“Tan, are you still asleep?” A young man’s voice called out from the other side of the bedroom door around midday.

The second prince Tanashiri, who prefers to be called Tan by his loved ones, drowsily sat up with an incredible cowlick.

He rubbed his eyes to remove any crust that might have formed when he went back to sleep at the crack of dawn.

At the same time, the door opened to reveal his handsome older brother: tall and beautiful, with well maintained wavy dusty purple hair, bright amethyst eyes and fair skin that is unheard of during puberty, and wearing the white regalia of the crown prince.

Seeing the face of the fifteen year old crown prince of the Azril Kingdom, Calisto Radiomoda, brought back the depressing dream for Tan.

He held back his mixed tears of joy and sadness on seeing his beloved older brother alive and well.

This did not escape Calisto’s notice and thought something was still ailing his baby brother, who had been severely ill for the past five days.

“Is your fever acting up?” Calisto asked as he hurried over to the side of the bed, placing a hand over his baby brother’s forehead. “You’ve been out for five days after meeting with that girl…”

Tan frowned, wondering what his brother was talking about until he remembered that five days ago, he met his future fiancee, the young lady of the Ferrer family.

The very same he resolved last night not to accept any proposal because of his dream.

He’s not sure why he got a fever but something must have been triggered in his body to react that way towards her, since there was some kind of weird scent that reached his nostrils before passing out.

“I’m fine. I think.” He replied, making Calisto take a deep, troubled breath.

“Duke Canaels will be arriving in the Capital today to check on you. I hope you’d cooperate with my father-in-law and not lie about any symptoms you had experienced.” Calisto said firmly as he took his hand back and placed it on his hip, making Tan flinch at the aura that his brother’s emitting suddenly. “He said he’s bringing Sisi along with her cousin so I want you on your best behavior.”

“Yes, I understand. You don’t have to use a command on me.” Tan responded tersely. “I’m still a patient, you big bully. I will tell inso about this.”

Calisto blinked stupidly for a moment before withdrawing his aura with an embarrassed chuckle.

“Oh dear, for you to call Sisi like that already. Aren’t you cute?”

“You’re basing your own brother’s cuteness on whether I call your betrothed sister-in-law or not? Aren’t you a little too obsessed with her?”

“She’s the love of my life.”

“She’s twelve.”

“It doesn’t matter. Now, for your cuteness, this kuya of yours will treat you to brunch. What do you say, bunso?”

“You’re not busy with your duties as crown prince?”

Calisto gave his brother a wicked smile. “I gently asked Father to let us siblings have a day off or three when you wake up after what had happened with the girl he chose for you. Since I can’t make a move against Marquis Ferrer, his sworn brother, I could only bully him into small things like this.”

Tan stared at him in disbelief, now fully aware of the difference between the Calisto in front of him and the one from his dreams: one has awakened to a dormant power that elevates his overall skills and status while the other only had his natural charisma and skills.

He believes the ‘experts’ called it the secondary gender, which has been around for some time with no further explanation of how it came to be, and Calisto is a born Alpha with a stronger presence compared to others.

If the Calisto from his dream had that, no one in their right mind would dare rise against him, as he could make their father, the King who is said to be the best and strongest Alpha of his era, bend to his will easily.

“I’d join you for brunch if you’d get me sun-dried herrings coupled with vinegar, two eggs and fried rice.” Tan said expectantly.

He’s not keen on hearing any kind of politics at the moment since he still doesn't have the whole picture of the political landscape, and he’d rather take his fill of food since his brother is offering.

Everyone knows how generous the crown prince is when it comes to food.

“That’s quite a specific order.”

“Of course. Or do you want me to tell inso that you’ve been mean to me?”

“Oho, so you’re blackmailing me, baby bro? Is that it? You think she’d take your side?”

“I’m her cute baby brother, of course she will.”

•×•×•

Brunch with the crown prince is much simpler compared to what one would expect, and on the healthier side as well.

They had gone out to eat at a restaurant frequented by high ranking nobles and have been shown to an executive suite with quite a view; while Calisto didn’t humor his brother’s food requests and threats, he did order tasty and healthier food options for him.

Nicely seasoned fluffy scrambled eggs, a variety of soft breads, light and clean tasting soup broth with the softest tofu and green onions, a butterflied milkfish that has been marinated in vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper overnight that goes well with the white rice served to them.

Tan also noticed the banana fritter, one of his favorite desserts, sitting by his brother’s side of the table and he scowled at it, being so far away from his reach.

“Eat properly first then you can have the fritters.” Calisto said bemusedly upon noticing his brother’s scowl as he placed some fish meat onto his sibling’s plate.

“Fine.”

“My, aren’t you testy today? What got into you? Bad sleep?”

“I think so.”

Calisto raised an eyebrow at that as he took a spoonful of the soup with tofu in it. “That’s interesting to hear. A prophetic dream or a normal nightmare?”

“It’s about our deaths and the betrayal of a noble house. I’m not sure if it’s a prophetic dream or caused by my fever.”

Calisto’s smile turned stiff, not expecting that response from his brother.

He was ready to tease him if he dreamt of pissing his bed or something like that but his ten year old brother looks a little too serious for it to be a lie.

“Interesting…” Calisto said with a strained smile. “Can you tell me?”

Tan looked at him thoughtfully, then nodded as he reached for the broth. 

“The Ferrers staged a coup, you and inso were killed along with your baby. Father died and mother was sent to the monastery. I don’t know if Gian was brainwashed or in cahoots with them. But I’m not sure if it’s really a prophetic dream or an ordinary nightmare.”

Calisto almost dropped his utensils at that, but he held onto them.

What an ominous dream, no matter what angle you look at it. Especially after meeting with the young lady of Ferrer too.

He should launch a secret investigation on that family’s movements after this brunch, to get some peace of mind.

He won’t take chances on the safety of his future wife and child.

“Is that all, bunso?”

“I was beheaded at the end. It was terrifying.” Tan replied as he took more milkfish meat. “I think I saw someone familiar but I don’t know their name. They have the same teal eyes like inso though. Could she have a twin?”

Calisto pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Could be the cousin they’re bringing along today. They’re the only ones who have teal eyes…but Sisi’s the prettiest.”

Tan grimaced at his brother’s direction. “Please stop obsessing over her. It’s disturbing and embarrassing.”

Calisto only laughed at that and the two of them continued to eat in silence, with only the clinking of utensils being heard in the room.

When they were finally done, the two of them went down to the market to buy some gifts for their future guests. Tan only raised an eyebrow when his brother bought an intricate flower barrettes adorned with precious gems.

“Didn’t you give her one not so long ago?” Tan asked. “You’re giving her another one?”

“Adorning my little moon is my stress reliever, bunso. Don’t question it too much.”

Tan gazed at his brother, knowing the reason why he’s suddenly stressed, and kept his mouth shut all throughout their shopping.

In one jewelry shop, Tan noticed a pair of slim, bar dangling earrings and he vaguely remembered the person he saw in his dream wearing something like that.

He discreetly bought the pair while his brother was busy picking between two rings for his ‘little moon’ to wear.