[10 Years Ago]
Amidst the vibrant gardens of Celesta Royal Palace, the children's laughter echoed as they engaged in a lively game of hide-and-seek.
"I-It's my turn again!" David shouted angrily, stomping his foot in frustration.
"Too bad, David! Count to a hundred!" Lucius teased, and the kids scattered to find their secret hiding places.
"B-But where should we hide?" Lyra asked timidly, looking around for inspiration.
"Come with me, Lyra! I know a great spot!" Carla eagerly offered, taking Lyra's hand.
"Hmpf! Don't believe her, Lyra! She'll just get you lost!" Layla chimed in, wearing a mischievous grin.
"Want to fight, Layla?!" Carla shot back, giving Layla a playful glare.
"Enough, you two," Louisa intervened with a sigh. "Let's not waste time. I'll hide first, then." She dragged Ronald by the scruff of his neck, earning laughter from the other kids.
"S-Sister! I know how to hide!" Ronald protested, but it was too late.
"Let's go, Lyra!" Carla and Lyra followed Louisa's lead.
"They'll be found first!!" Loid boasted, sporting an arrogant smirk. "Let's go, Alfred, Thomas!" He took off, and Thomas followed suit with a smile.
"Yeah-" Alfred was about to join them, but Layla pulled him back.
"Not you, Your Highness!" Layla shook her head playfully. "Come with me!"
"R-Right!" Alfred complied, amused by Layla's enthusiasm.
"Ahah! You're pathetic, Alfred!" Edward teased, pointing a teasing finger at Alfred.
"W-What?!" Alfred retaliated, giving Edward a defiant look.
Edward glanced at Layla, who was sticking closely to Alfred, and his expression tensed. "G-Getting dragged around by Layla!"
"Are you insulting my sister?" John stepped forward, getting defensive on Layla's behalf.
"Shut up, John! You don't scare anyone here!" Elona huffed, coming to her brother's defense. "My brother will beat you up!"
"Edward, Elona! Let's stop arguing and hide!" Miranda intervened, grabbing Edward's arm and trying to drag him away.
"They're fighting again! All the boys have some issues!" Rubina remarked, exasperated, as she left with Eric.
"I agree, Ruby!"
"Even you, big brother, are part of the problem!" Rubina playfully teased Eric as they left.
"S-Sister, what should we do?" Sylvia asked Aurora, glancing at Edward and Alfred locked in a glaring contest.
"Ignore them, Sylvia." Aurora chuckled, leading Sylvia away from the brewing rivalry.
"Stop fighting, brother! It's always the same with you and Edward!" Lucius stepped between them, trying to mediate.
"He started it, Lucius!" Alfred retorted.
"I know! Why though?" Lucius grinned giving a side glance at Layla, enjoying the dynamic between Edward and Layla.
"W-Well! Let's go, Myra, Elona!" Edward finally let go of the argument and left with his sister and Miranda.
"I'm coming with you!" Lucius declared, eager to join the fun.
"Hey! Don't steal my hiding spot!" Layla playfully scolded as she dragged Alfred away.
….
….
"It's all your fault, Lucius!" Layla accused, her eyes narrowed.
"Huh? But I found us the best hiding spot?" Lucius tilted his head innocently.
"Liar! You saw me back then and took it for yourself!" Layla retorted with a pout.
"Ouch! Layla, you hit me!" Edward groaned as something lightly tapped his back.
"Big brother! John is pushing me!" Elona said, her eyes welling up with tears.
"You are too close to me."
"We can't wish for more places here, John!" Miranda replied, feeling safe as Edward nearly embraced her in their hiding spot.
"I should have followed Loid and Thomas…" Alfred grumbled, regretting his decision as he looked at the chaotic hiding situation they ended up in.
ƥandasnovel.com They all managed to find refuge on a hidden tree branch, snuggled closely together behind the foliage.
"Oh! There seems to be a big nest on this tree!" Layla pointed out with excitement.
"Crap, Mom!" Edward groaned when he saw his mother, Queen Alyssa, smiling widely at him from the ground. His attempt to remain hidden was foiled.
"Why did you speak up!" Alfred whispered, dumbfounded by the turn of events.
"Aunty already found us, brother!" Lucius sighed, realizing their cover was blown.
"Ah!" Layla gasped as the branch cracked.
"Kyaaa!"
The branch couldn't bear their weight, and they all started to fall towards the ground.
"Layla!" Edward reached out and grabbed Layla's hand, preventing her from falling headfirst.
Luckily, they landed on the ground without any injuries. Miranda and Elona landed on Edward's back who groaned but he was somewhat proud of having 'saved' three people alone.
"Oh, those children…" Queen Alyssa, a beautiful woman with tangerine eyes, shook her head, both amused and concerned.
"Mommy!" Miranda called out in relief at the sight of her mother.
"Thanks for protecting my daughter, little Prince!" Another woman, Aunt Alyssa, arrived. She had beautiful wavy black hair and shared similar features with Layla.
"A-Aunt Alyssa…" Edward felt a bit embarrassed and quickly shook Layla, trying to snap her out of whatever was happening to her.
"L-Layla?!"
Layla's body was shaking uncontrollably, and Aunt Alyssa quickly transported her away from the worried children.
***
Inside a room of the royal palace, a beautiful woman with long blond hair and captivating heterochromia eyes stood over a little girl lying on the bed.
Layla's small body was racked with heavy breathing, and the heat of fever radiated from her.
The woman, Sophien, gently touched Layla's forehead, her expression clouded with concern.
Alyssa, Layla's mother, was beside herself with worry, and she followed Sophien as she left the room.
Edward's mother and Miranda's mother were also present, their faces reflecting the weight of the situation.
"H-How is she, Sophien?" Alyssa asked, her voice trembling.
"Alyssa… Layla possesses Raphiel's Bloodline…" Sophien's words were met with stunned silence.
Raphiel's Bloodline was something extraordinary, but the news seemed to bring no joy.
"But Layla's body can't handle it… her body can't handle it…" Sophien continued, her expression troubled.
"S-Sophien?" Tears welled up in Alyssa's eyes. "M-My daughter will be alright, won't she?"
"Alyssa… your daughter already has Goddess Hecate's Bloodline… her weak body can't bear the burden of another bloodline, especially one as pure and powerful as Raphiel's... Our bodies are not meant to carry multiple bloodlines, and Layla is just a child on top of that."
Alyssa's face turned pale, and her heart sank at the gravity of the situation.
"Wait, can't you do something to save her, Sophien?" Edward's mother asked hopefully.
"You are the Saintess, Sophien… there must be something you can do," added Miranda's mother.
Regrettably, Sophien shook her head. "I wish I could, but it's beyond my abilities. This is a part of Layla now… I-I cannot remove her bloodline… she is dying, Alyssa."
"No… no…" Alyssa collapsed to her knees, unable to bear the news.
"How much time does she have?" Edward's mother inquired with a heavy heart.
"I can keep her alive for three months…"
As the somber atmosphere weighed upon them, a black-haired man stood silently behind them.
His suit was disheveled, soaked in sweat, and he had overheard everything about his daughter's critical condition.
With a broken expression, he glanced at his weeping wife, realizing the harsh reality of the situation.
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