Will was shaking when he finally closed the door on Octavian. He spun round and leaned against the wall, took a deep breath then straightened his spine and the lapels of his jacket before returning to his bedroom.

Nico was frozen in the centre of the room - as if he'd just been pacing - and Will couldn't help but notice how Nico's hair was pushed back after the dark haired boy had been running his fingers through it anxiously, and it suited him.

"Is everything okay?" Nico asked, breaking the silence.

Will nodded but he knew his facial expression was convincing Nico otherwise. Sighing, Will opened his mouth to reply. "Octavian scares me so much." He took another deep breath and sunk down into one of the plush armchairs. "I didn't tell you why I was crying earlier and I think you deserve an answer."

"You don't have to tell me why if you don't want to," Nico replied and Will smiled. What did he do to deserve someone as wonderful as Prince Nico?

Voice quivering, Will told Nico all about coming out to Octavian. Nico gasped as Will told him about being slapped and getting called a faggot for the first time.

Once he'd finished his story, Will let out a breath, he realised he'd been rambling and barely breathing. He didn't dare look Nico in the eye.

After hearing Nico sigh, he felt arms wrap around his shoulders and pull him into a comforting hug. "There's nothing wrong with being gay, Will. And if gays do go to hell, we'll be there together." Will laughed through the tears he didn't remember crying.

There was a moment of silence, the two boys staring at each other as Will wiped his tear-stained cheeks.

"I don't mean to pry," Nico said. "But there was something that stuck with me that Octavian. He said that I'm the next would-be respectable husband that you're poisoning. That implies there was someone before me." Nico didn't finish question and Will knew it was because of the hurt that clouded his blue eyes.

Will debated whether or not he should tell that story now. He gulped down the knot in his throat and opened his mouth:

~ flash back ~

Will barely ever had friends his own age. There were few nobles with sons his age and even fewer royals. But there were many servants.

Fifteen-year-old Will was exploring the servants' hallways below the ground floor of the castle. There were many servants bustling around but few paid him any attention as they carried various trays and boxes.

Rounding a corner, Will crashed into something. That something made an 'oof' sound as they collided - a boy. Will managed to keep his footing but the boy tumbled to the floor, his basket tipping over and fresh bed sheets littered the space around him.

"Watch where you're goi-" He froze. "Y-y-your Highness. I a-apologise. I didn't r-realise it was y-you." Will took in the boy who sat frozen, staring up at him with wide, terror-filled eyes. The boy had long mouse-brown hair that was scraped back into a ponytail; his eyes were a dark green and were slightly upturned, suggesting his family came from another kingdom, he assumed they were southern by his slight accent; he was tall, taller than Will he realised but he was frightfully skinny.

"Don't worry, it was my fault." Will smiled and held his hand out to help the boy up. "What's your name?"

The boy smoothed out his creased, faded white shirt and tucked a few stray hairs behind his ears. "Isaac Phillips, Your Highness." He refused to look Will in the eye. "Please don't tell your father about this. I can't lose this job!"

Will frowned. Why was everyone always so nervous around him? He wasn't that horrible, was he?

"Well, Isaac, if you stop calling me 'Your Highness' and start calling me Will, then I won't tell my father."

"Oh thank you! Thank you, Your- Will. Thank you, Will." Isaac's face broke out into a smile and the young prince couldn't help but think about how his name was very fitting. A boy who's smile could make Will melt really suited a name that mean 'laughter'.

Over the next few days, Will started finding excuses to be wherever Isaac needed to be. They spend more and more time together as time wore on.

Will found out that Isaac was fourteen, a year younger than himself, and that his family originally came from Amour, the most southern kingdom on the continent that was ruled by Queen Aphrodite. Isaac had a older sister, who also worked in the castle kitchens, and a twin brother that had a critical illness that meant his mother couldn't go out to work as she had to stay and nurse him, which was why he worked in the castle to help pay for the extortionate medical bills. The prince also found out that Isaac was the man of the house after his father passed away from the same illness his twin brother - Ivan - has now.

The boys got even closer over the next few weeks and started sneaking off to forgotten corners of the castle to be alone together.

However, their bubble of happiness and love would soon be popped.

Octavian was visiting with Lady Artemis. Over the past two years, the lord and crown prince had grow much more distant - Octavian made it very clear he wanted nothing to do with his cousin.

The slimy young lord was prowling the corridors, trying to get some peace from the bustling main level of the castle. He turned the corner and faced the doors of the library, which were propped open. Weird, no one usually uses the library.

Pushing the heavy oak doors further open, Octavian strained his ears to hear if anyone was there.

Isaac and Will were hiding behind one of the rosewood bookcases, stealing kisses from each other in the quiet library. They were so caught up with each other that they didn't hear Octavian stalking down the rows of shelves. They only realised they weren't alone when he rounded the corner and caught Will and Isaac kissing, their hands tangled in the hair of the other.

Octavian saw red. How dare his cousin ruin his sanctuary with his ungodly behaviour. He couldn't risk putting a hand on the crown prince so he clutched a handful of Will's companion's brown hair in his pale hand and yanked it with all his might. The boy screamed as Octavian dragged him away.

Desperately trying to protect Isaac, Will grabbed Octavian's arm and begged him to let go.

Every time Will tried to pull Octavian away, he grasped the boy's hair tighter, enjoying the pained scream that slipped through his lips.

"Octavian, please," Will begged over and over again.

The blond-haired lord scoffed. "This poor unfortunate servant, poisoned by the crown prince, tricked into committing one of the biggest sins."

"Love is not a sin!" Isaac screeched.

"Love?" Octavian laughed. "Is that what my cousin called it? This is ungodly."

Both Isaac and Will had tears running down their cheeks. "Octavian." Will's was barely audible.

Octavian didn't bother listening to any more of his cousin's pathetic begging.

Later that day Isaac Phillips was dragged before the king. Fortunately, Isaac was not arrested or beheaded but he was fired and banned from the castle grounds.

Will never saw Isaac again.

**********
a/n
I know I haven't updated either of my on-going fics in so long and I'm sorry. I hope this chapter makes up for it though.

Please vote/comment
~Em

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