First Arc (King of Euphorion) End – 61. Erase His Past

The sun above Luminus City began to lean toward the western horizon. Cley walked down the corridor to the study room at White Moon Castle after cancelling all His Majesty meetings with the rest noblewomen on Chancellor Allan's list. Most of them looked disappointed, but with Euphorion's current condition they understood that Angel must be busy. They only asked to reschedule their meeting after the war ended.
Cley entered the study room and found Claire stiffened near the desk. Her hands were holding a pile of documents but her eyes that were still swollen and reddened after crying stared out the window.

Cley breathed a heavy sigh. He knew that Pearl Gate City's incident was too sudden, both of them were devastated by this incident. They also had heard today's court decision that Euphorion would declare war against another kingdom and knew about the Kingdom of Asteria's attack on the Northern outpost. It felt like things changed quickly in just one night. Yesterday they were still having fun at the New Year party but now suddenly, they had lost their hometown and worried about the war that would happen soon.

He approached Claire and patted her shoulder gently. She startled and quickly resumed tidying up the pile of documents in front of her without saying anything.
"Take a rest. Let me take care of it," said Cley, helping her tidy up the desk.

She glanced at Cley, his face looked pale and tired. His eye bags were visible. It seemed like he hadn't slept last night.
"You are the one who needs to sleep." Then she turned her gaze to Cley.
"Your face is so messed up, I even can't recognize you."

"But I'm still handsome, right?" said Cley, giving her a big smile, trying to cheer her up. Normally if he said it, Claire would reply by mocking him. But not this time, instead she hugged him tightly and buried her face on his shoulder.
"Promise me, you won't leave alone... Now you are my only family, " she said in a muffled voice, slowly his blazer wet by her tears.

He placed one of his hands on her back, while the other stroked her hair slowly.
"I promise I won't leave you, " he said in a gentle voice.

She released her arms and Cley helped her to wipe her tears.
"Everything will be fine... All we can do is do our duty to help His Majesty, " he said.

Claire nodded in reply. Then she realized she hadn't seen His Majesty after she saw him entered the main hall this morning.
"Cley, do you know where His Majesty is?" she asked.

He shook his head.
"I already asked Chancellor Allan, he only said that His Majesty was taking care of the Northern outpost with the four elemental spirits."

Claire thought for a moment.
"Did he go to the Northern outpost after hearing the news?" she guessed.

"No way! The Northern Outpost is so far away, there's no way he left without preparation! Besides, there are already General Gaia's troops guarding it. He won't possibly go there!" said Cley in an emphatic tone.

Claire looked at Cley in surprise at his reaction.

"I mean... He's a king, he doesn't need to handle it himself, right?" he said again with a calmer tone. His guilt began to seize his heart when he remembered how he threw his anger to His Majesty yesterday.
'No... There's no way His Majesty went there ... If he's risking his life just because of my words I won't be able to forgive myself ...' thought Cley.

The dark aura that suddenly appeared in the middle of the room startled them. When the dark aura disappeared, Angel, Frost and Flare appeared from there.

"Cley, Claire, what are you doing here? You should rest," said Angel, staring at them who were still stiffened near his desk.

Now they understood what Chancellor Allan meant this morning. As soon as Cley returned to his senses, he immediately answered.
"W-We're fine."

"Don't overexert yourself, " he said again before turning his eyes to Frost and Flare.
"Frost ordered my new troops to get ready."
"Flare, call Chancellor Allan and the finance minister."

"Yes, Your Majesty, " they answered together and left.

He averted his eyes to Cley and Claire.
"Keep what you just saw a secret, " he said as he walked to his chair.

They answered with a nod.

As soon as he sat in his chair, he took several documents and checked them as usual. Even though they could guess he had just returned from the Northern outpost but he looked calm as if nothing had happened. In confusion, finally, Cley decided to ask.
"Your Majesty, how is the Northern Outpost's condition?"

"For the time being, everything is under control. Gaia and Gale will take care of the rest, " he answered without turning his eyes to them.

His calmness made them more confused.
"Your Majesty, is there will be a war soon?" asked Cley again.

"Yes, that's why I'm preparing it."

They exchanged glances in confusion. Euphorion would be at war but why did he look so calm?

He lowered the document on his hand and turned his gaze towards them.
"I forgot to tell you, I will be gone for a long time soon. I will assign you to help Chancellor Allan while I am gone."

"Where are you going?" said Claire worriedly.

"I will lead the war to Asteria," he answered casually. Then he returned his attention to the paper sheet on his hand as if leading a war was a normal thing for him.

They fell silent when they heard his words. Cley looked down in guilt and clenched his fists.
'This is my fault... He was going to go to war because of me,' thought Cley.
"Take me with you!"

"No," he replied.

Cley raised his head.
"Why? Didn't you teach me how to fight? I can help you!" he insisted.

Angel sighed as he raised up from his chair and stood before Cley. He knew Cley was very stubborn about things like this, so it was better to let him prove himself than arguing with him.

Angel took his sword and threw it at Cley.
"If you can land a cut with it, I will let you come along. But if I can snatch Nightmare from you, you have to stay."

Cley looked at the sword in his hands before returning his gaze to Angel in doubt.
"Your Majesty, I cannot hurt you."

"Nightmare won't hurt me," he said as he walked to the empty space in the middle of the room.

Cley tightened his grip on the black sword on his hand and looked at Angel with determination. He took out the sword. While Claire walked away from them.

Cley dashed as he raised his hand to slash Angel. But before the sword reached him, Angel kicked Cley's wrist and threw Nightmare out of his grasp. The sword was flung up, quickly, Angel snatched the sword and aimed it at Cley.

Cley paused for a moment before finally looking down in disappointment. Angel lowered his sword and returned to his chair without saying anything, his hand took another sheet of documents and worked as usual.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my words yesterday, " said Cley out of blue.

"It's fine, just don't repeat it again, " he answered without taking his eyes off from the document on his hand.

Cley clenched his hands, holding back his sadness. While Claire looked down, trying to cover her tears that began to drip. They had just lost Major Bernard, now His Majesty would go to war. They knew, even though Angel always acted cold, he protected and loved them like his own sibling.

Suddenly, Cley approached and hugged Angel.
"Promise me, you have to take care of yourself, " he said, his eyes starting to glaze over.

Angel could only be stunned in surprise on his chair. Before his surprise disappeared, Claire also approached and hugged him.
"Your Majesty... You must come home safely..." she said with a sob.

He breathed a short sigh as a smile started to appear on his face and threw his gaze at them alternately.
"I promise, I will take care of myself and come home safely."

"We will wait for your return..." said Cley as he tightened his hug.