Serian is absolutely terrified that he has been discovered.
And by Nazareth Odum of all people, the one person Lione has told him never to get close to.
His companion has kept matters of his brother's recent change rather hush-hush. No matter how much he pries, the other refuses to talk about it.
Now here he is, facing the said topic of their pseudo-arguments.
At least he doesn't look as scary anymore. Serian remembers when Lione's brother used to have long hair that made him look like a crazed mad-man. Now, he looks... decent. Less insane-looking since he doesn't have all that hair weighing down on his features.
With as much dignity as he can muster, Serian crept out from the bushes, almost stumbling over a branch to do so.
This situation makes him nervous, so all he can do is give a wide, crooked smile and mask the panic in his eyes.
The judgemental stare radiating off the older boy is strong, but he pretends not to notice and brushes it away in favor of trying to look calm and unintimidated.
Nazareth Odum is terrifying when he wears a calm expression.
Serian has first-hand experience of this, back when he and Lione were still in their first year of Junior High. Approximately four years ago, a group of shady-looking people had caught them unaware at their weekly luncheon and chased them through town. Unsurprisingly, his guards went missing and the shady-looking people disappeared after he and Aurelion hid inside a clothing shop. No evidence was traced back to Nazareth's involvement, but the serene and satisfied look he sent them that day after the excursion said it all.
It was merely a threat. That dreadful day was a mere warning. It made Serian wonder what might have happened if Nazareth wasn't playing with them, but Lione made sure to keep him out of his familial troubles from there on
His companion tried his best to avoid his brother when Serian hung around, and for that, Serian was grateful.
But he also felt weak. He did not need to be protected and coddled in this manner. He is not a helpless lamb.
But Nazareth Odum is also a terrifying individual. Serian did not want to offend him, for fear that the crazy youth won't kill him on the spot, consequences be damned.
He sighs. If Lione ever finds out about this, he will be sternly reprimanded by that moving glacier.
"Um, sorry about that."
He apologizes quickly, his head bowed in shame. After all, evil older brother or not, Nazareth Odum is still considered his senior.
Neo blinks at this child--he was, still a child, wasn't he? He forgets sometimes since Aurelion is so matured for his age. His brother and the prince should still be fourteen at this time. Going on fifteen, of course, but nonetheless, they are young.
His face softens immensely without Serian's notice.
What a cute rabbit, he thinks.
"Would his Highness care to explain what you were doing behind the bushes?" Neo asked as gently as he could with a light smile.
Unfortunately, it seems to have frightened the Prince further.
Serian had not meant to eavesdrop on that conversation; he had been hiding from his crazy stalkers.
Unfortunately, while hiding in the bushes like a stalker himself, Serian had the misfortune of overhearing the conversation between the younger son of Earl Moores and Aurelion's brother.
From what he had managed to hear, the entire discussion sounded very serious, and he definitely peeked out when Moores began yelling at Odum.
Did he accidentally stumble into a forbidden love story?
"Please don't assume that I ended some illicit affair."
Serian's head snapped up immediately.
The oldest Odum child was staring at him with a raised brow.
"How did you..."
"I can see it on your expression. You were thinking about it for a while."
What is the likelihood that Aurelion's older brother might murder him on the spot?
Even with his title of Crown Prince, Serian wasn't exactly the only heir to the throne. Talks of his uncle's heirship have even reached his own ears. Besides, Lione's seems crazy enough to kill him without fear of imprisonment or execution.
He doesn't want to die...!
"I'm also not going to kill you, so..."
"Ah..."
Well, he definitely blew this entire thing out of proportions.
Neo eyed the crown prince from the corner of his eyes. He didn't remember Serian to be so... tiny. Like a small child. And timid, too.
He had begun interacting more with Aurelion and his group during his third year, so seeing the prince from up close, he found his expectations to be... rather high.
Of course, Serian had a growth spurt after a year, and by next spring, he would be much taller and nearly towering Aurelion, but right now, the boy only reached his neck.
It was the perfect height for head pats.
Hmm, can he trade Aurelion in for a cuter brother?
"Achoo!"
Aurelion sneezed abruptly.
The class had been silently working on an assignment and was startled by the sneeze.
"Lione, what's wrong?"
Memphis Deerborn, Aurelion's seatmate and companion, asked curiously when he saw the ice-cube boy look around.
After a while, Aurelion shakes his head and glowers out the window.
"My status is being threatened..."
Memphis snorted and waved off his concerns. "As if. Must be your brother and one of his stupid plans-"
He was quickly cut off by a sharp glare. Aurelion's sapphire eyes practically froze him in place.
"What?"
Memphis was smart and did not want to die.
"Um, hahaha, we should get back to work..." He quickly laughs, turning back to his worksheet.
That scummy troublemaker must have really pissed off Aurelion today.
Back behind the school building, Neo was having a lovely conversation with the Crown Prince.
"-not a love affair."
"But he was-"
"For the last time, Your Highness, Elliot and I were companions. We were discussing a private matter regarding our relationship."
"... I don't see the difference."
The confused child looked so pitiful, Neo couldn't help reaching over to pat him on the head.
The shocked face had Neo withdrawing his hand like he had been burned.
"Sorry."
"Oh, no... That's quite alright..."
Serian Lupus Romulus, the Crown Prince of the Rhine Empire, known for his striking white hair and amber eyes.
Neo doesn't remember having much association with the prince in the past. There were a few incidents that involved the boy, but his main focus had been set on tormenting his little brother. He mostly saw Serian as collateral damage and didn't pay much attention to anything entailing the Crown.
"So, what were you talking about?" Serian tilted his head, curiously like a kitten after an awkward silence.
Ah, this innocent lamb. Neo wanted to pinch his cheeks.
"Nothing of importance. Don't ask questions that don't pertain to you. Haven't your tutors taught you this?" You should be getting information from intel only, Your Highness.
Serian pouts. "Madam Dolores only talks about her fine china collection and Monsieur Bartemius just gives me readings."
Well then, that's... that's troubling. Very, very troubling. Much so that Neo feels a spike of fear run down the side of his neck.
Noting this down, he wonders how no one has noticed the prince's current grasp on the complexities of politics. They don't exactly give Emperor-Training in Noble Academy. These tutors are important!
In the back of his mind, he feels a tinge of worry. Has the Royal Faction been compromised? Who sent these tutors to the Prince?
"-dum... Sir Odum!"
Neo almost jumps.
He turns to Serian, looking bewildered, and then realized that the other had been speaking to him. He smiles, looking quite embarrassed. "Apologies, Your Highness. I must be tired." He admits. With a small sigh, the youth sat down on the ground that was covered in grass. It was very soft and comfortable. "Can you repeat what you just said?"
As if influenced by Neo's behavior, Serian also sat down beside the older boy, not noticing that all his fears for the other had practically flown out the window the moment they began holding this conversation.
"Oh..." The prince plays with his hands nervously. "I just wanted to know what's wrong with you these past few days. Lione wouldn't tell me anything. Is it true that you've been possessed by a fairy?"
"No." Neo honestly answers Serian's question, and watches as the boy all but droops in disappointment.
Oh, by the gods, that sad, kicked-puppy expression is so cute.
Why hasn't Aurelion brought him home more often now that Neo's no longer crazy?
The prince has not visited the Odum Household for many years after an embarrassing stint he had pulled in the prince's presence.
Neo thinks back to the day with a grimace.
When Aurelion was still a little tyke, about eight years old, Neo believes, but he could have been younger--his memories, although impeccable, is still quite foggy after two lifetimes--Serian had visited for a playdate.
Aurelion had been so excited about having a friend over. Despite his ice-cube demeanor, the glowing eyes that day were filled with childish joy.
The Crown Prince entered their home and Aurelion had proudly shown him to the sitting room, where they planned to talk and have fun while tea was served.
And then Nazareth promptly ruined the entire thing by bursting into the room and threatening his younger brother with words that no child should be hearing. He remembered violently trying to get his hands on the other before servants managed to pull him away.
It had not been a good day. His Mummy's death anniversary always had him in knots and he acted cruelly. His younger brother was undeserving of that cruelty and took the brunt of his anger. Even now, Neo is quite ashamed of that memory.
Never would he direct his anger at his younger brother like that again, at anyone really, but the deed was already done and there's no going back to those days.
Besides traumatizing two innocent little children, it became apparent that Aurelion had shut himself off and refused to come out from that icey shell of his.
Thankfully, Nazareth hadn't ruined his brother's friendship with Serian. It would have been devastating.
Despite all the bitter hate, Neo knows his younger brother like the back of his hand, and he knew that Aurelion always had trouble with making friends. If he had lost Serian that day, he would not have been able to make another companion ever again.
Ah, he suddenly wants to hug his little brother...
"But... you're so different from before."
Serian draws him from his reverie with those words.
"Well," Neo thinks for a moment, looking into the distance beyond the bushes, "I've been thinking about my life choices so far. We all get tired with time, Your Highness. I can't play the scummy troublemaker forever. It'll burden Aurelion."
There. Vague and easy. The excuse was good for drawing different conclusions.
"Speaking of Aurelion, how is he these days?"
The prince was a little put off by the question. He was suspicious, but nonetheless, he diligently answers, "He's been in a weird daze lately, but nothing seems to be particularly wrong."
Neo hums. "What of you, Your Highness?"
"M-me?" The white-haired boy asked, surprised.
Neo raises a brow. "What's wrong?"
"No! It's just, why? Why are you asking about me?"
"Can I not ask about your wellbeing?"
"But, you and Lione..."
His voice trailed off, not sure if he had just landed on something taboo. After all, it's obvious that he's on Lione's side. Doesn't that mean Nazareth should hate him?
Neo huffs, and then lets out a soft smile. "Ah, we got over our differences a while ago. Some things have happened."
"Oh." Serian realizes, feeling rather foolish all of sudden. Why didn't Aurelion tell him?
Unknowingly, his face becomes downcast.
Neo notes this change. "What's wrong?"
Serian shakes his head. "Lione doesn't tell me anything. Sometimes, I don't think he actually likes me. Since Father wanted us to be friends, we became friends, but it doesn't look like he really wanted to be my friend. It's all obligations and politics, and he's always so serious."
Neo had not expected an answer like that. He knows the history between his brother and the prince, but he never knew how either of them felt about their friendship. It is quite surprised by this.
Actually, although Aurelion might not show it, he absolutely adores the prince.
The Emperor and their father introduced his brother and the Crown Prince to each other as playmates when the two were very young. This was a strategic political maneuver since Aurelion was expected to lead the next generation of the Royal Faction, and one that demanded success.
Due to the great war, Gareth and the Emperor, Platus Alphonse Romulus, lost an immense amount of power for the Royal Faction due to some sort of scheme cooked up by the Aristocracy Faction. In a desperate attempt to regain their footing, it was important that Serian and Aurelion had a close relationship so that the influence of the Aristocracy Faction would not affect the heirship of the next Emperor.
The conflict between the Aristocracy Faction and Royal Faction has always been a problem within the court of the Emperor. Due to the existence of the Royal Prince, who is the son of the Empress Dowager and previous Emperor, the enmity of the parties has grown stronger.
The Aristocracy Faction, which is led by the Elysium Household, supports the Royal Prince as the next Emperor, and is made up of noble houses who seek to gain more political power within the court.
The Royal Faction, on the other hand, led by the Odum Household, has always supported the royal family and thus, passed their allegiance to Crown Prince Serian, who is technically the only heir of the current Emperor. The goal of the Royal Faction is to keep the power of the court mainly within the Emperor's hands and not within the hands of officials. That meant that Aurelion is incredibly loyal to Serian and sees him as his closest companion, willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of the Prince.
Even in their past life, Neo had witnessed his brother's protection of Serian. How does the Crown Prince not realize this?
"Aurelion is just--he's awkward, you know?" Neo starts, catching Serian's attention. "He's not very good at talking about his thoughts and feelings, and I'm sure you've notice that he's a bit of an ice-cube."
Serian nods in agreement.
"But he adores you. You're his first playmate, after all. Without you, he might have never come out from that turtle shell of his." Neo explains with a tinge of fondness, peering at the prince with a bright smile. "He doesn't show it, but the day you visited our manor, he was overjoyed. He wanted you to have a good time and prepared the best for you."
Serian grew flustered at the surprisingly radiant smile that Nazareth sported, but his eyes practically sparkled at his words. "Really?"
"En." Neo nods. "Aurelion wanted you to be there, and he's always protecting you. He cares for you dearly. I have no excuse for what I did to ruin that, so please forgive me, Your Highness."
Serian shakes his head. "Lione told me that you were having a rough day."
He did? Well, Neo did not expect that Aurelion would excuse his behavior so simply.
Ah, that child...
"He's a very uncute little brother, and he's always growing taller every day." He chuckled.
"Uncute?"
"Mm, uncute. He grows up too fast." I'm to blame for that.
"But, Aurelion is always like that." The Crown Prince looked rather confused.
Neo snorts. "He gets his face from Mother."
"Duchess Vespera is a fierce woman."
"That she is. Ah, all I want is a cute little brother I can dote on."
"A-ah."
"Just like you, Young Highness. Don't grow up too fast, okay?"
"E-eh?"
"Ah, so cute!"
"H-hey, stop!"
Neo chuckled as he squished Serian's cheeks. This might be the only kid he's ever going to do this with since everyone else towers him like giants. Let him enjoy this feeling before Serian also shoots up like a tree!
"What are you doing?"
A wooden voice interrupts this harmonious atmosphere.
A boy with pale, grey hair and pale grey eyes suddenly appears out of nowhere, glaring up a storm.
Neo freezes for a moment, and then his eyes widen in recognition. "Lester?"
The boy ignores him in favor of looking at his hands, which are squishing Serian's cheeks. Neo watches as he reaches for the training sword on his hip.
He can't blame him. This isn't something that is appropriate between the future Emperor and his subject. Ah, will he be beaten up?
But then, "Get your filthy face out of Brother Naza's hands!"
"W-what?" Surprisingly, the Crown Prince shifted a good one-eighty and proceeded to glower at the intruder with the dignity of a prince. "No!" Neo's hands were still on his face.
By the Gods...
It has been an eventful day.