Sylvester Hampton, My father—a bastard—was a stain, whose birth killed his mother, the last of three children, Eric and Shyla were his elder–legitimate siblings, and they hated him. As a child he wasn't loved or cared for, the formal Duke Hampton–my supposed grandpa, only took him in to polish his reputation.
So he trained–fought hard, he fought to prove himself worthy of his family's prestige, as a boy he was relentless–magical genius, with swordsmanship skills rivaling knights twice his age, quickly winning his father's favor, and entered the race for succession.
Tickling Eric the wrong way.
Eric tried to prove himself time and time again, but Sylvester was always a on top.
Near the boarders, lived Lauretta, a simple Baron's daughter. She was Eric's only escape from the competition back at home, simple– kind–graceful, and of course beautiful.
Eric confessed love to her over, and over, and over again, but she turned him down each time, she said—she wanted to marry for love, not duty..., she believed they'd never be able to make eachother happy.
Then came Sylvester, being the sly—taunting devil that he is, decided to woo Lauretta just to mess with his brother,
but surprise surprise! He falls inlove with her.
{Really?}
She won his heart with her grace and kindness,
{It's so romantically moving, my eyes aredry}
Anyways!... With Lauretta's guidance, and well...love, he was changing–becoming a better person, he even withdrew himself from the line of succession, to prove his feelings were earnest.
Eric. Of course, wasn't having it. He went blind! {Notliterally.} with rage and jealousy and most importantly—a damaged ego. That she'd pick his lousy brat of a brother, over him!. The Heir!!
So he tried to fight fair, and challenged Sylvester to dual for her hand. He lost painfully.
Then he planned to have Sylvester assassinated. but unfortunately... it was a sloppy disaster doomed to fail {Quoted straight from the family records.} Since Mages of the society/guild weren't allowed to kill eachother, it was an offense punishable by Death.
But Father forgave his manace brother, {No doubt on Mother's behalf.} So Eric was only striped of succession, which was then handed over to Sylvester...THE FAMILY'S PRIDE...
{I'm the product of a bastard.}
Unable to accept such a humiliating defeat, Eric took one last–desperate step, ...he was found in his bedroom one morning, life less, throat slit open.
..><><><..
I smirked, reminiscing on the fascinating knowledge I'd gained from the family library, and gossip from some of the older maids.
{Bet no one would dare call him a bastard now, they probably don't even remember.}
Then giggles came from outside, I looked out the window, there they were,
Gia hovering about five or six feet in the air, by a wind vortex, Mia's influence strength. plucking mangos,
{i can think of at least three easier–safer ways to pluck mangos, but why do that when there's the option of floating in the air with risk to break all your bones.}
"Just having magical fun" I scoff softly, turning away.
My reflection in the window, vague, but still there.., Seafoam green, the color my eyes turn when I'm jealous, having so much magic and not being able to use it, so I don't die.
I chuckled at the thought, before I could think any further, a soft–subtle–beautiful harmony played down the hallway. I followed,
I got to the music room, the door was half-way closed, warm light poured through the opening. I slipped in quietly, the sight inside melted my heart,
Theo sat, back to the door, he couldn't see me, he didn't seem to hear me either,
I approached him stealthily, he was lost to the music, every note, every key he hit, so concentrated...
{He's got talent, to bad he can't pursue a musical career.}
Standing next to him now, he still didn't sense me, I stared at him, concentrated. The sun rays in the room, made the dust particles look golden. And he looked like a pretty prince.
{He's playing so well with his eyes closed, show off.}
ting! He hit a missed key–stopped, he let out a breath opening his eyes
"Hi!" I chirped.
"Onita!!" he nearly yelped off the stool in shock, his whole face went red, as he shuts the fallboard.
"Wh-what, how long have you -"
"Oh, not too longer" I smiled, then pinched on his already rosy cheeks "I didn't know you could play the piano!, and so well too, are you keeping secrets from me now?... Um Theo" Still holding his cheeks
"I wanted to surprise you!"
"Uh?" I let go of his cheeks, taking aback
"The song, the one I was playing, I wanted to surprise you with it on my birthday" he pouted "but now you've ruined it"
{Surpriseme?.}
This kid, was seriously planning on surprising me on his own birthday, I almost wanted to cry at his innocence, but instead..I laughed, ...So hard my eyes watered
"ONITA!!" his face got so red, it just made me laugh even more.
"This is why I didn't want to tell, you're so mean!, can't you just accept a beautiful gesture?, so annoying... now you've ruined my section, it's not-"
"It's beautiful" cutting him off "I love it" wiping my eyes, mid-gigle...
"But Theo, how long have you been practicing?, who taught you?"
"Mum taught me, but nobody knows about the surprise ... until now" he looked up at me with a sullen expression, which made him cuter.
I couldn't stop smiling "sorry" as I patted his head.
{There isn't a doubt in my mind, I've been love charmed }
..><><><..
Months passed, Theo's party was a massive success, he played me his incomplete song, I fake cried. And he received his presents. Mine was a dragon dagger, with his initials on the blade, that dagger was to start the chapter of his life,
Theo's underated now, because he can't cast spells and has no elemental control, but that's only because he's no ordinary mage, he's a Pyromancer.
Once discovered, he'll need a weapon of conduct, without it, his fire burns internal... possibly all the way out. Unless he has sufficient control over it.
Later that night, I and Theo sat across the tea table, having our new found tradition of nightly tea, today's special was herbal, Mother made me choose it. Theo would only drink it if I offered.
{This love is overwhelming.}
I watched as his expression kept changing, from wrinkled eye brows, to tighten eye lids, but he didn't gag, or show his tongue in disgust..not once, as much as he obviously wanted to.
My lips curve into a smile, as I continued taking sips of my tea, frankly..it was only strangely thick and tasteless, wasn't that bad, unless you're a picky eight-year-old.
{I've been smiling a lot around Theo lately.}
"You know you don't have to–" I tried to... help?
"No!, I'll finish it... you promised to sleep with me if I finished it. Right?" He cuts me off,
" Very well " I nodded, heat creeping into my cheeks.
{Must be nice being a kid with no common sense of phrasing.}
The night ended, with us hand-in-hand, on my bed.
{Getting too attached to this Theo, can't be dangerous, right?. besides, he's the cutest thing I've ever seen!! }
..><><><..
The imperial palace, a dark room, moonlight sips in softly through the window,
"mph..hm."
Prince Raymond turned over on his bed, struggling–sweating–looking disturbed and — scared.
He eyes suddenly shot open, springing up on the bed, his eyes widened, panting uncontrollably,
He puts a hand over his face, pauses,
" That was definitely not a dream " exhales deeply.