Hero Or Villaness

"Do you know what, Carlo?" I said as I looked at Carlo as more tears fell down.

"I-i hate myself so much...I feel so pathetic right now because I know it's was all my fault, just all my fault!" I screamed, crying even more.

My heart feels like it was going to burst any moment just remembering after what happened that night.

The people's faces of agony started to go into my mind as I saw my hands again filled with blood.

"S-sis, c-calm down-"

"It's all my fault!" I shouted as I remembered Amaranthos' pained look.

"S-sis" Carlo whispered, trying to console me as he hugged me as I continued to cry saying, "It's all my fault, all my fault..."

"Sis, I am sorry, you don't have to-"

"I did not only killed thousands of people on the battlefield but also A-amaranthos almost died because of my selfishness and b-because of my stupidness I let her use me..." I whispered silently as I higher Carlo even tighter.

"..." Carlo didn't say anything and it became silent for a while until I croaked "So Carlo, Athan is the only thing I have... so, please... help me."

"I am going to help you no matter what so don't force yourself, sis," Carlo whispered as I continued to look at all the blood on my hands and I heard the voice of the goddess whispering silently in my ear:

"Arista, remember... The price of me saving your son and why I even let you give pregnant instead of killing him... is to NEVER EVER let him become the ruler of the Empire..."

---

"We have arrived at my mansion, your highness." Prime Minister Basar said as he got off his beautiful horse to help Athan down.

"..." Athan didn't say anything and Prime Minister Basar continued "Your highness..."

"Yes?" Athan said as he heard Keres said "Nice, place. I like it but of course, this is small compared to the royal palace. Really small..."

"..."

"Come here..." Athan heard Prime Minister Basar ordered what he thinks is the head butler saying "Treat his highness with the utmost respect and make him feel home or else..."

"Yes, my lord." The butler bowed as he heard his master's subtle threat as he started to ushering the servants around him.

"Now your highness, the ball will be soon so my head butler will be ordering the best clothes to be made quickly. " Prime Minister Basar smiled as Athan nodded obediently for once while Keres commented, "Wow, he didn't talk back for once..."

Athan ignored Keres and just followed the servants leading him to his temporary room.

"Young Master, we shall remove your clothes-"

"No!" Athan suddenly shouted making the maids jump and surprised a bit. "Just prepare the water, I-i can do if myself so don't even think of arguing with me..."

The maids look one another nervously while the maid in the middle bowed saying, "If that's what young master wants then so be it... "

"..." Athan stayed silent while he watched the maids all walk away slowly while he sighed to himself.

'You can hear me, right?' Athan thought, looking at Keres intently. 'During the whole trip, I could hear your voice in my head so I thought it might be possible if you could hear me...'

"You're right, " Keres said and continued "So before I reveal everything to you take a bath for you will meet someone important. Very Important."

"..." Athan, who is feeling very tired after the long trip didn't even want to argue and looked at Keres again saying, "Don't look..."

"Of course I need to look to see if my master is-"

"No." Athan interrupted Keres. "So turn around. I command you."

Immediately, Keres scowled as she felt her body move and turn around as Athan smirked saying, "I knew it. It was easy to connect the dots because when I tried to call you, I said 'I command you' and I was right."

"Smartypants..." Keres said and Athan smiled remembering his mother's nickname for him sometimes.

Athan then clenched his fists, feeling determined to run away somehow but he knew it would only be possible after he attended the so-called ball because during that time there might be a good chance Prime Minister Basar will let his guard down a bit.

"Hurry up and bathe boy!" Keres said while Athan ignored her but still removed his clothes and went to the other room connected to his room to bathe.

Before Athan left, he said, "I also command you to not speak inside my head and to keep quiet."

Athan saw Keres' body shaking in slight anger and smiled in content and went inside the room to bathe.

While bathing, a tear fell off Athan's beautiful eyes as he whispered "Mama...I feel scared."

He then closed his eyes and heard his mother's lullaby to him and sang: "Hmmm... Hear my children, my last plea... if there will be two suns or two moons above, it will taint the sky with endless blood. So hear my song and remember my wish that there can be only one sun and one moon..."

As Athan sang, he felt his c.h.e.s.t tightened while his hands started to tremble.

Athan started to cry, even more, missing his mother.

"Mama, I d-don't want to go to the palace..." Athan whispered but before he could say anything else, a voice said "Young Master, the Prime Minister ordered that we need to take your measurements immediately..."

Athan sighed to himself and got up off the bathtub and saw from the corner of his eye, a towel so he grabbed it while wrapping the towel around his body.

When Athan went out, he was greeted by the maids saying, "We will take your measurements now young master so-"

"Please hand me a pen..." Athan said and saw the maids look at each other, feeling a bit skeptical and confused but still obliged.

Athan then wrote his body measurements and handed them to one of the maids saying, "Here are my exact measurements so you don't need to see my body."

"Young Master how-"

"We still have a lot to do right?" Athan said, interrupting the maid, making her shut up so she won't question Athan.

'Of course, I know my own measurements my mother is a seamstress.' Athan thought to himself wanting to explain to the other maids but kept his mouth shut for his gut feeling tod him if he revealed who was his mother was she would somehow suffer.

Athan then shook his head to remove his negative thoughts and looked at the nearby window and saw from the distance the palace.

At that moment for some reason, Athan's gut feeling came in again saying that he should not go there at all costs yet Athan ignored it as the maids started to prepare him for the foundation day ball.

"Wow~" Athan heard one maid whispered as Athan looked at himself in the mirror.

It took what Athan thought years for them to finish preparing him and when the sun was about to set they finished.

"He is sure to be a looker someday..." Athan heard another maid whispered as the head maid scolded her.

"?" Athan looked at himself questioning why every time he comes across someone they will always say that especially his own mother.

Athan remembered that sometimes his mother would say "You really look so much like your father!"

Every single time Athan would keep silent because every time he would ask where is his father his mother would say with sad eyes, "Somewhere very far away..."

"Young Master..." The head maid said, interrupting Athan's small flashback while she adjusted Athan's silver brooch a bit. "The Prime Minister instructed me to tell you that a knight named, Yoel will accompany you to the palace and will give you further instructions..."

"Alright," Athan said while he looked at Keres direction saying, "I order you to follow me and remain silent."

"Young Master what-"

"Just ignore me and lead me the way so I won't be late," Athan said, interrupting the maid, who shook her head, feeling slightly confused but nodded replying, "Yes Young Master as you wish."

Athan looked at Keres from the corner of his eye and saw her giving him a deadly glare and smirked a bit.

While Keres thought to herself, 'Like Mother like Son.'