Valerian, The Legendary

Morgana did state that she wanted to take revenge. She despised the man who was supposed to be her father and her younger brother, who pretended to be the apple of her eye to the rest of the world.

He would humiliate her in private for being a child out of wedlock and for being the daughter of a maid. There were many times that she was almost beaten to death. Valerian chuckled and commented, “How similar the childhoods we have had.”

Morgana shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. They continued talking until the stars came out in the sky. They only woke up when a messenger came and said, “Your Highness, forgive me for intruding; Her Excellency has summoned you and the princess to the palace for dinner.”

Valerian nodded and said, “Morgana, let’s go; someone is getting impatient.”

Morgana nodded and left the place. After the conversation they just had, there were almost no walls between the two of them. They were children of a budding age; their values and morals were different. Despite the cunning and strength they had, the two people were still very honest at the bottom of their hearts.

The two people got to ground level and then rushed back to the palace. Soon, they found themselves in the dining hall. Valeria saw Fragrantia glaring at him, while Azula smiled cheekily as if saying, “Now you are in trouble, brat.”

Valerian immediately put on the innocent child’s face and skipped his way to the Empress under the eyes of all the people. He knew that the lady was genuinely upset with him for skipping his meals; he had to coax her now.

Morgana did not expect this reaction from him and looked forward to what he would do. Valerian did nothing out of the ordinary, instead hugging the lady from the side. He said, “Can you not be angry with me? The princess and I were talking about important things, and we lost track of time.”

.....

Then he pecked her cheek gently. This gesture surprised everyone; they did not expect the prince to violate the royal protocols like this. The monarchs were very strict about maintaining physical contact in public; even Azula, the most beloved member of the royal family, did not get to enjoy such public displays of affection.

Valerian smiled at the lady, who appeared to be shocked at this moment. After a few moments, Fragrantia sighed and said, “Go take a seat and eat properly. You are not allowed to get off the table until you are bloated.”

Valerian snuggled closer and said, “Yes, ma’am.”

He then beckoned for Morgana to take a seat next to him and began eating the food. He pretended not to look at Azula, who had her mouth wide open. Fragrantia nodded as she noticed him eating properly and said, “Azula, eat.”

The princess pouted as she said, “Yes, Your Excellency.”

She was irritated by this sudden change in her mother’s heart. In the past, when she tried to embrace her mother in public, she was scolded and told to behave properly. Fragrantia noticed this and said, after gulping down the mouthful of food in her mouth, “Azula, he is younger than you and knows less.”

She was attempting to justify Valerian’s youth and lack of knowledge of royal protocol. Azula snorted and said, “It is fine if you do not wish to punish or scold him, but can you not defend him so openly, mother?”

Valerian raised his head and with a cheeky smile, he cast a few signs to her, ‘Do not be jealous, try to copy me.’

Azula sensed the corner of her mouth twitching and said, “Mother, your youngest son is trying to rebel against his elder sister and teasing her.”

Morgana almost choked on her soup when she heard this, and Fragrantia said, “Val, be good.”

Azula could not help but look at her mother with shock and ask, “That is all?”

The empress was put in a tough spot; she could not hurt her daughter, but she also could not bear to scold Valerian either. Valerian stepped up to save her and said, “I apologize for my actions, Sister.”

Azula glared at him for a few seconds and snorted as she said, “You better be.”

The meal passed in a jiffy, and Valerian stood up only when he was bloated with food. The boy sighed and said, “Someone, carry me back to my room, please.”

Fragrantia shook her head with a smile and said, “You will have to do it yourself; this is the punishment for not eating properly.”

The child put on a tragic expression, slumped down on the floor, and said, “I will leave when I am able to.”

Fragrantia nodded and said, “Someone get the prince a thick carpet to rest on so he does not catch a cold.”

Azula nodded and supported her mother in this. Valerian raised his arm high and said, “Cruel monarchs, all of you.”

The dining hall was filled with chuckles as the Empress and the Princess walked out after greeting Morgana. They tried to get her to join them, but the girl shook her head and said that she wanted to accompany Valerian.

The empress was surprised, but then she nodded with a gentle smile on her face. Valerian stayed sprawled on the floor. He said, “Why do you not leave? What will you do here? Speed up the digestion?”

Morgana said, “You know that I cannot laugh; why do you try to make me laugh so hard?”

Valerian smiled and said, “Your eyes are enough to show your joy.”

Morgana shook her head and sat down beside him. Then she saw him breathing heavily and took the initiative to undo his collar button, and the collar chain was taken off too. Morgana asked, “Now you can breathe fine.”

Valerian gave her a gentle nod. Morgana asked, “Why do you always wear this collar chain? It is so odd.”

The prince cast a glance and made a few signs with his hand , ‘That is my voice, without the collar chain, I cannot speak.’

Morgana was shocked and could not believe what he just told her; she asked, “What do you mean? Are you not a mage?”

Valerian nodded with a bitter smile on his face and said, “I am a battlemage, but the cost of my abilities is my voice and my tears. I may not be able to speak human language, but I can talk to beasts freely.”

Morgana was shocked to learn this fact. Valerian said, ‘This fact is known only to the members of the royal family and my master.’

His words made Morgana doubt reality, she couldn’t help but pinch her cheek gently to see if it was a dream. She came to terms with the fact and asked, “Why did you tell me this? Do you not think I can stab you in the back? This is vital information, Val”

It was not only the boy who was using the first name to address the other party. Morgana was also calling him Valerian earlier on the wall, and when the boy thought it was too time-consuming, he said that she could call him Val.

Valerian nodded and said, ‘Your questions are valid, but I know that you will not do this to me. I have seen the longing for trust and acceptance in your eyes. I can tell that you will not break the trust of the person who accepts you for the way you are or for what you are.’

Morgana gazed at the boy with a calm gaze for a few seconds and said, “When did you get to know me so well?”

Valerian smiled and replied, ‘When you told me about the things you wish you had.’

“I wonder when the rest of my wishes will come true.”

The prince said, ‘You should follow my suggestion, and assassinate the entire Centurion family with ease. Why do you have to stick with the path of honor? Or do you wish to sacrifice your life for them in order to get a chance at redemption and recognition? I do not understand what is so tricky about killing them before they see you as a threat to them. You cannot hide from the eyes of those cunning and power hungry wolves. Jamal and his family are not fools to allow a snake to grow in their sleeves.’

His words surprised the girl, she did not expect him to say such facts so openly. Her first reaction was to look around to see if her maid saw any of this. Valerian tugged a corner of her dress and said, ‘Do not worry, this area is cordoned by Lumen Experts.’

Morgana breathed a sigh of relief and said, “What is wrong with you, talking about such matters in the open. Have you gone mad, Val?”

Valerian chuckled and said, ‘Why not, it is fun.’