Chapter 15: _ The cursed suffers
He hated colors.
One of the many things that provoke him was colors. Colors were one of the things which made him more distant from Valentina. The woman loved colors especially when she paints her lips with deep bloody red colors every day.
However, whenever she was coming to see him, the red lipstick was always off.
"Why is there one with blue hair?" Celio, as if he could read Cargan's mind said aloud.
Cargan groaned in displeasure. "I must say, I am surprised for this will be the first time Valentina and Balefire will make such a pick. The girl has the guts to arrive here without removing the blue dye or coating it with a brown one"
"I am sure there must be a good reason for such an act on Valentina and Balefire's part" Celio reasoned.
Cargan's eyes were still fixated on the happenings in front of the duplex. "That one needs to go" he declared.
For the first time in a long time, his matron and butler displeased him. "Let's go, Celio," he told his friend who had remained silent upon his last words.
"Yes, your eminence." Celio bowed and started to walk behind him as he made his way back to his palace.
Celio could be adamant at times. Many times, he had told the young man –who was more of a brother to him than his brothers even to regard him without formality whenever they were alone.
"Celio?" he called.
Celio's reply was vigilant. "Prince Cargan?" he called back.
Cargan was amused by that sole act of Celio. The young man who should be about the same age as him in appearance was the only person who could make him laugh in this decade.
"Can you drop the formalities when we are alone? Call me Cargan?" he demanded.
Celio replied without mincing words, still walking behind him. "No your eminence. I can not"
Cargan halted abruptly in his tracks. Yes- he'd be dreaming if he expected any less from Celio.
Still, he enjoyed scenarios like this one. Seeing tough Celio all jumpy entertains him.
"Why Celio? Tell me, why?"
Celio who had also halted looked him in the eye. "Because you are much older than me. I see you like a father, not a friend," he said.
This, for some reason, made Cargan laugh out loud. Celio on the other was silent and in wonder at the object of his prince's laugh.
Cargan pointed beside him. "Walk with me then. Not behind me. You can do that at least, right?"
"Yes, your eminence. I can do that much" Celio closed the distance between them and soon, they walked side by side.
"What are my schedules for today?" Cargan asked.
"Owing to the admission of the new girls, you don't have much to do. But you have a meeting with the Duke"
Cargan halted. "Have there been any new developments?"
"I think it is concerning the ice line. Since prince Fionn is always rumored to be sick from time to time, it has been hard to conform ice in all of the other lines including ours." Celio supplied.
Cargan sighed for the second time since the dusk. "I feel pity for Fionn above all of my other brothers"
"I do too your eminence. It is hard to see you suffer in days you become adamant and do not meet up with your curse requirements. A man who suffers with all of you when you fail your assignments suffers the greatest of all"
They were in front of the palace now and the security guards were bowing with respect as they walked into the grand palace. The large television set was on and tuned in to the lines national channel.
The Television set was always on even though there was no one to watch or listen to it always.
"Not to mention there are no requirements for him to meet up with just to save himself on days like this" Cargan grunted. "If we were to find a cure Celio and I find it first, I will give Fionn a chance to save himself first. He deserves it"
Celio seemed to not be a fan of that pledge. "Your eminence. Do not make such a vow out of a moment of utter pity. You suffer gravely to meet your requirements too. I see it and I know it."
.
As they walked through the corridor to get into his study, the figure in front of them ceased their discussion.
"Your eminence" Duke Garret boomed and as he stepped aside, the duchess heavily plastered face which never failed to exasperate Cargan beamed.
Good, he brought the witch too.
During all of Cargan's immortal rule, Dukes were figures of nobility whom he saw as figures of greediness and bottomless thirst for power.
With a bow of her head. "Has your eminence been living well?" Duchess Valda curtsied.
As if she gave a damn how he had been or not.
.
"I am very well Valda. I am honored to be awarded your gracious presence, Duke Garret" he addressed the couple ironically.
The pretentious remarks about being honored by one another's presence when in reality, none of them were fond of each other at all.
Cargan changed his mind about going to his study and made his way to his royal office instead.
"No, no your eminence. Do not say that. It is we who are honored to be in the presence of your immortality" Duke Garret's voice filled his ears.
Arggh- his ears would bleed from such a lie, Cargan thought as he entered the door Celio had pulled open for him.
As they entered, "Noble Duke and Duchess" Celio gestured.
Cargan was moving over to sit on the desk chair so, his back was turned to the couple and Celio.
He however heard Duke Garret's voice. "Celio. It was nice to see your face in the documentary. Has your qi leveled up at all?"
Was it necessary to ask that kind of question?
It was known that Celio had a weak orange qi thus, leveling up has been difficult for him.
He had barely leveled up the first stage of his orange qi at his twentieth.
"State the purpose for arranging this appointment," Cargan demanded, too annoyed to hold the pretentious courtesy.
In obedience or mere impatience, Duke Garret began to state his business. "Your divinity, I am starting to believe prince Fionn's excuse for the failure of the smooth formation of ice in our line is a lie. Perhaps, he has a brotherly brawl with you and is taking it out on the entire line!"
'Breath Cargan, breath' Cargan had to soothe himself for his anger was beginning to purr into life.
"I assure you, Garrett, that there is no such thing between me and my brother. The failure of Fionn to provide his blessing for the free formation of ice in our line is merely as a result of his sickness and weakness" he managed to say.
Valda took to chirping in. "But isn't this sickness of his becoming too occasional? Of all the lines and elements why is his the scarcest?"
His fingers were already sinking into the armchair. "You all should put your mind to rest. We will hold our brotherhood meeting in three weeks and Fionn will be attending. This matter will be tended by me and the solution will be provided"
"Solution better comes fast because all of our bar businesses are suffering grave losses. Who drinks uniced wines in this century and age?" Duke Garret whose voice was beginning to rise hollered.
Valda also added. "If it is war they are asking for, our line is more than powerful enough to send war to them!"
Bang!
He banged the desk in front of him. This greedy divine persons who only cared about their pockets dared to declare war against his brother?!
"There will be no such thing as war between my line and the ice line or any other of the lines!" Cargan yelled and all of the dust that was glued to the ground, on all of the soles of their shoes, and probably their clothes rose in reaction to his anger.
The entire large office room had become a cloud of dust until they sizzled and flew right in front of the Duke and Duchess, ready to attack.
"Your eminence!" Celio called him to order in fright.
One of the reasons why it was necessary to keep Celio around.
"Forgive us your divinity!" the duke and duchess had chorused in horrification and finally, Cargan was forced to calm down.
Returning back in speed to the original place they had risen from where the speck of dust and sands.
"I will look into this. Please, continue to endure with Fionn for a while, and do not promote violence" Cargan said in a bid to put an end to the meeting.
Understanding his point, the duke and duchess lept to their feet.
"Thanks for your consideration, your eminence. The growth of the nobles is the growth of the entire line. Do remember" the duke dared to say yet.
Cargan nodded. There should be no more outbursts from him. "I'll take your leave now," he said the to the duo.
"Yes, your divinity. Goodbye" Valda replied to him and he watched them leave.
As Valda reached the door, she stiffen her chin up when she caught Celio's glance. She probably felt embarrassed that Celio had witnessed that.
But— Celio had witnessed that and many more.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone