Morning light awakened him from sleep. He blinked in surprise at Ming Yi, who was waving his hand in front of his face. “What are you thinking about?” Ming Yi whined. “You didn’t wake up for hours. I was debating whether to pinch your cheeks from boredom.” 

Spurred into action, Zhen Xue shooed him away, promptly rolling to his feet. “Do not,” he stated firmly, ignoring Ming Yi’s look of protest. Heat rose to his ears at the thought of how he broke down in front of him the other night. “Get out so that I can change.”

Ming Yi deflated like a balloon, sauntering to the window. As though something grabbed his attention, he paused, looking back at him. However, Zhen Xue scowled in response, firmly pointing for him to get out. He waited, tapping his foot against the floor, watching Ming Yi climb to the roof.

Now finally alone, he prepared himself for the day ahead. 

With a yawn, he opened his closet door, choosing one of his many white robes. He finished changing into fresh clothes, splashing his face with some water from the basin on his beside table. 

He rolled his neck a few times, feeling more himself. Now ready, he opened his door, only to be greeted by his father’s attendant. How long was he standing there? Zhen Xue forced a smile, waiting for whatever the hell he wanted so that he could stop obstructing the doorway. 

It was unfortunate from all the servants that perished his father’s attendant wasn’t among them. They didn’t have a particularly well relationship growing up, constantly being nagged by this man.

The attendant smiled back with equal fervor, revealing a bucket behind his back. 

Zhen Xue’s smile fell instantly, knowing what he was about to demand. He had grown to realize even if he had nothing left, his father would continue to take more from him. Well, not that it mattered. He wouldn’t be sticking around much longer. 

The butler raised the bucket slightly higher, reeling back in his attention. “His Majesty’s orders,” the attendant informed him, taking a mechanical bow. “Your Highness.” The title sounded unpleasant coming from him.

Zhen Xue smiled thinly in response. Without a word, he retrieved his inventions from a drawer nearby before dumping them into the bucket. He didn’t wait around, pushing past him as he left. 

What a uselessly annoying person. If not for the fact he was too busy to stir up trouble with his father, he would’ve given him the middle finger and slammed the door in his face.

However, as that thought appeared, his darling little sister rushed forward to greet him, dispelling his frustration. Her green eyes sparkled as she hugged his waist. “Big brother! Big brother!” 

Another voice spoke coldly in contrast, “That’s the crown prince to you.” William folded his arms, watching from down the hallway. Lilian turned around and made a face, sticking her tongue out at him.

It took all of Zhen Xue’s effort not to laugh. He covered his mouth with his hand, attempting to look serious. Before he could find a decent reply, his gaze flickered to William, spotting his lips twitch with his own amusement.

Lillian huffed at her brother’s display of arrogance, so Zhen Xue reached forward, patting her head to calm her. It’s hard to believe she would turn ten this year. So much unlike William, who was already twelve, with a personality as big as the three moons. That was, if such a thing existed. After recent events, with the Alistair children being declared villains, Zhen Xue was relieved to see them doing well. 

Warmth filled his chest, and he smiled at them, continuing to pat Lillian’s head. “Lillian, how are your art studies?”

Her attention returned to him, matching his smile. “Very good, big brother!” Her hands twisted together as she looked up at him. “I’ve learned a lot since we last spoke when you gave me some pointers about character details. Do you want to see my last drawing?”

“I’d love to. How about you show me after we grab some breakfast?” She nodded, and he couldn’t help but adore the way she tried to impress him. “And you, William? Are your archery lessons going well?”

William grumbled under his breath and walked ahead of them.

Zhen Xue shared a confused glance with Lillian. She shrugged, responding as they followed along to the dining hall, “Don’t mind him. He’s just upset the girls in his class are making fun of him.”

“I can hear you both, you know!” William shouted back at them, without slowing down.

Zhen Xue could no longer hold back his laugh. The lighthearted scene made him more merry than he felt in days. “If you’re that worried, why not let Adraya give you private lessons? Has our dear sister not won several medals already? Who would be a better choice if not her?”

“And drop out of class?! They’ll look at me like I’ve fled from battle.”

Zhen Xue rolled his eyes. “You’re right. What am I thinking? A group of girls to a middle school boy is akin to facing the mightiest of foes. When you perish, Lillian and I will mourn your loss over a second helping of waffles.” Lillian nodded enthusiastically in agreement. To that, he extended his right hand for her to take, guiding her to the dining hall with William leading the way.

Sunlight flickered through the curtains in the hallways as they traveled. The wood floor stretched out before them, offsetting the soft green walls. And blossoming in vases nearby were Cassanova’s signature flower, the Blue Nightshades, although without someone to care for them, they were wilting into decay.

Shortly after, they arrived at the dining hall, where a woman sat at a relatively long table with a teacup raised to her lips. She paused, having spotted them, her curious eyes particularly landing on Zhen Xue as they crossed the room to take their seats. Although not impossible, he rarely saw his father’s third wife, Eleanor.

“Mother, mother!” Lillian exclaimed, running to her side. She threw her arms around her neck, wrapping her in a fierce hug. Eleanor smiled warmly in response, returning the favor.

In contrast, William bowed to his mother with a hand to his chest. The smell of food was too good to resist, so Zhen Xue sat down beside William and piled eggs and bacon on his plate with, of course, the freshest pancakes he’s ever seen. He would speak nothing less than great reviews of them to Lillian. She was easily a five-star chef.