Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 983: A Father Or A General?

Lady Gray–the royal healer was at the far stretch of her life and used a cane to prop herself straight. Her body was failing her, and the attack by Nerva’s avatar on her had further crippled her. Dragging one leg, she’d approached the queen’s bedroom for the third time today. The hero had arrived and was being informed about the details of Nerva’s interference. She wanted to be there, present to ask him one particular question.

"How fortunate," she sighed, her cane clicking against the floor as she walked into the queen’s room.

All eyes turned to her; Raven, most of all, seemed concerned by the visible marks of strain stretching her usually light expression. Approaching him, she leaned forward on her cane, and the tension on her back lightened alongside her face.

"I thought I missed you again. We have much to talk about, young duke."

"About the pregnancy? Yeah, I’ve heard that it might be a month or two before–" Shaking her head, Gray cut him off.

"No, it’s about your duty as father." Glancing over his shoulder, she pinned Viola under her weary yet fierce gaze. "The queen will need the father of her children close when the child is born, and the child will need its father as well."

As her attention shifted from the queen to the king, everyone followed her gaze, and their attention landed on Milo.

"Of course, the people may see lord Milo as the father of the queen’s children, but behind closed doors, the child will need its true father’s presence." With her attention returning to Raven, Gray drew a deep breath and shifted her weight a little. "The child cannot know who its father is, not until it can keep a secret, but when the time comes to reveal the truth, it shouldn’t break the young heir’s spirit. It should be indifferent at worst or rather proud to be the hero’s son or daughter. And that is why you must be present."

"Viola and I already talked about this." Taking over the healer’s sentiment, Milo closed his eyes, and with a heavy stone over his heart, he opened them again and spoke. "Since we can’t have children together, I want to be the present father even if the seed of germination belongs to the hero."

"Yes, as much as I love my Milo, our bodies refuse to cooperate. And even if my love for the hero rivals that of my husband, I want both of them to be present in my children’s lives, even though the two will have to share the responsibilities that belong to a father."

A moment of silence passed while Raven digested everyone’s thoughts on the matter. Sure enough, he wanted to be present for his children, but how much time could he spare when the world’s fate was at stake? With a bitter look, he looked away and closed his eyes.

"I will do what I can; there are a lot more children than my own that deserve the comfort of a safe world." Having just gone through the rescue mission with June’s daughter and his own children, he knew exactly what he had to sacrifice to ensure the safety of his children. The safety of others and the death of numerous families at the hands of an enraged goddess. "Our child will be safe, Viola."

Opening his eyes, he looked into the winter spirit’s eyes.

"Markus will keep him or her safe, and I will as well. But if I have to choose between being a father or a general? For now, I have to choose the latter for countless reasons–the lives of thousands of children that aren’t mine being one of them."

"But duke, your duty first comes to your own children," Gray reminded, stomping the end of her cane against the ground.

However, cutting deeper through the silence left behind by her words, a pair of metallic boots stomped its way into the royal’s private chambers. Removing his helmet to reveal the glowing green flame of his skull, Markus stood before the crowd, his non-existent gaze pinned at Raven.

"The king and the queen, as well as their children, come before any other child or family." Walking towards the hero once more, he reached back over his shoulder to grip his great blade. "You will fulfill your role, ’Phrodite, and protect them. But not by being here, no..."

Showing no care for any damage, he slammed his blade into the ground. Shattered shards of the tiles blew up around him, and yet, the knight refused to let up.

"I will protect the royals as dictated by my oath, but I will not be here forever. So get rid of the many curses on this world, for when the time truly comes, you have to be here to protect your family. Until then, the occasional visits will do as long as you are truly you and not some deranged projection."

Pulling out his sword, he nudged his shoulder, beckoning a spar between the two.

"You want me to prove that it’s really me sitting here?"

Instead of saying a word, Markus glanced at Gray and then back at Raven.

"Yeah, I suppose you’re right." Getting off the edge of the bed, Raven conjured a dark blade in his hand and waved his free hand at Markus to guide them to a safer place. The two kept their weapons gripped tightly at their sides and walked through the castle, followed by the king, the queen, and Lady Gray.

Everyone of them was curious what would happen in their clash, and also to learn if they were truly talking to the hero who’d killed numerous gods at this point or yet another weak avatar playing tricks.

Feeling lighter than ever, however, Raven’s gaze was burrowing into Markus’s back. The faeries were screaming inside his head, telling him to do this and that to win the fight. Their advice to him at least sounded very childish and immature.

’KILL HIM WITH YOUR HORNS!’ Beasteria, the most outlandish amongst them.

"I do not have horns," Raven whispered, unable to help a smile.

But even without horns, this fight was inevitable.