"Sigh, I'm tired as sh*t. I can't believe there's still a couple more hours of this Birthday party"
Theo muttered as he leaned over a balcony far from the venue where the birthday party was held.
He had his shirt unbuttoned and his suit resting on the marbled railing.
In his hands was a expensive looking wine bottle that he sneakily took from the busy royal kitchen on the way to the balcony.
"Looks like the image of an impeccable prince was all a facade after all."
A voice came echoed from behind him, it was a familiar one that he recently got to know
It was none other than the heir to the house of Lorraine, Plato Lorraine.
"Interesting place to settle, quiet and undisturbed and most of all your taste in wine. I hope I didn't offend you in any way, Prince Theodore Ignatius"
From the shadows came a tall man with long dark purple hair with pitch black irises similar to the royal family.
Plato leaned on the railing with the tensed up Theo,not knowing what intention the person before him had, simulated all the possible scenarios that would occur between their momentary exchange.
His eyes really do look like his Majesty Renwick Aventus.
Theo is naturally one of the secrets between the Imperial family and the Duchess Household of Lorraine.
The person before him was actually the second son of the emperor.
He had every right to fight for the throne, yet he settled and dedicated himself to being the next heir to the house of Lorraine, even promising her mother at a young age that he will never aim for the throne.
He got along with his other siblings anyway. He was also very close with Aiden, the Crown Prince of Vitoten and the rest of the children of Renwick.
The youngest daughter of Aventus was also fond of him as every time he visited he would bring an interesting magical toy that she could play with.
Plato was a kind and gentle man.
He loves his family above all else.
But all of that kindness was covered by a cunning side that rivalled his gentle side.
If his mother only had one mask for every situation she faced, Plato was different. He had an arsenal of faces he used depending on who he was dealing with.
Theo guessed that the Plato in his presence was a man of vigilance and observation.
He was also a man that survived the tragedy of the North.
An unforgettable moment that Selene cried for as the entire northern part of Vitoten got destroyed by the demons from the north.
Plato a surivivor of this disaster was the reason why some were able to flee and take shelter under the protection of the final bastion of Alethea.
The same person was a cold calculating individual that desired to bore into Theo trying to find a weakness that he could possibly exploit.
One exploit in particular, was his demeanour when he was in private but that was something he could hardly use as something against Theo.
Proving it is also difficult and so what if the Prince curses and gets tired of parties? Many people also feel the same way when the Event was going on until late into the night.
Plato stared down below the high balcony, seeing the gigantic garden on the centre of the castle that was half burnt from the events that occurred a few days ago, because of Plato's half sister.
"I was impressed with your dancing, I can't believe as someone as young as you was able to pull off such incredible feat with the princess"
His probably just testing me if I'm fit for Selene or not. Basically playing the bad cop, so he can protect his adorable little sister.
Theo was already used to this kind of interaction, though he wasn't the one on the receiving end, rather the one position Plato currently had.
This guy is a lot like me...
A man that would become the bad guy to protect his little sister.
Admirable indeed.
"Thank you, I couldn't have done it without Selene, she's a wonderful dancer. I heard that she didn't even practise the dance, yet she was able to keep up with me. I admire her greatly" Theo commented with a small smile on his face as he glanced up at the two moons.
"Hoh? To think her imperial highness Selene did such magnificent performance that rivals dance experts is astonishing. Talent couldn't be more perfect for a person such as her and with you as well Prince Theodore"
Theo then interjects as soon as Plato finished talking
"Theo is fine, Plato. I desire that people call me as such in closed doors. I hope you can adhere to my request and is it fine for me to call you Plato?"
Plato was slightly taken aback by Theo's humility, but composed himself and replied in a friendly manner.
"I don't mind you calling me by my name, Theo"
"Good that we can come into an understanding, Plato"
Both shook hands, when suddenly Theo felt a bone chilling aura radiating from the person he held hands with.
"Apologise in advance, Theo. I wish to test the strength of the second son of the Emperor of Light"
"Kuh!"
His body creaked in the face of a genuine Master.
He was unable to breathe and the pressure was pushing him down like gravity suddenly increased by tenfold.
But Theo stood straight with only an uncomfortable expression on his face, seeing this, Plato became agape.
"You.... You're at the peak of Astute! How!?"
Theo simply smirked in reply and opened his mouth almost in a sarcastic manner.
"It is because of the power of my love for Selene that I, Theodore Ignatius, have strived only to be the strongest"
THUD!*
That cringed me a little bit, but I know the sneaky eavesdropper, hiding a floor above this balcony.
Theo heard a loud thud one floor above where Plato and him were.
For some reason Theo was able to detect Selene's presence the closer she was to him.
He guessed that he gained another skill that involved the heart sigil him and Selene had on the back of their hands.
Plato also glanced up and glanced back at Theo with a confused expression.
"Looks like there was someone eavesdropping into our conversation..... I'll go talk to them tomorrow, knowing that they probably waiting for us to end this conversation and meet you"
Plato simply sighed in resignation and slowly made his way inside the hallway.
"I wished we had a longer conversation than this, but I must give you back to her highness. Tell her I said hi"
Theo chuckled and glanced up on the window above the balcony and saw a window opened with two eyes peeking down on Theo.
When Plato was out of sight, the strange eavesdropper spoke in a furious tone.
"You f*cker, you knew I was here! That's why you said those cringey a*s lines!"
"Just come down here, did you get the wine glasses that I asked for?"
Selene hopped out of the window and landed on her heels in a neat fashion, holding two clear wine glasses.
She gave one to Theo and leaned on the balcony with him as he glared at the person who teased her.
"It was a small joke miss. Don't get so pumped up about it" Thoe said with both of his arm raised.
"..... Whatever. So? Are we drinking or not? Pop it open ,Idiot" Selene uttered with annoyance.
"Damn, you should chill down a little bit. I was about to do that anyway '' Theo said as he screwed the corkscrew on the cork of the wine.
Pop!*
A satisfying pop came from the unscrewed wine.
Theo poured Selene winde, filling up her glass a fourth of the way and doing the same with his own glass in turn after Selene's
"What should we toast for?" Selene tilted her head, asking.
"Hmmmm" Theo hummed as he thought about Selene's question.
Theo placed his free hand on his chin and thought and arrived at the answer that Selene might be looking for.
"I guess we can toast to your 16th birthday and your first drink of this life?"
"That makes sense! Then toast to my sixteenth birthday and to my first drink!"
Clink!*