Wistful Destiny

"Did you ask her name?" The commander asked, looking at the scroll with a royal stamp on it.
Arson looked at the commander's back, cleared his throat, and said, "I did not ask."
The commander frowns, looking back at the prince. "I might say something that might anger you. However, please refrain from that feeling."
Arson raised his eyebrows. "What could that be?"
"My prince, you are horrible in the love section." The commander points this out as Arson pauses his steps, looking at the commander with an offense. The commander further added: "You met the maiden twice and did not ask her name."
"I shall meet her in the coming night in the palace," Arson said with a smile.
"How will you enter? I believe it's not like jumping around as you do in Amorite." The commander asked, while the prince just smiled.
"Your smile sends chills, which is not a great feeling."
Arson chuckled while standing in front of the grand wooden door of the courtroom.
The door had two golden lotuses on either side. This flower design has been seen almost everywhere in the palace, from the pillars to the crests of the chairs in the courtroom and the chairs at the dining table. He wonders, Why does this flower have so much importance?
"Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness." Arson fists his palm and holds it with another as he bows to the king.
The king nodded, glancing at his elder son, and frowned when he saw his second son sitting on his chair while calming his nerves. Just a while ago, he was absent. How did he enter the court without notice?
What irked the king was Elric's attention to the minister next to him. He wasn't even looking at the man; he was bowing to his father. Why isn't he paying attention in court? When will he behave like his older brother?
The king's eyes fell on Aaron, who was looking at the intruders with narrowed eyes. It seems like he still doesn't believe these people.
"We'll take our leave." Arson's voice caught his attention.
"Have a safe journey." The king said this, gesturing with his hand.
Arson turns around while the commander looks at him with confusion. How will he meet the maiden? Now, if they go away, the guards may not be as strong as he is. However, they are too many to handle at once.
"Oh," The commander heard a whisper and felt a heavy weight on his right shoulder. He couldn't decipher the cause of Arson falling on him unexpectedly.
"Pri-" The commander held himself back and said, "Aaron," while kneeling on the floor with the unconscious crown prince.
"What has happened?" It was the king who looked at them with a frown.
"I do not know, your Majesty," the commander says with a panicked gaze, holding the Prince in his arms.
"Is there any alchemist here or anywhere?" the commander asked as he slung Prince's arm above his shoulder and looked around with pleading eyes.
If this message reaches the king of Amorite, it means that his dear son has fallen unconscious and the commander was unable to protect their future king. The subjects will surely rip him alive.
"Please, follow me." The commander heard a voice.
"Eric!" Elric ignored Aaron's warning. He steps towards them, nearly hurrying to see the unconscious man. A while ago, he was excellent. All of a sudden, what fainted the man? Elric made sure to wear a neutral face and not show his worry.
"Let him be," The king said, holding Aaron's shoulder.
Aaron looks at his brother with worry. This very morning, he warned him and asked his younger brother to be careful. But, as usual, he forgot about it. He steps back, watching them step out of the court.
Aaron's frown deepens with one thought.
How could a healthy, grown man faint in the middle of the court? When he was excellent a while ago.
He looked at his right hand and gave a quick, unnoticeable nod.
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"I don't see any trouble here," The alchemist says while checking Arson's pulse.
The commander's eyes narrowed, and he parted his lips to object. However, he halted when he felt a small circle on his backhand.
He looks at the young prince and alchemist standing on the left side, and he looks at Arson's right profile. The small circle gave a hint that Arson is completely fine. Then, it flashed in his mind the reason for acting so.
"How is it possible? Please check on him again." Elric said, pointing at the unconscious figure.
"Kind prince." The commander brought his hands forward and joined them together. "He often faints because of a lack of food." Noticing the narrowed eyes of Elric, he said, "He practices martial arts day and night. He forgets daily meals."
Elric nods and turns around, looking at his servant. "Please get him a meal." He looks back and notices Aston's finger moving slightly.
Eyes looking at the commander with a hand on his back, Elric formed a wave with his index finger, which stunned his servant. Nevertheless, he walked away to compile the command.
Elric gave a sympathetic smile to the commander and asked, "May I know your name?"
The commander looked at the wide sky and said, "My name is Suvain."
Elric nodded and saw his servant friend bring a tray full of food.
"Please serve this to your friend when he wakes up," Elric says with a smile.
Suvain nodded, glancing at his crown prince, and sighed.
"I wish him a quick recovery." Elric raises his joined hands. "I'll take my leave."
"Yes, yes, prince. Thank you for your help." Suvain understood that holding hands was a sign of respect or being grateful. So he followed the same gesture, which brought a smile to Elric's face.
Elric stepped out with his servant, who didn't look up from the red carpet. However, he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"My prince, why did you ask me to do so?" The servant friend asked with curiosity.
Elric paused in his steps and raised his hand in the air. He closed his thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and finally the tiny finger, which has a beauty mark.
A loud yell followed by coughing fits can be heard from the room.
Elric snickered, turning to his friend. "Shall we?"
The friend nodded as they walked into the room.
Elric saw Suvain coughing loudly after chugging down the water. His eyes look at the sleeping figure of Arson.
He didn't fall into the trap!
"What happened?" Elric asked, looking at the commander with a worried gaze.
The commander would have snapped at the prince. If it wasn't for them being in a different country with an unknown identity.
"Apologize, my prince. The food looked so tasty, I couldn't hold myself from tasting a few." Suvain looks at the tray of food.
"Are people here fond of red spices?" The confusion could be heard in the tone. Yet, what Elric noticed was how the commander spoke without any trouble, which could only imply that it was someone else coughing before they entered the room.
Faking a smile, Elric replied. "Yes, very much."
"Understood." The commander looks down with a debatable mind. "Can we get food that—"
"Yes, you may." Glancing at his servant, Elric gestured to get the correct food.
"Apologize for causing the trouble." The commander whispered and looked down.
Elric narrowed his eyes at Arson and smiled, walking away from there.
The servant waiting outside couldn't hold back his turmoil. He pulled the second prince to the corner and whispered, "He did not eat it, your highness. It is completely wasted now. The spices—we could have used them in something else."
"He has eaten it," Elric replied, stepping to the left and pushing the curtain aside.
Arson seemed thirsty and drank water hastily, causing his eyes to become teary. The commander kindly helped him cool off by fanning his face.
"Is he not paying a high price just to see you?" The servant whispered, looking at Elric and back at the man, whose face had turned red.
Elric smirks, looking back at his servant. "No. This is nothing."
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The Amorite king sighs to himself as the courtroom resonates with the murmurs of ministers. The messenger is kneeling on the floor, whereas the chief minister is holding a scroll.
"Again?" A minister whispers, gaining a nod from his subordinate.
"If the crown prince wishes to travel and understand other kingdoms," The king spoke, glancing at each face of the minister, and didn't notice the mischievous glint on his younger son's eye, who sat on the far right end of his throne.
"It means he plans for the betterment of our Amorite. He would lead the kingdom to glorious days." The king seeps forward and says, "Does anyone have any objections?"
Silence, replied the king, who nodded, ushering the messenger to leave the courtroom.
"When he returns, I must transfer my power and crown to him. If he gets more responsibility, he shall not have any thoughts of traveling around." The king murmurs to himself.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
As the sky begins to darken and the first star of the evening appears, the palace stands majestic and imposing, its walls and gates guarded by vigilant sentries. The fragrance of blooming flowers wafts through the air, lending a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere to the surrounding garden, where the delicate petals sway softly in the gentle breeze.
The young prince wraps a thin cloth over his face, leaving his eyes open.
"My prince, are you wishing to meet the man?" The servant asked for the ninth time.
He still doesn't trust this man. What if this man tries to harm the prince? If such things happened, what would he say to the crown prince?
"Please think again." The servant whispered, combing Elric's long hair. Clipping all of them together with a hairpin
Elric sighs, turning around and giving his complete attention to his friend. "You shall know the reason soon."
"As you wish." The servant bowed in defeat.
Elric turns around with a smile and notices the box containing the earrings. He decides not to wear them anymore and puts the box in a drawer on the dressing table.
"Prince, the first star is shining." As per the servant's report, the radiant celestial object is emanating a dazzling radiance in the vast expanse of the atmosphere above.
"Please be careful." The servant said he heard the prince laughing.
That laugh brought confusion to their servant's face. He couldn't understand what was funny. Until he realized it and stepped forward with a questioning gaze. "Have you--" The prince nodded, confirming that he had done something again.
"Now, I pray for the man's good health. Hope returns safe." The servant whispered to himself.
Elric laughs and looks at his reflection one last time. Fixing the veil with the assumption that Aaron thinks that he's a lady, why not play along?
Elric steps out of his room and realizes that if he continues to hide his face, the guards will be suspicious of him. He removed it to show his face and wore a cloak over his simple attire. They shouldn't be wearing what he's wearing either.
"Where are you going wearing that?"
"Greetings, the crown prince." The servant bowed instantly.
Elric paused his steps when he heard his brother's voice. How does his brother always know whenever he tries something? The market incident too. How did his brother know that he went out?
He looks at his servant with suspicious eyes. The servant quickly shook his head.
"Answer me, Elric."
I wonder why my father said, I have the western wing of the palace when brother stays here all the time.
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