This is a side story between Rainier x Evangelia x Alkaios (with a small scene between Rainier x Lowe at the end), this takes place before chapter XX.
Song Recommendation: ♫ coming up for air - MisterWives ♫
"When you drown yourself in an impossible love the world starts becoming distorted and your future starts to fade, so do you truly wish to follow your heart? Even if you may lose yourself in it?''
People at the Palace of the Exos Empire were livelier than ever, the excitement over the eminent engagement of the Crown Prince was the subject of every mouth across the Empire. To those that liked the Prince, it was something to be celebrated, and to those that hated or feared him it was a moment to step back and plan their next steps.
One would imagine that a marriage to a mere viscount daughter wouldn't be beneficial to the Prince, after all to someone who'll be the next Emperor, even their marriage is a political moved, if he were to choose to marry solely over love people might take issue over his choices and it could even jeopardize his position. However, Evangelia Petit wouldn't allow such a thing to take place, not only her father Viscount Noah Petit was a hard-working rich man that conquered the hearts of his people with his kindness.
Not only that but he was a childhood friend of the Emperor, making Alkaios and Evangelia's story even more sweet to the ears of the people. Of course the woman also worked hard to earn her position, dealing with corrupt nobles, giving back to the poor and even promoting a joint operation with the South's Magician's Tower to provide shelter to those that lost their houses.
To the people, Evangelia Petit is a saint, a woman sent by the gods to lead their nation by the Crown Prince's side. The truth, however, is that the poor are still poor, the weak are still beaten up and the children still die on the streets even after she distributed bread to them once.
A woman drawn back by her own privilege, she would never know what it is like to suffer, starve or even be too cold or too hot. Her pride in being self-conscious and fixing the Empire is nothing less than her own pride speaking way too loudly.
Surely, those around her couldn't avoid but be enchanted by her words of noblesse oblige and ending the evil across the Empire. What makes her so special? What draws people to be around her? Orbiting her as if they're background characters of her own story? Trapped in the narrative that this woman is perfection itself?
Alkaios Theodore Chrysl is trapped in her orbit for years, not that he minds it. The first time they met was when they were five, and even if a child probably doesn't know the concept of romantic love properly, Alkaios was sure he fell in love with her right there, the moment his soft pink eyes laid on her obsidian black ones.
Being engaged to Evangelia and marrying her is the only option for him in his future, if not her, no one else would be able to move his immovable heart.
Power fever, a condition that afflicts those that surpass human capabilities yet aren't blessed by the gods. Alkaios found out that he had the same hypnotic mana as his mother when he was eight, it was a stupid order, he was upset his father prohibited him to eat candy before dinner and he ordered a maid to bring him sweets. The woman brought it over and over and over again until his room was practically filled with the most diverse types of sweets. Although he was young, he was training to be an Emperor since he learned how to speak, Alkaios was smarter than his peers, he knew that if his parents or someone else found out about his ability, they might lock him up or try to remove his mana, scared of it may imply.
Confiding only in his best friend, Rainier Bauldry is the only one that knows this aspect of his friend's abilities and why he's so dangerous, to himself and others.
A clear example of how far a power fever can take you, is to see Frode Abel, the man is incapable of feelings, selfish and takes pleasure in hurting others, although a good knight, he was a terrible human being. And as a future Emperor, if word got out that he was suffering from the same ailment, he might never rise to the throne.
That is why he needs to make sure everything goes smoothly during his engagement party while also controlling his own feelings.
His obsession over his soon to be fiance and his younger brother might be what brings his own doom.
Of course, one doesn't require power fever to be ruined by love.
Rainier knows that way too well.
The morning of the engagement ball started slow, he woke up at 3 a.m. with only two hours of proper sleep, not that he regrets it. When his eyes opened that daybreak, he was met with a lovely sight, Lowe's eyes were softly closed, his lips pursed and he had a little frown as he mumbled words about his butler training in his sleep, his eyelids fluttering ever so slightly as Rainier got out of bed, tossing and turning to adjust himself to the now empty bed. The soft bedsheets sliding off his body exposing his naked back, a small smile appeared on Rainier's lips as he placed a kiss on Lowe's back before putting the sheets back over the man.
When he made that promise about loving the servant instead of Evangelia, he made a promise to himself, to dedicate himself fully to this relationship, treating Lowe exactly how he would treat someone he deeply loved, sometimes it was hard, when he catched glimpses of the man working across the Palace or when they would talk late at night before they both went back to their quarters. He felt as if he was trying hard to fake a feeling he didn't have.
But that morning when he felt his heart fluttering at the sight of the sleeping man, or the night prior when they talked for a long time before falling asleep, getting to know each other, no sarcastic remarks, no jabs over their jobs, just an honest conversation. Truthfully, Lowe was the one making most of the questions, his hand caressing Rainier's elbow as he spoke, their legs intertwined in bed, but even so, Rainier felt at that moment that he was finally with the right person.
Someone that added instead of subtracting.
Someone that cared about him, even if their feelings aren't completely aligned for now.
The cold door handle startles Rainier as he leaves his thoughts of that morning behind, opening the door of the Crown Prince's office. A strong scent of lilies is the first thing that hits him, before even he sees all those present in that room. ''Morning, Rainier'', Alkaios is the first to greet him, his expression is serious and even at 5 a.m. the man is signing documents and making expense reports, behind him is Xylon, his new aide and young count that just inherited his father's title. Although he's a new addition to Alkaios' inner circle, his presence is felt naturally, almost as if he's blending into the background.
Rainier strongly dislikes him. Not because he's a new friend of Alkaios or because he's around all the time now, but because when they were children, Xylon was one of the very first nobles he met. Maybe the man doesn't even recall when he stumbled across the dirty four-year-old, why would he? He was a child himself, and he's kind to Rainier now, but that memory is still engraved in his mind.
The eyes of disgust, the snark remark of his smell and the innocent question to his father if he was an unwanted child.
Just the mere memory is enough to make Rainier's blood run cold. If he wasn't a future duke, if he wasn't the Crown Prince's personal knight and best friend, if he wasn't programmed to be absolutely pristine around others… Rainer would've beaten the hell off Xylon when he saw him again a month ago.
''Sir Bauldry'', Xylon greets him, his eyes not even looking in his direction, the man is focused on the documents he's handing to the Crown Prince.
Annoying bastard, Rainier thinks, walking inside the office towards the sofa in the middle of it, finally seeing the last person there, his heart beating fast and his hands sweating. ''Did you rest well, Rai?'' With the sweetest of smiles, Evangelia greets him.
Moments ago he was thinking about his lover, and now his heart is fluttering over someone else, for the first time Rainier feels disgusted, towards his own feelings, towards himself that never put a stop to them and to his best friends that knew it all and pretended it was all right.
It's cruel, that's the most simple truth, Alkaios and Evangelia knew of Rainier's feelings and how much suffering it was causing the future Duke, yet they kept using his feelings as means to get his assistance and even made remarks to hurt his heart even more deeply. Evangelia even more than Alkaios, maybe it was never her intention, maybe all she wanted was the attention, the blind loyalty, or maybe she was truly blind to his feelings after all.
''Before we start the meeting'', Rainier says, pushing his red hair back, a sigh leaving his lips, he has no choice but to say this before the ball that night, after all, they would find out one way or another. ''I need to tell you something, but I need Xylon to leave the room'', he gazes at the aide, who looks at him surprised, his eyes dark due to overwork, maybe leaving would be a blessing for him. Alkaios raises his head, stopping his pen, he looks at his best friend for a moment, perhaps he's trying to see if the aide leaving was really necessary.
Whatever it is he saw in Rainier's eyes, it made the man nod. Xylon left quickly, as if he was being released from prison, not taking a single glance back.
Evangelia laughs. ''Someone might think you're keeping him captive, Kai'', she comments, Alkaios shrugs, not denying.
''Go on, Rainier'', Alkaios says, getting off from his chair and going to the sofa as well, sitting next to his future fiance, the small gesture of touching their tights, his hand softly resting on hers bring shivers down Rainier's spine, his heart hurting from the sight.
Well, hard work or not, one can't get over such a long-time love in a week.
Alkaios eyes are sharp, he's staring intently towards his best friend, as if he's analyzing the man, such a gaze might frighten most people, but Rainier was used to it. Maybe even more than Evangelia herself.
If anyone asked the Crown Prince about who would be most likely to know all of his secrets, he would reply Evangelia just to please the woman, but deep down the real answer would be the man that saved his life more times than he can count, the man that changed his whole life to cater to him.
Perhaps if he knew Rainier would die to save him, he would be the one most against it.
He might not love the man obsessively like he does Evangelia and Nikias, but from everyone else in his life, Rainier is the only one that can still bring the very last humanity he has left despite the power fever.
''I have someone'', his words are said in a low tone, slowly, so that the two in front of him can properly digest it. Evangelia's smile fades, her eyes opening with shock before closing and opening again, completely devoid of any emotion. The woman had a habit of doing that when she was undergoing overwhelming emotions.
She and Prince Nikias are similar in that stance, both of them hate showing their true feelings to others, even to those closest to them.
''Congratulations!'' Alkaios smiles, genuinely. ''When will we meet the lucky girl?''
That dreadful question, Rainier flinches, he was ready for this conversation when he had the audience with the Emperor, but now that he's having it, he's scared.
Not of Alkaios' reaction.
But Evangelia's.
''Who is it?'' Simple words said almost to herself.
''Before I say it'', Rainier takes another deep breath, bracing himself. ''I must request that you both respect them''.
Alkaios' expression almost hurt. ''Why wouldn't we?'' He follows his question with what he assumes is the answer. ''Is it that servant?'' he continues, ''Because of the law? I can talk with father…''
Rainier interrupts his friend. ''That won't be necessary, I used all the rewards from the silver stars''.
His words drive all of them to pure silence. Silver stars are given to those that make heroic acts of protection towards the Empress or the Princes, receiving them is seen as the pinnacle of knighthood, and Rainier himself had six, all of them earned through his years next to Alkaios. The stars have a reward attached to them, but because Rainier never requested for anything, he accumulated his rewards.
When he told the Emperor he wanted to ''cash-in'' all of his rewards, Emperor Magnus was suspicious, maybe even thought the man might make an outrageous request. However when the request was an exception to a law most nobles already saw as silly, the Emperor even laughed.
That was, until he heard who said lover.
In the end, even if Emperor Magnus was somewhat shocked, he still got his permission in writing and officialized by the administration office. He used all of his six rewards for saving Prince Alkaios' life to be able to date Lowe, some might see this as the ultimate act of love, or even as a compromise to marry, however Rainier sees it as the bare minimum, after all he's about to change the servant's life, and he isn't sure if it is for the best.
Although Lowe told him that Prince Nikias couldn't care less and even his brother was accepting, he can't say the same for his circle of friends.
''You used… All your stars?'' Evangelia's tone is slow, she speaks in utter shock.
''Yes'', he nods.
Crown Prince Alkaios is also in pure shock, sure someday he expected Rainier to move on from Evangelia, but to use all of his rewards, something he never showed any interest in… He was more serious than any could ever expect.
Of course Lowe hasn't heard that news yet, and when he does, Rainier isn't sure if the servant will be all so happy about it.
''Ok…'' Alkaios leans back, his eyes fixed on his friend. ''We won't judge you, just say who it is''. His gaze goes to Evangelia, who's still frozen in place. ''Right? Angie?'' Alkaios nudges the woman who blinks and nods only.
Rainier sighs, ''It's Lowe'', his words are almost robotic, he isn't able to look at his friends, his gaze lingering on his hands that are trembling slightly.
''Who?'' Evangelia's voice is hoarse, she seems confused, her eyes go to Alkaios, whose eyes are in a complete tone of dark purple. She can tell the Crown Prince is furious, but why. After all, she never bothered to know the name of every single servant of the Second Prince.
''That's why you spoke with father first'', Alkaios tone is serious and low, his usual sweet voice sounds way more menacing. Rainier can't bear to look his friend in the eyes, he doesn't feel ashamed of his choices or even regrets it, he just wishes that things could be different and that the weight he carries in this relationship was the same as everyone else's. ''Were you afraid I wouldn't allow?'' His voice is stuck in his throat, as if speaking hurts. He isn't angry because Rainier is in a relationship with his brother's servant, after all he himself asked Rainier to date his own brother, he wouldn't do that if he thought Rainier would be a bad lover. But this feeling inside his chest, of pain and regret is due to him never realizing that all this time, his best friend thought he wouldn't allow him to be happy, to find love and live his own life.
All those years ago when Rainier saved Alkaios life, it was the first time someone spoke to him as an equal instead of someone of such high ranking, the dirty boy from the slums that jumped in a deep lake to save a drowning Crown Prince while others froze with fear, a small scrawny boy that haven't ate for days acted right away.
Later it was found out that the knights that were protecting Alkaios were paid off to let the Prince die drowned, they were sentenced to public execution, while the brave young boy that saved him, was rewarded.
The true reward was given to Alkaios, even after their roles changed and Rainier began serving him in a more official manner, their friendship remained the same.
That is until Alkaios coronation.
Something changed that day, maybe Rainier started seeing Alkaios as just one more noble, or maybe it was Alkaios himself that started becoming more and more ill as his power began to grow.
Either way, their relationship strained and now although his lover just told him he'll die for the Prince, Rainier would never say a word of it to the Prince himself. After all that would be his duty.
Or maybe perhaps he's just scared that Alkaios won't care and that would be the end of their friendship forever.
Of course their mutual fear of the end of their friendship just shows how much they truly care for each other, not that they would know this if they never say it out loud.
''I'm sorry, but who is Lowe?'' Evangelia asks again, her voice trembling.
Alkaios doesn't look at her, but the purple in his eyes soothes when her hands touch his arm.
''Nikias new butler'', the Prince answers with a sigh.
Rainier raises his head. And there it is, he thinks, the look of pure disappointment.
Evangelia's eyes couldn't be clearer even if she thinks she's hiding it well. Disgust, anger, disappointment, disbelief and finally, fear.
''Since when?''
''Three months ago'', he lies. Alkaios' eyes twitch but he remains silent.
''How… I mean… Why?'' She asks, trying to grasp and understand the situation.
''Evangelia, I don't want to tell you how our relationship came to be'', Rainier says, drawing a line he should have had a long time ago. ''He doesn't want me to tell people'', he continues, remembering the conversation he had with Lowe last night. ''We decided to come to the ball together tonight, that's why I told you both''.
His head is spinning, and the sight of his love of years heartbroken expression makes his heart hurt just as much, he wants to retract his words, soothe the woman and beg for her to not look at him like that anymore. But he can't, he must be firm with his decision, the moment he became Lowe's lover, he made a choice to not bend over to his love for Evangelia anymore.
Even if he can't avoid his undying loyalty towards those who he loves, he must direct those feelings towards Lowe and his duty as a knight. He mustn't be Evangelia's tag along anymore, nor should he twist his back to aid her in everything she needs, after this meeting he's Evangelia's friend and when on duty he's a knight that must also protect her when she's with the Crown Prince, but the Rainier that is in love with Evangelia Petit, must die right this moment.
So that his heart can heal, and that he can spend his next two years loving someone who'll actually be his lover not someone else's.
Someone he can touch, kiss, hug and love freely.
Someone that will look as if someone put an arrow across his heart at the mere idea of Rainier's death.
Because he's sure Evangelia would choose Alkaios' life in a heartbeat, and the eyes Lowe had when telling Rainier about his death, were the eyes of someone that would lose a piece of himself together with his death.
And that is the relationship he needs.
No, the relationship he deserves.
After years sacrificing himself for others, he can finally be a little selfish, even if his selfishness has an expiration date.
"Do you love him?" Alkaios asks, getting up from the chair and walking towards the window, attempting to hide his hurt expression. Luckily for him neither Rainier nor Evangelia notices the pain in his sweet pink eyes.
Rainier hesitates, and that is noticed by Evangelia, who speaks instead. "If you're unsure, why sacrifice so much for a servant?" Her words are judgemental, she probably can't notice the prejudice in her own words. "Especially Prince Nikias' servant! I thought you hated everything that surrounds him!" She's right, if someone told him he would be dating the Second Prince's servant, he would feel disgusted and angry at the mere thought a few months ago. But now? Why not?
Is it because he was supposed to keep loving her until his death?
Or because Lowe is supposed to be below him?
Sometimes Evangelia forgets Rainier was a commoner from the slums before he was adopted.
Alkaios flinches with the mention of his brother, but he doesn't comment on it, he doesn't want to start another fight over it with Evangelia, not on this special day for them.
"I'm not dating the Prince, Evangelia", Rainier says with a sigh. "And both Lowe and I agreed to be professional about this situation, so I won't be hateful towards Prince Nikias anymore", he says, another shocked expression is made by the woman. She's in pure despair, so many things are changing, how can she fix this situation? How can things go back to the right track?
Clearly killing Nikias didn't work out…
"Will you be able to perform properly as a knight?" Her question is cold, Rainier expression changes from sorrow to anger. What is she insinuating? Maybe because everything seems to be derailing around her, but Evangelia's usual calm and controlled emotions are more explosive and she seems almost desperate. "What if one day you must choose between your lover and Alkaios?"
"Why would such a situation happen?" Alkaios is the one to speak.
Evangelia flinches. "I'm just pointing it out".
"So all the knights must make celibate vows to be able to work properly?" The Crown Prince questions his soon to be fiance.
The woman stumbles her words. ''T-That's not what I mean'', she takes a deep breath, trying to control her own reactions. ''My point is that Rainier is your personal knight, Kai, especially right now, having such distractions can be more harmful than good''.
Rainier's eyes stare deeply at the woman, he leans back onto the sofa, tilting his head, his gaze intense as his mind begins to turn slowly, finally and surely seeing the small cracks into the woman's words. ''Why, you want me to be a mindless puppet and just live my life as a shield?'' He's rude, for the first time in 13 years, he speaks back at his childhood crush. To his first love. ''May I remind you, Evangelia, that although I am the Captain of the Silver Crows and Alkaios personal knight, I also am a future Duke, my responsibilities already range away from my duty as a knight solely, having a lover won't stop me from doing my job, the same way my Duke lessons never stopped me from saving Alkaios life five times''.
She sighs, ''I'm just worried about you Rainier, you know that Prince Nikias keeps weird people around him, what if he's dangerous? Or using you?'' Her words are more an offense to the Second Prince than to Rainier, his red eyes go to the Crown Prince, who seems to ignore the woman's harsh words towards his little brother. If it were anyone else he would've killed them for less.
''With all due respect, Evangelia, you can't assume someone's morals based on what you think their employer is like''.
''I don't think, I know, if you just knew what he would do to us… Rainier, you also changed, why? Why are you falling for those fake changes just like everyone else?''Her words are clearly about Prince Nikias, not Lowe. Rainier sighs, closing his eyes for a moment before speaking, he doesn't want to be rude to his friend, nor he wants to hurt her, even if he wants to stop loving her romantically, it doesn't mean he wants to cut her off from his life. Evangelia is part of him, she's one of his closest friends and someone that he still doesn't know how to live without. But what can he do when she's working hard against his own growth as a person?
He feels suffocated, as if he's trapped between choices he shouldn't have to make, on one side is his best friend and first love, begging him to walk towards him, towards pure pain and harm, but a life he's comfortable and safe overall, while the other side is someone who makes him feel alive, as if he's worth more than what everyone else tells him, change and a future uncertain awaiting for him at Lowe's side. If it was a few months ago, he wouldn't have hesitated moving towards Evangelia.
But right now, he doesn't want pain, he doesn't want the familiarity of being inferior.
He wants to be loved and to love freely.
''Evangelia, my lover is not someone whom you should speculate about'', Rainier says at last, his tone is firm and his eyes are cold. ''I can withstand your harsh words against myself or your absurd thoughts that I should live only for Alkaios' sake, but Lowe is my lover, and as my friend you should respect him at the very least.''
''Rainier'', Alkaios speaks, his tone is low and calm, he doesn't look at either of the other's, his gaze fixated on the window. ''Congratulations, I hope you're happy''.
''Kai!'' Evangelia gets up, clearly upset.
''Angie! That's enough!'' Alkaios yells, taking a deep breath afterwards. ''Can't you just be happy he found someone…?'' Else, someone else. That was probably what the man was insinuating, that finally the knight had moved on from his years-old unrequited love. ''I can protect myself most of the time'', he says.
''You don't know that'', she insists, her tone is mellow, as if she's about to cry. ''I can't lose you, Alkaios'', she whispers, the heaviness of her words is something only Nikias would be able to read.
''Are you implying me having a life besides my duty will kill Alkaios?'' Rainier sounds colder than what he intended, truth be told he's more hurt than angry at the woman, he can understand she loves Alkaios more than maybe he would ever understand, but to blatantly try to force him to be only a knight whose ultimate purpose is to die for his master.
When Lowe said he would die for Alkaios, all he could think was that's okay, that's my life's purpose anyway, and even now, he still doesn't see it as something bad, but Evangelia's words and intentions hurt, not because she wants him to die for Alkaios, but because she isn't seeing him as her friend or even as human at all.
As if he's a supporting character in her story.
Whom it's okay to be discarded, he's not that important after all.
''No'', Evangelia answers, her voice is low and her eyes are fixated on the ground, her long black hair hiding her expression of pure despair. ''I just want to protect you Rai,'' she says in a whisper. ''What if he's using you?''
''With what purpose?'' Rainier asks, the anger in his tone clear.
''To get to Alkaios! To ruin us!'' She answers almost yelling.
Rainier laughs dryly, it's almost hilarious how the news about him circles back and becomes about her and Alkaios. It was always like that since they were children, as if it was okay to discard him, as if he didn't have feelings or he didn't matter that much.
When Evangelia was his entire world that was good enough, to watch her from a distance, to accept scraps.
But he doesn't need the leftovers of her affection anymore.
At the end of the day he can go to his lover, take him in his arms, sink his nose on his neck, taking in that sweet scent of gardenias and drown himself in his words like the most hypnotic of songs. Even the poisonous mist Lowe sometimes lets out during sex was sweet and just reminded him how much the man was letting himself be embraced by him.
The contrast, the difference.
Even when one says that he doesn't love Rainier and the other claims they do.
This isn't love or affection, it is the need to possess, to control.
''I'm going, I can't hear this anymore'', he says, pushing his hair back with frustration and getting up from the sofa, none of the two lovebirds stop him, Evangelia ashamed of her own words and Alkaios still attempting to process his own thoughts.
Before closing the door behind him, he can hear Alkaios whispering to Evangelia, ''You crossed the line, Angie, no one must die for me to live''.
Regardless of what the two must've discussed later on, Rainier didn't care enough to loiter around, he doesn't wish to have his heart broken even more that early morning.
When he turns to walk those long hallways towards the training grounds, where he's supposed to meet the other knights and go through today's schedule, he's met with his favorite eyes.
''How did it go?'' Lowe's voice is hoarse, a result of his insistence in not taking proper care of himself while working hard these last days. Rainier smiles, his eyes softening at the sight of his lover, maybe he still doesn't fully love Lowe how he loved Evangelia, but seeing him feels like he's finally taking a deep breath after suffocating for so long.
He takes the man in his embrace, not caring about the loitering eyes of the servants passing through them, after he got the permission from the Emperor, nothing else matters. Lowe blushes with the action of the knight, but he doesn't back off or even move, allowing Rainier to lean on his neck and take deep breaths.
''Terribly'', Rainier answers with a sweet whisper. ''But I feel better now''.
''How?'' Lowe asks, truly confused.
Sneakly, Rainier places a kiss on Lowe's neck, hidden from those passerbys. ''Because my sweet lover came to cheer me up'', he says in a low tone, only for Lowe's ears, he tilts his head so that his eyes can meet Lowe's caramel ones. ''We will enter together tonight'', he says.
''They'll judge me'', Lowe states, not worried, just concerned about Rainier's reputation.
The man laughs, this time of happiness. ''They'll always judge us, pup, regardless of what we do, we can't erase our origins, so don't care about a bunch of bitter nobles''.
''You're a noble'', Lowe says with a soft laugh.
''True'', Rainier says, taking a step back, his hand still on Lowe. ''But I'm not seen as a true noble by them, so what difference does it make?''
Lowe ponders for a moment before nodding. ''Did you tell your father?'' His question makes the man flinch, he hasn't seen his father in a while, and he knows that the man won't approve of this relationship, not only because Lowe was a commoner, but because he was a man. He never feared the Duke, he even respected and revered him in some instances, but he knows that he isn't a sweet son or even truly loved, he was adopted so that the Duke could have a deeper relationship with the Emperor and a connection to the future one.
His adoption was an act of politics not familial love.
Even if his father says otherwise.
That's why Rainier used everything in his power to get the approval of the Emperor, this way even if his father is displeased he won't act against their relationship.
''No, he'll hear about it sooner or later'', Rainier shrugs, kissing Lowe's forehead. ''Don't worry about him''.
''I'm worried about you''.
Those words catch the knight by surprise, he never thought the servant would admit to his worries, maybe he's also trying hard in this relationship. Maybe he's also feeling this connection they have, this feeling that together they can be free.
''Lowe, we need to…'' The door of the Second Prince's office opens and Fleuri leaves, his hands occupied with documents so that he doesn't see Rainier standing there until he's mid-sentence. ''Sorry'', he automatically says, ''I didn't mean to interrupt'', his eyes are emotionless, as if he isn't truly sorry.
''I need this project to be over by the end of the month…'', behind Fleuri, Prince Nikias appears together with Irene and Raphael, his eyes focused on those whom he's talking with, until he stops, his path blocked by Fleuri. ''What happened?'' The Prince's gaze goes to the couple in the corridor, his emotions aren't shown, maybe because he has none, or perhaps because he's way too good at hiding them. ''Oh''.
Lowe's face becomes completely red out of embarrassment, Rainier, noticing his discomfort, moves back, his hand leaving the man's arm.
''No offence, but couldn't you meet in a room?'' Irene asks, her face also red from seeing the couple. She fans her face with her hand, trying to lower her cheeks temperature so that she doesn't look like a tomato. ''We get that you're in love but this is too much''.
Raphael's eyes are the only ones with pure hostility, he doesn't seem happy to see Rainier, making the man flinch, unsure what he did to hear such feeling. Perhaps because he stole his older brother or maybe because they're relationship felt sudden and weird to anyone else.
''Compared to the Prince and the King, this is nothing'', Fleuri comments, looking back at the documents on his hand, proceeding to give them to Lowe. ''We need to review this by next week, his highness wants to open the shop as soon as possible'', the halfling doesn't even flinch, continuing the subject of work, exchanging more words with Lowe before leaving for a meeting with the Crown Prince's aide about the mana stone smuggling case.
Nikias cleans his throat, ''So, you're going to the ball together tonight?'' He asks, his voice doesn't show any hostility or even sarcasm. To say Rainier is surprised by the Prince's mature reaction would be an understatement.
''Yes'', Lowe answers, his face already back to its normal tone, his stance is straight and he seems more polite than usual, clearly using his work voice. Rainier smiles unintentionally, finding the whole situation absolutely amusing, how he's seeing a different side of Lowe, he's not used to it.
''Remember what we talked about yesterday'', Nikias says, his gaze going to Rainier. ''That's the most I can do for you, the rest is your own will''. Without explaining his own sentence the Prince leaves with the other two, leaving Lowe and Rainier alone at the hallway again.
Contrary to the confused knight, Lowe seemed different after the Prince's words, almost determined, as if something was about to happen.
''What was the Prince talking about?'' Rainier decides to ask, making the servant flinch.
''I told you…'' Lowe looks deeply into Rainier's red eyes, a habit he developed after their many nights together, finding solace into those ruby irises. ''If you'll do whatever you want, I will just do the same''.
Although he's still confused, the memory of his conversation with Lowe that day about his death crosses his mind again, so he can't bring himself to ask any more questions. Because maybe if he does so, he might begin crumbling under the pressure he's used to being under for so long.
''Okay, pup, do anything you like'', Rainier's says sincerely, he bends over, looking around to confirm the hallway is empty before placing a soft kiss on Lowe's lips, lingering for a few seconds before parting ways, the sweet taste of the toast with strawberry jam the servant ate at Rainier's home earlier remaining in his lips for a moment. He smiles again. ''I need to go now, but I'll see you tonight''.
Lowe nods, ''See you later''.
''Think of me, pup'', Rainier says as he waves, leaving Lowe's sight after a few moments, not looking back, because if he does he might never want to leave.