Hero Or Villaness

"Mama, what is that?" Athan said pointing at the huge statue.

It is the beginning of winter and Athan and are in the market. Athan convinced me to bring him with me with his cute puppy eyes and I couldn't just resist. Yup, he got those from his Papa.

𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘨

Athan pulled my clothes a bit and I looked down and I looked at what he is pointing at. "That's the statue of the Emperor. "

"The Emperor?" Athan asked again curiously. "Yes, the Emperor." I said nodding.

"Can I meet him someday.?"

𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱

"Ethan, be quiet." I said while looking at the guard near us, who scoffed at Athan's remark. I called him Ethan as his fake name as we went outside because there is a law in the Empire which no one should have the name meaning immortality or undying except for the people who are the direct descendants of the royal family.

People don't know Athan is a direct descendant of the royal family, of course. So if anyone heard his real name we will be exposed. I just told Athan that we can't tell his real name and he didn't ask anything any further after that.

"You can't say those things, okay?" I scolded Athan while trying to hide his eyes under the cloak. Did anyone see his eyes? I looked around and no one saw it. Then I sighed with relief.

"Mama, why should I hide my eyes? Are they ugly?" Athan whispered.

My heart ached as I looked at Athan with sad eyes. "No, no, they are not it is that they are sooooooo pretty that if anyone sees it they want to take it as the witch from the northernmost of the Empire!"

"No, witch!" Athan cried.

He is too cute...

"Yes, no witch so you better be a good boy okay and hold on mommy's hands in the market or the people will feed you to the big dogs!"

"Mama!" Athan cried. I laughed and held his hands. "Okay, sorry how about I buy you some cookies to say sorry?"

"Hmph." Athan pouted. Wow, he is truly my son he is asking for more. Maybe, I spoiled him a bit too much... "Cookies and your favorite!"

"Custard bread?!?" Athan said as he looked at me with his eyes sparkling. I laughed and held Athan tighter while I saw a group of guards passing by me and Athan.

"Let's go and get your bread, Ethan?" Athan nodded excitedly and I chuckled. Then we went off to buy the bread and of course my favorite... the cookies.

"Do you like bread?" Athan nodded happily as I closed the door of our small house. I smiled happily and saw Athan was trembling a bit. My eyes narrowed. Then Athan stumbled and I caught him and my eyes widen. His hands are so hot. I touched his forehead immediately and my eyes widened.

Athan has a fever.

"Mama, I feel dizzy." Athan said looking at me, panting.

"Athan, lie down on our bed so the dizziness will be gone okay?" Athan nodded and started walking towards the room while he walked I immediately got a basin and some warm water and the expensive thermometer that costed half the money Nina gave me. Then I went inside the room seeing Athan breathing heavily.

"Is the water too cold, honey?" I asked Athan who just shook his head while looking at me and then closed his eyes.

"Everything is going to be fine, Athan..." I said as I closed my eyes holding back the tears. I know it to myself I wasn't saying that to Athan but to myself.

After one week the fever has subsided but then Athan kept on crying that his muscles are aching and he kept on coughing.

My heart ached and I was on a verge of tears. "Are you feeling better, Athan?" I said as I gave him water. He shook his head and my heart ached even more. Then he started coughing again. I got a piece of cloth as he coughed out some mucus. "Agh," Athan said.

My hands started trembling as I saw blood on the cloth. I looked at it for a while not knowing what to do. Then from the corner of my eye, I saw Athan started to fall forward. "Athan!" I screamed as he fainted. Athan fell on my arms.

D-doctor... I need a doctor.

I grabbed Athan's cloak and put on him and ran outside.

"D-doctor, where is the doctor here?!" I asked one of the ladies in front of the clinic.

"He has gone on vacation-" I ran to the next clinic.

Vacation

Vacation

Vacation

I was starting to cry and when I went to the last clinic in town near the forest my knees dropped on the ground and I saw the sign. 'Vacation'

I cried and hugged Athan. "What should I do?!?!?" I screamed. "Damn, you world!!!"

I screamed again and again and again until my voice became hoarse. Is this the world's punishment for all the things I have done?!?

"You can do anything to me but not j-just m-my b-boy, A-Athan..." I cried quietly.

Then without noticing as I cried the first snow came once more.