Chapter 26: A Visit From Stepmother

The royal training grounds was three acres of packed earth and reinforced stone, designed to withstand the destructive power of awakened combat classes.

Fourth Prince Bradley was sweating as he trained.

He shot out his right palm.

"Shocker! Scorcher! Formation Delta!"

Two of his magic beasts.

The first was a blue rodent, nearly the size of a small dog, with golden lightning marks crackling along its spine.

The second plunged from the sky on wings of fire, a hawk whose feathers burned with an fire. Each flap of its wings sent embers scattering all over the training grounds.

"Shocker use Spark Flash!"

The electric rat launched itself into the air and unleashed an explosion of concentrated bolt of blue lightning from its body that tore straight through the clouds.

"Then, Scorcher use Flamestorm! NOW!"

The fire hawk screeched as it breathed out a sea of fire that evaporated the thick clouds and chaotically clashed with the lightning bolt head-on.

BOOM!

The explosion rattled the training grounds.

There’s now a gaping hole punched through the skies.

Bradley dropped to one knee, gasping.

His mana reserves were nearly depleted.

’The synergy is there. Lightning and fire feed each other. But the timing... I released Flamestorm half a second too late. If I’d been faster, the explosion would’ve been 30% larger.’

He clenched his fist.

’I need to be faster. Stronger. To show Father that I’m the one worthy of the throne.’

From the observation balcony, King Aldrius watched with keen interest. His golden throne had been brought out for comfort, and he sat with one leg crossed over the other and a goblet of wine in his hand.

"Impressive. Truly impressive."

Beside him, Grand Chamberlain Hershant nodded.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. It seems the Fourth Prince has gained remarkable control over his [Beast Tamer] class, which is a unique class all in its own. I would say, only the Second Prince possesses a more unique class."

King Aldrius laughed boomingly.

"Gahaha! And Claire as well! My genes were meant to be spread, old friend. Every child I’ve sired has been a masterpiece in their own right! Perhaps I should consider taking another wife. The kingdom could always use more beautiful, talented heirs."

It was clearly a joke.

The servants behind him even chuckled nervously.

But when Aldrius glanced at his Fourth Queen, expecting at least a small smile, he found nothing.

Minerva sat in her armchair, posture perfect as her raven hair flowed down her shoulders. Her ruby eyes were fixed on the training grounds below, but they weren’t watching Bradley.

They were somewhere else entirely.

"Minerva."

"..."

"Minerva."

Her head turned slowly, as if she’d just remembered her husband existed. Her celestial red eyes, that was always so bewitching to him, looked at him with no warmth.

"Are you well?" the King asked.

Minerva rested her perfect porcelain chin in her dainty palm as her gaze drifted back toward the grounds.

"I’m worried about Adonis."

Words enough to make the King’s blood boil.

Adonis. Adonis. ADONIS.

What was this woman’s obsession with that boy?!

Before that disastrous Awakening Ceremony, Minerva had never spared Adonis a single glance. She’d treated him like she treated all her stepchildren: like they didn’t exist. She’d saved her warmth for the Third Prince, and Aldrius had tolerated it because at least she wasn’t fawning over his children.

But now? Now she gave Adonis gifts. Took romantic walks with him. Let him touch her. Worry about him.

Since when was she like this?!

Since when did she stop paying attention to him?

Aldrius had taken her out of slavery. Given her a life of royalty. Made her a queen when she was nothing but a blood witch from a savage forest. And this was how she repaid him?

He glared viciously at the aloof, raven-haired beauty.

"Minerva."

She didn’t look at him.

"I was thinking... perhaps we could visit the vineyard. Like old times. I know you enjoy the wine there, and we could feed the ducks by the lake, and—"

"No."

Minerva rose from her chair. She didn’t bow nor even excuse herself. She walked away as her black dress flowed elegantly behind her shapely peach.

Aldrius gnashed his teeth at her.

’My wife, my property. That woman... a part of me wants to hit her to remind her of her place. I own her. I bought her. She was just a slave before I mad her queen.’

But Minerva is a blood witch, he doesn’t dare to provoke.

Aldrius shook his head and sighed coolly.

"...Women."

Bradley watched his mother leave as Shocked nuzzled against his legs while Scorcher dimmed its bright flames and landed on his shoulder.

’She’s worried about Adonis...?’

...

It was a new day.

But for Prussia, it felt exactly the same.

Adonis still hadn’t left his room.

She stood guard outside his door like she had every day for the past week. Her thighs, the short pleated combat skirt and fitted breastplate drew stares from every servant who passed, but she ignored them all.

Her focus was on the door behind her.

’Ugh, does he plan to die in there...?’

Then, the first group of visitors arrived shortly after sunrise.

They were maids this time and a dozen of them, carried trays of food and fresh flowers.

"Lady Prussia! We’ve come to see the Fifth Prince!"

"He needs to eat! Look how thin he’s gotten!"

Prussia sighed.

"No."

The maids sulked defeatedly. You’d think after hearing the same words from Prussia everyday they’d get used to it.

A bold brunette maid with freckles stepped forward.

"Lady Prussia, please understand. We’re not trying to take him from you. We just want to—"

"No."

The maids retreated, grumbling.

Prussia’s eye twitched out of frustration, she cussed that bastard blondie prince everyday for making the entire kingdom think she was his fiancée.

The next group came an hour later.

Noblewomen this time.

A viscount’s daughter, a baroness, and several unmarried ladies from fairly prominent families.

"Lady Prussia, we’ve heard the Fifth Prince is unwell. We’ve brought tea and biscuits."

"He needs a gentle presence. We can provide that."

"Please, just let us see him. Just for a moment."

Prussia folded her muscular arms.

"No."

"Lady Prussia, we understand you’re his... fiancée. But surely you can see that monopolizing him like some commodity during his time of need isn’t healthy. The Fifth Prince needs variety. Different sources of comfort."

"I said. No."

The noblewomen jealously glared at her and left.

The veins on Prussia’s forehead were throbbing brutally because of these women, and especially that Adonis. Now she looked like the obsessed fiancée that wouldn’t let anyone but her see the man she’s supposedly engaged to.

"...I hate him." (╬ Ò﹏Ó)

This is getting old. She hoped today wouldn’t be another copy of yesterday and it certainly wasn’t... because the woman standing before her now was Queen Minerva.

The Fourth Queen stood with a majestic, stern face, her arms folded under her breasts, pushing them up in a way that would make any man lose his head.

Prussia sighed with tired-looking eyes.

"Your Majesty. I’m sorry, but he’s not in the mood to—"

"I don’t care."

"I just said—"

"Shush. I’d like to see Adonis. Don’t get in my way."

Prussia’s eyes narrowed.

"I said he’s not in the—"

Minerva stepped closer with glowing red eyes.

"I have no interest in leaving here until I see my Adonis. If you have a problem with that... perhaps we can settle this with a bit of violence. I’ve found myself quite angry lately. The state Adonis has been in... it’s made me want to hurt something."

Prussia’s blood ran hot.

’My Adonis? I don’t like this woman.’

She pulled at her sword.

"Queen or not, I’ll cut you down where you stand."

Minerva’s smile widened. Blood-red lances materialized around her and hovered in the air like angry wasps.

"Try it, barbarian."

By no means could anyone call Prussia a gentle person. Many of her suitors had learned that the hard way. They called her a mad dog. A raging she-beast. A woman who’d rather fight than flirt and kill than kiss.

But something about this witch, this queen, made her blood boil in a way it never had before. Maybe it was the way Minerva said "my" Adonis. How self-entitled can she be? Or maybe it was the possessive look in her eyes.

She hated nobles and royals like this.

"What’s going on here?"

Both women froze. Adonis stood in the doorway with messy golden hair and dark circles under his eyes. He looked terrible, exhausted, and any other bad word you could use.

Minerva’s murderous aura vanished instantly and her blood lances dissolved into red mist.

"Oh, honey! Are you well now?"

She eagerly rushed toward him.

Prussia blinked. "Honey?"

Minerva smiled, chin held high, as she walked past Prussia and wrapped her arms around Adonis’s waist.

"Of course. Do you have a problem with me saying that?"

She glanced back at Prussia with a smirk.

"Everyone knows you’re not really his fiancée. He’s not into barbaric women. And besides..."

Her arms tightened around Adonis.

"...I’d drain all the blood from his body if he got with any woman without my approval. I like to think of myself as the superior one in this relationship."

Adonis gave her a deadpan look.

"Uh-huh."

Prussia, on the other hand, didn’t like her comment.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING BARBARIC?!"

She swung her sword at Minerva’s neck. The blood witch responded instantly as blood lances reformed around her. But before either could connect, Adonis threw himself between them with his arms spread wide.

"STOP!"

Both women froze.

Minerva was the first to dispel her magic. She placed a hand on her ample hip and clicked her tongue.

"Fine. I refuse to be provoked by someone so crass anyway."

She placed her hand atop Adonis’s head, staring down at him with stolid, half-lidded vixen eyes.

"Now be a gentleman and take me inside. Normally I’d prefer you come to my chambers, the bed is bigger, and it’s more comfortable for two, but I’ll make an exception this time."

[Notice! Queen Minerva deeply missed you. Even while eating, even while having tea, all she could think about was you. She’s been worried for days but was too scared to come earlier. She feared, like the other women, you wouldn’t want to see her. Despite being a proud, bold woman, Minerva is also deeply afraid of rejection. Her affection level is 99.]

Adonis looked up at her proud face.

She wasn’t the type to pretend coming here to cheer him up was a chore. But she was the type to make you adore her for it and even praise and worship her presence.

That’s just who she was.

He smiled tiredly.

"Minerva..."

When she saw him smile, her expression softened.

The moment Minerva saw it, she huffed.

"I haven’t even gotten you to the bedroom yet and you’re already smiling like that. It seems my job here is done. Maybe I should leave now and come back next month."

There was a smug, oddly sexy smile on her face.

It tempted him that he yanked her wrist which made her gasp softly as he pulled her into his room.

Prussia crossed her arms slowly over her chest.

’She cheered him up... just like that. Maybe being a little soft isn’t such a bad thing after all. Women like her... they understand men in ways I don’t think I will.’

She pouted, just slightly, and turned away.

...

Inside the room, Adonis and Minerva sat side by side on the old, rickety bed. He studied her... her palms pressed tense against the dusty foam mattress, her shoulders held rigid and high against the smooth line of her jaw.

She looked uncomfortable. Nervous, even.

"...Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

Minerva scoffed, looking away.

"Of course I am. Why would you even ask that?"

He reached out and lifted a few strands of her hair between his fingers and she blushed a little.

"Your hair... it’s white." 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Her shoulders tensed harder as she kept her embarrassed gaze fixed on the far wall.

"A blood witch’s hair is tied to their emotions. So, it turns pale when we’re... nervous."

[Congrats, Queen Minerva has reached maximum affection level of 99 and wants to get intimate with the Host!]