364: I can teach you (part 1)

I can teach you (part 1)

As Egon and Noctavian continued their silent walk side by side, Adela found herself increasingly able to draw comparisons between their physical features. The proportions of their arms and legs were remarkably similar, as was their overall air.0

A strange feeling tugged at her heart, a combination of soreness and warmth.

They continued walking and Adela trailed behind them, not too close, pretending to be interested in spending time with Kannen while ensuring she stayed within earshot, too nervous to leave the two of them to their own devices.

Then abruptly, Noctavian came to a halt which in turn caused Egon to stop and look down at him.

"You have the wrong impression," the Crown Prince of Emoria began, his tone as arid as a desert morning.

The lines on Egon's face relaxed, hinting at his plan to remain patient. "What do you mean?"

"Getting to know someone requires the willingness of both parties," Noctavian stated.

Adela's expectations were met: Egon, eager to build a connection with his son, was pushing Noctavian, and the seven-year-old was naturally resisting.

"Persistence and perseverance can ignite one's willingness, wouldn't you agree?" Egon asked with a soft tone.

"...You can't unilaterally decide that you want to get to know her now."

...What? Adela wondered if she had misheard her son.

Egon's eyes locked onto Noctavian's with admiration, a subtle smirk dancing on his lips.

"I already told you in her chamber," The Crown Prince served the reminder with a tone devoid of respect, "You can't approach her so casually and expect me not to intervene in your affairs. How many times must I repeat myself for you to grasp it?"

Egon's smile faded as Noctavian's tone escalated.

"Patrolling beneath her window as if it's your territory, riding your horse and shadowing her down here. What gives you the right to be around her?"

"I've just arrived. I'm not rushing anyone into anything," Egon answered calmly. "But nobody can dictate what I can or cannot do, not even you, Noctavian."

It was understandable for Noctavian to have the wrong impression that Egon was here for Adela. But why wasn't Egon correcting him? Did he not realize that masking his intentions to pursue a relationship with Noctavian under the guise of rekindling a connection with Adela would only antagonize his son?

Of course, he didn't. How could he? Why would he make the right assumption about Noctavian's reactions when he barely knew him at all? Egon's impulsiveness would soon exact a heavy toll.

An awkward silence lingered between father and son, eventually disrupted by Egon's deep, warm tone.

"Look, we all need some time to adjust to each other, and I understand your protectiveness over your mother. Just know that I only wish for her happiness, I always have."

Noctavian let out a derisive scoff. "Her happiness? You wouldn't even recognize it if it smacked you in the face! I bet you didn't know what it was seven years ago either... What I demand from you is far simpler. You shall bring neither of them any heartache."

"…What is that suppose to mean?" Egon asked, voicing the question that had crossed Adela's mind.

"My words are clear. Deliver this warning to Alkadim."

Adela's heart sank like a stone in still waters. Things were already complicated, and involving more people in this conversation would only add to the chaos.

"Did Andreas do something wrong?" Egon inquired.

"He dared offer my aunt advice on making the right marital choices yesterday. It's laughable."

"…Explain further," Egon demanded, his tone guarded now that the topic was Andreas.

"No explanations are owed to you, nor does Alkadim deserve any. Just relay the warning to him for now; that will suffice... His Majesty and I are permitting you to stay in the land you own, but both of us must be assured that you pose no threat to Lanark. Can you guarantee that?" 

"You share the blood of the very people you accuse of being a menace to your homeland. Kaiser de Lanark knows that we harbor no ill intentions to these lands. You should know it too." 

Another pause settled between them, and Adela half-expected Noctavian to lecture his father on the proper way to address the King of Emoria next. But it was Egon who broke the silence.

"Regarding Andreas, there's something you should consider," he shook his head. "A bit of empathy can go a long way, actually. As you mentioned, he's a centuries-old being who's been denied his one true mate." He choked on the last word, his voice breaking with emotion. "...You can't begin to comprehend how agonizing that is."

A lump formed in Adela's throat as she thought about Andreas and his enduring bond with Larissa. Unlike Egon's fleeting connection with her, Andreas's love for Larissa transcended the passage of time. The thought of watching her from afar while knowing she was about to marry another must be excruciating.

"You need to accept Andreas for who he is. I would never ask him to change," Egon added. His words caused Adela to ache even more, as Egon's defense of House von Conradie's members seemed as if his life depended on it, something she had never been included in.

"If the two of you persist in your current stance, I won't be held responsible for the consequences, and you'll come to regret it."

Upon the direct threat Noctavian made, Adela's gaze shifted from her falcon in the skies to Egon. His face remained relaxed, and his eyes surprisingly held warmth as if unbothered by the argument at all.

"You don't have the right to meddle so extensively in their lives," Noctavian's voice grew louder as he continued, "Your entire arrival was an accident—a chance occurrence that should never have persisted for this long! Just leave already!"

Adela could almost see the snap occurring in Egon's head as his patience gave way to anger.

"If they hadn't kept your existence a secret from me, I would have been here since the day you opened your eyes! Whenever I think about it, I am consumed by fury, the type that overwhelms even a Beast like me!"

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