The Uncrowned King

Purpose I

After the incident with Grand Duchess Viviene, that whole darkening the whole sky thing Grand Duke Silverberg had keep a better watch on Miracle. He hired one tutor for all the academic lessons she had to take at a young age and made her study in his office room.

The tutor is a mage who graduated at the top of his class in the Magic Academy named Erwin Willes. Apparently he’s the man who once tried to stop the Grand Duke from adopting her. She found out just by hearing his voice and remembering it.

Shoulder length black hair, squinty gray eyes and lean body that looks he could be blown by the wind, Erwin is your typical mage. He also wear robes, dark blue ones.

Miracle spends half of her morning blowing him away with her brilliance. Silently gloating at the Grand Duchess from hearing all the praises that Erwin endlessly showers her.

Feeble mind, my ass.

“The young miss is so brilliant!” He gushes when she nailed the ancient language tests he had given her.

The language is Latin for Pete’s sake. She took that as an elective class in her previous life, genuinely interested. But in the continent of Terra which the Kingdom of Caelum lies, according to her Geography Class, Latin is an ancient language that some scholars and scribes are still studying to translate to some extent.

Earth and Terra Continent is connected somehow.

Miracle smiled politely at the man, aware of Silverberg presence in the room as he signed some documents.

She doesn’t talk much in the presence of her parents that’s why most of the servants and knights assumed that she’s shy. Even Erwin can barely get a whole sentence from her.

Honestly, she doesn’t want to repeat the mistake she had done with Duchess. One wrong word could trigger the Grand Duke and she might lose her temper too. Then, boom, powers revealed!

What a hassle. Thus she stopped talking around her parents. Mealtimes are silent because the twins had took her cue of not speaking unless spoken to.

They talk her ears off though, when midnight strikes.

It never gets old, their midnight visits. They always come after an hour or two of Miracle finishing another assassin. They never notice any of it. Never even suspect anything.

The two came and complained about the lessons she’s taking at a young age and the times it lessen to spend some with them.

“Mother said I have to be the perfect Lady to marry the Prince.” Miracle repeated Vivienne’s words for their ears to hear, nibbling the snacks the twins snagged from the kitchen. Spread out on her large bed as though they’re on a picnic outside.

She watch fascinated as the twins splutter in sync. Twins are amazingly funny. 

Callum and Cassius blink in shock and then the bed bounces a few times as the twins seems to vibrate in anger.

The thing about the West Wing is its isolated from eavesdropping ears once it gets dark, the servant rarely bothered themselves with her with the exception of Iris and Rolanda. The two had already stop checking on her at night.

So when the twins starts shouting, Miracle merely blink.

“What? WHAT?! Marry who?!!” Cassius roared, blue eyes burning just like his mother. He's hands are shaking violently as if to ward off bad spirits.

“Brother!” He complained snapping his head on the direction of Callum.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?!” Callum roared back, eyes wild. “Which Prince could even—?!”

“Crown Prince?” Miracle supplied, watching closely and enjoying her food.

“WHAT?! CROWN PRINCE?!” Cassius face morphed in disgust then look to his twin for help about something Miracle doesn’t understand.

“Brother!” He whined at his twin, asking him to do something.

Callum look as disgusted as him. Now that’s making Miracle curious.

What could be wrong with the Crown Prince for them to look like that?

“What is mother thinking?” Callum groaned before turning his attention at her. “Mira, do you even understand the word marry?”

Ah.

Miracle blink. Jeez, Viviene is an i***t compared to them. Talking about marriage in front of a 3 years old of all things.

“What’s marry?” She asked, acting like the three years old that she is. “Is it food? It sound tasty!” She added because she’s still hungry even after dinner.

“Brother!” Cassius whined, pulling her into his arms and hug her like a teddy bear. “Baby can’t marry the Crown Prince! She’s too young! Look at how adorable she is!!”

I know right. Miracle offered him a cookie for that. Cassius didn’t hesitate to bite it off her fingers. The brat. She shook her hand for good measure.

“What about ‘Crown Prince’, hmm?” Callum asked, shifting towards them to mashed her cheeks.

“The Prince with Princess??” She asked, wondering if her acting is enough.

“Yes.” Callum smiled, blue eyes warm.

In her past life she sucks at acting but feigning innocence? Miracle is an expert.

“So what’s marry? Can I eat it?”

 Callum chuckled while Cassius grumbled.

“No. You can’t eat it.” Callum answered finally, offering her a warm milk.

Miracle doesn’t even know where they got that, mind conjuring a strange image of the twins making a mess in the kitchen to prepare some snacks for her. Its adorable.

Where are they getting this kind of devotion to her?

“To marry is to be like Mother and Father living together.” Callum continued, watching her closely as she drink and wiping the excess milk that dripped from her lips.

His eyes are warm and attentive, it doesn’t feel oppressive at all for Miracle. Rather, she felt a certain warmth spreading inside her. Her powers curling in delight instead of hissing in alarm.

She hummed, feeling oddly content.

“But you have to love them before you marry them, baby.” Cassius growled, “ That is why you can’t marry the Crown Prince.”

“Why not?”

“Because you haven’t seen the Crown Prince therefore you cannot love him.” Callum answered, understanding his brother.

“But Mother said—” Miracle started just to be a brat.

“Mother is—!” Cassius cut her off with a shout, squeezing her tight. “Mother…” He trailed off not knowing to exactly say.

“It doesn’t matter what Mother said, Mira. The Crown Prince doesn’t matter.” Callum continued for his brother, patting his twin in the head. "You don't need to marry anyone."

Not that she wanted to. 

“Yes, he doesn’t matter.” Cassius agree nodding on her head obviously pleased with his twin’s backing. "Baby Miracle is our little sister. We will keep you safe."

"Always." Callum hugged them. 

Miracle hummed again, wondering. She wasn’t aware of how close the twins are to their parents, especially to Viviene. The interactions she had seen so far are quiet meal times. Mostly the twins are with the Grand Duke, trailing behind him and learning the ways of the sword.

But to disregard Viviene’s word like that. Something must be wrong with the Crown Prince. 

Or this family is just that f****d up.

Yet, she couldn’t get rid of the image of the Grand Duchess herding her sons away from her. 

Is she really worth protecting?