Clang!
Swish!
Buk!
"Stop! You can rest now."
Both the young boys let out a tired breath while putting the sword back into its scabbard.
"You are becoming faster."
Rezal tapped Michaelis' shoulder while both of them walked towards the side of the training ground to fetch some water.
"You are becoming stronger."
He replied.
Rezal and Michaelis trained in different aspects of swordsmanship. Rezal focused more on strength, while Michaelis focused more on speed. They also started to use a real sword rather than a wooden one.
Both boys leaned their swords onto the railing and took a seat on the ground. Their mouths consumed the water thirstily.
Michaelis put the water bottle down while stretching his legs.
"You would enrol in the academy three months later, right?"
Rezal put down the bottle after finishing the content in it. He let out a sigh.
"Yes, unfortunately."
Rezal also stretched his legs, feeling fatigued after hours of sparring just now.
"We are not going to meet often after this."
"Glad to hear it."
"Hey!"
Rezal pouted. Michaelis is not sensitive at all. Could this white-haired younger boy just show an upset feeling that they won't be able to meet often after this? Humph. He is sure that Michaelis will finally miss his presence when he goes into the academy.
Rezal won't be missing Michaelis at all. He will make sure to brag to Michaelis when this prince finally enrols in the academy a year later.
Michaelis watched maids and servants walk around the passageway while carrying something. They looked busy doing their respective tasks.
"The imperial palace is preparing for the debutante ball, right?"
Michaelis nodded when he saw that Rezal also looked in the same direction as him.
"More servants have been sent away to complete the preparation. Even Riri has been called by my mom. It looks like this year's debutante ball will have many people coming."
"Of course, your older sister is who would be celebrated."
"True."
Helenis Kristafall has turned seventeen. She also graduated from the academy one year ago, as she had said that she would skip a year. All of them went to her graduation ceremony to congratulate her. She managed to graduate with flying colours.
Two months from now, the debutante ball will be held for all the seventeen-year-old ladies in the Dradgim Empire. The Emperor would open the palace gate to all the ladies, from nobles to common households.
This year would be a grand debutante ball conducted by the imperial family, and the first daughter and princess of the imperial family of this generation would be celebrated. Helenis would have her first dance with Asteric.
That is why this year, the servants are becoming more attentive when completing their tasks. Sending letters to the household that has a seventeen-year-old daughter to attend the debutante ball, ordering goods and decorations of the highest quality.
Riri was also ordered to get himself a suit for the celebration. All of them were busy with the celebration. He had also been ordered to at least dance with a lady that night, which he rejected on the spot. But the look Zera gave him made him shiver slightly, and he said to at least try to find someone to dance with.
'I can just dance with Nasharis or Helenis.'
His mind was easily being read by his mom, and she had already interjected the plan. He was sulking when he needed to attend the dancing class with his sisters.
He had made a plan to avoid such things. He is just a 12-year-old boy. Who even wants to dance with him? Most of the ladies would be five years older than him. He is small compared to all of them; that is what he thought.
He would also enrol in the academy a year later. That's why his mom said he should at least socialize with other people at the debutante ball to familiarize himself with people. He also did not go out of the palace after the sneak-out plan last time.
"Would you come to the ball?"
"We don't have any seventeen-year-olds in our household. But I can come here if you want! You must be bored to death later without me!"
"Nah, never mind. Just sit there in your house quietly."
"You are always cold to me, Micha. I am your only friend, you know."
"No, I have Maya too."
"Not fair! Hey, she will be joining the academy just like me later, right?"
Michaelis froze at the realization. Oh yes, Maya is the same age as Rezal. She said she would attend the academy later.
"I suppose?"
"Then we would meet! I would befriend her too so that we could hang out together later!"
"Do what you want."
Michaelis just hopes that Rezal won't annoy Maya too much. It's not like Rezal knew what Maya looked like at all. He should warn Maya in the next letter he sends.
"Let's go. I don't want to stay sweaty like this."
"Yeah, me too."
×××××
"Hey kiddo, what are you doing?"
"Can't you see?"
Michaelis just leisurely flips the page.
"Talk to me."
Michaelis ignored the whining from the older man and just flipped to another page.
"Oh, I figured out the plot twist. Cliché."
"What are you reading?"
He suddenly felt reptilian skin wrapped around his neck. Michaelis shivered from the sudden contact.
"Respect my personal space, please."
"I thought we were already getting close; you are so cold towards me, kiddo."
He thought he had heard the same thing today.
Leviathan rubbed his snake head against Michaelis' cheek, making him unable to concentrate on the novel he read. Moreover, when the snake's body was slowly wrapped around his body,
"What the hell are you trying to do, Leviathan?"
Michaelis closed the book.
"Hm? Nothing. Hey, open it back; I am reading it."
"Stop what you are doing right now."
"What am I doing?"
His eyebrows twitched when Leviathan wrapped his body firmly around him.
"You already drank my blood two days ago!"
"Aww, I am hungry."
"I don't care. Stop doing whatever makes you hungry this much."
Michaelis huffed and opened the book when he felt the snake's body around him becoming loose.
He and Leviathan continued their relationship like normal. Leviathan would occasionally come into his room to drink his blood. For the first year, Leviathan came once a month. But when the next year came, Leviathan came more often than before.
Sometimes this vampire snake just comes to annoy Michaelis. Sometimes this vampire snake would come with a hungry gaze. Michaelis could smell the blood from Leviathan sometimes when he saw the hungry gaze. At that moment, Leviathan couldn't restrain himself and sucked an enormous amount of blood from Michaelis until he passed out.
Michaelis scolded him; he even used honey oil to avoid being bitten again if Leviathan ever did the same thing. Michaelis assumed that Leviathan would just become like that if he got injured.
Michaelis knew that Leviathan was doing something. He didn't know what it was, and he was not interested in knowing at all. What Michaelis wanted was for Leviathan not to drag him into his mess. Also, about the lie Leviathan told him, it was none of his concern.
"Hey, can I take a bite today?"
Michaelis frowned.
"No."
"Please. I would be gone for a long time after this."
"Where are you going?"
'No, what exactly did he do? Does he kill people?' Michaelis surely can't run away from his curiosity.
"Somewhere far this time. So, I won't be coming for at least five months. It could take years before I come back, though."
'He must have wanted to settle whatever he was doing, just like last time.'
"How about the blood?"
"Oh, I would be fine as long as I was not too injured. You also won't have those symptoms if I am fine."
Is that so? So, the shaking and hotness he felt were the result of this snake getting injured? Like a connection.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Why can't you trust your partner, Your Imperial Highness?"
Leviathan made a sad face. It does not look sad at all that he is a snake right now.
"So, can I get a supply of blood?"
Leviathan slipped from his neck to look into his eyes.
Michaelis didn't like this, but he would be free from this vampire snake for months after this.
"Fine. Not too much."
He put the book down on his bed and closed his eyes.
"No worries. I am not really hungry right now."
Suddenly, a puff of smoke was created. Michaelis was annoyed.
Leviathan smirked while he pushed Michaelis' body against the headbed.
"Can't you just drink my blood when you are a snake?"
"I like to see your flustered face, Your Imperial Highness."
Michaelis is not amused.
"I'm not interested in men."
"Serious? I am glad we have the same mindset; now I am not worried over you clinging onto me." Leviathan said it slowly and shivered slightly. He didn't want to suddenly make a child fall for him or something of the same sort.
"What?"
"Nothing! Could you actually have a lover already?"
"I'm not interested in that kind of relationship."
"Such a boring life."
"Shut up and be quick, pedo."
"Don't call me that, you brat!"
Hiss.
Leviathan sank his fangs into Michaelis' neck without notice. Michaelis' breath hitched.
'This bastard!'
Michaelis gripped the bed sheet tightly. After a minute, Leviathan finally let him go. The vampire snake licked his lips and hummed in satisfaction.
"Thank you for the meal."
Michaelis pushed Leviathan away.
"Now get away from here."
At least he didn't lose consciousness this time.
"Yes, yes, you are one grumpy kid. Don't frown too much; you might age faster."
Leviathan rose from his bed and walked towards the balcony.
"Whatever. Goodbye."
"See you later, kiddo."
Leviathan suddenly vanished from his sight in the blink of an eye. Michaelis sighed and touched his neck before he continued reading.