Chapter Twelve: A Son's Envy

"DAMMIT ALL TO HELL" the teenage boy said as he threw his glass of water at the wall.

"Why does he get an entire ceremony to celebrate his magic? He is nothing more than a peasant, but my father still treats him to an entire party and arranges a marriage for him to a good wife candidate! This isn't right! I'm the heir to the Blackwood family, not that bastard." the boy said as he rambled on.

Edmund looked to a maid who was making his bed for him in his room.

"Teresa, clean that glass up." The boy ordered the older maid.

Yes, young master Edmund." the maid responded.

As the maid was cleaning up the glass, Edmund was sitting at his desk, still angry and speaking in mumbles.

"Do you have something you want to say, boy?"

Edmund turned around and saw his father, Edward, at his door. Edmund immediately stood up and bowed his head.

No, father, not at all." Edmund said.

Edward entered Edmund's room with visual authority.

"So you don't think I heard your childish outburst?"

Edward's question made Edmund sweat daggers.

"I just don't understand why he gets all this luxury—a celebration at a home he does not live at, a marriage he does not deserve. Even why he and his mother still live on our property." Edmund tried explaining.

Edward signed deeply.

"If you don't understand, then you by no right deserve to inherit my lands. Any person with common sense knows that a child born with magic is a special thing. Especially to a family like ours that doesn't possess a magical bloodline of its own. Alex and his family are mere tools to be used to further our control. That is why I am sending him to the south of this region and his sister to the north. Considering we already control the central part of it."

Edmund opened his eyes wide. "You're...trying to control the entire western region?"

"Obviously." Edward said as he sighed again.

"But why do all of this for him? If he's nothing more than a tool, he should be treated as such?" Edmund asked.

"You really are an idiot, aren't you? Do you actually listen to what the maids teach you, or do you spend your time in town getting VIP service at brothels? Edward asked angrily.

Edmund had no response to what his father said. He hit the nail on the head.

Edward continued explaining, "I treat him like he's my son because, in the eyes of the public, he is. Only a select few know the truth about Alex's and Raven's births, and I plan to keep it that way. So if I must act like his loving father, I will, but only in public, of course. Outside the eyes of the other nobles in this region, he is nothing to me."

Edmund smiled upon hearing that Alex meant nothing to his father.

"Don't get happy either. He may be nothing, but at least he has talent; you're nothing but a disappointing waste of potential." Edward continued.

After hearing that any semblance of happiness Edmund had was shattered into nothing but sadness, Edward left Edmund to his crying and went to his personal chambers.

Edward asked his butler to make him a hot cup of tea, which the butler complied with.

Edward sat down at the desk in his room and stared at a wall.

On that wall was a finely honed steel sword that looked like it was made by the finest blacksmiths on the continent.

Edward just stared at the sword, thinking, "I wonder what my role will be when it's time to spring into action. The others are completing the first act while Im holed up at home with my useless son and a mountain of paperwork.

"Your tea, sir." The butler said as he delivered a cup of hot tea to Edward along with a tea towel.

"You're dismissed for the night." Edward said.

"I understand, sir." The butler replied with no emotion.

Edward continued staring at the sword after the butler left.

"I wonder, Alex, what will you do when I demand you stay loyal to me and what I may have to do in order to keep you loyal."

Meanwhile, in Edmund's room.

"HE CALLS ME A DISAPOINTMENT? I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FOR HIM, YET I'M A DISAPOINTMENT?!" Edmund screamed.

While screaming, Edmund looked out his window and saw the house that Alex, along with his mother and sister, lived in.

"I'll show my father how much better than you I am; I swear to you, Alex. I'll make your life a living hell. That's a promise."

Edmund looked at the older maid, who had just finished cleaning up the glass from the cup he threw. He had then asked her for a favor.

"Hey old lady, what would you say if I could make your position even better than just a random maid?"

"Uhm what young master?" the maid asked.

"Simple, tell me about the maids who live at the small house on our land. You better give me the truth because If you don't, well, you won't like the next part."

"I'll answer to the best of my ability, young master; just please don't hurt me." the maid pleaded.

"Good, now start talking." Edmund demanded.

Meanwhile, at Alex's house.

Alex was stirring while in bed with Raven, who was sound asleep. Alex was having trouble resting his head and getting comfortable, so he got up to take a quick walk. However, he sneezed at random.

Raven didn't wake up to his sneeze but stirred a bit and put her arm on Alex's chest.

"Sis, please don't." Alex said as he carefully removed her arm.

"Is someone talking about me? Well, not that it matters after all; I did leave quite an impression with my magic today. Speaking of which, wasn't Xymaris supposed to give me a blessing today?"

"I would love to cuddle with you, but sadly, sleeping doesn't seem to be an option for me tonight." Alex thought to himself. However, he had many other thoughts.

Alex had thought about not getting the blessing that was promised to him. So he decided to go to the one place he knew Xymaris was connected to. A place he was all too familiar with.

The Waterfall