The Prince of Demons

Dad requested a small recess after breakfast to have a conversation with me; he did spend most of it grilling Nil who at this point looked genuinely like his feelings were hurt. As we walked to the meeting room the Imperial Family was lending us, I looked at my dad. His expression was difficult to decipher as we walked. I'm a bit annoyed that he tore into Nil that much. Nil's not a saint, but he isn't some horrific rabblerouser. I took a few composing breaths as we entered the room and got my expression under control. Dad was clearly concerned about me, and he had a lot to process in a short amount of time. We each took a seat on different couches, just looking at each other for a few moments as we gathered our thoughts.

"I understand you may not be thrilled by me interrogating Nil to that degree, but I am a bit upset you two have been dating for three years and I am learning about it now." Dad began to break the silence.

"He isn't some horrible troublemaker. Yes, he is mischievous, but Nil is a great demon who cares deeply about those around him." I defended Nil. Dad spent the majority of breakfast painting Nil like some nefarious rogue.

"I do actually like Nil. I think he acts in ways unbecoming of a Crown Prince at times as he enjoys his mischief a bit too much. I assumed it was because he was a kid, but now I know it was him testing what he is capable of." Dad informed me. What?

"Then why did you question him that harshly?" I probed. Dad shifted back and forth a little as he debated how to phrase his answer.

"I am still annoyed that he used my ignorance of your mental ages to sneak around and spend time with you he knew Empress Senna, nor I, would have approved of." Dad answered. I mean, he had a point.

"It weirds us out we're kids. It is quite difficult to overcome the visual feedback at times which is why we usually spend time together or hold hands." I confessed. Even kissing each other we kept our eyes closed and still felt off about it after. It is fun in the moment, but then seeing a kid makes it have this odd ick that's hard to describe. Last night was still romantic and fun.

"You two till snuck around like teenagers." Dad retorted. That was because Empress Senna wanted no appearance of improper behavior from Nil on this front. I get why but it's still obnoxious with her watchful gaze.

"We just want to be able to spend some time together. Empress Senna is watchful to say the least." I explained. Dad had a difficult expression.

"Did you not tell me because you wanted to enjoy the freedom of me not knowing?" Dad checked, sounding crushed as the words left his mouth.

"No!" I answered immediately. Oh. I could see where that looked like a possibility.

"I…I just didn't know how'd you react. That you didn't get to see me as a young child, but more grown up me as a result of me being a Regressor." I added on. Dad took a deep breath.

"You're still my daughter, Luna. I'll always love you. It also explains a lot as you went from being a bit of a brat to the most peculiarly perfect child. You behaved so oddly like an almost picturesque kid just suddenly one day. I understand now why that happened, but not why you acted like that." Dad told me. I looked away in shame.

"It's because of what happened last time, isn't it?" Dad deduced. I could feel myself deflate at that.

"Yes." I confirmed, feeling several unpleasant emotions bubble up.

"What happened?" Dad asked gently after a few minutes.

"I took you for granted until the day I couldn't." I grumbled bitterly. It felt horrible to say that to his face.

"How did I die?" Dad inquired. I mean, he deduced nearly immediately he died suddenly and not that far into the future.

"Complications from the plague. When Argranz began the Magus Uprising and the plague was devastating Tenebrae, you contracted it. You fought it and got a bit better, but when Argranz attacked Umbra, you fought to defend it, which made it come back with a vengeance. Nil was forced onto the throne, and we were engaged temporarily as Tenebrae needed to believe it had a future, and I fled to Avon. I thought you'd get better, that I had more time with you, but I didn't. You died while I was being a brat running from reality." I explained. I felt like my heart was in a vice as the two of us sat in awkward silence.

"I forgive you Luna. It's okay." Dad told me. What? Why did he say that?

"It had to have been difficult to see me dying and facing the fact you were about to be all alone as the world was burning around us. I forgive you for trying to escape the pain." Dad added on as he stood up, walked calmly over, hugged me in, and kissed my head. I just began crying as I hugged him back. I felt like a massive weight had been lifted off me.

"It's okay dear; you have more than made it up to me. I just want to be able to be honest with each other." Dad continued as I cried into him.

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"Thank you, Dad." I sniffled after a few minutes.

"It is okay Luna. Just, promise me there are no other massive secrets." Dad stated as he engulfed me in his embrace.

"No more secrets; this was the only one." I assured him. Dad ruffled my hair as we returned to our seats.

"So, you came back and the first thing you did was to befriend Nil, who was temporarily your fiancé." Dad teased me as I was still sniffling a little. I felt my face get hot and flush,

"Do not phrase it like that! We ended as enemies, kind of. I suspect our animosity was more one sided than I'd like to admit. I was seeing what I was up against, and Nil was freakishly strong for his age, but not the demon I remember." I clarified. He was smirking a little.

"Kind of? And you have become quite incredible yourself Luna." Dad pointed out.

"Nil created some <Magic> that was able to send my consciousness back despite the fact I opposed him to the bitter end. And thank you." I answered. I still couldn't even fathom the <Magic> he created and used that day as there was no way to test it in advance either.

"So, can you explain Nautilus to me? Is there something more there or just coincidence?" Dad probed, clearly curious.

"She is the second strongest being on Tenebrae behind that cranky old bird. Nautilus helped me out a lot last time, and has a good heart despite how she may act at times. I like learning how to fight and <Magic> from her." I told him. Dad shrugged like that was in line with what he expected.

"I find that much easier to believe now that I've known her for a few years, and she has been a surprisingly good teacher." Dad quipped as he clearly thought about his next question.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." I apologized. I felt like I had worried over nothing.

"It is fine Luna. I understand you were worried about somehow losing me a second time. Don't beat yourself up." Dad comforted me.

"I still feel a bit guilty about it." I replied, not entirely sure what else to say.

"Don't Luna. I think we'll have more time this time around." Dad stated confidently.

"How could you say that? How can you sound so sure?" I probed, not grasping how he could be so sure.

"First, I am definitely helping the new sanitation laws and funding to combat the plague. Second, I'd like to believe that things have changed. I am guessing that the events to come have been greatly altered?" Dad informed me. I mean, he had a point.

"They have. Things have changed to something completely different." I confirmed for him.

"So why not act like there's a whole new future ahead of us?" Dad challenged with a smile.

"You're right Dad. We should act like we have a great future ahead of us." I agreed, feeling myself smile.

"We can chat a bit more tonight if you'd like, but I imagine you'd like to go on the nice double date with your boyfriend and his <Familiar>." Dad teased as he began to stand up.

"The two of us can talk now if you want. It's fine if we delay those plans a little bit." I told him.

"I just need a bit more time to process and think of what else I'd like to talk about. I was not prepared to learn I am dealing with my daughter redoing her childhood and is mentally a juvenile, not a child. I am processing it, but I feel I will have more questions after I have had time to think." Dad assured me. Then I realized what he said.

"It's not a double date. Lux and Ikol aren't dating." I pointed out. Dad chuckled a bit.

"I know the two are friends. Lux is also breathtakingly arrogant and bossy, so it is fun to get under her skin a bit." Dad confessed with a smile as he waited for me to stand up.

"Didn't you just say it was unbecoming when Nil did that?" I taunted, noticing his blatant double standard.

"It is unbecoming to act like that; I never said I didn't sympathize with Nil's actions. I just said they were unbecoming for the Crown Prince. As I have been put in charge of security, Lux and Nil testing it weekly was annoying. When Lux is back from Phestia and the two get done with their sparring nonsense and decide to defeat every security measure they can, is aggravating. When trying to explain to the two of them that it is not how they should be acting, knowing Nil will act with understanding and just wait several months for the next time, and Lux will act like she did nothing wrong and that I should be glad to have the privilege of her ruining my day, it is good to be able to get back at them." Dad explained with a smile. Huh, I never really saw this side of my dad before.

"Lux is a child." I teased him as I stood up.

"I'm aware, which is why I will feign ignorance and mistakenly assume it is a double date." Dad added on. Whoa, Dad had a petty side.

"That is one approach." I laughed, kind of wondering what else I didn't know about my dad.

"It is the approach of adults, and of nobles. Direct jabs and fighting like your boyfriend enjoys are not proper. Subtle, more backhanded approaches are." Dad lectured me in a lighthearted manner.

"I see, so what was brutally grilling him then?" I inquired with a smirk.

"Me processing some very surprising information and a lot of things making sense in a short time span." Dad defended himself.

"Hard to tease or add on when you have such a solid answer." I pretended to grumble.

"I do have another question, did Nil really somehow make tubots romantic?" Dad checked, clearly not sure what was us hiding our actions.

"Somewhat. He is trying to at least though I am not sure what his grand scheme on that front is. In his mind it is a romantic gesture he was going to use to cheer me up from being anxious about events repeating, so I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt." I explained. I will say, it does sound utterly ridiculous.

"That makes more sense." Dad quipped as we began to return to the dining room where the Imperial Family was.

"Didn't have any other questions on that front?" I checked, kind of wondering how much he'd dig into the events.

"Not overly, I trust your judgement. You both are good kids, I just don't like being taken advantage of." Dad informed me.

"Sorry about that as well." I apologized. Dad chuckled a little.

"I understand the watchful eye of the Empress may be a bit strict, but it is there for a reason." Dad lectured. I know, I know. I still didn't like to admit it.

"Was surprised that was all you wanted to ask." I teased him a bit.

"It does help Nil is very <Magic> obsessed and kind of dense at times. I imagine he wouldn't pick up on hints as subtle as a shovel to the face, which does give me peace of mind." Dad shot back. I wanted to retort, but it was difficult when he was telling the truth. I at least will still get to have a nice day with Nil today.