15一 and his smile was but a mortuary promise

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ROHAN ILLARIS BANAFRIT HAS NEVER been a social person, a lonely child by nature and a solidary teenager by circumstance, and he was content with remaining outside of the social circles in the capital一 but it seemed that his father was of a different opinion.

As a twelve year old, Rohan was considered a bright child, if a bit rambunctious, but that wasn't an issue, as control has been, quite literally, beaten into him.

From a young age, Rohan has been hailed as a budding swordsmaster, his ability to grow and evolve recognised by foreign and local teachers alike.

With burning orange hair and eyes of a ripe green, Rohan was the carbon copy if his mother, Grand Duchess Illya Rosalia Banafrit, down to the delicately feminine features.

(Pity the duchess never saw her child grow.)

Three years after his mother's death, the Grand Duke remarried a woman from a baron household and brought both her and her daughter in the dukedom.

To say that Rohan absolutely abhorred the two of them was an understatement.

He never blamed his father for his remarriage, given that it was imposed upon him by the attendants of their house to have a lady, so there was no love lost with the case of Lady Anne Orthopta.

Though, while the newly-appointed Duchess was trying her damnest to fill in the shoes of Lady of the House and not bring shame upon the family, her daughter was a different discussion entirely.

Cassiopeia, or 'Cassie' for short ("Just call me Cassie. We're family now."), was a giant pain in the ass of an older sister, and Rohan didn't mean it in a fond-but-exasperated way. No. She was insufferable in every aspect and the very definition of the metaphor.

It was as if she'd made it her life's decision to step on all of his nerves and insert herself in every situation that required important decision-making about his future.

Rohan wasn't the most patient person out there, he could swallow his words and smile, but that never lasted for long, and after an incident where he almost made the rash decision of hiring someone to get rid of Cassiopeia, the Duchal Heir found a new appreciation for his father.

Had it not been for him, Rohan was sure he would have already killed his stepsister, either directly or indirectly.

So, when on a cool autumn's evening his father asked him to accompany him to the Imperial Palace, Rohan threw out his reservations about human interaction and eagerly accepted the opportunity.

(They both knew that he wanted to get away from Cassie, though neither one commented on it.)

At twelve years old, Rohan Illaris Banafrit, heir of the Grand Duke and swordsmaster-in-training, entered the capital, unaware that he'd leave it with a newfound excitement for life.

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THE IMPERIAL PALACE WAS REALLY big, Rohan detachedly concluded almost two hours after getting lost and wandering the giant halls of the Golden Palace.

He knew his father was in a meeting with the Emperor and other nobles, but that did nothing in helping him find his way back to the library he was deposited in with as stern warning to not cause trouble.

Easier said than done.

Seeing two knights running a little ways away, Rohan was about to ask for directions back, given that he'd had time to come to terms with the impossibility of returning on his own, but he couldn't even get one word out before the voice of an elderly woman echoed.

"Have you yet to find His Highness?"

The two knights froze as they turned to look at a tall, willowy woman with greying hair pulled back in a low bun. "We apologise Madam, but he is nowhere to be found." There was dismay in the man's voice as the older woman sighed.

"Sir Claes will be in a tizzy if he hears of this." The Madam put a hand up to her face and pinched the bridge of her nose. "There is nothing to say... Just keep looking."

"Yes Madam!"

Feeling a bit miffed at having his presence ignored, Rohan couldn't help but allow curiosity to consume him and wonder who they were looking for with such fervour.

Just as he was about to go search for a servant to guide him back, a childish giggle reached his ears and from the corner of his eye a black and while blur ran in the opposite direction of the one he was headed to.

"Biyakko, faster!" Running steps moved away from him with that one sentence, and Rohan couldn't help but follow.

He didn't know how much he ran or for how long he followed those steps, but after taking one turn, he found himself in a lush garden with blooming blue roses.

The Duchal Heir still found it astounding how much the weather conditions differed here, in the capital, from the constant snow in the North.

"Wait, Biyakko, no一!"

Green eyes searching, he couldn't help their widening when they landed on the figure of a baby tiger sitting on the giggling figure of a much younger child.

Blonde hair as if woven from the sun's rays, a cherubic face that betrayed the royal features the child would have in their adulthood and a shorter body dressed in fine silks of blue and white with golden embroidery.

But when that face turned towards him, Rohan felt trapped within the burning gaze of jeweled blue, eyes as if carved out from the brightest stars.

As if sensing that the Prince's attention was no longer on it, the tiger cub got off of the royal and turned to look at him with a near inexistent glower.

Placing a gentle hand over the beast's head, the young Prince admonished gently as he rose to his feet, "This must be a guest of father's, so play nice Biyakko."

It seemed to do the trick, all things considered.

Appearing pleased with his pet's behaviour, the golden haired boy turned to look at him once more. "I'm Athanasius De Alger Obelia! What's your name?"

The questioning smile and tilted head Rohan got as an inquiry was enough to make him a victim of cuteness.

With an embarrassingly burning face, the orange haired preteen bowed while mumbling, "I'm Rohan Illaris Banafrit. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

"Banafrit?" Suddenly, Rohan found himself with a face full of eight year old as the younger boy annalised his increasingly burning face.

Understanding passed through the Prince's eyes as he offered a smile so bright it could rival the sun. "You're Grand Duke Dion's son, right?"

"Y-Yes..."

Grabbing his hand out of nowhere, the younger boy began to drag him further inside the garden, uncaring of Rohan's flustered demeanour.

"Will you keep me company, Heir Banafrit?"

"I-It would be my honor, but..." He stammered his response, and finally adding after a moment's thought, "Your Highness, there are people that I think are looking for you..."

A dark look passed through those jeweled orbs, annoyance being the most distinguishable out of the present emotions. "Oh, that... Don't concern yourself about it."

Maybe the Prince sensed his doubt, or maybe he saw the unsureness on his face, but either way, the imperial heir soon added, "It's not the first time I've done it, but they won't tell father because they fear the punishments they may receive." There was a twisted sense of amusement present in that childish voice and Rohan didn't know if he should be afraid or impressed.

"They don't tell His Majesty about Your Highness'... misadventures?" He was asking out if pure curiosity, not because he needed to know where to get servants like that.

"None of that 'Your Highness' stuffiness!" The Prince gave a pouty frown. "Call me Athan, everyone I like does."

The implications in that second sentence were immense. He pointedly chose to ignore those implications for the time being.

"But to answer your question, my temporary guards won't tell a single soul. My personal guard on the other hand..."

Rohan couldn't help but chuckle at the troubled face his younger counterpart was making.

"But that's neither here nor there! Kassian is currently preoccupied with work from father, so what he doesn't know won't hurt him." Athan grinned as he found an acceptable spot under a tall apple tree and sat himself down, patting the seat to his left as the small tigre一Biyakko, his mind usefully supplied一plopped its head onto the prince's lap, waiting to be petted.

"Madam Iris will be more concerned over scolding the knights for loosing sight of me to actually tell on me to father."

Tilting his head, a curious gleam passed through the older boy's eyes. That name was one he was familiar with. "Madam Iris?"

"Oh! She's my governess!" Athan answered, obvious love lining his voice. "Madam Iris Pomery was also my mother's caretaker when she was young. She tells me stories about her before bed, when father can't come and tuck me in."

Ah, now he knows why that name was familiar. She was related to him through his mother, if somewhat distantly.

Iris Pomery née Argishte was the sister of the woman that married his grandmother's brother. Widowed not long after his mother's birth, Madam Pomery had never remarried nor had she ever taken any lovers, opting to instead use her knowledge about the virtues of a lady and come into service to the members of House Saint 一the Prince's maternal noble house一 thus earning herself the title of 'Madam'.

Ignoring the fact that he had a relation to the governess of the Imperial Palace, Rohan noted that Athan shared a close relationship with the Emperor, confirming the gossiping that his dear sister liked to partake in.

Rohan was about to ask Athan if he could lead him back to where his father was in a meeting with the Emperor just as a knight entered the garden, instantly bowing when his eyes fell over the form of the imperial heir.

"Your Highness! This one is relieved to have found you!"

The green eyed boy felt that the Prince was found simply because he wasn't trying to hide anymore, but chose not to voice that thought.

"Yes? What is it that you need of me?" The clipped tone Athan was using was not lost to Rohan, that being a voice he often heard when his father was talking with Cassie.

Most probably realising his impertinence, the blue haired knight took a deep breath and lowered his head even more in that kneeling position of his. "We have grown worried when Your Highness disappeared from Lady Diana's garden. She ordered us to find Your Highness the moment your lack of presence was noticed."

The smile Athan gave was downright chilling when the name of the unknown lady was mentioned, a murderous glint shining in those crystalline blue eyes. "I grew bored of Lady Diana's presence, therefore I left."

"But, Y-Your Highness一" The knight moved to protest, but was quickly silenced by a growling black and white beast.

"If I desire to return to the Lady's garden, then I shall do so." Rohan had to stomp down the urge of inching away from the shadowed face of the Prince as his frosty glare was in use. "Do not mistaken my compliance with ignorance. Whose orderes hold more wight? Mine, or Lady Diana's?"

"Y-Your Highness' or-orders are second only t-to the Emperor." The poor knight was trembling at this point, but Rohan couldn't bring himself to pity him. Odd. The Emperor's orders were absolute after all.

"Yes, that is correct. Now, do I have to repeat myself?"

"N-No!" The young man's head snapped up at that, before it was quickly lowered once more. "There is no need, for Your Highness' words have been understood."

As if the scene from only moments ago never happened, a bright smile took hold of the young prince's features. "Good. Do make sure such a blunder never happens again. You may leave."

The budding swordsmaster could swear he heard the blue haired knight audibly gulp.

"Blessings and glory upon Obelia's future Sun."

The moment the knight was gone, the moment the young royal turned at him talking about something or another, the moment a maid came to bring him to his father, the moment he pledged his sword to the eight year old royal 一 that was when Rohan Illaris Banafrit realised that Athanasius De Alger Obelia was going to be an exceptional emperor.

And he'd be damned to death in the deepest pits of Hell if someone tried to put a hindrance to that future.

He swore it on his honour.

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PUFFS OF WARM AIR FLOATED RIGHT in front of him as the snowy patch of earth crunched under his horse's hooves, his jeweled eyes reflecting the steady waltz of the falling snow.

This was the first time he had seen real snow in his life as Athan and while the little shows of magic his father had put on were mesmerising, it could not compare to nature's course.

Raising his right hand to catch a few stray flakes, he did not notice the softening of his features as memories of snowball fights with his sister surfaced.

Ah...

He felt the thin prickle of tears at the corners of his eyes, gloved hand hastily reaching up to wipe them away while he hoped that none of his guards noticed his momentary lapse in composure.

It was always hard maintaining a straight face when Ye-Jun decided to feel nostalgic.

For a moment, only the crunching of snow under hooves and boots accompanied by soft breathing pants reached his ears, yet for a moment also, something pinged against his senses.

There was a whoosh of an object cutting through the air mere seconds before it clanged against his raised sword.

"Wah! You haven't lost your touch, I see!"

Calmly sheathing his sword, Athan raised his steely blue eyes to the branches above 一pointedly ignoring his frantic guards一 where a figure clothed in black and red formal wear grinned down at him.

"And I see you humour is unchanging."

They stared at one another for a few brief moments before both bursting out laughing.

Gently landing on the ground as the Imperial Prince slid down his horse, the burnt-orange haired figure met him for a brief hug.

"It's been a long time since I've last seen you, Athan."

"Hah?" The blonde teenager narrowed his eyes. "Cut your dramatics, you've seen me at my debutanté."

"Exactly!" The green eyes man pouted. "Too long!"

Shaking his head in fond exasperation, Athan gave a rueful smile. "Never change Rohan."

Gone was the teasing glint, replaced with a serious spark. "That I swear."

Ignoring Kassian's shaking of his head and Hector's befuddled expression, Athanasius grabbed hold of the older man's long hair and dragged him after, tuning out his outraged yelp.

"Come, we have things to discuss, you sad excuse of a Grand Duke."

"Oi! I take offense to that!"

"I'm sure you do."

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apparently my spring vacation has been extended by three weeks 😳

i've got an entire month (aka april) of doing nothing but catching up on stuff.

thank you lord.

also, you guys' reactions to the april fools special were downright ✨hilarious✨