Chapter 8: Foreshadowing Interest

AFTER TRISTAN closed the door, he let out a shaky sigh as he clutched the book tightly.

He knew what he did, but it was what he had to do. He thought of letting Bastian know and explaining, but he was not ready if ever Bastian will hold a grudge against him.

'Ahhh! Whatever happens, happens!'

Feeling frustrated, he turned to the left to go to the room assigned to him and get his bags so he can leave immediately, but before he could take a step, a small boy blocked his path.

This young boy is no older than 3 years old, standing upright like he is older than his age, and soft gray eyes looking at him in the same way Saxon did.

Tristan instantly knew who this boy is.

"Young lord Nicholae." He greeted him, bowing his head a little.

The young boy named Nicholae nodded at him, his posture is similar to Saxon's as his eyes landed on the book in Tristan's hand.

"I see. So, you made a deal with father."

Even the way he speaks is the same as Saxon.

Tristan felt a chill at the similarities of the two and they almost look identical, if it wasn't for the young boy's brown hair instead of black and a mole under his right eye.

"Yes, and if you may excuse me, young lord, I have to get back to the palace as soon as possible."

Nicholae nodded, understanding his words but there is a certain glint in his eyes that bothered Tristan.

'He is only 3 years old but he has a more authoritative aura than Saxon. It's scary.' Tristan noted to himself.

"Okay, go on. Thank you for visiting." That was what Nicholae said after a long brief of silence.

Tristan took this as a cue to leave as he bowed his head once again and walked past him.

But then again, it only took Tristan 5 steps before he stopped at what Nicholae added.

"By the way, I have no interest in becoming a knight."

Tristan turned to Nicholae as the young boy had his hand under his chin in a thinking gesture, then he looked at Tristan before smiling.

"But I guess it won't be bad to have a hobby."

Tristan immediately felt a shiver run down his spine as he stared at the 3-year-old boy smiling at him.

Even though he looks so innocent at this moment, Tristan was sure that the shivers he felt was real.

Something clicked in his mind that this boy is no ordinary child.

"Oh, by the way," Nicholae added as he smiled once again.

Tristan slightly raised an eyebrow at him and waited for him to speak.

Nicholae noticed Tristan's wariness and decides to tease him more.

"If I become the captain of the imperial knights, I get to be close to the princess, right?"

Tristan froze.

'I am truly regretting my choices now.' Tristan thought as the first image that comes into his mind is Xerxes.

'He will kill me if he knew that I traded that position for a ruby emerald knowing that Versormer is cunning, but then again, wasn't it his order to obtain the gem? So, it's all his fault.'

Tristan is beginning to blame Xerxes now.

Nicholae noticed Tristan tensing up and forced down a laugh, enjoying the honest reaction from the aide but he knew that he shouldn't test the man in front of him.

Even though he looks gullible, this man right here could deplete half of his mana and he won't even break a sweat.

'I think I should stop here.' Nicholae thought, his innocent act at play.

"Anyway, pardon me for taking your time sir Tristan."

Tristan broke out of his thoughts and smiled politely at the child.

"It's alright. I better get going now. Farewell, young lord."

"Hmm. Come back again."

Tristan hurriedly walked away while still maintaining his elegance. He wanted to get this done already and hopes that Xerxes will accept the gem even though it's not that many, he will just convince him to add different stones in.

As Tristan disappeared from Nicholae's sight, the smile on his face disappeared making him look older than he was.

Those bright eyes that seemed to be full of life are now cold as ice, it even looks sharper as his eyes are almond-shaped.

"Leandro." He called out.

A man dressed in black clothes appeared behind him as he immediately lowered his head.

"Yes, young lord?"

The shining grey-colored eyes darted at the man kneeling in front of him, his dark-brown hair being reflected by the sun giving it a warmer color.

Although the small boy may seem innocent, the way his eyes look at a person is not.

"You heard him, right?"

The man nodded, already knowing what the boy wants him to do.

All he needs is his order.

"What is your command, young lord?"

Nicholae smirks to himself as he remembered how the emperor's aide, Tristan, tensed up by his mere mention of the princess.

Even though he is 3 years old, he is a prodigy when it comes to elements. He is what many would consider an elemental, a person who can control different natural elements.

Through this, even though his mother is just a mere viscount when she got pregnant with Nicholae, she married the duke and is now living lavishly.

Nicholae knew he was special. He could see the elements around him ever since he was born and exhibits great power at the age of 1.

So, discovering the fact that another child of the great emperor, whom he admired, has been born made him curious.

"I want to know more about the princess. Do whatever it takes to get information about her."

The man nodded and disappeared without a trace from where he once was.

Nicholae smirks to himself once again as a mysterious glint lights up his eyes, a thrilling emotion creeping into him.

'I guess, it won't be bad to meet the infamous princess.'

~ ~ ~

PEANE WAS chilling at the horse stable, guarding the horses that they used to get to the Versormer estate.

They were just rented, but he wasn't comfortable inside the house because it is so grand and luxurious that it makes him want to vomit.

He wasn't used to all this because he was an orphan in the countryside, a commoner with no background or knowledge of who he really was.

He just earned his surname when he became one of the knights for the emperor.

That is why he is loyal to the emperor and respected him, so much so that he accompanied Tristan under the pretext that it is for the emperor.

"That Tristan, is he planning on staying here for the night? If only he just agreed to use the scrolls them this would have been easier." Peane suddenly muttered as he sighs.

Peane knew Tristan and Bastian back when the emperor claimed the throne, the two were beside the emperor as he was crowned.

He was amazed at the virtuousness and the elegance the two displayed at the coronation that he wished that he knew them, because he also looks up to them.

Now that he knows them, he slightly regrets that he did but he cannot deny that the two are very talented individuals.

It is just that, their personalities suck.

"Peane! Peane!"

'Speaking of one of the devils…'

Peane was pulled into reality when he heard Tristan's annoying, according to him, voice.

He turned his head in the direction of the voice and saw Tristan power-walking towards him with a suitcase in one hand a thick book on the other.

He was confused as to why Tristan suddenly looked like he was in a hurry, sweat was visible on his forehead, and eyes that seemed to be shaking but at the same time, was looking at him steadily.

"What the hell?" He whispered to himself as he continued to look at the disheveled Tristan.

'Is this the same man that became a role model to me? The fuck was I thinking back then?'

Peane just continued to look at Tristan until he was in front of him, panting. He didn't even bother to help Tristan with his things and just stood there in silence.

A few minutes later, Tristan finally caught his breath and broke the news to Peane.

"I got the gem, let's get out of here."

"That was fast. Are you sure you didn't steal it?"

Tristan looked at Peane with a 'do-I-look-like-the-type?' stare but Peane just defensively raise both of his hands in surrender.

"I was just asking. It has only been a few hours."

Tristan rolled his eyes, "Isn't that better than staying here for days?"

Peane shrugged, "I guess so."

Tristan carried his things again as Peane followed closely behind.

They went into the stable and were about to go to their horses when they noticed that they were gone.

Tristan was dumbstruck.

"The hell! Where are the rented horses?!"

Peane went in and looked around for some sort of clue or trace that they left but it looks like they were never here. He has a feeling that Jonathan has something to do with this.

And he was right.

Peane found a note that was left by the coachman near the door of the stable, pinned as if it was deliberately placed to be seen.

"Gentlemen, the butler told me that my service is no longer needed so I went on my way. He did, however, told me that I should write a note before leaving. Anyway, hope you two get back safely." Peane read.

Tristan sighed in frustration once again, his gut is telling him that Jonathan was the one behind this so he will stay at this place for a few more days.

'Jonathan is like the duke but he can be punched.' Tristan thought, his hands clenching the suitcase strap tightly.

"So, how are we going to get back?" Peane asked, not an ounce of emotion in his voice.

Peane knew what he was getting into. He knew that Jonathan hates Tristan, even though the two knew each other since childhood.

In between this feud of theirs, he is just a bystander but ended up affecting him too.

"I don't know how we'll go back, to be honest." Tristan confessed.

Peane knew this too, reading Tristan like an open book beforehand, he knows that Tristan is a person who never expects the unexpected.

'Is this why Bastian also told me to take care of him? Tsk. What am I? A babysitter?' Peane thought as he watches Tristan grumble.

He has no choice but to use his backup, which is the scrolls that are in his pocket.

'Good thing I took two of the teleportation scrolls in case something happened.'

Peane clicked his tongue and patted himself in the back, before giving the scroll to Tristan who was surprised.

"H-How…!"

"I took it just in case. I'm glad I did."

"What about Bastian--"

"He already knew something like this would happen to he didn't mind."

Tristan didn't say anything further, accepting defeat, as he ripped the scroll.

Instantly, blue light with a complicated pattern appeared under their feet as they slowly became transparent.

Before completely disappearing, Tristan clicked his tongue, annoyed at what Jonathan did as he chanted the following words in his mind.

'Jonathan, you'll suffer much worse than I did. Just wait till we see each other again!'

As both Tristan and Peane disappeared, Jonathan felt a little chill as he sneezed.

'Is someone talking shit about me?'