After the answers he received from the assassin, Lucas realized he didn’t know enough about Arlecchino’s mother. Her current birth mother, he meant. From what the asassin spilled, she was a princess of the neighboring kingdom.
Claude, the emperor, was interested in her features, the platinum hair, and unique pupils. Her own empire considered her a curse that stained their royal bloodline, and happily handed her over when Claude decided to keep her.
According to rumors, Arlecchino wasn’t Claude’s child. They say her mother bear the child of a demon, and thus died during childbirth. That her mother was a witch, or monster that wanted to curse the Hadura kingdom along with the empire, and other vile things Lucas didn’t bother hearing.
Her kingdom wanted to kill Arlecchino because of those rumors. They truly believed Arle wasn’t Claude’s blood, but an actual demon in disguise. They didn’t even try to unite the kingdoms using Arle, they just wanted to kill her.
A complete waste of power, if Lucas was honest. Hadura kingdom was known to be overly religious, worshipping the moon Goddess and its cycles. When Arle was born, it was a red moon. A sign of chaos, and danger.
That’s why they didn’t even hesitate in sending an assassin once she was a week old.
All of this, combined with the apperances of both mother and daughter, made everyone believe they’re cursed. From what Lucas knew of their beliefs, those born on a red moon were demon children that grew stronger by causing misfortune on others.
It was ridiculous. Fearing something different based on ancient test written by a random person on the street. The only religion Lucas believed in, is the one with actual evidence. And from what he knows, moons don’t write a person’s story.
They wanted to kill a child, his daughter over religious beliefs. It didn’t start now either, this maid has been in the ruby palace with Arle’s mother since the beginning.
She’s also, the leading cause of her premature death. The stress had gotten to her, making her labor extremely painful, and mortal.
Lucas placed his hand above the assassin’s head, and spoke with a chilling tone.
“You have targeted my daughter, and for that, there’s only one way to pay.”
Granted, killing someone over a child he’s barely known over a week is a little excessive. But gaining Arlecchino’s trust is far more important than this woman’s life.
A simple wave of his hand, and she was gone. To a place where no one will ever find her body.
With that taken care of, Lucas went to Arle’s crib. Gazing down at her sleeping form, her even breath’s, tightly clench fists, and comfortable onesie.
Her features seemed much softer as she slept, but that stern look she always had looked ready to slip in at any moment. He huffed out a smile, and poked her cheek. Her little frown made him lean closer with a fond smile, he rested his head on the crib’s railing and watched her.
“Seems I have to take better care of you…”
Increasing security, and teaching her some spells should do the trick. If anyone’s capable of learning from him, it’s her.
–
A year has passed since, and no other assassins were sent. Arle could now walk, and would explore the mansion during the day when Lucas wasn’t around.
These trips revealed, that she was basically abandoned with no servants, decorations, or anything inside the palace except dust.
Arlecchino doesn’t know why Lucas always leaves, just to come back later on. But he would stare at her whenever he came back, he would sigh, and snap his fingers. Making the dirt and dust on her clothes disappear without a trace.
So far, he’s never punished her for going outside or ignoring him. He would simply annoy her until she finally looked his way.
It was odd, being treated like this. Arlecchino couldn’t remember a time where ‘mother’ genuinely showed affection or care without ulterior motives, or cared about her after punishment. Lucas is both a new experience, and role model.
Did Freminet want a father like him? Or did he want her to be more like Lucas? This is something she’ll never know.
“Hey.”
A finger tabbed her forehead, Arle looked up to see Lucas staring at her with a raised brow.
This is also knew, since Arle can’t do much of her previous hobbies, she’s started using her imagination and spacing out to make the hours go by.
And with her forming teeth, Lucas started feeding her food and leaving snacks inside the room for her to eat while he was out. At first, cookies and cakes were left out, but Arle didn’t seem particularly found of them. A little odd, children loved sugar, no?
Then again, Arle wasn’t a normal child. So he changed it to fruits, and she ate those completely throughout the day.
Out of his own curiosity, Lucas started leaving behind other types of food. Bread, cheese, veggies, stuff like that. He was quickly able to find everything Arle enjoyed, and made sure she had those available before he went out.
Their routine was simple, wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast together; though Lucas would just drink tea while Arle ate porridge or something else. Then Lucas would leave, and Arle would explore the castle walls, working on her motor skills and immune system along the way. It was basically, snack, explore, snack, explore, and then Lucas would come back. Dinner, and finally, time for bed.
Other than building her immune system, there was another reason Arle explored the castle. She was hoping to find anything related to her birth mother. But sadly, whatever could’ve been here was long gone. Not even a year after her death, and everything was gone. Utterly disappointing
Arle sighed while holding a small piece of bread Lucas had spread butter over. She stared at the lightly toasted bread in silence. Lucas looked up once he heard her sigh, stopping his actions of carefully spreading peanut butter on bread for her to eat later with a spoon.
He raised a brow at her.
“What’s wrong now?”
If Arlecchino had to identify the strangest change, it would be Lucas. After that assassin, the magician was noticeably more… Caring.
Even now, he’s actually using his hands to make her food instead of snapping his fingers and calling it a day. Yesterday, he watched her eat a new berry, and did something he’s been doing a lot lately.
He placed his hand on her head, and gently stroked her hair before saying some chilling words in an even more terrifying, gentle voice.
“Good job.”
Pardon, she says that to her children. That’s not something that gets said to her.
But that’s not all. Whenever he was bored, he would stare at her face… Then suddenly pinch her cheeks. That was enough to make him grin.
Every night, he would place her on his lap and read her a new book. First it was fairytales, but he started evolving the books to politics, magic theory, history, and even gardening. She was learning a lot of words thanks to it, but it was still odd!
But the most annoying thing he’s been doing, is trying to make her talk.
Arle firmly refused to do that yet, she would always tilt her head whenever he tried to make her repeat after him. Then again, trying to say ‘papa’ or ‘father’ didn’t do anything to motivate her. It just made her want to stich her mouth shut.
Just to annoy him, she sighed even louder and placed her toast down, choosing to grab a cheese cube he had personally cut up as well.
“Haaah…”
Arle glanced up at Lucas while slowly munching on the cheese. The mini cubes were easily broken by her small teeth, but she still had to thank Lucas for cutting the food into the smallest bits possible so she wouldn’t choke on it.
Lucas met her gaze, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. He dropped the spoon and bread he was holding and leaned back on the couch. Still looking at her.
“I still don’t get why you haven’t spoken…”
It should’ve happened by now, her first words and such. But she didn’t even babble when she was a baby. He had started looking for information about why it could be, but she didn’t have any injury insider her throat or mouth that he could check.
That only left one cause, trauma.
With this in mind, Lucas rose from the sofa, and sat down in front of her. At Arle’s wary gaze, he was even more sure about his suspicion. Even after a year, his little girl didn’t trust him at all. If he had a heart, it would surely be aching.
He placed his hand on her head, and gently stroked the mismatched colored hair.
“I know you’ve lived a long life, I can tell you’re a warrior and were the savior and role model of many children.”
Arle frowned, she didn’t bother trying to figure out how Lucas had guessed, or known she was from another world, since it didn’t matter. It didn’t change she was now a child again, and that her purpose hadn’t changed. But seeing he knew so much, was it because of magic?
Lucas grinned at her frown and curiosity.
“Curious to know how I figured it out? I can teach you how. If you become my student.”
He normally wouldn’t take a student. Everyone was too dumb to understand his teachings. But he knew Arle would learn well, and fast. Plus, he’s postponed her lessons until she’s older. But a year old should be enough for her.
He watched her grab another cube of cheese while staring at him, munching on it slowly as if waiting, and even daring him to take it away. He smiled and pinched her small nose.
“Still, I can’t teach until you agree with a, ‘yes teacher!'”
Arle frowned and moved back to avoid his hand. Lucas simply smiled, and silently questioned his actions.
Yes, physical contact was necessary for Arle’s development, so she could grow up and trust him. Everything he’s done is to ensure she appreciates him, and trusts him. So when he needs her help, she’ll grant it, no questions asked.
But, that pinch and the sudden ache he felt after realizing she wouldn’t talk to him, couldn’t have been normal. He’ll need to distance himself for a bit…
At his dimming smile, Arle found herself trying to understand why he got so serious while he stood up and went back to the sofa. Arle never allowed her eyes to leave his frame. He plopped down and crossed his legs, resting his cheek on his hand as he looked at her.
“Arle, I’ll leave for a week tomorrow.”
She slightly tilted her head at him to signal a question. Why?
“Your food will be replenished with some of my magic, but I’ll give you an assignment.”
He snapped his fingers, and made a small bubble appear above his hand.
“Your first lesson, is mana. A substance every living person holds. You.”
He moved the bubble towards her. A blood, red one.
“Have something similar to it, but it’s corrupted. It flows inside your blood, and it hurts. Doesn’t it? That’s why you’re cursed.”
Arlecchino just stared at him. One, he didn’t answer her question, and two; what he said was true. Her bloodline has been cursed, and that curse has followed her here, enveloping her body in the familiar scortch she has always dealt with her entire life.
“That curse of yours, I can help you bend it into behaving like mana. Spells like these-“
He moved the bubble around her.
“Teleporting, telekinesis, even a small animal.”
Animal…? Lucas smiled at seeing her attention on him.
“When your magic is too grand, it forms a small being that carries your magic until you can handle it. You, my dear daugher-“
His smile morphed into a grin.
“Have three of those little creatures.”
She frowned while Lucas continued.
“They’re quite wary, won’t even get close to me. But they’re always nearby, watching and protecting you.”
If that was true, she’s never even felt their presence…
“Do you want to see them?”
Arle slowly nodded, but she hesitated at seeing Lucas grin at her response.
“Then, say ‘please.’ Arle, come on.”
She huffed, making Lucas grin wider as he waited. Arlecchino opened her mouth, and spoke in a high tone as she looked at him.
“I want to know.”
Lucas felt his grin and jaw drop, it took him a full minute to even believe she actually spoke, and four words too. He finally laughed, a mixture of relief and annoyance.
“Little brat. So you could speak, and so well too.”
He sighed and placed his hand on her head, smiling as he blended her hair colors together with a rough touch. Arle frowned and kept her gaze on him, seeing his cocky grin and attitude.
“Good. I’ll get them, if you call me dad.”
That earned him a bite right on his arm. He huffed with a smile, trying to keep his frown from showing as he pried her small, but sharp teeth off his sleeve.
“Alright, alright. Close your eyes.”
At her questioning gaze, Lucas unpromptedly pinched her nose. She frowned and moved back to avoid another pinch.
“Trust me, the little ones are quite shy, and against meeting you.”
Arlecchino repeated that sentence in her head, before choosing to trust him. She had already bitten him, a couple more hits and blood-debt directive will activate. It won’t make her capable of killing him, but it’ll be easier to escape with bond of life.
She watched Lucas for a minute, before complying. She closed her eyes and even covered them with her hands in case the little ones didn’t believe she couldn’t see them.
With her gaze covered, Lucas looked at the doorway, and used his finger to beckon someone closer. His magic wrapped around three creatures and made them float towards him. He grinned at each one, the oldest and biggest one tried kicking his face with its tail, but Lucas easily evaded it.
“Alright Arle, you can look now.”
She opened her eyes, and felt them grow wide at seeing the creatures. Two grey colored cats, one with a red tophat, the other with a teal bow on the end of her tail, and a small penguin that covered its eyes with its tiny fins.
“Let go of them.”
The command slips out before she registers who these little ones are. She stood up and showed her hands to Lucas.
“Hand them over. Now.”
Lucas hummed and knelt in front of her.
“So demanding, it seems I’ve failed to teach you manners.”
But this commanding attitude was perfect for an empress, or a simple mage. Not to mention, she looked adorable, trying to appear all high and mighty despite being a small, chubby toddler. She only had to treat him with respect, and knowing who Arle was before, he had to earn that respect.
And it started, by handing over what she wanted. The little ones fell on her palms, the cat with a top hat hissed at Lucas while the other wrapped her tail around the penguin and looked up at Arlecchino with wide, wonder filled eyes. Lucas smiled down at them.
“These, Arle, are your protectors and mana holders.”
Arlecchino couldn’t help but stare at them, three names popping into her head as she looked at each one. Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet…
Comment