One day, the young Leron who was staying at the Crescentian Palace woke up with a blindfold over his eyes.
Prince Leron sat up worriedly, thinking that he had been caught and was about to be tortured. He heard that the Crescentian's torture methods are rather severe, ranging from lacerating the body one thousand times and bathing it on lime water, or plucking every strand of hair one by one until the guilty confess. He was shaking like a leaf and struggled only to find out that his hands were tied too.
He pleaded with his high-pitched voice. "No, please, I can explain—"
"Shhhh!" A finger pressed against his lips. "Don't worry, it's me."
"Vladstin?" He discerned from the voice.
"Yes. Stay still." Vladstin ordered. Leron felt his hand roam on his collarbone and bring down his nightwear over his shoulder.
"W-What are you doing?" Leron felt the cold morning air against his bare skin.
"Undressing you. It won't be for long." Vladstin unbuttoned the shirt one by one. He sounded happy and excited from his tone.
Leron's chest heaved, panic rising. Is this another one of their torture methods? Would they strip him bare and humiliate him in front of the town square? Would they throw him into freezing cold water?
"Seriously, Leron, stop shaking." Vladstin chided.
"What will you do to me?" Leron raised his tied hands to take the blindfold off, but Vladstin immediately caught his wrist.
"If you take that off, I'll gouge your eyes out."
Leron immediately stayed still, petrified. Vladstin sighed in relief and patted his head. "Good boy. This will be fun, I promise."
Leron's shirt had been stripped off and Vladstin threw it to the ground. Vladstin embraced him and trailed his fingers everywhere on his skin....
"Ta-da! All done!"
Leron was too distracted with thoughts of terrifying torture methods that he did not realize Vladstin had clothed him again.
The new cloth was velvety and smooth on his skin, and some parts seem to be embroidered. He asked, "What am I wearing?"
"It's a secret. Mother would kill me if you see it too early." Vladstin said, untying Leron's hands. "Take my hand and follow me!"
He guided Leron off the bed. "Oh, but don't touch the blindfold, it might fall off!"
Leron was so puzzled by the string of events that had happened since he woke up. He still hasn't even washed his face yet to completely take out the sleepiness. He played along because he had no idea what's going on, and he was just threatened by Vladstin for the first time, so it must be something serious.
"What happens if the blindfold falls off accidentally? Would you still gouge my eyes out?" Leron asked nervously. "Let me fix it—"
"No, no! It was a joke, did you really think I would do that to you?" Vladstin squeezed his hands harder. "I like your blue eyes! It reminds me of the Western Sea! Just don't touch the blindfold!"
"A-Alright."
Leron doesn't know how to feel about his eyes being complimented. He felt they were just an average shade of blue, his father even though it was the ugliest eyes he has ever seen, looking odd and alien. Ilvedians value dark-colored eyes, especially pure black ones.
"Watch your step." Vladstin led Leron to somewhere he can't fathom, their small feet trudging the hall.
Their footsteps echoed and Leron felt like he and the little prince were the only people in this castle. The castle may be small, but it's still a castle, it's more than large enough for two small kids. Leron felt a little creeped out, but he had Vladstin with him, so he also felt a little comforted.
"We're here."
Leron heard Vladstin rapped his knuckles on a wooden door. A loud, grating creak came as it opened. Vladstin took off his blindfold.
"Surprise!"
A crowd of people shouted cheerily at the same time, and Leron was faced with an extravagant ballroom decorated meticulously and filled with aromas of good food. King Lazar and Queen Vanesda with here, along with all the orphans, and people that Leron did not know but confirmed to be Crescentian nobles. Vladstin held his hand and ushered him to move forward.
Leron looked at his clothes. It was a detailed fancy costume with swirly black and blue lines, tailored exactly for his size.
"That's a halbanser, it's what we wear during the celebration of our birth and everyone had their own unique design." Vladstin explained.
"What is all this, Your Majesties?" Leron asked with wide eyes to King Lazar and Queen Vanesda.
"We do not know your day of birth, and you have told us that it reminds you of your mother's death anyway." King Lazar said. "So we thought, why don't we give you a new birthday? A Crescentian one, that will be celebrated by the whole kingdom like we do with ours."
"Take care of that halbanser, do not soil it from the party." Queen Vanesda reminded.
Vladstin gave a toothy grin. "Mother made it herself. She has scouted for fabric and thought long and hard what design would suit you the most."
"Really?" It would never fail to amaze Leron how skilled Queen Vanesda is on common chores, even sewing!
"The halbanser must be made by the child's mother, or the one he treats closely to one." King Lazar explained.
"Yeah, she makes me one every year!" Vladstin nodded.
Leron was tongue-tied. "But... you made it for me.... and I'm not..."
"You are a part of our family now." Queen Vanesda placed a hand on his shoulder. "And you will be for as long as you like."
That was the first time Leron let himself show his genuine emotions in front of the Crescentians. He sobbed, choking in tears.
He cried because of unexplainable happiness, and pain for imagining what the future holds. He had only been here for a few months, but the Crescentians had already moved his heart. He can't bear to lie to them, to these people who had given him a home. He was so happy to have met them, yet he knew he only met them for the sake of his father's schemes. It was a bittersweet feeling.
Vladstin gave him a hug and patted his back. "Why are you crying!? You don't like it?"
"I love it. I'm crying from happiness, you see." Leron sniffled.
"Well, the party is about to begin. You shouldn't be crying when your happy, you should smile!" Vladstin said. "Come on, let's have some fun with the guests! There's chocolate mousse too, we could try them out! It's your birthday so we'll do whatever you like!"
Leron nodded and wiped his tears. He smiled. "Alright. I will enjoy the party as much as I can."
----------------
Vladstin did want Leron to enjoy his own Crescentian birthday party but....
"You are the Baron's son? It's nice to meet you."
"Oh, that's interesting that your duchy has that kind of fruit. Do tell me more."
"Oh, please, don't refer to me as Your Highness of Ilvedia. Just call me Leron instead, it's nice to make your acquaintance, which countryside did you say you were the Marquis from?"
He was immediately surrounded by noble men and noble ladies alike! And all he ever did was talk and talk with them! Vladstin had never seen Leron socialize with someone else besides him and his parents, he felt like he was being left out and replaced.
"Hey, Leron... There's a game we were playing where we hit a sack full of candy, would you like to join?" He tried to gain Leron's attention.
"Oh, sorry Your Highness. Did you say something? I was still talking to the Earl of Vandsterdam." Leron said apologetically. The young earl with coiffed cyan locks whispered something to his ear, and he giggled. "Ah, stop it! I don't want to laugh hysterically like a buffoon here!"
Vladstin's eyes narrowed, and his sunny disposition was gone.
"I see you're so busy meeting with new friends. Enjoy getting acquainted with them, me and the orphans will play on our own. I hope you have more fun with them more than you would with us."
"Will do, Your Highness. We're having tons of fun here, it's been a delight to meet all these wonderful people." Leron waved at him and then turn back to speak with another young noble lady.
Vladstin clenched his fist and stomped off. "Ugh, how infuriating! How can he laugh so easily when he's with them? He doesn't even laugh at half of my jokes!"
Suzhi, who was leaning again on the wall and watching the people with an amused expression like a cat, overheard this. She smirked. "Hey, Vladstin! You know what would make Leron notice you?"
"What?" Vladstin irritatedly turned to her.
"Make him jealous. Show him you're also having a fun time with someone else." Suzhi suggested.
Vladstin's eyes brighten. "Will that work? He's so focused on talking with those cousins and relatives of mine, it would be hard to catch his attention."
"Interrupt their conversation and ask one of the people around him for a dance." Suzhi's blonde hair, which was curled for this occasion, bobbed as she walked towards Vladstin. "Why don't you pick that girl over there, the one with the crown of roses headpiece? Once you're dancing, talk and laugh with her loudly like you really enjoy each other's company."
"You mean the Marquise of Mascarutia's daughter?" Vladstin looked at the direction she was pointing. "But she could only speak with her dialect. I can't understand a word she says, so how will we have a conversation?"
"Just pretend that you're having one. You'll know what to do." Suzhi slapped him hard on the back. "Quick, I want to see what happens! This party is really boring without some drama."
Vladstin rubbed the back of his head. "You promised this will work, alright?"
"Yep. Just do it." Suzhi gave him a thumbs up.
And so, the young Prince Vladstin set out to make Leron jealous by dancing with another girl.
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