"This is so boring," Severus muttered while listening to the discussion in front of him. With nothing else to do, Severus didn't realize he had fallen asleep.
"Mr. Severus," called a voice, but Severus ignored it.
"Mr. Severus!" The teacher in front of the class was furious when he saw that Severus was still asleep.
"MR. SEVERUS!" Severus was jolted awake by the loud voice.
"Why are you sleeping in my class?" the teacher asked angrily.
"Ah, I was feeling sleepy," Severus replied with a grin.
"Get out!"
"Please, don't."
"GET OUT!" the teacher shouted.
"You'll have to force me," Severus said with a grin.
"Ha ha," laughed a boy beside him. When Severus saw him, the boy quickly gave a peace sign.
"GUARD!"
"Fine, fine, I'm leaving," Severus surrendered and walked out.
Severus wandered around the Eleonorin Palace. After a while, he decided to go to the garden. As he sat on the grass, he started picking flowers of different colors and making five flower crowns. After an hour, he had finished making all the flower crowns.
"Will he like this?" Severus wondered, looking at the white flower crown he made first.
"What are you doing here?" a cold voice asked, belonging to a man who had just entered the garden.
"Oh, Mr. Pretty Handsome, you're here. Ah, well, I'm just hanging out," Severus replied.
Evreux's eyes darkened when he saw the flowers Severus had picked without permission.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" he shouted at Severus, approaching the flower crowns Severus had made.
"Don't worry, I didn't pick them all, and look," Severus said, picking up the five flower crowns and showing them to Evreux. "I made flower crowns. Look at this white one, it's for you," he added, offering the white flower crown to Evreux.
"You know, while making that, I remembered you because these flowers are as white as you and just as beautiful," Severus said with a smile.
Evreux took it and stepped on it. Severus's once-happy smile was replaced by an emotion he had never felt before as he looked at the flower crown, now in pieces.
Despite feeling hurt, Severus smiled at Evreux.
"Well, I have to go. I still have to give these to my siblings, and I'm sorry for picking flowers without permission. Don't worry, next time I'll do it again," he said, running away with a grin, heading to where his sister was.
"Ate!" he shouted when he saw his sister walking alone.
"Severus," his sister said with a smile. Seeing her brother sweating, she took a handkerchief from her pocket and waited for him to approach.
"Ate, you know, our teacher scolded me earlier. But don't worry, Ate, it seems like a blessing in disguise because I made a flower crown for you and Sixten," Severus said with a smile, offering the pink flower crown while his sister wiped his sweat.
"This is beautiful," Seiren said, looking at the flower crown her brother made.
"Of course, Ate, I made it," Severus said with a smile. "Can I put it on you, Ate?" Severus added, making Seiren smile.
"Of course," she replied, moving closer to let Severus place the flower crown on her head.
"There, you're even more beautiful, Ate," Severus praised.
"Thank you," Seiren said, pinching her brother's cheeks.
"Severus! Ate!" Sixten said while running towards them.
As he approached, he playfully punched Severus on the shoulder.
"You rascal, where have you been? I've been looking for you," Sixten said.
"That's a nice crown on your head, Ate. Did you make that?" Sixten asked, seeing the flower crown on his sister's head.
"No, Severus made it," Seiren replied with a smile, causing Sixten's expression to darken as he turned to Severus. Severus quickly hid the flower crown he was holding behind his back to prevent his brother from seeing it.
"Do I have a flower crown too?" Sixten asked, hopeful.
"No," Sixten's expression immediately soured.
"Why does Ate have a flower crown, but I don't?" Sixten said, pouting.
"Why? Are you a girl?" Severus teased his brother.
"Even so, if Ate has one, I should have one too," Sixten said, pouting.
"Here," Severus said, offering the violet flower crown to his brother.
"This is mine?" Sixten asked, amazed.
"Yeah," Severus replied with a smile. Sixten smiled and turned to face his brother.
"Ate! Look, Severus made me one too," Sixten said happily. Seiren smiled as she watched her two brothers talk happily.
"Put it on," Severus said to his brother, who immediately wore it.
"Worth it," Severus whispered to himself as he watched his two siblings beaming with joy because of the flower crowns he made.
While the two were walking down the hallway, Severus noticed a boy running towards them.
"Hi," the boy greeted them cheerfully.
'This is the guy who laughed a while ago' Severus thought.
"Who are you?" Sixten asked gruffly.
"I'm Priamos, from the Handem Kingdom," the boy introduced himself with a smile. "And I want to be friends with you guys. You know, nobody wants to be friends with me here because they think I'm crazy," Priamos added, pouting.
The siblings exchanged looks and answered in unison.
"No," they said as they turned to leave, but the boy seemed as bold as Severus, suddenly pulling on their clothes to stop them.
"Please, please, please," he said, making puppy eyes.
Severus was about to speak when he caught sight of Evreux.
"Mr. Pretty Handsome!" he shouted. Evreux turned around and immediately walked away. Severus cheerfully went after him and shouted, "Mr. Pretty Handsome! Wait for me!"
The figure in white clothes disappeared behind the ancient tree. Severus turned around and sighed, "He ignored me."
"Yeah. It looks like he doesn't like you," Priamos said.
"He hates me for picking the flowers without his consent," Severus said.
"Where did you get the flowers?" Priamos asked.
"The garden," Priamos immediately hit Severus on the head. Severus glared at him.
"Don't you know the garden belonged to the late queen? It's the only memory left for the two prince's, so no one dares to enter and pick flowers because you'll face severe punishment. But I'm impressed you in went there without being punished." Priamos explained.
"I want to apologize," Severus murmured.
"But he already ignored you, which means he doesn't want to talk to you," Sixten said, but Severus chuckled.
"I don't care if he ignores me. The most important thing to me right now is to apologize to him," Severus said with a smirk.
Severus, Sixten, and Priamos walked down the hallway, their footsteps echoing against the marble floors of the Eleonorin Palace. Severus was still buzzing with energy, despite his recent run-in with Evreux.
"So, what's the plan?" Priamos asked, bouncing along beside them with a bright smile. "Are we going to explore more of the palace?"
Severus grinned, his encounter earlier forgotten. "Sure, why not? There's a lot more to see. Plus, I bet we can find something fun to do."
Sixten crossed his arms, looking skeptical. "Just don't get us into trouble again."
"Relax, Sixten," Severus said, clapping his brother on the back. "It'll be fine. We'll just look around."
As they made their way through the palace, Severus pointed out various rooms and hallways. He led them into a large, empty ballroom with high ceilings and gleaming chandeliers.
"Wow," Priamos said, his eyes wide. "This place is huge."
"I know, right?" Severus replied, spinning around in the center of the room. "It's perfect for playing games."
"Games?" Sixten asked, raising an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like tag!" Severus announced, tapping Priamos on the shoulder. "You're it!"
Priamos laughed and began chasing Severus around the ballroom, his laughter echoing off the walls. Sixten tried to maintain his grumpy demeanor but soon found himself joining in, unable to resist the infectious energy of his brother and their new friend.
The three of them dashed around the room, dodging imaginary obstacles and skidding across the polished floor. Sixten, despite his initial reluctance, was laughing along with the others, his earlier annoyance forgotten.
Eventually, they collapsed in a heap in the center of the room, panting and out of breath.
"That was fun," Priamos said, his cheeks flushed with excitement. "I haven't played like that in a long time."
"See? I told you hanging out with us would be great," Severus said, grinning at him.
"Yeah, yeah," Priamos muttered, trying to hide his smile. "I just don't get used to it."
They lay there for a moment, catching their breath and enjoying the peaceful silence of the empty ballroom. Severus stared up at the intricate patterns on the ceiling, his mind drifting back to Evreux and the apology he needed to make.
Eventually, Priamos sat up, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "So, Severus, when are you going to apologize to Mr. Pretty Handsome?"
Severus chuckled at the nickname. "Soon. I just need to figure out the right way to do it. I want him to know I'm serious about making it up to him."
"Why do you care so much about his opinion anyway?" Sixten asked, looking over at Severus. "You never cared what people think before."
Severus shrugged, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I don't know. Maybe because he seems different. He's not like anyone else I've met."
"Well, if you're going to apologize, you should probably do it sooner rather than later," Priamos said. "Otherwise, he might never forgive you."
Severus nodded, his mind made up. "You're right. I'll do it soon. But first, let's explore a little more. There's still so much to see."
Severus, Sixten, and Priamos caught their breath and dusted themselves off, ready for the next adventure within the Eleonorin Palace.
"How about we check out the library?" Priamos suggested. "I heard it has some interesting books and hidden corners."
Severus, always up for exploring, nodded. "Yeah, let's do it. It might be fun, and maybe we can find something cool in there."
Sixten rolled his eyes but followed along, trying to hide his curiosity. "As long as we don't get into trouble again."
The three boys made their way through the palace's maze-like hallways, with Severus leading the way and Priamos and Sixten close behind. They soon reached the large double doors of the library, its towering shelves visible through the glass windows on either side.
Severus pushed open the heavy doors, and they stepped inside. The air smelled of old paper and polished wood, and the room was softly lit by sunlight coming through the tall windows. Rows of books lined the shelves, their spines a rainbow of colors.
"Wow," Priamos whispered, looking around in awe. "This place is amazing."
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Severus agreed, running a hand along the spines of the books as they walked deeper into the library.
They wandered through the aisles, taking in the sight of countless volumes on every subject imaginable. Severus was about to suggest finding a spot to sit and read when he spotted a familiar figure at a table in the corner.
Evreux was sitting there, focused on a thick book, his expression serious. Seeing him caused Severus to stop in his tracks, suddenly hesitant.
"There he is," Priamos whispered, nudging Severus with his elbow. "It's your chance to apologize."
Severus hesitated, feeling unsure. "I don't know, guys. Maybe I should wait until later."
Sixten rolled his eyes and gave Severus a light push. "Come on, Severus. You've been talking about apologizing all afternoon. Just go do it."
Severus sighed, feeling both nervous and determined. "Alright, alright. I'll do it."
He straightened up and took a deep breath, stepping forward while Priamos and Sixten walked towards the door exit of the library.
"What have you learned from that?" Severus asked Evreux as he approached.
But Evreux was still reading, ignoring Severus's question.
At this point, Severus couldn't help but lean slightly forward.
"Oh, bold," Severus said when he saw a couple kissing in the drawing in Evreux's book.
Evreux finally stopped reading and looked up at him with a cold gaze. Severus stepped back, raising his hands as if to defend himself.
" You're so focused huh? Is it good?" Severus asked.
Evreux remained emotionless.
"I've got plenty of bold stories from Zarek. Want to read some?" Severus teased.
"Get out."
"Later. I still have a question," Severus said with a grin. He sat down properly and leaned his arm on the desk. In a serious tone, he asked, "Evreux, do you really hate me that much?"
Evreux looked down and continued reading. Severus quickly added, "Hey, don't act like that. Don't ignore me. I'm here to admit my fault and apologize. Look at me, please."
After a minute, Severus spoke again, "You don't want to look at me? Fine, I'll just keep talking. I know I messed up that night. I shouldn't have drunk alcohol in front of you or picked flowers from your garden without asking. But I swear I didn't do it to anger you. I just didn't read the rules on the wall. If I had, I wouldn't have drunk in front of you and would have taken it to my room instead."
"Hey," Severus called out when he saw Evreux still focused on reading. "Are you listening? Hello? Evreux, look at me. I'm apologizing."
Evreux lifted his eyes. "Get out."
Severus's body slanted, "Don't be like that. You know I've put myself out here to apologize, and you're just going to kick me out? That's harsh."
Evreux suddenly replied, "You do not feel any remorse."
"Then what do you want me to do? Kneel in front of you and apologize countless times? Sure, I can do that." Severus knelt and spoke as if he had no dignity at all, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please forgive me, Mr. Pretty Handsome."
Evreux put the book down, closed his eyes, and let out a faint breath. When he opened his eyes, his calm expression returned. He picked up the book and read as if nothing had happened.
A minute passed. Just as Severus was about to stand up, he felt his feet sticking to the tiles of the library. He glared at Evreux and yelled, "Hey! Remove the spell, will you? Just because you have power doesn't mean you can do this!"
"Shut up," Evreux replied.
" If you just--mmmpp mmmpp? mmmmpp!" Severus felt his lips glued together, making it impossible to speak.
His face quickly changed as he struggled to talk and get up. Severus had been aware of the silencing and sticking spells of the Eleonorin Kingdom for a long time, but he had refused to believe it. Now he was convinced.
Severus grabbed a paintbrush with ink, wrote on a piece of paper, and threw it at Evreux. Evreux glanced at it and responded, "Pathetic."
The silencing and sticking spell was only removed when Evreux finished reading.
Severus was about to speak again when Evreux gave him a fierce look, causing Severus to glare back and then leave.
The next day, Evreux noticed that Severus seemed different. He sat beside him and stayed quiet. Evreux had no reason to silence him, so he glanced at Severus occasionally, as if he couldn't believe Severus could behave himself. As expected, after a minute, Severus began talking nonsense again.
"When will you forgive me? I've tried everything I know to make you forgive me," Severus kept pestering, but Evreux continued reading and ignored him.
"You really don't want to pay attention to me?"
Severus leaned in until his lips were almost touching Evreux's cheek. When Evreux seemed to be staring blankly ahead, Severus quickly hid behind some books.
In less than a second, Evreux roared with rage, "SEVERUS!"
Severus almost rolled behind the books from laughter. "I'm here, I'm here," he said, raising his hand.
Evreux swiftly drew his sword, pointing the blade at Severus. "What kind of person are you?"
Severus responded, "What sort of person could I be? A man."
"That's it! How dare you kiss me! You know I am a man too. You have no shame!"
"Do I need to be ashamed? Don't tell me you've never been kissed before?" Severus smirked.
Evreux's weak point was that he didn't know how to argue. After a moment of silently calming himself, Evreux raised his sword and pointed it at Severus.
"You, let's go outside and fight."
Severus shook his head, pretending to be docile. "Nope. Have you forgotten, Mr. Pretty Handsome? Fighting without permission isn't allowed here in the Eleonorin Palace."
Evreux closed his eyes, trying to calm himself, but failed. He glared at Severus and shouted, "Get lost!" His voice thundered.
Severus spoke, "Well, well, well, look at you, Evreux. Everyone says you're a gentleman with principles, but, sigh," Severus dramatically closed his eyes as if disappointed, "you're not really a gentleman at all. And didn't you know that making noise in the Eleonorin is prohibited? And you actually told me to get lost. The audacity you have, Evreux…"
Evreux walked towards him.
Severus hurriedly walked towards the exit. "Get lost it is. Don't you know that getting lost is my best skill so far? It's not necessary for you to see me leave, tsk."
As he exited the library, he immediately saw his two friends waiting. When they saw Severus come out, they quickly went up to him and asked.
"So, did he forgive you?" Priamos asked, but Severus shook his head and bowed as if he was sad, though he was actually grinning as he remembered what happened earlier.
"Tsk, I told you. This visit was pointless. Let's go," Sixten said, pulling him along.
"Cheer up, man," Priamos said.