"Tilt your head. Only show half your face. Make sure your eyes are slightly lowered and your eyes are half closed." His mothers voice echoed in the room. The gentle tone she was using was like a mother scolding her child lightly causing anyone to pass by the room to think that Aether was finally receiving some motherly love. But the firmness in her voice and the scowl on her face told Aether otherwise.
Aether was standing by the partially opened window. His back faced his mother and his head was tilted just enough for his mother to see only half of his face. He had his head lowered just enough to where he could see the scowl on his mothers face that was slowly becoming permanent.
His eyelashes quivered and his legs shook. He had been holding this position for a while now, repeating the same over the shoulder look until his mother deemed it passable.
"Good. Good." His mother tapped her chin with her finger, "Now, are eye contact with me and let out a silent gasp. Make sure the surprise reaches your eyes. You want the person behind you to be drawn in by your surprise not repulsed." His mother snapped.
Aether did as he was told. His eyes snapped up catching his mothers gaze and he let out an involuntary gasp. He wasn't expecting his mothers eyes to be that cold.
"No. Again."
Aether dropped his stance and tried again. This time he added his own little touches. He lowered his eyes and smiled at the small flowers on the table. He reached out and gently touched the petal with his finger. He blinked and then as if he just noticed that someone was gazing at him, his head shot up and he met his mother's eyes head on. His eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly. He brought up his sleeve and covered his mouth before glancing away. A deep blush painted his cheeks.
"Hmmm, not exactly as your great great grandmother did, but…it will do." She paused, "Now onto the next lesson."
Aether groaned and his shoulder slumped.
"Stand up straight! A Frenzel does not slouch."
Aether stood up straight with a forced smile. His eye twitching slightly.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in."
Bert opened the door, but did not come into the room. "Pardon the intrusion, but there is a guest for Young Master Aether."
His mothers eyes scrunched up, "A guest?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"The Third Prince Nox."
His mother stood up abruptly. "What?" She turned around to face Aether who looked away in slight guilt. With everything that happened he had forgotten that Nox and him were supposed to be doing a project together. He glanced up at her and gave an apologetic smile, but internally he was confused by her overreaction.
Yes it was surprising for a guest to arrive unannounced, but was it really that surprising? The Frenzel household was a war family after all. Their prestige alone warranted for random visits by high profile guests including Princes. He knew that his family was not on good terms with the Princes, but that didn't mean they hadn't received visits from them in the past.
"Where is he?" She turned her focus back to Bert, ignoring Aether who stood awkwardly in the corner.
"He is waiting in the main hall."
"Good, keep him there."
Bert bowed his head and left.
His mother turned to face him, "I don't know why that Prince has come to meet you, but you are not permitted to meet him. I will go down to get rid of the pest before he gets any ideas." She turned her back towards him and mumbled, "Those damn pests, invading my home like they own it."
Aether swallowed, "Um, Mother."
"Announce your words, do not hesitate." She snapped.
"Yes, mother." He took a deep and calming breath. "Nox is here because we have been assigned to do a project together." He explained.
"A project?" She hummed as if she were tasting the words on her tongue. She clicked her tongue, "No. I will not permit it. I will speak with your Professor tomorrow."
"But-"
"No buts. I will not have a thieving Prince snooping around you while you are so…" Her eyes gazed at his figure, her lips slightly curled down into a snarl, "…vulnerable. Stay here. I will go and deal with him." Before Aether could say another word she had already left with a slam of the door.
Aether frowned and took a look out the window. There was no carriage at the front of the mansion nor were there any indications that a carriage had been there.
'How did he get here?'
Aether's eyebrows furrowed and he placed a hand on the window's cool glass, "Did he walk?" He mumbled to himself. It sounded ridiculous to say. The distance between the Palace and the Frenzel household was far and walking would take at least an entire day.
"Yes." A deep voice whispered in his ear.
Aether gasped. His eyes went wide and he covered his ear as he turned to face the figure behind him.
Nox stood behind him, so close that he was almost flush against Aether when he turned around. Aether flinched at the proximity and unconsciously lifted his hands in between them. Aether was expecting for his hands to meet fabric, so when his hands touched hard warm skin he flinched even more and withdrew his hands only for them to be caught by Nox.
Nox stood there staring at him with an unreadable gaze. Aether avoided his gaze. Opening his mouth he went to rebut him for scaring him, but instead he found himself focusing on the roughness of Nox's hands. Aether was no amateur when it came to callouses on the hands, but this- this was different. The placement, the small lines that seemed to follow systematically. Out of pure curiosity, Aether couldn't help himself as he gently kneaded at the small indents and raised skin on the palms of Nox's hands.
After his curiosity was stated he unconsciously spoke, "How?"
"With my feet." Nox replied. The words should have come off as sarcastic, but with Nox's flat tone and emotionless face the effect was lost.
Still, Aether chuckled. "That's not what I meant."
Nox didn't say anything and Aether took the opportunity to change the conversation.
"How did you find me?" It was a question that had been bugging Aether sense the moment he turned around.
Nox had come to see him due to a project. If he had left the main hall without supervision he would have probably gone looking for him in places that he would be, like his bedroom or the library, but instead he found him in his mother's study. Which was in the complete opposite direction from his own room.
Nox just gazed at him. His eyes are a little duller than they should be. Aether frowned and shook his head. He let go of Nox's hands and gently pushed him out of the way, making his way towards the coach.
Nox waited a single beat before following.
Aether did not sit, instead he picked up an open book on the couch and moved it to the side table. "My mother wouldn't be too thrilled knowing that you are here."
Nox gazed at the book then at Aether. "We have to do the project. She can't get mad."
Aether lightly scoffed, "She can and she did." He let out a soft sigh, "She doesn't approve of us being project partners. She is going to speak to the Professor tomorrow." He shot Nox an apologetic smile.
"Why?"
Aether's smile faltered. "Why?"
Nox nodded, his gaze firm, "Why can't we work on the project together? We were assigned by the Professor herself. Even if your mother talks with the Professor, she will find that there is no better person in the class to be your partner."
Aether frowned even more. What Nox said made sense. Unless his mother wanted him to do this project with a different classmate who most likely had alternate motives, then Nox would be the best choice.
"That's true, but…" he gazed down and away from Nox, "that doesn't change the fact that she does not approve of us doing the project together."
"Why?" Nox walked up to him, grabbing his wrist, "Why doesn't she approve of us?"
Aether froze. A red flush painting his cheeks. 'That-that sounded wrong!' Aether took a deep breath, 'Calm down, calm down. He didn't mean it in that way.' He reminded himself.
Aether tried to pull his hand away, but Nox refused to let go. "Why won't she approve of us working on the project together? I am the best choice in that class. She shouldn't have any complaints." Something dark flashed in Nox's eyes and for a moment Aether was reminded of a beast hunting its prey.
He stayed silent for a moment and sighed, "She doesn't want me working with a…prince." Aether's head slowly lowered as he spoke.
The words on his tongue were like lead. He didn't want to say it so bluntly, but with how the other was acting, there was no other way.
In truth Aether was also worried about working along with the Princes, and if he had been partnered with any of the other Princes he would have no problem going along with his mothers wishes, but with Nox? It was slightly different.
Nox was practically non-existent in the novel. Like a shadow that was meant to be forgotten. He was cast aside once the heroine was introduced and only mentioned one time at the end of the novel.
Aether's opinion on Nox couldn't be based on the novel. For a while he assumed he was just as mad and crazy as his brothers, but based on their few interactions it seemed that wasn't the case, at least not completely. Nox may not have the crazy tendencies that his brothers have, but he did have a problem.
Nox's eyes were dull as if the light in them had long faded. It made him wonder if something bad had happened to Nox prior to him arriving here. Aether couldn't help the faint pang of concern and worry that attacked his heart whenever he saw those dull eyes.
Aether tightened his grip and Nox responded in the same way.
Small chatter could be heard and Aether knew that the servants were probably looking for Nox. He let out another sigh, "You should probably go-"
"Can I show you something?" Nox's hand gripped Aether's more securely.
Aether shot him a confused look. "Show me something?"
The chattering was growing louder and faintly Aether could hear his mothers voice accompanied by his father.
"Yes. I found something in the forest on my walk here." Not turned his gaze away towards the window.
Aether had an ominous feeling.
The footsteps were growing louder.
"I-uh…" Aether glanced at the window, then at Nox, then back towards the door.
Nox's grip tightened, "I won't keep you for long, but the creature-"
"Creature?" Aether's head snapped towards Nox. His eyes wide and sparkling. He only had a moment to see creatures, but they were fascinating.
Nox nodded his head.
"Are you saying you found a creature in the forest?" The thought made Aether giddy with anticipation.
Nox nodded again, "It was lost and injured, so I hid it so it wouldn't be killed by others." Nox's head tilted to the side, his eyes now a bit more lively than before, "Do you want to see it?"
Aether pursed his lips.
The footsteps were just outside his door. He should wait, he kept telling himself, but the image of an injured creature lost and helpless pushed all other thoughts out of his mind. He quickly nodded his head.
"Yes!"
————————
The door slammed open and four figures ran inside.
"He was just here! Right here!" Their mother stomped her foot on the ground as she pulled out her sword. Bubbles began to form around her.
"If he was just here, then he couldn't have gone too far." Their father walked in, his eyes darted around the room landing on the open window in the back. "Hmm, looks like he took a different approach. As expected of a thieving brat."
Leon and Aria quickly ran to the window and looked out. They barely caught sight of their brother's disappearing figure.
Leon clicked his tongue, "That bastard."
"Leon, Aria. Grab your things." Their father and mother were already pulling on their cloaks and sharpening their blades. "A beast has taken our youngest and we can't have that, can we?"