Chapter 12

"So, let me recap there just for a second," Alexis held her finger to silence the solemn looking Agathus. "The scum-His highness! Was sent to a fake war between the Kaedmen Empire and the Eastern Empire along with his 18 other half-sibling princes, planned by the previous Emperor and the current Emperor of the East? This sounds like a drama." Alexis was now completely immersed in the unfolding story.

"That's right." An unexplainable emotion stormed behind Agathus' eyes.

"It was supposed to be a trap to kill all the illegitimate royal heirs, however, Alastair ended up killing the Eastern Royal family and destroyed the original plan. So the bet couldn't be finished through? Are any of the other princes alive?" Alexis again, felt that familiar pang she felt yesterday when speaking to his highness.

'His own family sent him to his death...'

"No, he was the only one who lived along with five other soldiers... It was a massacre, so it's known as the battle initiated by the Emperor Alastair to kill off his half sibling rivals." Alexis’ eyes widened as she stared at Agathus in shock.

"That's isn't! This! This is a bigger mess than I thought! I feel bad for the scumb- Emperor!" She shouted. 

'It was unfair! And evil!'

"But his highness was always looked down on even before this." Alexis furrowed her brows.

"What do you mean?" She asked, chewing on her lower lip to contain the cries of frustration.

"He's not like the other princes, his appearance far out-shined them along with his abilities, physical and mental. He was known as an evil genius before."

"Why evil?" 

"Well, you see, ... his highness is not," he paused and gave a Alexis a careful stare, "you mustn't treat his highness any different after you hear this."

"Okay?" She tilted her head, in wonder.

"His highness is only a half-blooded human..."

"...so what's the other half?" 

"Elf..."

"Oh, that's why he's so..." Alexis eyes brightened at the one thing that seemed to make any sense in this world.

"Elves are much stronger than humans and posses much more magic."

"So that's how he survived..." it dawned on Alexis like morning light.

"That's right, however, being mixed blood causes him to be heavily discriminated against. Just like me." Alexis head bobbed up at that.

'Like me?... oh.' She understood, 'so that's why he got so mad when I stared at Agathus like that. And when I stared at him as well' she blushed a bit embarrassed as she recalled her earlier self.

"But, if people don't like him because he's mixed raced then how can I fix something like that?" She felt lightheaded as she spoke.

"I'm not sure."

"That's helpful!" Alexis felt like crying.

"But Emilia said she definitely saw you. She confirmed it after she met you as well."

"Emilia? What do you mean?" 

"Elves can sometimes have visions that almost always come true. In that dream she saw you, standing by the emperor and being welcomed by the citizens!" 

"And what if it was just a dream?" 

"..."

"Oh my God!" Alexis held her dizzy head and threw her head on her pillow, "I'm going to die like this. If I failed College than how could I even do this? I'm a failure." She muttered to herself while pulling at her hair. 

"Miss?" A genuinely concerned Agathus leaned forward towards her.

'I can't just give up like this.' She thought.

"I've got an idea!" Alexis sprung up with a random burst of strength, "where's the Scumba- Emperor?!"

"In his quarters?" Agathus answered unsure of why she suddenly asked.

"Then I'll see you later!" Alexis sprinted off leaving a flabbergasted Agathus who called after pathetically.

"B- but he's in a bad mood!" His voice croaked in astonishment.

Asking a dwarf if they could direct her, Alexis soon found herself before the doors to the scumbags room. A bit hesitant to face the raging tiger she saw yesterday, she gulped, but her hands still turned the handle as she pushed open the door and stepped in.

"Hey? Alastair?" She called meekly looking around the huge and richly decorated room, it was similar to the ones you could view in old manors back home, but lively and not dusty.

She stepped around, he wasn't sleeping, nor sitting on his couch. She spotted a familiar door and recalled the study she was dragged into. He must be there!

She noticed the dressing screen drawn near the study door, but didn't pay attention to it until she caught a whiff of a smoky perfume scent.

'Incense?' She turned to the scent and her eyes widened in shock.

"E-Emperor?!" She cried as she stared at the naked man sitting in the bath tin. His eyes were shut and Alexis couldn't help but think he was dead.

His appearance, regardless of looking dead, was even more attractive as his broad toned shoulders were in view. Thankfully, the fear of him being dead distracted Alexis from his body.

She walked over to him, crouching down. She stared at his head that hung back. A pillow cushioned it.

"Hey Emperor?" She called and received no reply, "Alastair?" Nothing. "Scumbag?" Still nothing. 

She reached over to pinch his cheek which she did. His eyes shot open at that, snapping towards her as his body lurched forward to jump up.

Alexis cried at the action, "d-don't get up unless you're wearing underwear!" He paused, realising who it was.

"Why did you enter my room without saying anything?" He said, his voice neither angry nor upset. It was just bitter and husky.

"I have something to tell you!" Alexis said, now facing the other way.

"That doesn't explain why you tried to take advantage of me and peaked at me bathing." He retorted, now he was irritated.

"I didn't know you were bathing!" She squeaked out.

Her cheeks burned a shade so deep she’d put a tomato shame- No scratch that, a beet would hide its self in the presence of her currently extremely red face.