Cedric's eyes fluttered open as he found himself sprawled on the ground, a gentle breeze rustling around him. Blinking in confusion, he attempted to sit up, only to freeze as a small figure fluttered above him.
The figure was no taller than his hand, with delicate black hair and sparkling blue eyes that gazed at him with an odd mixture of familiarity and curiosity. It was a fairy, ethereal and enchanting, and it spoke in a voice that was both endearing and bewildering.
"Papa?"
Cedric's jaw dropped, his mind struggling to process the surreal scene before him. "Papa?" he echoed, his voice a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. He glanced around, searching for any sign of explanation or rationality, but the world around him seemed unchanged.
"Um, Megna!" Cedric called out, his voice tinged with urgency. "Megna, where are you?"
With a soft shimmer, Megna materialized in front of Cedric, her eyes half-lidded and her demeanor clearly displaying the effects of interrupted sleep. She yawned, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand before finally focusing on Cedric.
"What? I'm sleepy," Megna mumbled, her voice laced with drowsiness.
Cedric's arm shot out, his finger trembling as he pointed at the small fairy that hovered nearby. "Look at that! Why is she calling me 'papa'?"
Megna blinked at the fairy, her expression shifting from grogginess to bewilderment. She leaned in, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the tiny figure before them.
After a moment of silence, during which the fairy watched them with an expectant gaze, Megna's lips twitched, and then a soft chuckle escaped her. "Oops."
Cedric's frustration mounted. "Oops? Seriously, Megna, what's going on?"
Megna turned her gaze to Cedric, her smile growing amused. "Cedric, do you know how fairies are born?"
Cedric furrowed his brow, utterly perplexed. "Born? I thought... isn't it like how humans are born?"
Megna scratched her head, trying to find a way to explain. "Well, not quite. Fairies are a bit different. You see, they come into existence when a fairy experiences intense emotions. Unlike other races, fairies have dulled senses of emotion, which is why they tend to be mischievous and playful. They find it easier to feel joy and excitement."
Cedric's confusion deepened, but he listened intently as Megna continued.
"During Soul Fusion, we essentially became fairies in human bodies. So, when we felt the intense emotions of thrill and excitement during our battles, like the one with the Night Salamander, it triggered the birth of a fairy."
Cedric's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "Wait... are you saying that this fairy is..."
Megna nodded, her smile growing warmer. "Yes, Cedric. She's the result of our combined emotions during our fights."
Cedric's astonishment turned into a mixture of wonder and disbelief. "So, I'm her... father?"
Megna chuckled, nodding. "Yes, you are."
Cedric's eyes widened in realization. "You mean, this fairy... she's ours?"
Megna nodded, her gaze softening as she observed the interaction between Cedric and the fairy. "Yes, Cedric. In a way, she's our child."
"B-but.... Huh!" Cedric began to grab his hair, shock taking hold.
The small fairy stared at Cedric and Megna and asked, "Moma, Papa, what is my name?"
Cedric started to sway back and forth. "Dizzy, I am feeling extremely dizzy right now."
Menga chuckled, nodding. "That's called shock."
The fairy repeated what Cedric said. "Dizzy... I am Dizzy."
Megna flew over to Dizzy and patted her head. "I think that is a wonderful name."
Dizzy exploded with joy, flying around the room with gleeful laughter, shouting her new name. "Dizzy! I am Dizzy!"
Cedric smashed his hand on the ground. "Megna, how are you so calm about this?"
Megna sat down, watching her new daughter fly around. "Simple, she is my 4,000th child...."
Cedric stared blankly at Megna. "How? You just said fairies have trouble doing that...."
Megna nodded her head. "Yes, they do, but I am a fairy queen for a reason. Fairies are made queens if they have no problem feeling intense emotions. Kinda not really like bees."
Cedric fell to the ground defeated. "Mother, Father, I am sorry. The next heir of the family is a fairy....."
A few hours later, after collecting himself, Cedric got dressed for the day as Megna and Dizzy played. "Megna, please make sure she doesn't get into trouble."
Megna saluted him. "Yes, Sir."
Dizzy looked at Megna with amusement and mimicked her. "Yes, Papa."
Cedric let out a sigh. "I'm leaving now."
Megna and Dizzy both shouted in sync. "Be safe!"
Cedric strode purposefully down the grand corridor of the palace, his thoughts preoccupied with the upcoming meeting in the throne room. His mind buzzed with the events of the past days, the revelations and responsibilities that had been thrust upon him. As he turned a corner, lost in his own thoughts, he suddenly collided with someone, a collision that sent him stumbling back.
His gaze shot up, and his heart skipped a beat as he found himself face to face with a familiar figure. Alenia, the maid who had served him tea not too long ago, stood before him, her appearance drastically different. She was no longer in her maid's attire; instead, she was adorned in a regal dress that emphasized her beauty, her pink hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall of rose petals.
"Cedric," she greeted him, her voice soft and amused.
Cedric blinked in surprise, his voice catching in his throat as he stammered, "Hi, Alenia..."
Before he could finish his sentence, however, his path was blocked by the sudden appearance of three knights. They stood with a tense air, their gazes fixed on Cedric with a mix of apprehension and fear. One of the knights, his voice trembling, managed to speak up.
ραndαsnοvεl.cοm "M-my lord," the knight stammered, his armor clinking softly as he shifted nervously. "I am aware we could never stop you h-however please don't approach the princess without permission, sir..."
Cedric's brows furrowed in confusion, his attention shifting from the knights to Alenia. His mind raced to process the unexpected information. "Princess?"
The knight's voice quivered again as he confirmed Cedric's thoughts. "Yes, my lord. Princess Alenia Fell."
Cedric's gaze remained fixed on Alenia, his expression a mixture of disbelief and surprise. He struggled to find words as he pieced together the unexpected revelation. He stared blankly at Alenia, thinking to himself, "The maid who had served me tea was... the princess of the Union."
A knowing smile tugged at Alenia's lips, her eyes dancing with amusement as she met Cedric's gaze. She gracefully curtsied, her regal demeanor contrasting with her mischievous expression. "Sorry, Lord Cedric. I cannot speak right now. My father wishes to see me."
With those words, Alenia turned and began to walk away, holding in her laughter. Cedric watched her retreating figure, his mind still reeling from the unexpected encounter. The knights lingered for a moment before following her, leaving Cedric alone in the corridor.
Once they were out of sight, Cedric let out a frustrated sigh and leaned against the wall. With a mixture of exasperation and mild amusement, he muttered to himself, "So, I was a part of her game, huh?"
He tilted his head back and let out a groan, his voice tinged with both disbelief and resignation. "Please, please, please, no more surprises. I'm too young to be this stressed."