1.4 I'll visit often

"We'll be leaving first," Count Portman said.

For the past 15 minutes, Blake has been held captive by Duke Acker, his father. As the Portmans walked out the door, Daniel's eyes lingered on Blake's figure, watching, as the small dark-haired male in the arms of a tall green-haired man.

As soon as the family of three left the building, Aliyah sat down across from Aegus, crossing her legs and staring down at the green-haired man. "What do you want?"

"Aliyah, don't look at me like that," the man sighed as he looked at Blake's mother with a soft gaze.

"Shut it. You don't tell me what to do."

A sigh escaped the man as he looked at Aliyah helplessly. ".... I, I have to bring Blake back with me."

Blake: EEEHH?!?

"No way" Aliyah said as she held up her hand in rejection.

"Don't be like that, Aliya-"

"Miss Robenhouse," Aliyah said as her usual sweet and warm gaze turned cold and domineering in a split second in front of the man. "We're not that close to be calling each other by our first any more, now are we, your highness, Duke Acker?"

"My apologies, Miss Robenhouse," he sighed again.

Blake sat next to Aliyah and only listened to their conversation. He was a little absent-minded as he tried to understand Aliyah and Aegus's past relationship. Which, by guess, was an intimate one.

Blake thought helplessly, 'ah I can't... my brain can't process what's happening,'

"Unfortunately, Miss Robenhouse, I have to bring Blake with me.... according to the imperial law, I... have to take him," the duke said, looking over to the small dark-haired boy who shared the same eye colour as him.

"Nope, not happening. Goodbye," Aliyah stood up, carrying Blake into her arms and turned to leave, only to be stoppedby the duke.

"Wait— Aliyah, listen to me," the duke pleaded.

"No. Last time you said that, you told me you were getting married! And by that time, I was already pregnant with Blake!" Aliyah exclaimed, slapping the Duke's hand off her arm.

Blake: woah– this wasn't in the novel...

Blake thought for a moment, about the original novel. There, not much was talked about in Blake's past. What he did know was that his mother was killed right in front of him. And Kazuha, who now is Blake, has gotten attached to Aliyah.

'Maybe because she rejected the Duke about giving Blake to him that she got killed...' Blake thought. And thus, he made a decision.

"Mother," Blake called out.

Both adults stopped what they were doing and looked at Blake. Blake wiggled out of his mother's grasp and walked to the duke, gripping the end of his coat and pulled.

"I'll go with the Duke," Blake said, looking up at his mother.

Aliyah furrowed her eyebrows and looked at her son. Was she hearing this right? "Blake, are you... sure?"

Blake nodded, gripping onto the Duke's cost tighter before looking at his mother with determined eyes. "I'm sure!"

"He can come visit. I'll allow it," the duke said, looking down at the small child near his feet.

"I'll visit often, mother!" Blake exclaimed.

Aliyah could only sigh as she looked at her child helplessly. If he was this determined, she couldn't disagree. She only wanted him to be happy. And if this choice of his will make him happy, then so be it. "Alright... remember to visit,"

* * * * *

A small chest full of Blake's clothes was loaded into the carriage as both Felix and Aliyah hugged Blake tightly, whispering their goodbyes. Blake looked up at Aliyah and saw her expression, full of sadness and worry, but was overshadowed by her sweet and tender smile.

"Remember to visit, alright?" Felix, Blake's grandfather said as he caressed the smaller boy's head tenderly.

"I will! I'll visit as often as I can, I promise!" Blake said enthusiastically as he clutched his favourite pillow in his hands. Which was actually the original Blake's favourite pillow, so he couldn't just leave it with the Robenhouses, or else it'll seem weird.

"Alright then. Let's depart, Blake," the duke said as he opened the carriage door, waiting for the little one to climb on first.

"Ah, coming!" Blake said before turning back to his mother and leaving a kiss on her cheek. "I'll visit often, mother," he smiled.

"Alright, I'll see you soon then," she smiled tenderly and waved as Blake ran to the carriage and hopped in.

[744 words]