Heath crouched down and held a hand out. He forced a smile on his face.

"Hello. What is your name? My name is Heath." Children were stupid so he had to act as cheery as possible. Rael hesitated. And then he walked up and shook Heath's hand. His hand was small in Heath's.

Heath snapped out of his observation and looked at Rael. The boy was staring at him. "My name is Rael. Will you be my new family from now on?"

No. "Yes." Heath lowered his head to hide the look of pain on his face. His ability had relapsed harder than usual. He frowned. Why was there a difference when he lied to Rael? Heath opened his mouth, hesitated, and spoke.

"Do you like me?" Rael replied with a shy smile. 

"Yes."

Rael struggled with adapting to the new environment. He was clumsy, too curious, and knew very little. Rael tried to deal with his issues and problems by being kind, and in turn, allowing everyone to walk all over him. He never adapted, he only learned to pretend to adapt. His manners were still atrocious, he couldn't read well and his writing was unreadable. 

Rael ate little to nothing under the scrutinizing gazes of his family members. He received harsh comments from Crille and Clara, who was eager to point out his table manners or his sloppy eating. Rael was struggling. And Heath could see himself in him.

Heath saw how much Rael was trying, he was doing his best to meet everyone's expectations. But his best wasn't good enough. Heath saw the way the members of his family looked at him. His father had little patience with Rael, Clara hated his very existence and even the cunning Crille found the boy unbearable to be around. Rael was a reflection of what life could've been for Heath at one point. If he hadn't changed. And that made him smile. He was superior to that pathetic child. Even though it physically hurt him to lie, even though he struggled with basic day-to-day tasks, he'd keep it up.

Because he'd never want to end up like Rael.

Heath enjoyed seeing Rael suffer. It assured him that he'd keep his position as the crown prince and that his previous choices were correct. And before he knew it, he began tormenting the boy.

Heath saw Rael fiddle with his fingers, ignoring his plate of food. Heath spoke. "Rael. Do you like me?"

Rael looked up and met his gaze. He nodded. Heath raised his foot and kicked out, as hard as he could. He saw Rael exclaim in pain, alerting everyone. He pretended to be okay and was scolded harshly, leaving him red-faced from shame. 

When dinner was finished, Heath approached Rael again.

"Do you like me?" Rael would still naively nod his head. Heath felt the same soothing feeling as before. Heath promptly began to antagonize Rael, asking him the same question after he was done.

He tripped Rael when no one looked, causing the latter to be scolded. He humiliated Rael in public settings. Stole Rael's last item from his mother and burned it in front of the boy. Rael would cry but he still nodded when Heath asked him. "Do you like me?"

Heath started seeing his bullying take an effect. The hate and disgust grew in his family members, as they couldn't stand the commoner who'd wormed themselves into their family. He saw the glares that Clara sent Rael every time he messed up. Glares that weren't directed at him for once, but at Rael.

Heath smiled. By using Rael, he would become king just like his mother wanted. By making Rael the black sheep of the family, he'd shine brighter. By making Rael fail, he'd succeed. Because he was better than him. 

——

Heath closed the door behind him.

As Rael sat down on his bed, Heath carefully walked up to him. He passed by an open closet and paused. Pajamas that resembled a panda were carefully placed inside. They looked ridiculous but Rael seemed to treasure them as he'd put them on clear display for everyone to see. 

Heath looked away. He'd meant to buy those so he'd humiliate Rael more at his birthday party. But instead of being embarrassed by the ugly pajamas, Rael smiled happily and thanked him. Heath felt uncomfortable. He had wanted to embarrass the boy, not give him a good gift. Heath pondered on whether to burn the pajamas, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. It would cross the very thin line that he had set himself. And if he were to cross that line, he might be too far gone.

"So..." Rael kicked his feet up in the air. Heath studied the other person. He resembled Rael to a scary degree. He was still doubtful that he was Rael but he was inclined to at least listen.

"What."

"Could you relax? If there's anyone in danger, it's me." Rael stood up all of a sudden. Heath tensed up as Rael walked up to him. Rael smiled. "I don't think you've quite understood the situation I'm in. I'm currently Rael."

"Right... you said that already."

"No, you don't understand. If I'm here, in Rael's body, where is Rael?"

It finally clicked. Heath's eyes widened. 

"Did you do something to him?"

"God, are you dense? I'm telling you he's dead!" Rael tsked as Heath felt his stomach twist. His ears rang as his mouth grew dry. 

"Dead? How come..." Heath tried speaking but the words wouldn't come out.

"I'm certain that I've now become Rael. And it's due to his death. Perhaps me being here means I'm supposed to prevent it—but why?" Rael began mumbling and walking around the room. Heath was still hung up on the fact that the Rael he'd known for years was now gone. It was a hard fact to accept. Especially when the supposed dead Rael looked healthy and alive. 

"How am I supposed to believe you? Do you have any proof?" He didn't want to believe it. Rael stopped and sighed. "What proof do you want?"

"I want to know your real identity."

"Sorry buddy, but I don't know who I am. I do know about—" Rael stopped mid-sentence. "Never mind."

"No, continue. You're leaving details."

"I'm not telling you."

"You're not in a position to make a choice, either you tell me, or I'll make sure you're executed." Heath threatened Rael who gave him a vague smile. 

"You're going to do that? Even though you're not sure if Rael can come back or not."

Heath glared at him. "You told me he's dead." Rael shrugged.

"I assume he's dead."

"Why are you assuming his death then?" Heath was growing irritated. None of this made any sense. He had to be making this up— somehow!

"Because I watched him die." Heath was speechless. 

"What do you mean? How come—"

"It's in the future, but there are many years before that." Rael cut him off.

"So Rael is destined to die in the future and some unknown entity has taken over his body for... what reason?" Heath eyed Rael.

"Presumably to stop it. And I'm not anything strange, I'm a normal human. Well, besides the fact that I come from another world." Heath's mouth was agape. He looked at Rael as if he were crazy.

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

Rael smirked. "Because from now on, we're partners in crime." Heath took a step back. "What do you mean by that?" Rael chuckled at his alertness.

"By telling you all of this, I'll be able to force you to comply with anything I say. Of course, you can just ignore me as well, walk out the door, and pretend we never had this discussion. But that means I will die and whatever remains of Rael will disappear with me." Heath snorted then laughed.

"What makes you think I care for him?" Rael gave his smile.

"The proof is right there." Rael snapped his fingers and almost on time, Heath felt a pain so sharp he nearly fell over. He fell to one knee and breathed heavily, cursing as he tried standing up. He brushed his hair back and glared at Rael, who was looking down on him. 

"It seems that the cruel and arrogant big brother isn't so heartless as he lets on. So? Will you help me or have the guilt eat you alive forever?"

"You...! That won't be enough to have me help you. Even if I slightly care—cared for Rael, I don't care about what happens to you."

"That is true... Well, it's a good thing that I know everything that will happen in the future. Including your fate." A chill went down Heath's spine. Rael's multicolored eyes were peering into him, almost as if he could see through him. He took a deep breath.

"So? That doesn't change anything—"

"If you become the king, this nation will be in ruins." Heath's eyes grew wide. He stood up and grabbed Rael by his shirt, lifting the boy. He snarled.

"What the hell is that supposed to entail?!" Rael calmly pushed Heath away and brushed at his clothes, seeming unbothered. 

"I won't go into details because I need to keep some things private—" Rael winked and Heath glared. "—but if you're crowned as king, this nation is doomed. But you already know this." Heath glanced away. 

"N—" He couldn't lie. But he didn't want to face Rael and see his pleased smile. He heard the amusement in the boy's voice as he kept talking. 

"However, if you help me, I'll help you out of your predicament."

"By ruling the nation with me?" Heath replied sarcastically.

"What—no! By losing and letting Crille become the next king."

"No." Heath would rather jump off the castle roof and land head first than lose to someone like Crille. Rael sighed as if he expected this to happen.

"Listen, this cooperation won't go anywhere if you keep being stubborn. If you stopped acting like a brat, you'll see how this will benefit the both of us."

"How? It's always been my—" dream to be the king. Heath didn't continue. He didn't want to show Rael how vulnerable he was. Rael grew quiet. And then he stood up, walking up to the window that showed a large white moon.

"It's not your dream though, is it?"

Heath looked at Rael's back with surprise. "...how do you know that?"

Rael ignored his response. "It was your mother's wish. And you thought to make it your responsibility, which is why you've tricked yourself to want to become the king."

Silence.

"But that's not what you want. You've always wanted to be an adventurer. You aspired to be like the Fiery Prince, who gave up the throne to save the world. Your favorite bedtime story. And even now, you still cling to that dream." Rael turned to Heath. He should've been creeped out by how much Rael knew about him but he wasn't. He saw Rael gaze up at him.

"I can help you. Let that prideful act of yours down and chase your childhood dream. I'm sure you'll make it happen." Rael flashed a small smile. Heath stared at him. He sighed and shook his head. 

"I'll cooperate. On the basis that you tell me who killed Rael." Rael shook his head.

"I can't do that. It could affect the future and cause everything to derail."

"Then I won't help you."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Heath turned and walked out of the door. He glanced, looking back at Rael for one last time before slamming the door shut. 

Rael slapped his forehead and cursed.

"Shit."