A frail-looking man with ginger hair and large coral eyes stood at the gates of the Moores Manor.
Servants and guards alike circled around him, forming a barrier between him and the rest of the world.
A carriage with the Elysium Family crest appeared behind the manor gate.
The driver jumped down and went to open its door. A youth with ash-grey hair was helped down. The moment his feet touched the ground, the ginger-haired man made his move.
"Where have you been?"
When Elliot arrived back at the manor, it wasn't only the servants waiting at the gates, but Leotine, standing there with his arms crossed and looking worried.
Elliot refused to say anything, already circling around the group of servants and his brother.
"Elliot," Leotine tries to stop him, but Elliot continues to ignore him.
He turns to his servants and guards. "Can all of you please give us a moment?"
A maidservant with a flat expression merely bowed her head. "Apologies, Master Leotine, but someone has to escort you back to your bedroom."
Leotine immediately smiled. "My brother will escort me back."
That had Elliot pausing in his steps.
"What the hell, Leotine--!"
The servants and guards vacated the area immediately, disappearing as quickly as they came.
Seeing that they are now alone, Elliot felt furious.
"Fuck you!" He shouts, dodging his brother's hand--which was reaching for his arm. He aggressively takes four large steps and moves forward, intending to leave his brother in the dust.
"Elliot, wait-" Leotine is walking briskly after him, which is bad for his fragile health, but Elliot is happy to pretend that he isn't aware of that right now.
He is in a good mood after having a meal with Julius. He doesn't want that mood to be ruined by Leotine.
"Ah!"
He hears a thud behind him.
Whipping his head around, he sees that Leotine has fallen to his knees.
The ginger-haired youth winced as he tried to stand up, hissing slightly.
"I think I might have twisted something."
Elliot moved, already by his brother's side. "Watch where you're going, you idiot!"
He helps Leotine off the ground.
A bird-boned hand shakily falls on his arm for support, but in an instant, it seemingly gained strength.
"Gotcha." Leotine smirks, looking particularly mischievous as he got off the ground without any actual help. "I didn't think that would actually work. It's good to know you're still so cute, my dear little brother,"
The concern Elliot felt for the other immediately vanished.
"You--!" He roughly pulled himself out of his brother's grip.
The movement was slow and oddly gentle because Elliot knows that if he actually pushed his brother away, it would likely result in risking his already delicate state of health.
Not only is he irritated that he's been tricked, but the fact that Leotine risked his health to 'trip' had made his anxiety skyrocket.
"Alright, alright. I know you're angry. How about I make it up to you with some tea?"
"No. Leave me alone, Leotine."
Leotine shows a hurt expression on his face after hearing his rejection, but Elliot resolutely acted as if he was blind.
Serves him right for playing around with his health.
Besides, there is no way he's going to have tea with Leotine right now.
Not after finding out about the whirlwind drama that's currently going on with the Odum Family.
He still can't get over the fact that Odum, out of all people, got poisoned. That bastard looks practically immune to shit like that.
Who would have actually had the balls to even do that?
"I heard about what happened. Are you sure you wouldn't like some tea?"
And now Leotine had heard about the whole ordeal in the Odum House.
News spreads fast, especially for such a prominent family.
Nazareth being his acquaintance doesn't help matters, either.
Now, Leotine believes he needs to comfort him because somebody he knows has been poisoned.
His brother has always been like this. Playing the good older brother despite knowing that Elliot's very existence was to knock him out of the running to be the next Earl.
Didn't he know that Elliot despised pretenses? If he was such a good older brother, didn't he know that Elliot hated to be answered with silent--pitying--gazes and apologies?
Elliot didn't need a fucking apology.
He needed an explanation!
"I don't want tea, Leotine. What are you doing?"
If only Leotine could explain why.
Why he was always so lenient with him.
Why he's so good to him.
Especially after discovering what his mother intends for him?
But his brother guards his secrets well, never letting Elliot know anything.
He is kept in the dark, never seeing the truth, forever in the shadows.
He has no powers in this house.
Even when compared to Leotine, he is powerless.
What else can Elliot do but make assumptions? He can't trust Leotine, who is known to hide the depleting state of his health from him. He can't trust his mother, who favors her stepchild more than her own biological son.
He wished Leotine would just tell him.
"I just wanted to talk."
What?
What the hell is he doing now?
"So you waited out here," Elliot looked at him as if he was stupid, "In the bloody cold, all so we could have a talk?"
Leotine has the audacity to look embarrassed at his words, rubbing the back of his neck in mild embarrassment.
"If you put it that way, yes. But in my bedroom; preferably with some tea. I don't think it would be appropriate to have a serious conversation out here. And it's not that cold, Elliot. Summer's upon us." Came the cheery reply.
Elliot takes his brother's hand and holds it for three seconds before Leotine snatches it back. "Your hands feel like the blizzard wind. Summer be damned. You should be in your bed, not walking around in front of the gate."
He was about to firmly reject the invitation and force Leotine back inside his room, but the other stubbornly shook his head.
"This is a very important conversation, Elliot."
Those words gave him pause.
An important conversation?
After all this time, his brother decides to sit down and have an important conversation with him?
Leotine places his hand on his forearm, a pleading look on his face.
"Please, Elliot,"
Ugh. Emotions.
How he hates it.
Elliot is weak to that gaze.
He is two steps away from getting a pat on the cheek.
Leotine knows he'll do anything for a pat on the cheek.
Staring at his brother a little longer, trying his hardest to make the other withdraw his offer, he is unsurprised that the other stands his ground.
Leotine smiles that strangely awkward smile and Elliot falls to its might.
"Fine." He spits out and makes a clean twist out of his brother's grip.
He promptly marches towards the manor with as much dignity as he can muster.
The pathetic light-footed footsteps on the cobblestone pathway followed him. Elliot can't help but roll his eyes.
Of course, Leotine had worn slippers out to greet him.
How embarrassing.
"A few days ago, I saw that your friend invited you to tea. Did you go? Had you enjoyed yourself?"
And now, there he goes playing the affectionate brother, acting all interested in his life.
"Oh, please. I have no friends."
"What about that Elysium fellow? He seems nice."
"You mean Julius? He's an acquaintance I got drunk with. There are two others and trust me, none of them are friends."
Leotine kept asking questions despite Elliot's snarky answers. It was irritating.
---
They arrive at Leotine's room.
Reese, Mother's personal servant, is waiting outside with a tea tray. There were two teacups on it.
Elliot tries to keep his face blank.
So his brother had planned this.
He KNEW Elliot would eventually join him for tea.
Elliot trudges into the room, looking like it was pure torture sitting in the same space as Leotine.
He always hated entering Leotine's bedroom.
The air was always thick with the smell of bitter medicine and antiseptics. The occasional horrid smell of tonics dappled the air on a bad day.
"Master Leotine, Young Master Elliot,"
Reese smiles amicably, pouring a dark-looking brew into the cups.
Elliot eyed the color of the tea and glared at Leotine.
"This better be the medicinal blend. You know you can't have caffeine."
Leotine merely grins and takes a sip, not even making a face.
Elliot continues to squint at his brother while also taking a sip.
He regrets it instantly.
This is definitely medicine.
Discreetly spitting the 'tea' back into his cup, he places it as far as he can away from him and crosses his legs, giving Leotine a deadpanned look.
"What did you want to talk about?"
The idiot continues to smile.
"How have you been doing with the heirship training?"
Elliot frowns. "It's been fine. Mother's a good teacher."
Leotine nods. "Do you feel prepared?"
"To be Earl?"
Again, his brother nods.
Elliot sits back. "I've been training since day one to take on this mantle. Perhaps it would have been different if you were actually healthy and whole to compete with me, but you practically forfeited your right to even contend." He spoke, sounding almost bitter.
Elliot hated this conversation already.
It's always Leotine and his health. Everything always comes down to his brother.
So what if he's going to be the next Earl?
His position is practically secured, but people will always talk.
They will say he stole that position from the rightful son of the first wife.
They will say that he killed his brother for the Earlship.
Or, maybe he will be forgotten, only known as this generation's Earl and nothing else.
The true Earl-to-be is dead, and he's just a bad stand-in, waiting to marry and have another child with the Moores bloodline running through their veins.
They will be the next 'actual' Earl.
He will merely be a regent.
To his brother, and then, eventually, to his children.
They might as well erase his existence from history and claim his children to be Leotine's. Won't that be a twist-
"You're doing it again,"
Leotine's voice penetrates his thoughts.
"What?"
Leotine forms a helpless smile. "Your mind seems to be somewhere else these days. What are you pondering about?"
Elliot sends a scathing look towards the other.
Why can't his brother let him monologue in peace?
But his brother isn't done. Far from it, actually.
"What are you afraid of, Elliot? You're always in your head and presuming. I can't tell what you're thinking."
"The pot is calling the kettle black." He shoots back.
Leotine takes a thoughtful sip. "Well, you need only ask and I will tell you my thoughts."
Elliot wants to tell Leotine that what he's saying is absolute bull.
"Don't lie. You won't even tell me what's going on with this family or anything, for that matter. I asked you before and all you did was shut me out."
His brother hesitated. He then took another sip of that shit-tasting tea, this time delicately furrowing his brows into a look of discomfort.
Elliot can tell that it's just for show.
Leotine is buying time.
His brother doesn't have the ability to taste anything. His sense of taste was ruined by all the medicines he's consumed.
After pretending he was having difficulty swallowing the tea, Leotine finally says something.
Elliot had wished he hadn't pushed for an answer.
If only he didn't snap and hiss and demand answers.
It would have felt like the inevitable would still have been a distant future if he just shut his big mouth and let Leotine say whatever shit he feels like saying.
But he's always been an impatient little shit. Wanting the results and the answers quicker, always trying to find a way around the waiting and the anticipation.
Now he wishes he had more time.
"Elliot, I'm not going to make it to next spring. The healers said..."
Elliot finds the air shift.
There is white noise ringing in his head, drowning out the rest of his brother's words.
Images fly to the forefront of his mind, displaying memories of a cold manor with a bright light hidden away in one of its many rooms. How a foolish child toddled into that room and found warmth for the first time in his life.
Trapped in this house with a father who he has never seen in his life and an uncaring mother preferring to work all day, there has only ever been Elliot and Leotine.
Bang!
"What?! You--you can't--you can't just--!"
Leotine raised his hand, gesturing for Elliot to sit back down.
When did he even stand up?
His teacup was knocked over in his dramatics.
Reese comes over to wipe up the mess and refills his cup to the brim.
Leotine just sits there, smiling, like everything is right with the world.
"The healers believe I have three more seasons left. At that time, I want you to finish your heirship studies and graduate from the Academy with honors. I want you to build your strength. You will find ways to conquer the storm when it comes. All nobles go through trials by fire, even down to the youngest of heirs. You will be no different once you assume the mantle. My greatest wish is for you to be happy. I know it sounds irresponsible of me, and I know I don't have the right to even call you my little brother, but please, at least find an ounce of happiness and hold it tight. Strive for it and don't dawdle on the past. Try your best to make friends, enjoy new experiences. You will be ready, then."
"Brother... you... you..." Elliot's voice cracks, trailing off, along with the rest of his thoughts.
They fall into silence.
Leotine moves from his seat and comes to sit beside him.
Elliot is frozen stiff, unable to move. He is mute to the world, his brother's words entering his ears and stirring inside him, finding ways to wound him even further.
A hand touches his cheek, the thumb stroking the cheekbone.
It was a soothing gesture meant to call him down, but Elliot feels even more agitated, knowing that in three seasons, no one else will be by his side, stroking his cheek when he is in need of comfort.
"I want you to live a rich and full life, Elliot," Leotine admits, "Despite your responsibilities, I want you to wake up every day and find ways to make that day the greatest,"
The other hand comes to touch his other cheek. Leotine turns his head towards him, wiping the two stray tears trickling down his face.
"You were born to be the next Earl, my dear brother."
Elliot doesn't know what to say to that.
Why is Leotine dying?
Why is the world so unfair to the good?
Why did it have to be Leotine out of all people?
What did he do to deserve such a useless body?
His brother would have made a better Earl.
He could have lived a normal life, go to the Academy, make friends. Do all the things he's asking Elliot to do.
Instead, why did Elliot have to bear the responsibilities of living for him?
He pulls away from his brother's touch as if the cold hands had burned him.
"Stop talking like you're actually going to die! Screw what the healers say. Three seasons? I thought they said you could live for at least ten more years as long as you take your medicine! Don't tell me they misdiagnosed you! Reese, go call the healers back. There must be some kind of--"
"There is no mistake."
Leotine spoke so softly, but to Elliot's ears, it felt like the drums of thunder.
"I'm sorry, Elliot. I'm really, really sorry."
He feels Leotine tugging him into a hug.
He is hugged tightly.
Elliot stains his brother's nightshirt with his tears, silently crying into his shoulder without a sound. He has come to the point of despondency, his cheeks flushing from the tears, but smooth as parchment.
His face was blank and neutral, but tears flowed down like a stream of grief.
He was like a doll with no other purpose.
Leotine presses the boy closer to his chest, soothingly rubbing his back. "My poor little brother," He sighed, "I wish you knew just how much I love you."
If only life had been simpler. He wouldn't have had to leave his baby brother to the wolves. Now, he can only pray that Elliot is able to make friends, friends who are willing to protect him through thick and thin.
The only thing he desires is for his brother to be happy.
Is that so much to ask?
---
In the dead of night, only one servant was awake in the Moores Manor.
"My Lady,"
Reese appeared in the Countess' bedroom and bowed respectfully before her.
In front of her was a pile of papers. She had her reading glasses on and looked busy.
"Reese, report." She spoke, dividing her attention between listening and writing.
"Yes, My Lady. Master Leotine has taken his medicine and gone to sleep. He and Young Master Elliot have been talking."
The Countess raised her gaze to meet the servant, her eyes cold and brittle as she asked, "And praytell, what did they talk about?"
Reese maintained a neutral expression. "Heirship, My Lady. Master Leotine has told Young Master Elliot of the news."
Alicia scoffs, but she looked unsurprised. "What a lovely bond the two of them have. Allow them this comfort. They won't be together for long."
"Yes, My Lady."
"You are dismissed."
Reese leaves the room immediately, knowing that the Countess no longer appreciates his presence.
A hummingbird darted from across the room and landed on a specific sheet of paper.
The Countess glances at it.
"Lettuse Fleur del Lis?"
She reads through the file and a smile slowly spread.
"She seems qualified enough. Thank you, my pet."
After rubbing the hummingbird on its little head, Alicia picked up the file on the Fleur del Lis Count Family and began to draft a letter.
It is time for Elliot to acquire a fiancee.
---
They have moved Young Master Nazareth to a different room.
His bedroom is in ruins, blood staining the bed and furniture either knocked over or forcibly removed from the premise.
The night before, it took many healers to stabilize Young Master Nazareth.
By the end of it, he was as pale as a ghost, looking more dead than alive.
It was deemed that his heart continued to beat, albeit slowly. It had taken a near minute before any of the healers could feel a pulse, and even then, they weren't sure if the Young Master was going to make it.
No one is allowed to visit the Young Master anymore.
The only person allowed consisted of the Duke and Duchess, and the Head Servant.
Not even Young Master Aurelion or Lady Guinivere were permitted near the West Wing.
It didn't stop Rainier from sneaking inside.
"Good morning, Young Master,"
The servant enters with a jar of dandelions.
"Pardon for the intrusion. I brought flowers."
He opened the curtain to the window and placed the jar on the sill.
Light flooded the room, casting its ray on the face of the sleeping figure laying on the bed.
Rainier didn't know why he had opened the curtains so wide.
Perhaps, he had thought the Young Master might awaken when he notices that it's finally morning.
"Breakfast is ready in the dining hall. Would you like me to bring some for you?"
Quiet footsteps reach the side of the bed.
"I'll just let you sleep a little longer, then. Have a lovely day, Young Master Nazareth."
Despite the parting message, Rainier didn't move.
He tugged down his blindfold.
The Slave Mark lays prominent, encircling cornflower eyes and weaving its intricate lines through his skin.
There were so many terrible memories regarding this mark, but at this moment, Rainier thinks it proves his Young Master exists.
The youth lies still.
Gray and white, chest rising and falling ever so slightly, with eyes closed shut.
His Young Master looks unreal.
Slowly, he places a hand on the Young Master's forehead.
He is cool to the touch, but not freezing like the dead.
Rainier fears that he will someday find an empty bed.
---
Neo feels, just for a moment, before the last remnants of pain and emotions are all scrapped from the plains of dreams.
Beyond the border of light, there is a bus.
The bus has only one passenger, with no driver at its wheel.
Alone on this moving bus, he sits there.
The bus heads straight toward the light, its tunnel all-encompassing until it swallows his world.
All is dark.