“That is enough for today.”

Adrian rested his head on the desk. Learning was exhausting, and Cassius was horribly strict, but at least he recognized when to give a person a break.

“Does the way I explain things make sense?”

Adrian helped him gather the pages he had spent the afternoon scribbling on. His handwriting was terrible. “Yeah, have you done this before?”

“I taught Darrius when he first got here.”

“‘When he first got here’?” Adrian repeated, unsure if Cassius had misspoken.

Cassius tucked the materials away, “Darrius is adopted,” he clarified, waving him to the door.

Adrian closed the door behind them. “Wait, so the adopted son gets the throne, and you don’t hate him for it? For taking your crown?”

“What would a monster want with a crown?”

His words were so matter of fact that Adrian wanted to double check if Cassius had sprouted a tail or claws. He looked so unbelievably alone in that moment.

“Still,” Cassius continued as if he’d said nothing, “I never would have guessed you were aware of our line of succession.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. We just met, remember?”

“Right,” he agreed.

Adrian felt bad. It was hard to figure out what he should say to him. “Are you gonna teach me every day?” he asked, hoping to change the subject.

“That was the plan, yes.”

“That’s too much. I’m getting in the way of your routine enough already.”

Cassius stopped walking and looked back at Adrian. His dark eyes were felt weighty with their insistence.

“You are by no means ‘getting in the way’. If I thought taking you on would set me back in any way that mattered, you would not be here.” His eyes softened, “You may not like me, but I want to help you.”

“Who says I don’t like you?”

“No one likes me.”

Adrian frowned. There was no possible way this prince’s baggage was heavier than his own. What was the worst thing that could happen to a prince? Not receiving the right jewelry on their birthday? He chose not to ask. Instead, he sighed and started walking again.

He noticed the way Cassius looked at him. He looked as if he wanted to tell him something more but decided against it. It seemed they had that habit in common.

Cassius walked up the stairs at a brisk pace that left Adrian taking steps two by two just to keep up. He was taken by surprise when they took a turn away from Cassius’s room. Instead, Cassius led Adrian to a room a few doors down.

“It was all we could find on short notice.” Cassius opened the door hesitantly. “Is this room to your liking?”

The room was smaller than Cassius’s but much larger than the one he’d spent most of his life in up until a few days ago. It was simply furnished, with a bed, desk, wardrobe, and mirror. He assumed the other door in the room led to a bathroom. There was a shelf under the window with a single book.

“I thought you could add your own touches when you started buying things.”

“I get to buy things?” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone shopping.

“Of course, you will be compensated for your work.”

He nodded, but he was finding it all hard to believe. “How long am I going to be here anyway?”

Cassius shrugged. “I should be able to teach you what you need to know about a year, Darrius took about as long.” He fidgeted, “However, Darrius will likely want you here longer than that.”

Adrian said nothing. He didn’t know how long he would be here either. Still, Cassius had shown him more kindness in their few days together than anyone in his life so far, including his own mother. The fact that there were seemingly no ulterior motives still made a part of him suspicious. He felt grateful for what Cassius had done for him thus far, but resentment still clawed at him for ending up here in the first place.

“I just want you to be as comfortable as possible,” Cassius added. He was standing stiffly by the door, still waiting for a response.

“It’s bigger than I’m used to,” he commented as he walked around. The walls were plain white; he wondered if he could find something to color it. He wondered if they’d allow it. “It’s nice, thanks.”

Cassius’s dark eyes darted to the wood floor and the lightest blush touch his sharp cheekbones. In all honest, Adrian found it adorable. “It was no problem at all.”

Adrian sat on the bed. It was as soft as Cassius’s.

“I almost forgot.” Cassius walked to the desk and touched a stack of papers.

“What’re those?”

“A contract. Our contract.”

“Gonna read it to me?”

“Actually, I thought we could sign it once you can read it yourself.”

“You have high hopes for me,” he ran a hand through his hair. It needed a wash.

“You speak the common tongue fluently. Honestly, speaking is much harder to grasp than reading.”

“Oh?” He walked over to the desk and picked up the first page. It was a sea of the letters he’d just spent the last couple hours trying to write. “Why don’t I just sign it now?”

“Remember what I said about being taken advantage of?” Cassius took the sheet and placed it back on the stack, “Contracts are the easiest way for those who are educated to take advantage of commoners.”

“Trust me, I’m aware.” He folded his arms and looked past Cassius out the window.

There was no view of the sea.

Cassius followed his gaze. “Sorry about the view. The palace was built to give as much access to the sea as possible, but…”

“It’s fine,” he assured, “I’m gonna be in the library and your room the most, right? I’ll see it plenty.”

“Right.” Cassius fell quiet, unsure of what to say.

Adrian rested his hands on his hips lazily. “I’m gonna turn in early.”

He nodded. “I will come to you in the morning with your daily schedule.”

“‘Kay,” Adrian acknowledged. He wondered if he was being too casual. If he was, he doubted Cassius would point it out.

Cassius walked to the door but lingered. “Goodnight, Adrian.”

“Night, Cass.”

He left, closing the door behind him.

Adrian walked to the door. The knob had a lock. He considered it. Locks had always kept him in, but here, it kept others out. So much had happened in the couple of days he’d been here. It made his head swim.

He laid in the bed and rolled around, trying to find a comfortable position. It was bigger than the one back home.

Could he even call that room a home?

He closed his eyes and turned on his side. He felt moisture prick at his eyes. He hated it. He hated that, through the constant hell of his life, he still cried about things like old prisons and new masters. 

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Author's Note

Hello! I thank you for making it this far. This story is near and dear to my heart. It started out as a short prequel to another story but grew into a novel in its own right.

Technically, the story is completely finished, I'm just editing it again as I post, and boy has it gotten and better (the comic version will surely break my hand). I hope you love and hate my characters as much as I do (I have a proofreader who absolutely despises Darrius). 

Please leave me hearts and comments if you can, and enjoy the ride~