“Summons from the Royal Palace arrived, Your Highness.” The dark winged heron that serves as their steward said as he entered the room where Somnus was doing some self study.

He blinked in surprise when he saw the number of magic circles he got a glimpse of before Somnus withdrew his ether.

Somnus chose to ignore the shocked staring of the steward as he held out his hand to receive the envelope with the royal seal on it. He opened it with a stoic expression, thinking that it took them long enough to send the one thing he’d been waiting for since Peiren’s visit almost a month ago.

He then frowned once he saw the content, placing it down on the table to pinch the bridge of his nose. Seeing this action, their steward only chuckled.

Somnus only gave him the stink eye. “What’s so funny, Sir Urien?”

“Forgive me, Your Highness, but it’s my first time to encounter a serious fifteen year old boy such as yourself. You can loosen up, you know…since you don’t bear the burden of inheriting the crown.”

“Sir Urien, didn’t you tell me before that I shouldn’t tarnish the name of House Caeles when I was…what was that term you used…? Flirtatious? Some years ago?”

“I don’t remember telling you to be this serious and prude, Your Highness.”

“We’re alone, Sir Urien. You can call me by my name.” Somnus told him as he shook the paper in his hand. “As for the content of this summons, it’s not something that I can be carefree about.”

“Why’s that?”

“King Xanthus has invited us to his coronation, where he also plans to announce something important regarding our stay here.”

Urien’s smiling face turned serious upon hearing that.

“I see. The Crown Prince has become the new king as well...”

Somnus raised an eyebrow at him, curious as to why he mumbled something like that.

Xanthus, for whatever fault that he and the new Emperor had, was a good person to them and he treats them as if they were his own siblings, albeit ones that he doesn’t have much freedom to visit as he has other duties to attend to.

For a mere steward like Urien, to mumble something like that, isn't it a little disrespectful to someone of higher rank?

×××

“Eury.” Urien urgently called out to her as he walked down the hallway.

“What? Why are you so disrespectful with your tone?” She asked him curtly, while the attendants behind her quietly tittered. Her expression slightly softened upon seeing the serious expression on the steward’s face, making her gesture to those attending her to leave the two of them alone.

“What got into you?” Eury hissed at him, walking up to him until she’s only a foot away. “We’re not exactly in position to casually talk to one another.”

Urien didn’t falter from her harsh words and glare.

“Xanthus is now king, and not so long ago, Morus became the Emperor. Then there’s news about the succession issues in the Isles. The timing of these events are suspicious, as if someone or something had spurned the two crown princes to act, and the crown princess of the Isles to remain passive.”

Eury frowned. “These issues are normal in any royal family. Why are you being an alarmist, Urien?”

Urien shook his head at that. “Have you lived too long in such a secluded life to not suspect these events, Eury?”

“Us herons have lived peacefully and we never had any issues in any of our succession, unlike that Imperial family of yours.” Eury shrugged. “Glaucus was also ill, and I’ve only extended his life for a few years as he wished to die once Xanthus is responsible and mature enough to think of the kingdom's people instead of how he needed to continue their line, so his passing isn't all too surprising."

Urien only frowned at her, not liking how casual she sounded about the late king's condition.

"Have you really…detached yourself from these lands, Eury?" He asked quietly, a tinge of sadness in his voice. "This land was our home for so long, and these children of ours…"

"They're no more but strangers to me who happen to share a bit of my blood. I do not need to concern myself with their affairs, as we are through with that duty."

"Then why did you descend on our arrival?" He pointed out.

There's no reason for the white guardian, who is worshipped in the kingdom as the great healer Caladrius, to come out of their hermitage for the sake of the two Imperial princes.

He highly doubted that she did such a thing because he was with them.

They didn't exactly part on good terms as family so many years ago.

"Curiosity. I've never been up close with your chosen people, and those children of yours must have grown from a different tree. They're not like you at all. Is that all you wanted to tell me, little brother? If you'll excuse me then."

Urien watched her go, his frown going deeper as his heart ached due to her indifference to losing a family member.

×××

Letum only stared at the paper that his brother handed to him that afternoon with a bored expression. The two of them were in Somnus's sitting room, each having a refreshing cold glass of mixed butterfly pea, lemongrass, mint, cinnamon and honey tea.

The younger prince had raised an eyebrow at the combination, since he had always drunk warm butterfly pea and lemongrass after lunch and couldn't understand why his brother likes to throw in random tea ingredients together for him.

It was the letter from Xanthus that arrived earlier that day and Letum doubted the intention of the new king being a good one towards them.

"I guess we do get a chance to go home." Letum finally said, setting it down on the table. "Even though we never really knew what that place looks like at all, or what kind of family we have…"

"Our father was pushed out of the throne." Somnus said as he idly stirred his drink with a long, slender spoon. "You can tell that the power struggle is intense over there and we have to stay vigilant at all cost."

The younger prince shook his head. "I miss my brother."

"I'm right here, though?"

"No, the fun loving one that always gets into trouble."

Somnus rolled his eyes at that.

Even if he's young, the responsibilities as the eldest son of an Imperial Consort has been instilled into him. Urien may not look like it, but he's subtle enough in his lessons about the Fifth Prince's future as part of the Imperial family.