Early in the morning, the king of Canopus was already in his study room. Unlike before when he was still a prince, he would spend his day still inside his room with different women and come out in the afternoon.
The doors of the study flung open and Caliber entered, "Leonidas!"
The king looked at his brother and threw the book he was holding on the table in front of him. He sighed, "I know the two of us are close, but at least call me with respect." Caliber sat down without even asking for the king's permission, "It is just the two of us here, do I need to use honorifics?" he said.
Leonidas resigned, knowing that Caliber will still talk to him like before and he cannot change that. Caliber has always been comfortable around him even when the king was still a crown prince, no sense of threat, competition, just brothers being brothers.
"Why did you not eat with the Howards?" he asked, as he noticed earlier that it was only Chance and king Cadell.
"I am sure that Cadell would understand that I am busy." Leonidas responded. Half of his excuse is a lie. It is true that he is busy, but the reason was something else.
"Have you seen Louis?" he asked Caliber, so that he would not continue asking why. Caliber shook his head and rested his chin on his closed fist, elbow on the king's desk. "No, I have not."
Caliber's brows furrowed, now that he thought about it, he remembered he had not seen Louis for days. "Where is that brat, anyways?" he asked.
"I have no idea, that is exactly why I am asking you." Leonidas said in return.
Although their brother was missing for days, they did not bother looking for him. It was natural for the members of their family to suddenly disappear and wander around.
Louis is a brat but he is smart, so he would not get lost or be fooled by anyone. What is there to worry about?
The doors of the study room opened again and there stood the Head butler, Nicholas Wright at the doorstep. The middle aged butler turned to the side and gestured, putting his hand on the direction outside the door.
Caliber removed his hand on his face and looked at the king who rose up from his seat, "Wait, where are you going?" he asked.
Leonidas stopped and took out his pocket watch to show it to Caliber, "It is time for King Cadell to return to Antares." he answered. "So?" Caliber immediately said.
He sighed, why is my brother asking useless questions, he thought. "So I need to see him off, he is a King of course." said the king.
"No!"
Leonidas was surprised as Caliber suddenly stood up and yelled while stretching his arms to block him, "What?" he muttered, confused by his brother's reaction.
"You do not have to see him off. There are more important things that you should do right now." Caliber stated. Leonidas massaged his temples, it was obvious that his brother does not want him to go and that he has a reason. Whatever the reason was, it is not right to keep him from not appearing at the other king's return.
"Like what? I will not go if you tell me those important things that I need to do." Leonidas sat back down and stared at Caliber, waiting for him to answer.
"Well, you have a lot of files to sign and read. Why do you not do that instead of seeing someone leave?" he responded.
"I can do that later since it would not take that long to see someone off."
"The duke sent you an invitation and a letter, you should read it now."
"Not that important, I can see to it later."
"Louis has been gone for days, I know he is smart but still you would not be able to tell if something bad really happened to him."
"I made sure that he is safe, I sent men to tail him. If something ever happens, they will report to me."
"There are new women in line for you." he said, running out excuses.
Leonidas stared at him and suddenly gave him his infamous smile, "Caliber Lawrence." he called his brother, Caliber felt chills as he heard the King state his name with emphasis. "Am I spoiling you too much? Maybe I should make you experience Tartaria."
"Not a good joke, brother." Caliber said. Leonidas looked at him again, it has been a while since he called him 'brother', 'He must really need something from me.' he thought and chuckled. "Why are you trying to delay me?"
Caliber furrowed his brow, feigning innocence, "What do you mean? I am not delaying you." he said. "Say that again and I will surely lock you up." Leonidas said in return.
Nicholas Wright, the butler, was still standing by the door. He sighed in secret, it will be a few minutes before the king arrives at the outer gate. If they do not leave now, they will be late. 'These brothers really...' he thought and shook his head slowly.
The king stood up once again, "If you are only going to say nonsense, then I will be taking my leave." he said and took a step but caliber grabbed his arm. "I have a favor." he said with no hesitation.
Leonidas smiled. He removed his brother's hand on his arm and pinched his ear, "Ow! It hurts!" Nothing hurts more than a pinch by someone annoyed. "Next time, tell me immediately instead of wasting my time."
Leonidas released Caliber that now has a red ear. He gestured at Nicholas and the butler bowed, closing the door to leave both brothers alone to talk.
~~~~~~~~~~
"So you are telling me, to not see off the king just for that Crown prince to not meet me?"
Caliber nodded, "Yes."
"It is fine for you if the king of our neighboring kingdom hates me, as long as that Crown prince will not meet me?"
The Canopus prince felt like he knew where this was going but still, he nodded, "...Yes?" The expression on the king's face changed and he got nervous, "Uh, Leonidas, are you angry?"
Leonidas smiled at him and tilted his head, "Angry? Oh, I am not angry. What makes you think of that?" despite his words, Caliber could see his dark aura surrounding the room, 'As if you are not angry!' he said in his mind and looked away.
"Why do you want to make him stay so much?" This was a question that Leonidas wanted to ask the most, curious to see why his brother is acting this way. "I just do not want him to leave. Does that need more explanations?" Caliber responded with a simple answer.
Leonidas put his hands together and rested his chin on it, "Then answer this:" he said. Caliber turned to face him, 'Answer what?' he thought.
"Do you like him?"
~~~~~~~~~~
Caliber saw a carriage and horses not far from where he was, "I thought I was going to be late." he muttered and sighed out of relief.
He approached Chance and stood beside where he was standing. Caliber noticed his face with a written anxiety all over it. 'Is it because he will not return to his kingdom?' he thought.
He suddenly realized that it was a bit wrong for him to stop Leonidas to meet him. Caliber wants him to stay but it was just one-sided, he could clearly see that Chance wanted to leave.
The king arrived and talked about how Leonidas was full of himself, just like how they expected it to be. He stared at afar and went inside the carriage.
He looked at Caliber who was looking down at his face, looking more anxious than before. He took a step closer but Chance did not even notice as he was too deep in his thoughts. He put his hand on Chance's arm, "Are you not feeling well?" he asked.
Chance looked up to his face, surprised. He shook his head and looked away. Seeing that Chance is not in the mood to talk, he removed his hand and returned to face the carriage. "Maybe I should have let them meet..."
~~~~~~~~~~
Leonidas put his arms together in a cross after Cadell went inside the carriage, "So hot-headed, I waved at him but he just turned his back." he said. "Just like how old people are."
Even from afar, he could see his brother looking at the Crown prince of Antares. He smiled in amusement as he remembered his brother's answer. "Oh, brother. I hope you would not regret this." he muttered and shook his head.
He looked up to the sky and there went down to his direction was an owl. It went to his shoulder and he pet it. He smiled, "After all...
Fate is cruel.