Eirian was never the curious type, and he was especially not the type to follow someone and eavesdrop on their conversation, yet here he was.
He did not know when it started.
No.
That was a lie.
He knew exactly when it started.
It was a week ago when he mistook the second imperial prince, Azrael Celestria, as a princess, and the young prince called him by his first name. He had not heard anyone besides his father call him by his name.
Eirian was cautious, but he was also curious. For his sake, he did not act on his own curiosity. So, when he figured out that Azrael was following him the day after their first meeting, he did his best to ignore it. However, when he saw from a distance that Azrael bumped into the crown prince, his own brother, and saw that his face was filled with fear, it made him want to look into the young prince, just a little bit.
He used their lunch break to observe Azrael from afar, and a few questions arose in his head. First, why did he only notice or even meet Azrael the other day? They were basically neighbors. Second, why did Azrael seem so exhausted?
Third.
Eirian looked around and saw how other students gazed at the imperial prince. Their gazes were all too familiar, which did not make any sense.
Why does it seem like they all dislike him?
To Eirian, he did not seem that bad. Of course, he was suspicious, but Azrael did not seem like other students. At the very least, he did not seem like he had any malicious intent.
His thoughts were validated when he followed Azrael into the quiet part of Floral Haven. There, Eirian saw that Azrael was watching the Aquarise twins abuse their younger brother, whom he forgot the name.
"Despicable," Eirian thought to himself as he watched the poor light blue-haired prince beg for his brother's mercy. He even considered approaching them to help, but to his surprise, Azrael walked towards the three and scared away the twins, then helped the light blue-haired prince.
Azrael had a gentle look on his face, and Eirian could not tear his eyes away from him as he comforted the other. There was something about him that felt warm, unlike most of the students in Luminara Academy. Eirian did not even realize that he had been staring for too long until his eyes met with Azrael's.
It was obvious based on Azrael's reaction that he was going to approach Eirian and he was willing to hear the young prince out, unlike the other day. But he did not want to talk out in the open, so he led him to the garden where no one but him ever goes.
As he expected, Azrael did follow him into the garden, and then they spoke.
Eirian, due to his past experiences, made sure to ask Azrael tons of questions. He wanted to understand the young prince's thought process, why he decided to help now, and why he wanted to help Eirian in general.
It didn't make sense in his mind.
When the two of them spoke, Eirian could tell that Azrael was being genuine even as he stuttered and even when he could feel that there were things the young prince did not say. But it seemed that he still did not know what he wanted to do or how to help.
Eirian did not want that.
Azrael Celestria's help had many risks, and he did not want to add another thing on his plate since it was already full. His whole life, all he did was try to survive. He had stopped trying to gain other people's favor because the more he tried, the more he got hurt.
He was okay now with how things are. Why should he change it? Only a fool would risk his current peace for one person who allegedly wanted to help.
Yes.
He was going to reject Azrael and end their conversation to not waste both of their time any further.
Until...
Tears suddenly fell from Azrael's eyes. Eirian was taken aback. Never in his life had he seen someone cry so beautifully, and it made him feel ashamed that he thought of that about an imperial prince. A man like himself.
Azrael's looks were a sight to see, but it was also deceiving because he looked like a princess.
Despite his initial plan to reject Azrael on the spot, the moment he saw his tear-stained eyes and heard his desperate pleas, he could not say no.
He ended up dragging it further and gave the prince time to create a plan.
But truth be told, he did not expect anything. Why would he? It was impossible to change how the whole empire treated him. To all of them, he was nothing but a cursed child. It was ironic considering he could not even use his magical abilities. So, not only was he a cursed child, but he was also weak.
How can one prince who could not even help himself think to help someone like Eirian?
"I will definitely change your destiny and mine."
Still...
With how determined Azrael looked, he did not have the heart to say no. So even when two days passed, he kept himself open for any chance of Azrael approaching him. He waited at his usual spot in the garden for any signs of Azrael, but he never came.
Eirian thought it was silly of him to even think that an imperial prince would spend all his time thinking of a plan. He wanted to slap himself on the face for having hope.
When he wasn't meant to have it.
Yeah, he wasn't.
Then, by some miracle, Azrael came knocking on his door. When he first knocked, on the back of Eirian's mind, he knew it was Azrael.
But he waited for the young prince to introduce himself because he still was not a hundred percent sure.
He waited.
And waited.
...and waited.
But there was nothing but silence. Eirian wondered if the young prince suddenly had a change of heart, or maybe it wasn't actually him knocking, and he just ignored a staff. It wasn't until he heard another knock and a familiar voice that he decided to move as well.
"Eirian? I'm sorry to bother you. I tried looking for you earlier, but I need to talk now. I know it might be too late—"
He swung open abruptly, revealing a frustrated and surprised Azrael.
"Your highness, when people knock, they usually announce who they are. No one opens the door to an unknown knocker."
Azrael's eyes widened as he stammered, "Oh... sorry, I just—" Eirian was not an idiot. He knew Azrael probably assumed he did not want to open the door, which he did not understand.
Despite the initial reason that was given to him, it never seemed like Azrael was concerned for himself. All of his concerns always seemed directed at Eirian, and that confused him.
"Come in," Eirian interrupted, stepping aside as he cautiously looked behind Azrael, most likely afraid that someone might see them as well. "Skip the apologies and over-explaining. Just get inside and tell me this plan of yours."
After that, they talked. Azrael came in prepared. He answered all of Eirian's inquiries and provided a well-thought-out plan. He seemed to know everything he needed to know.
Azrael even knew the fact that Eirian could not use his magical abilities, which no one but his father should have known. Their conversation was enough to convince him, but Azrael's knowledge made Eirian question him further.
Azrael Celestria was quite mysterious.
So, when he saw the young prince come out of his room heading to who knows where, despite the fact that Eirian was never the type to stalk someone, he found himself following Azrael, who seemed to be touring himself in Celestial Summit.
It was strange because as far as Eirian knew, first years were always given a tour before official classes began. Besides that, Azrael should have been living in the dormitories for months now, so why did it seem like he was seeing everything for the first time?
Ever curious about the strange conduct of the second imperial prince, Eirian followed Azrael through the halls of Celestial Summit. He couldn't help but admit that, since their first meeting, Azrael Celestria had always been a little odd. He continued to discreetly follow Azrael.
The young prince strolled down the corridors with elegance, pausing now and again to look at a statue or artwork, as if he was lost in his own thoughts. Something in the back of his mind told him that he should stop following Azrael because there was nothing notable from following him.
It wasn't until Azrael discreetly approached a corner and eavesdropped on a conversation between two voices that Eirian's mind changed. The second imperial prince appeared to be hiding himself while listening intently to the exchange of words. Intrigued, Eirian silently adjusted his position to remain concealed while maintaining a clear view of Azrael and the unfolding scene.
'He looks...upset.'
Memories of Azrael crying flashed inside his mind involuntarily, an uncomfortable feeling arose inside his chest. He has felt negative emotions countless times, he was all too used to it, but there was something about seeing Azrael now looking troubled that made him feel uneasy. He did not understand why, and he did not plan to understand because it was pointless.
'Such feelings are better left alone because the more I think about it, the more it will consume me.'
That was a lesson he taught himself at a very young age, and it kept him sane throughout his adulthood. When he was younger, the more he asked why people treated him poorly and kept trying to make sense of things...
The more he felt despair.
Now, despite everything Caelum Eversly has done in the three years that they've spent seeing each other in the academy and in class, it did not affect him as much.
Eirian snapped back to the present, realizing he had lost himself in his own reflections. 'Wait. He's gone.'
Azrael had moved from his eavesdropping position, prompting Eirian to quietly shift to another hallway. He couldn't afford to lose sight of Azrael and risk being discovered in the process.
'This place should be good. There are no other rooms nearby, so there's less risk of someone seeing me.'
Finding a concealed spot, Eirian watched from a distance as Azrael approached a trio of figures: the Aquarise twins, Oceanus and Marinus, and an additional student who appeared to be a servant. The scene unfolded before Eirian's eyes, and he strained to hear their conversation from his concealed vantage point.
Gazing intensely, Azrael and the Aquarise twins appeared to be having an intense conversation. Though Eirian couldn't catch the words being exchanged, the tension in their looks and body language was evident. Azrael seemed bitter now, almost angry.
A complete contrast to how Azrael seemed to speak to him, which added to the list of weird things Azrael Celestria does.
The look Azrael gave the twins is the same one most students gave Eirian.
Filled with hatred.
As Azrael continued to speak, based on his and Oceanus' expressions, he seemed to be mocking the twins. Eirian felt a sense of foreboding. Whatever was transpiring seemed to be more than a causal argument. The young prince's emotions were palpable, and Eirian couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to how the young prince is acting than meets the eye.
'Was all his kindness an act?' Eirian wondered, questioning the authenticity of Azrael's words during their private conversation. He sifted through their discussion in his mind, trying to detect any signs of deceit. Yet, it seemed like Azrael was genuine in wanting to help.
Perhaps he should not judge too soon.
The mystery grew even more serious as the scene before him took form. Usually conceited and overpowering, the twins appeared disturbed, bordering on irritated. As if they felt uneasy about something that Azrael had said. With every second that went by, Eirian couldn't help but feel anxious, a knot growing in his gut.
Then, as Oceanus moved threateningly closer to Azrael, Eirian's heart quickened. It was a dangerous situation, one that Eirian could not intervene in even if he wanted to. Azrael, bound by Marinus's magical abilities, watched in disbelief as the twins closed in on him.
'Have they lost their minds? They're trying to attack an imperial prince, and why isn't he using his abilities to save himself?'
Eirian hesitated, his internal turmoil mirroring the chaos unfolding before him. He felt the urge to help, to step in and prevent the impending harm to Azrael. But the reality was harsh—Eirian was powerless, unable to wield his own magical abilities. His attempts to interfere would likely result in more harm to himself than aid to Azrael.
As Marinus whispered something to his brother, and the twins seemed to come to an understanding, a plan was set into motion. Oceanus approached the student servant, whispering words that widened the young man's eyes with fear. Whatever was transpiring, Eirian couldn't grasp the full scope of it.
Marinus, with a swift motion, used his magical abilities to bind Azrael and force him to the ground. The shock on Azrael's face mirrored the disbelief that Eirian felt. It was an unexpected turn of events, and Eirian's internal conflict deepened.
'Damn it. I should do something.'
Just when Eirian felt himself move a bit from his position to help Azrael in any way, a sudden force of water knocked the twins away from the young prince. Eirian's eyes widened as he recognized Caspian, the twins' younger brother, as the source of the intervention. Caspian, whom Azrael had protected from his brothers just days ago, and now Eirian knew his name due to Azrael mentioning it on their last conversation.
Relief washed over Eirian as Caspian stood between Azrael and the Aquarise twins, shielding the second imperial prince from further harm. It was a surprising turn of events, and as Caspian shielded Azrael, Eirian retreated further into the shadows. The internal turmoil within him had reached a peak.
He couldn't comprehend why he felt so strongly about Azrael's well-being. It defied logic, and Eirian found himself grappling with emotions he had long buried.
'I almost intervened. This isn't how I'm supposed to act. I'm not even sure about him,' he realized, shaken by the realization that he had almost stepped forward to protect Azrael. The conflicting emotions swirling within him left Eirian with more questions than answers.
And that was wrong.
"Ask less, care less," Eirian mumbled to himself as if he hadn't already dug himself in a hole by following Azrael in the first place. "Curiosity should be contained, not act upon."
Despite his words, Eirian sat on the ground, he took a few deep breaths, attempting to regain control over his emotions. His heart was still pounding, and the conflicting thoughts within him continued to swirl.
He scolded himself for allowing his emotions to get the better of him, for almost intervening in a situation where he was powerless. Azrael is someone he barely knew; he could not believe that just because he had some sort of agreement with the young prince, that he was now acting out of the ordinary.
"Why do I care?" he muttered to himself, frustration evident in his voice. The internal conflict persisted, and Eirian felt a profound sense of unease. He knew he had to distance himself from Azrael, to stop following the young prince and get back to his normal, detached life and let the young prince do whatever he wanted because he might eventually get tired of it.
However, something kept pulling him back, a nagging curiosity that refused to be quelled.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. People were walking away from the scene. Eirian's curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously peeked at Azrael and the twins once more. To his surprise, the twins were walking away, leaving Azrael and another figure.
The new person was someone Eirian recognized but couldn't recall the name—Luminara Academy's guidance counselor. It was unusual to see him in the Celestial Summit. The guidance counselor seemed familiar with Azrael, and Caspian, the younger brother of the Aquarise twins, hesitantly left the scene.
Questions filled Eirian's mind. Why was the guidance counselor there? Why did the others leave? And most importantly, why did Azrael seem so uncomfortable? The strange feeling inside Eirian intensified as he continued to observe.
Azrael appeared on the verge of walking away from the guidance counselor when the staff member grabbed Azrael's arm, preventing him from leaving. Eirian felt a surge of unease, and once again, the instinct to intervene kicked in.
'What is he trying to do?'
However, before Eirian could act, he sensed a powerful magical presence nearby. It was unmistakably from the Celestria family, and it could only be Valerian Celestria, Azrael's older brother and the crown prince. Despite being unable to use magic himself, Eirian could sense the magical abilities of others, and Valerian's aura was unmistakable.
A domineering force emanated from Valerian, and the guidance counselor, holding onto Azrael's arm, fell to his knees and bowed before swiftly retreating. It was a bizarre and unsettling scene. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and Eirian was left with more questions than answers.
The entire encounter left him on edge, torn between the desire to distance himself and an inexplicable curiosity that refused to fade. As Valerian approached Azrael, Eirian retreated further into the hall, his mind grappling with the mysteries that surrounded the second imperial prince.
In the end, Eirian decided to remain an observer, watching silently from the sidelines as Azrael, seemingly uncomfortable and reluctant, interacted with his older brother, but his mind was still on the Aquarise twins and the guidance counselor.
'Was I mistaken? I initially thought that despite the fact that he claimed he was also unliked, he'd still be treated better as the imperial prince...' Eirian's brows furrowed in confusion. 'Yet it seems he really isn't immune. He almost got attacked; now even the staff seemed to treat him harshly.'
More and more, Eirian was seeing every point that Azrael told him, and confirmed it all to be true, but he did not know whether he should be relieved if that were the case because who in their right mind would feel glad that someone else was suffering alongside them?
Not Eirian.
Eirian observed as Azrael and Valerian engaged in a heated exchange. The atmosphere between them was tense, and the conflicting auras surrounding the brothers added an unsettling edge to the scene.
As the conversation unfolded, Eirian strained to catch snippets of their words. Valerian's voice carried a mix of authority and disdain, and Azrael's responses seemed a mix of defense and frustration. The more they spoke, the more Eirian felt the weight of the strained relationship between the two brothers.
Azrael's smile, once present, slowly faded, replaced by a more serious expression. Valerian, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the discomfort he was causing his younger sibling. The exchange escalated, and Azrael's attempts to maintain composure were visibly challenging.
Eirian couldn't help but wonder what words were being exchanged. 'What could they be talking about? It really seems important.'
Suddenly, Azrael's demeanor shifted. His eyes, once calm, now glowed with an unusual pink or purple aura. It was a phenomenon that caught Eirian off guard. The intensity of the magical energy radiating from Azrael left Eirian momentarily stunned, especially since from his viewpoint, it didn't seem like the young prince was going there on purpose.
Valerian, however, seemed undeterred. As Azrael spoke, the crown prince's face contorted into disbelief and then anger. The exchange reached a peak when Azrael made a move to leave, and Valerian burst into laughter. However, the laughter held an eerie quality that sent shivers down Eirian's spine.
And judging by Azrael's expression, he felt just as perturbed as Eirian.
Valerian's eyes glowed with a red aura, and the situation took an unexpected turn. Valerian, with a speed that defied normal capabilities, closed the distance between himself and Azrael. Eirian felt a surge of unease, the air around them heavy with suppressed tension.
Despite the distance, Eirian could sense the immense magical power emanating from the crown prince. He realized that intervening would be futile and dangerous, so his feet stayed glued to where he was at.
The unfolding scene was beyond his control, and he reluctantly remained hidden, watching with a growing sense of helplessness. There was a horrified look on Azrael's face that seemed to satisfy Valerian, and then he walked away as if nothing happened.
Azrael, now alone, sank to his knees. Eirian's instincts screamed at him to do something, to step forward and offer support. Yet, he found himself rooted in place, grappling with the internal struggle of whether he should involve himself in the affairs of Azrael Celestria.
'That was...'
Interesting.
Eirian stood up from his spot after a few minutes, seeing as finally no one else appeared to speak to the poor young prince who looked visibly exhausted as he stared at the ground.
The feeling of wanting to approach Azrael remained, but Eirian did not. In the first place, he would not know what to say. How could he possibly explain to the young prince that he saw everything unfold? From his conversation with the prince up to his brother, and that he saw so many different sides of him that made Eirian wonder if Azrael had multiple personalities.
There was also the feeling of guilt and shame. He felt as though he saw something he shouldn't, and he only realized it when it was over. All he wanted was to confirm Azrael's intentions; he did not expect to know too much.
Though he didn't hear any words, it still felt like he could grasp the situation at hand.
'Ah. What am I doing? I'm going insane.' Eirian ran a hand through his hair as he let out a sigh. 'This is why I firmly believe in not letting my curiosity get the best of me.'
'All I wanted was to confirm his intentions. I didn't anticipate any of this.'
Though he did get confirmation, but at what cost? Eirian felt like he invaded too much of Azrael's space, and that was wrong no matter how he looked at it.
From the first time that they spoke, Azrael had done nothing but respect Eirian and his boundaries. Sure, he still did not fully trust Azrael, even now when he still barely knew anything about him, but still, he felt like what he's doing was wrong.
'I should let him be now. He was telling the truth. That's all that matters.' Eirian shook away his negative emotions because, at the end of the day, he could not fully blame himself and his actions. He has tried to trust people so many times; his father had tried his hardest for Eirian to get accepted.
It was only natural that Eirian was curious.
Yes.
As long as he doesn't follow Azrael again and just tries to at least let him do his so-called plan, there would be no harm done. At the end of the day, Eirian expects nothing.
It doesn't.
Eirian was never the curious type; he tried to let his curiosity prevail today and felt bad. Starting now, he will never attempt to be swept by his curiosity again. Not anymore.
Now, all he wants to do is go back to his room, let Azrael do what he wants, that's that. No need to insert himself too much into the young prince's life as if they had some sort of relationship. All they have is an agreement.
Nothing more, nothing less.
'Alright. That's settled, time to go back—'
"Eirian?"
The black-haired prince froze as he heard a familiar voice.
Well...
He did not even need to recognize the voice to know who it was because only one person called him by his name at Luminara Academy.
'Keep calm.'
'Try not to make yourself obvious.'
'Why is he even here?'
'Damn it.'
Eirian's thoughts went wild, but he kept his face straight as he composed himself. His heart was beating against his chest as if it was threatening to jump out, and as he slowly looked up he was surprised to see Azrael in front of him, smiling as if he wasn't just kneeling in fright moments ago.
"It's good to see you. What are you doing here?"
His voice was cheerful, like all his troubles suddenly went away.
And that made Eirian wonder again.
Despite all his thoughts earlier on wanting to stop his curiosity, how could he when Azrael Celestria exists? The young prince was the epitome of a mystery; he was odd beyond comparison.
"Your Imperial Highness," Eirian greeted, bowing his head a bit. His thoughts changed as soon as Azrael was in front of him, speaking to him, and smiling at him. He should be bothered by it but as usual, things are much different when he's in the presence of the young prince.
'Just a bit more. I'll let myself be a bit more curious.'