‘’My Prince’’, Raphael’s voice catches the silver-haired attention.

‘’Yes?’’

‘’May I ask what you seek at the black market?’’ The question crosses the line, and the servant knows that, however he got hurt and seeing the dangerous looking man managing the black market, he wonders why would a delicate looking Prince searches for such a place. 

Nikias decides to forgo the man’s insolence, after all the mana pact alone already guarantees their loyalty. A bold and loyal servant is better than an obedient traitor.

‘’I’m going to buy a fairy’’, the man answers calmly, Raphael isn’t shocked by the Prince’s answer, if there is something that makes sense for him to buy is a fairy. However, as Raphael was roaming the capital streets he heard a rumor about something quite interesting.

‘’I heard about something while I was in the city’’, he says as he sits at the small table a bit far from Nikias, he doesn’t ask for permission, his leg is already burning with pain. Nikias doesn’t seem to mind, though. Previously the man wouldn’t even stand at the sight of his servants looking comfortable at his presence, but now he seems to not mind even when they act like they’re friends instead of employee and employer. ‘’There’s a rumor circulating that a holy object might be up for auction this time’’.

Holy object? Those are described in the book as relics of the gods, objects used by the gods themselves, most times gifted to their favorite humans, however most are lost in history, some keep those at their homes as displays of the history of their families. The Imperial family has six holy objects, the crown of the Empress and the crown of the Emperor are both relics of the god of the sun and goddess of the moon. There is also the staff of the goddess of the moon, the cloak of the goddess of darkness, the branch of one of the sacred trees of the god of nature and at last the bracelet of the goddess of the moon. All of them were gifts at the birth of the Empire, be it by allies of the first Emperor or the gifts the Empress herself got from the goddess.

‘’Did the rumors got more specific?’’ Nikias asks for a reason, relics are important in the fight against Vremes, the second book had a sort of treasure hunt by secondary characters where they went after important relics, and the sword that Lyor uses against Vremes is a relic made by both the goddess of light and goddess of darkness as a gift to him. 

‘’I couldn’t hear much, but it was something about a book’’, both men stayed silent for a couple seconds. ‘’It could be the book of the god of wisdom’’, Raphael theorizes, however, Nikias recalls a book far more important.

‘’It would be interesting, however if it is Aelius Diary…’’ The diary of the first Emperor, a relic lost in time, he used a special ink made of the tears of the sun god, it's priceless and it could hold a lot of answers. Evangelia never managed to find it, considering that Nikias and Aelius share the same type of mana, the diary could be like striking gold to him.

‘’I’m sorry but I didn’t get much more information, the auction will be three days from now, I’ll try getting more information’’, Nikias shakes his head at Raphael words.

‘’Don’t bother, you already got hurt enough’’.

‘’I can be more useful, your highness’’, the Prince understands why Raphael seems desperate, after all he uses his brother way more and both brothers are trapped by the pact and the fear of going back to the northern tower. However, Raphael’s eagerness isn’t needed.

‘’You’re already useful, Raphael, right now you’ll need to rest, both you and Lowe will be my bodyguards at the ball’’ Nikias doesn’t have the time to talk with his father before the ball, much less finding a loyal guard to protect him, considering the two threats he sent by mail, it isn’t a reach to think that his life could be in danger.

‘’Your what?’’ The man forgot that some terms he’s familiar with don't exist in that world.

‘’It’s something like a guard, however you won’t use weapons’’, the brothers don’t even need weapons as their knowledge of mana is far more extensive than one might imagine at first. ‘’You’ll be by my side all the time as well, not in the corners or shadows like guards’’. It’s safer this way. ‘’Tell Lowe as well, don’t use servant clothes, if you don’t own any black suits, buy one with my money’’, Nikias says, grabbing the papers he stopped reading previously. 

‘’As you wish, my Prince’’, even if Raphael didn’t understand it completely, he agrees with the Prince and leaves the room to do as he was told.

I hope it is Aelius’ Diary… Nikias thinks before concentrating again on the papers in front of him.

❥

“I'll be escorting my brother tomorrow”, Alkaios words are accompanied by a silky low tone, his office’s lights are off so the room is only illuminated by the moonlight, for a couple seconds the only sound heard is of the ruffling of papers on the man's desk. His pink eyes are dark and mysterious together with the night fall, a man that usually looks kind and composed is now serious and calm. As Crown Prince he decided to take a different approach from his father, looking kind and approachable was his decision, to never make others feel unsettled or scared, however sometimes it is hard to hide your true colors.

“Understood sir”, the knight bows, his red hair glows even in the dark room. “I will establish our men to be undercover at the ball”, worried about his brother, Alkaios ordered his men to watch him at a distance, they can't interfere, only report. As the next Emperor, Alkaios has his own division of knights commanded by his close friend Rainier Bauldry. His division is known as the Silver Crows and are constantly sent to expeditions across the Empire to gather knowledge and strength, it wasn't easy to gather so many talents under him, but after years he finally managed to have somewhat strong and loyal knights.

Part of this is due to Rainier, the redhead was addicted to becoming stronger and was the first to swear his allegiance to Alkaios when they were younger. Even if the man developed annoying feelings towards Evangelia, Alkaios betrothed, he still put his duty first. He'll get over those useless feelings soon, the Prince thinks as he reads the documents at his desk, he isn't happy to do paperwork alone at nightfall, however his advisor was showing signs of betrayal so he'll need to do important paperwork at night for now.

“Did you send the compensation to the family of the knight Nikias murdered?” Alkaios asks as the sound of his pen scratching the paper is heard in the dark room. 

“Yes”, Rainier answers with discomfort, the Prince pretends not to notice the distaste on the man's face. Nothing good will come from it, he thinks.

“And what were the reports on Evangelia?” Alkaios asks, signing a few more papers.

“She seems to be back at the capital, however she didn't reach out yet”, Rainier pushes his hair back with a sigh, all the knights do is stalk Nikias and Evangelia and hunt monsters, when will they do something worthy of their reputation? Rainier would die for Alkaios, that much is granted, but he can't avoid it but feel annoyed every time he is given such orders. He's loyal to the Crown Prince, not the useless one.

Alkaios sighs, closing his eyes and pressing his thumb between his eyebrows, exhausted. “I can't understand what she's doing”, a while ago the woman went missing, she sent a letter to Alkaios saying she would be back, but the man who is completely smitten by her couldn't sit back and watch the woman disappear without a trace. However Evangelia was able to run from every single tail he put on her. “If something is happening can't she just trust me so we can solve it together?” But even if he already said so to her, she continues to shoulder everything alone.

“She was never the type of woman to be tied down”, Rainier says with a laugh, as it is just the two of them, sometimes he forgets to be formal with the man. Alkaios doesn't mind, as long as it is just the two of them, they're childhood friends after all. 

“That's true”, the Crown Prince says, his attention back towards the pile of documents in front of him. “I need a new advisor, but how come every single noble in this Empire is uselessly stupid?” A groan of frustration leaves his lips.

“Maybe you could try searching at the magicians towers?” The redhead’s suggestion isn't all bad, after all, Alkaios himself was more of a magician than a swordsman, even though he's proficient in both. Having a magician as an advisor would be dangerous, though, they will spend a good deal of time with the silver-haired man, and all the secrets he's hiding might come forward.

“I'll think about it”, Alkaios says, but his friend knows better, best friend. There's nothing they don't know about each other, even the weird obsession Alkaios has with his brother and Evangelia, even his hypnotic magic.

“You should talk with your mother”, Rainier argues for the 100th time, but to no avail, again.

Alkaios shakes his head. “No, she thinks that she's the last one with it, it's better to keep it that way”, an Emperor with hypnotic magic will only bring distrust towards those that wish to dethrone him, especially now that Nikias has mana as well. A part of Alkaios is proud of his brother for finally having what he always dreamed of, but another part of him is scared of losing his brother.

“Oh,” the redhead exclaims “The knight that was tailing Nikias was sent to the northeast forest last night. Alkaios attention drifts back towards his friend, his pink eyes shining with danger. Anyone looking closely enough would see the purple rays in his irises. 

“I assume he was dropped there with no weapons or armor”, a punishment for unruly knights that don't leave traces, it was Alkaios favorite method, leaving them to a swarm of monsters with no way of defending themselves. If they're skilled enough they could survive, however most of them were not. The knight that was previously tailing Nikias for three years, failed to report everything that was happening, the treatment the youngest Prince was receiving, the lack of funding, and even the poisoning of the man that Alkaios found out only when Nikias heart had already stopped. Unforgivable. If Nikias hadn't survived, Alkaios would probably kill the man with his own hands, however since the youngest Prince is still alive it isn't necessary.

“Of course”, Rainier isn't happy about Alkaios cruel side, or his gruesome methods, however, he isn't there to question it. Since they were children, the pink eyed boy was already extremely dangerous, he would go as far as torturing his tutors that taught him stuff he already knew and even threatening people to stay away from Nikias. The redhead hates the youngest Prince but also feels sorry for the boy that will never know friendship or love with the controlling brother he has. Even Evangelia can't escape Alkaios obsessive behavior, even though she deals with the man perfectly. They are truly made for each other, Rainier thinks with sadness in his heart.

Alkaios rummages his drawer, grabbing a sealed letter he wrote previously, “Make sure to deliver this to Evangelia before the ball tomorrow, even if we're not going together she needs to start attending Imperial events, as she will soon be my fiance”, he gives the letter to his friend that nods. “You may leave now”.

Rainier bows, leaving in silence, the moment he leaves the room he is met by a silent castle and a figure hidden at the corner of the hallway. As a knight he can't ignore a sign of danger so he unsheathes his sword, calmly walking towards the shadow. When he reaches the suspicious man he points his sword at his neck.

He's met by surprised golden eyes, and there it was the man of the hour. Prince Nikias, the redhead lowers his sword, displeased to see the youngest Prince at that hour, the man is walking with thin exercise clothes and his hair is dripping sweat. Even if Rainier Bauldry hates Nikias' guts, the man's heart skips a beat when his eyes meet his. 

“Oh!” Nikias' expression is one of calm and surprise, he didn't expect to meet someone that late at night, especially considering that knights had a hobby of avoiding him, even with a sword pointed at his neck, he knew that a knight using the family coat of arms wouldn't kill him. A foolish confidence that has a mix of exhaustion and craziness in it. Rainier awaits for the same usual comments, he knows by his information network that Nikias lost part of his memory, he didn't expect the man to forget him, though. At first when they were children, scared of approaching his brother, Nikias tried to approach Rainier, although it was a lot of failed attempts, a lot of disgusted gazes later, Nikias still approaches Rainier with dirty intentions of having a good word put towards his brother.

Even if it is unnecessary. Indeed, Alkaios was already crazy enough about his brother, Nikias didn't need to have more of his attention, not that he'll ever know that. Rainier feels nothing but disgust towards him, it started when Nikias reached a certain age and began to speak badly about commoners and to poison Alkaios. The youngest Prince could be beautiful, however he's completely a waste of oxygen.

“I'm sorry but can you tell me where the room's hallway is?” Nikias' tone is deep, but his expression is soft. He seems to be genuinely lost, even if Rainier doesn't truly believe him.

“Turning left there you'll reach it soon enough”, he points at the corridor behind him, observing the youngest Prince become deep in thought before replying.

“I seem to be walking in circles”, he mumbles low enough that if the night wasn't silent the redhead wouldn't have heard him. “Can you walk me there?” The previous formal tone he used to use with him is gone, his tone is relaxed yet firm. He's talking as if I can't refuse since he's a Prince, Rainier thinks, Nikias never acted that way before, maybe dying truly does that to someone. How much he remembers and how much he doesn't? How can someone's true nature change? He asks himself as he bows slightly and guides the Prince in the dark hallways of the Palace.