Two years passed quietly after the Duke dropped that one hell of a marriage requirement for his only son. Tan had written to Mikael about it, to which he got an exasperated response.

Tan’s glad he’s not the only one who thought it was a preposterous requirement but soon understood it when Calisto explained the situation to him.

“It’s to prevent the nobles from pointing fingers at the Duke for getting too much power in Court.” Calisto chuckled as he took a sip of his tea. “If you do end up with Lord Mikael, it wouldn’t look good for him since I’m engaged and bound to marry Sisi.”

“I never said I’d go beyond friendship with him.” Twelve year old Tan pouted.

“I hope that is the case, bunso. Imagine if we ruin House Canaels by accident by taking all of their scions.”

Tan only rolled his eyes at that. “That won’t happen.”

Calisto only nodded to appease his brother’s little tantrum as he handed a folder to him. “By the way, here is the list of prospective aides for you. Look through them and see if you like someone based on the reports.”

Tan took it, flipping through it idly. “Why isn’t Mikael considered?”

“He’s the future Duke and is going through successor lessons. He won’t have much time to attend to you.”

“I see…” Tan mumbled as he took out a paper at random. “This boy. I like his face. Looks easy to get along with.”

Calisto only raised an eyebrow at him when he saw the family name.

It belonged to a neutral party.

He had secretly hoped that his brother would pick someone from the royalist party to get a better foothold in politics once he’s of age.

•×•×•

One sunny morning, Tan’s gaze lingered on the face of his newly introduced aide that he handpicked from the folder his brother had given him before. The two of them were in one of the gardens, having tea and cakes.

Javi Lorens, a ten years old boy with a sunny, innocent disposition like a sunflower.

Golden curls and pale pink irises, with soft white skin and barely noticeable freckles, he’s the youngest of the many bastard children that Count Lorens have sired, and the only one who received the surname when he was called upon by the crown prince to be Tan’s aide.

Tan had noticed only recently that his thought process and actions had subtly changed: instead of whining to his brother or acting like a brat as usual, he’s a lot calmer and decisive. He couldn’t attribute it to being near his teens, and the only thing that was different from usual was his dream from two years ago.

Maybe dreaming about his own death kicked all of the childishness he has.

As he pondered about the nature of his dream and his early maturity, which could also be attributed to his early awakening, he was shaken out of his reverie with Javi’s surprise question.

“Your Highness, is it true that you chose Lady Suarez because she’s like a twin to Her Highness? Do you like Her Highness?”

“What kind of stupid question is that?” Tan spluttered.

Mikael was pretty as Lady Mika but he’s still a guy and a good friend!

Also, that issue was already shelved years ago, why is it being brought up again?

“Hm? The maids were talking about it and I got curious.” Javi replied innocently.

“Listen, Javi, if you are to become my aide de camp, you shouldn’t recklessly ask questions like that.”

Javi inclined his head. “Aid the camp? What’s that?”

Tan wanted to heave a deep sigh but he refrained from doing so. “In the future, I plan to be a Commander for my brother’s military forces, and I’ll be needing someone that I can wholly trust by my side.”

“And that’s me?”

“Well, it depends on your performance…”

Javi nodded enthusiastically. “I’ll do my best, Your Highness.”

Tan smiled at that, reaching out to pat his head affectionately. “First thing first, Mikael and I are not a thing. We’re only friends. Second, I don’t plan on getting married unless I absolutely need to.”

“Is it because you have unrequited love for Her Highness?”

Tan frowned, wondering where Javi got the idea that he’s in love with his sister-in-law. The words were kind of familiar, like it was a part of his dream long ago that has been forgotten due to the fact he woke up in cold sweats after his beheading.

It was at that moment that Eufemia Ferrer came up to their table wearing a pretty cream dress, accompanied by a pretty plum haired girl with lavender eyes; Tan recognized this girl as Efrain Estrella, or Fran for short, and the crown princess’s new handmaiden.

It caused some confusion before since Fran had a male name but Tan realized that his sister-in-law has some weird and twisted sense of humor, seeing what she had done to her cousin-turned-adopted-brother.

Most importantly, why is she accompanying Eufemia instead of attending to Siane?

Tan scowled at her, his eyes locked onto Fran. When the young lady noticed this, she gave the prince a sweet smile.

“Her Highness Siane has asked me to accompany the young lady and give you something later.”

The prince clicked his tongue at that, wondering what kind of thing his sister-in-law is giving him via her handmaiden, before turning to look at Eufemia. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“Tell me, Prince Tanashiri, is it true that you’re set on marrying Lady Suarez over me?”

Tan lightly slammed his hands on the table as he stood up, completely fed up with the nonsense about him and Mikael. Not to mention, Mikael is still being addressed as Lady Suarez.

“There are no marriage talks yet but yes, if I were to choose, I’d marry Mikael in a heartbeat. Not because he’s a Canaels now, but because I feel like I could trust him more than you, Lady Eufemia.”

Javi’s jaw dropped at the outburst, and Eufemia looked like she was hit by something large. The only person unbothered by this is Fran.

“What makes you trust them more, Your Highness?” Eufemia asked through gritted teeth. “Is it because you’re both males?”

“Gender has nothing to do with it, Lady Eufemia.” Tan easily replied. “If you or your father had been truthful regarding the investigation about that perfume two years ago, I would have given you a chance.”

The prince turned his back on Eufemia, only giving her a cold glare.

“I know you want to be the crown princess, Lady Eufemia. I suggest you give that dream up, as my brother and Lady Siane are meant to be no matter what happens, as they are both obsessed with one another and nothing can break it.”

Eufemia flushed, gripping the skirt of her dress. “I’d never dare covet the crown prince, Your Highness. This is unfair…you’re accusing me without solid evidence.”

Tan smiled coldly. “You think I’d say something like that without evidence? Do you think I slander people for fun?”

Tears were forming around her eyes and Tan, who remembers her adult self’s crocodile tears, wasn’t moved by it. He walked away confidently, only to hear a sigh escape Fran’s lips and her exasperated words of him leaving her behind when she said she had something to give him.

Amidst all of that drama, Javi watched them with great interest, his innocent facade dropping a little and making him look like a cunning  person instead.