The Sapphire Prince

Azure's POV

"Brother?"

Oh it's him. The bird of the hour and the least responsible of all the princes. He's been helpful to me in a sense of excuse and chores but I do find him frustratingly brazen. In all honesty, I have a few feuds with him but it never latches on for me to completely somber to anger.

"Vellore," The three of us stopped to look at him. Still wearing his typical white equestrian uniform, he stood there gripping the leash to his saddled white horse. He smiled at me and took off his hat before approaching closely, releasing his hand from the stallion's tether.

Carrying the beauty of the Bleu family, it never fails everyone to admire his grand raven blue hair. Matching his eyes with mine, it was upturned with lengthy eye lashes and almost perfectly arched eyebrows.

The depth and color of his iris resembled close to an ocean of grapewine etched with lilac perfume. His genetics are qualified perfection as acknowledged by the beauty standards of the country and with my mother's strict implication that all princes must look the part of what it is to be "God's children", he is the prime model of the palace.

"It's good to see you outside!" He then hugged me, rubbing his face all over my waistcoat as if we've missed each other for long. Which has only been two weeks since we've last laid eyes on each other.

"Hmmm..." I remained silent, stroking his hair.

Since the line of succession has already been sealed, to his benefit, he doesn't carry much of that responsibility. Being the youngest out of all, he uses his child-like wonder to escape from politics where he would usually be out and about in the castle forest or the river from where the servants' cottages reside.

"What are you doing here?" He asked excitedly.

"I don't believe a fourteen year old would understand." I said making my way under his hair to scratch his rearhead which was the part he enjoyed the most.

"Your majesty, good morning." Lance kneeled before my brother as though flashing a very bright smile.

"And who told you to take my brother's horse." The Cryptid taunted making her way to the stallion stroking it's neck as though feeling his mane.

Vellore suddenly flinched, releasing me. He then paused to a stiff stand before awkwardly rubbing his upper body. I sighed at him, but this was mere disgression. I shouldn't keep Lady Mejava waiting.

"Lady Knight, I believe we should get going." Lance said approaching her.

"Already? Where are you going anyway?" Vellore asked.

"Can I come?" He asked seemingly begging but at the same time curious joy.

I don't exactly wish for him to hear the discord, yet to my nature, I don't think it's quite very noble of me to just let him be. Vellore is very average witted but he's not too dumb to understand simple discord in politics. Complications aside, if he learns about the surface of the iceberg, it won't be far long before he'll force his way deeper into it.

"On the way to the barracks but after so, you'll do you." I said as we walked.

The Cryptid lead the walk with the horse. It's quite rude of me to just call her by that though that is her race. I seem to have forgotten her name. Who can blame me? A singular name barraged by hundreds of papers, it's very unlikely for me to even think about what I had for breakfast yesterday.

On the path, we took our time. Everyone was in deep silence letting the orchestra of the woods and leaves take over the atmosphere.

That was...before Vellore started to speak. He tugged my sleeve asking for attention to which I did entertain.

"I heard about what happened when Lord Cacious came for a visit..." He looked down frowning.

"You have nothing to worry about. I'm fine now." I replied.

"Oh, I know you are. But it's the other thing that I'm worried about. Having to witness multiple outbursts, I was genuinely surprised Lord Cacious wasn't dead. Your magic is very, very serene to begin with, though it seems very unstable when you too are unstable." Vellore held my shirt tighter.

My eyes widened but it quickly lifted to a smile. Seeing him drift far from the diplomacy.

"May I ask what kind of magic he has?" Lance asked sarcastically.

"I could only base little from my memory but I can remember that brother was very unstable back at the Cynthia incident. The castle was overwhelmed with mental magic that it started to corrode the whole infrastructure. It seemed like poison gas back then." He explained.

"My brother's magic is based on mental capacity and instability. It's very common that magic is tied to emotion and mind but in his case. The foundation of his mana strongly and primarily feeds on his mental. I knew this in collaboration with several reports from the Coraline building and also military records of his past evaluations..." He added.

The silence then aroused everything.

Vellore's explanation is half accurate as I did in one point of despair casted my magical atmosphere everywhere in the palace. I don't specifically recall my magic being tied to uniquely to my mental, in any case. He based this off of several years. The change of magic in a body is quick and sėnsɨtɨvė, Lady Mejava's evaluation should at least grant Vellore the benefit of a doubt.

The kind of magical atmosphere I have is to somewhat manipulate emotion, almost like hypnotism though the effect is random. Perhaps back then because of my grief, my magical atmosphere began aggressive and started to feed anyone of their Mana, still, I don't think those are enough grounds to prove Vellore's statement.

"I'm sorry if I made the young majesty expand the topic further." Lance whispered.

"It was your intention but you overlooked possibility of offense. It's ok." I replied

"Sir Charles, when did you get so serious? And madame Tina couldn't even match the height requirements." Vellore happily walked towards them making funny faces trying to get the guards to talk.

We then crossed the said trellis of swords. Before making our way, Lady Cryptid asks one of the guards to bring the stallion back to the stables.

"You seem to be very close with the guards." I said.

"He is. Typically, he stays here all day. Sometimes even staying at their dormitory and his attendants would get worried. As some of the knights at obligated to serve him back. The young ones often hides him from them." Lady Hallvadur? Was it Hallvadur?...I think I'm starting to remember.

"She would always be the one to sell me out." Vellore called.

"This majesty refuses to be found that some of his advisers get desperate and offer whoever can find Vellore a small sum of silver. Heck I'll sell a thousand Vellores for me to afford my own axolotl seal." Lady Hallvadur then opens the door.

I can't believe my brother made his own industry in the palace grounds.

We made our way across the grand halls. This fortress, once again, like the palace wasn't designed for military purpose. It was still meant to showcase the empire's luxury. Explaining the blue, white and gold palettes all over it's architecture.

"It's a talent to hide forever. Shrooms over here always gets the reward since her tracking skills are based from a strong tribe in her homeland. Exceptional but very annoying to deal with."

"Because I want to?"

I don't remember what cycle the knights follow, I can ȧssume that most of them are at the rear yard or in the stadium to which they are sharpening their fencing or magic capabilities. We passed through numerous suits of armor all aging from the traditionals to the more contemporaries. Vellore couldn't help but brag about the armors saying that he has worn them or some of them was his...

"This suits aren't really his right?" Lance asked worried.

"Not by any chance." I yawned.

"Remember what we talked about yesterday?" Out of nowhere Lance held on my other sleeve and placed his head near to my ear as though we were walking. A small tingle was felt throughout my spine. To my annoyance, my head jabbed his, resulting in a loud thud. Luckily, no one noticed as Vellore wash

speaking so very loudly that the echo in the halls was as loud as a whale's bellow.

"What was that for!" Lance tended to his head as I smiled. No need to worry, he quickly got back up and started to play faulty with me.

"Remember to bring some apples and it's three hours passed the nightly bell. I'll remember to be as early." I said. Quickly Lance changed pace.

"So it's a date?" He teased.

"But it is a date.." He wept.