate."

Axel was elated. Individuals with mana leaks die young. Suddenly Axel's mood just got a whole lot better.

The show started.

It was about two brothers pining for the crown. The youngest brother wanted what was not his and the older brother did everything he could to stop the younger brother from killing him and taking his lover.

The older brother killed the little prince. A hero.

Everyone but Osiris clapped.

"That was a good one!"

The King laughed before turning to Osiris. Axel's chest clenched. Usually his Father would look to him first when everyone was together. His Mother was right.

Osiris is a threat.

"What did you think?"

Adam drank his entire drink before he answered. Even going as fast as to suction the last of his juice loudly before putting it back on the table top.

"It was okay."

Mikael took his response as a positive and just smiled happily at his him.

"Axel chose that play." The Queen pipped in. "He spent all night pondering what show the little prince might like. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it."

"Axel did pick the show for you. You two are closer in age and I assumed his taste would suit you better than my own."

Axel's feathers fluffed in pride.

"It is a very playful story, isn't it?"

Osiris allowed their eyes to meet.

"Who are you again?"

Adam watched as rage filled that beautiful mug of hers.

"Hey!"

Axel moved into his view.

"You can only meet the Queen's eye if she allows it. Have you not been paying-"

"It's fine Axel, he's just a child."

The Queen's face fell. She only allows her children to meet her eyes. The King shot her a look.

"But that's…"

"Drop it, Axel."

A look of hurt flashed over the prince's face before he sat back in his seat. After a few moments of awkward silence the little prince bared his fangs.

"So how is aura training going?"

Axel smiled as the boy looked at him.

"I heard you are having a bit of trouble. If you'd like, I can show you how to do it. I learned to wield aura when I was five. It was a prominent one star. I'm sure I can give you a few pointers."

Axel recalled that his mom told him the boy has yet to wield aura. Axel hated to see his family's name get dragged into the mud because some bastard can't keep up. But poking a bit of fun at it won't hurt.

"Actually-"

A nearly solid white bar of light popped out around the child.

Adam waited for it to register before he looked at the prince, smiled, and said "I think I'm good."

The Queen's eyes were huge. It looked like everyone, including the King, was shocked.

"When did you become a 4 star?"

Mikael's face became serious. He had been hesitant to believe Gladimir when she told him he was a three star. He thought she was playing it up to try and get a tip. I need to send a tip. Sooner the better.

Adam let the shield drop.

"What's a four star?"

The Queen gripped her dress so tight she heard a few of the seams pop. Aura cannot just happen. The Queen looked to her husband. He looked just as shocked as they were.

"How."

Mikael looked at her.

"It seems the teachers you have been sending were failing. Gladimir taught him."

The Queen looked at her son.

His face was as white as a sheet.

Forcing herself to collect her thoughts the Queen straightened herself.

Aura takes years of hard work and dedication just to reach a point that it shows. You must have a healthy mind and a healthy body to maintain your rank. It is not something a child who has yet to have their first dance can achieve.

It is fine.

Everything will be okay.

Adam watched the eye above the Queen smile.