“I was so worried that you would…” a sob leaves the small lips of the Empress, even though she's weeping, her dress still shines more than the sun and her pose is as elegant as possible.

Nikias stares at the woman. I should keep the amnesia act, that's the only way to explain my personality change and the fact that I don't feel any affection towards this woman. In the books that he read in his life, he always detested when characters sent to another world tried to act as if they're said characters. The moment you are living in another skin, this isn't a book anymore, it's not a play, it's not a movie, this is real life with real people. It's easier to just live as yourself. Vahe was never someone to live for someone else. Although Vahe's personality is similar enough to old Nikias' that no one would really question it, not that he would be willing to admit it.

“I'm sorry, who are you?” He can't avoid but be polite, he's not supposed to know that she's the Empress, but her presence by itself was intimidating enough to earn such politeness.

The physician, who before was annoyed to be there, is now smiling widely towards the woman. Two faced asshole, one of the servants in black thinks. “Your majesty, I am here to examine Prince Nikias, but it seems that he suffered some sort of mental injury due the ingestion of an unknown poison”, the physician's words seem to aggravate the woman even more. Now thinking back, how could she not know that her older son is being poisoned? Even worse, that her youngest was dying in his room alone? Well, he ended up dying anyway, that makes it even worse, he thinks to himself as he watches the Empress’ expression.

In the book the male lead had a bad relationship with his parents, I wonder if they truly didn't care for him... Nikias sympathizes with the Crown Prince, as someone who was hated by his parents as well, he knows how it feels to be alone inside your own home. That's why he chose to leave home at age 15 and live on the streets instead. After that he considered himself someone that had no family of his own. Sometimes being alone is better than being surrounded by pain.

Cold hands touch the man's face, the woman's hands are shaking, it doesn't seem like an act. The novel did mention that Nikias was loved a lot by his doting parents, yet it also mentioned how the parents failed to save their own son by their neglect. Their love, however, doesn't seem that it was an exaggeration. “Do everything so that my precious son is healed…” she says towards the physician, then she turns back to her son. “Nikki, don't force yourself to remember, if needed, you can learn everything from scratch”, her smile is sad. “My name is Else Elizabeth Chrysl, I'm the Empress of the Exos Empire and your mother”. She emphasizes the your mother part of the phrase, almost as if that's the most important part.

Nikias isn't used to motherly love, he's actually not used to any type of love. Just like the novel Nikias, he's just 17, he never had the opportunity to grow amongst those that care for him. But that's different for the Nikias that woman loves, he grew with care, love, money and power. At least that's what it seems for now.

No wonder he was such a villain, Nikias thinks as he extends his hands to touch his now mother's. “I'm sorry I don't remember you, mother”, his words are kind and sincere, by the gazes of the doctor and servants he can see the distrust. They must think he's faking it to not be condemned by his murder attempt on his brother. And sure, maybe the old Nikias would do that, but that's not the case anymore.

“I love you my precious son”, she says as sobs leave her lips and tears flow from her eyes. 

“Don't cry mother”, Nikias cleans the woman's ters with his thumb and smiles dazzlingly. For a second everyone in the room holds their breath, that's the power of Prince Nikias beauty. 

“Oh my son, you're so handsome”, she smiles, cleaning her tears with a handkerchief. 

“Mother, you have a meeting right now”, a sweet voice comes from the door, Nikias directs his gaze towards the voice to find the source. Suddenly words from the novel popped inside his head.

Pink eyes like a faded rose, pallid face as if the man hadn't eaten in months, silver hair that shines like snow in the sun, lips almost purple from the constant cold of the Empire and a body so skinny that most people would wonder where the food the man eats goes. Crown Prince Alkaios Theodore Chrysl, a man so frail, yet his eyes still shine with so much determination. That's the kind of man worth falling in love again and again ‘till the end of the world.

That was the description that the author chose for the Crown Prince's appearance, and now that Nikias is seeing him with his own eyes, he knows that the author described the man's appearance perfectly. Alkaios is three years older than Nikias, yet he seems younger because of his weak constitution. He'll probably get better soon now that he won't be consuming poison anymore. In the novel, after Nikias died, Alkaios started a growth spurt and became a handsome and well-built man worthy of the title of male lead.

A lot of readers felt sorry for the male lead as he suffered since his younger brother's birth, it was shown that he was considerably neglected compared to Nikias, going as far as describing his relationship with the Emperor and father as one filled with hate. Because of this, most deemed the royals as the true villains of ‘Odd Eyes’. But right now, doubt grows inside Nikias as he sees the way his mother's gaze softens towards Alkaios with love and affection. Their relationship was never really clear in the novel, as most scenes were from the perspective of the female lead, however Empress Else was said to be a woman of many masks, going as far as faking love for her son when the situation required.

How much can I trust the words I've read in the novel? How much can I trust the female lead at all?

Maybe her point of view was rooted in prejudice against the family that hurt her man due to Nikias actions. But how could she assume that Alkaios was abused based only on his brother's actions?

“Alkaios, come greet your brother”, the woman waves towards her older son, who coldly looks at the golden-eyed man on the bed. He seems tempted to avoid interacting with his murderer. 

So Nikias decides to establish the foundation for his new beginning in life. “He's my brother?” He asks with an innocent expression. One of the servants in white rolls their eyes, but he pretends not to notice it. Seems like Nikias was a bit of an actor. Alkaios also seems a bit hesitant, but he approaches the man anyway.

There's something that Vahe always wondered, the expression that Prince Nikias was wicked from birth, is something that doesn't seem true. How can someone be actually evil from birth? He started poisoning Alkaios at age 14, before such actions, Evangelia pointed out that the boy would watch them from a distance with murderer eyes. Couldn't that simply be longing? Watching your brother from afar and seeing how happy he is without you… 

“Hello”, the Crown Prince says, snapping Nikias out of his head, differently from the hoarse and low voice of Nikias, Alkaios had a much smoother and silkier voice, his voice was one of those you would love to fall asleep listening to. He would be terrific at ASMR.

Nikias smiles as brightly as he can. One thing he's learned reading a lot of novels is that older brothers are weak towards their younger brothers, even if they hate them to the core. Something along the lines of ‘only I can hate you, anyone else might suffer my fury’. Alkaios is taken aback, but he doesn't seem disgusted. Maybe their distance wasn't voluntary.

“I'm your brother, Alkaios…” his voice trails off as he still seems hesitant to be too trusting. Considering what Nikias did, it's fair. “We can talk more later, mother and I have a meeting with the nobles”. Commendable, Alkaios even with poor health, always was a great Prince, fulfilling his duties to perfection.

“Nice to meet you brother”, Nikias smiles again. “I hope I can count on you to help me in the future”. The Empress seems delighted to finally see her sons getting along, but the Crown Prince seems wary of the Second Prince, as his eyes are full of distrust.

“Sure” the Crown Prince answers calmly, but his eyes are saying otherwise, he seems anxious and distrustful, not that the woman between them notices the innuendos in his eyes, he's good at hiding his feelings from mother, Nikias thinks, but the Second Prince isn't as gullible, he can see right through his brother’s expression. In the novel Alkaios is known as a healing character, always calm and decisive, he was essential in so many decisions that Evangelia took, since she was more on the emotional side, having Alkaios by her side was a game changer.

At this point they're still childhood friends and fiance's to be in Alkaios eyes, but to Evangelia, he's her entire world. That's why she got rid of the younger Prince early on, so that Nikias' damage towards his brother was minimal.

Contrary to what Evangelia thought, Alkaios weeped during his brother's funeral, she thought he would spit on the man's grave or even keep a straight face. But the Crown Prince held his mother's hands and weeped with her, almost as if he was truly sad to see the death of someone who hurt him so much.

That was the book's passage about Nikias funeral, and those words bring confidence to the man right now. Even with the distrust, maybe, just maybe, Alkaios was just as sad to see him hurt. Maybe Evangelia got it wrong and Alkaios pain wasn't solely because of his younger brother. But again, Nikias wasn't innocent and he was involved in a lot of the plots to take down the main couple in her past lives, and he was poisoning the older Prince too.

But what was the evidence the heroine had? She was so sure that Nikias was poisoning his brother, but what if he was framed? Nikias thinks deeply, again, ignoring words coming to him by his mother. 

“Since when you're able to think deeply?” Alkaios chuckles, his eyes and voice are soft, he isn't scolding Nikias, he's just bantering him, just like an older brother would, just like… Nikias shakes his head, stopping his thoughts from forming. Alkaios slowly pats Nikias head, concern can be found deep inside his eyes, but the younger man doesn't notice it. “Get well soon, brother. You'll have lots to do if you truly lost your memory”.

“Kai, don't bother Nikki too much!” The words of their mother makes theCrown Prince laugh, the atmosphere was never so light in the palace. But the servants weren't happy about it, since the storm always comes after the calm.

After exchanging a few more words, his mother and brother leave his room to go to the so-said meeting. A sigh leaves Nikias lips, he stares at the servants that still hadn't left. He remembers that Nikias in the novel had four servants that did his dirty work for him, they're probably them. However the situation isn't like that anymore, he doesn't need to torment the main couple and neither does he harbor the animosity the old Nikias had towards his brother.

“What are your names?” He asks, his eyes are fierce, the light reflecting onto his golder irises makes him look like a statue. There isn't a moment that Nikias doesn't look like the most beautiful person on this planet. No, in all of the planets and dimensions. Such a beautiful person with a rotten personality, anyone who crosses paths with him couldn't avoid but think that it was such a waste of good looks.

Andreas opens his mouth to speak, but it's interrupted by the Prince.

“You already spoke your name Andreas of house Gasser”, he's harsh but his low tone drags on to the man's name causing him to blush. Is Nikias' appearance that powerful? No… are my looks that powerful? The young man thinks as he notices the blush in all of the men present.

“I'm sorry, your highness”, Andreas says, taking a step back. The other servant in white steps forward. He's ugly, that's the first thought that crosses Nikias mind as he sees the young man. He's tall, but extremely skinny, his skin is covered in scars and his eyes are dark and just as dull as Andreas’. 

“I’m the youngest brother of Duke Burton, Conrad Burton”, brother of a Duke, huh? He's probably here to get the favor of the royal family and outshine his brother. Nikias stares at the ugly man for a couple minutes without a word, all four men stare back, slowly sweating out of worry. The Prince is trying to remember where he heard that name before… oh shit, his brother, Duke Burton, is the one that helps the heroine with his guards to spy on the Emperor during the fourth timeline… He was critical at a moment that Evangelia had to be apart from the male lead. He had a minor part in the second volume, that's why it took so long to remember his name. Helios Burton… he could be an ally, but considering Nikias reputation and his role in the protagonist’s plans, I shouldn't have relations even with his relatives.

“You're fired”, Nikias words are so calm and cold that the servant has a bit of trouble understanding.

“Ex-excuse me?” Conrad seems shaken, Nikias eyes are similar to those of a snake, as if he's going to swallow the man whole. 

“You heard me”, Nikias eyes twitch with annoyance and he lets out a sigh, even when he was Vahe, he hated repeating himself. The moment he shows weakness he won't be any better than the previous Nikias that ended up dead.  

“Your highness, it's unwise to fire him without reason” Andreas steps up again, he's getting on Nikias nerves, he seems like a good servant, but he's serving the wrong master. His words are sly with just the right amount of stubbornness that it couldn't be considered insubordination. The old Nikias probably relied on him the most. 

“I have a reason, he's ugly”, it's not like Nikias can say that Conrad is probably a spy, or could possibly become one. Or even that his brother would help a Viscount’s daughter to perform a coup.

Andreas sighs slightly. “Firing a servant based on their looks isn't wise”. He's being bolder, stepping closer and closer to the line.