Felix's POV :
Not telling the lie here when I said I missed him, he has this amazing charisma about himself that always makes me to admire him, look up to him but like my life going oh so bearably smooth, his life just doesn't have that relief, and being the crown prince does the least help. That got me wondering how the hell did he get over here to receive me and on top of that without any security?!
As I broke the hug, I intended to ask that, however he beat me to it "how on earth did you manage to survive with that wound?"
Ahh, here we go with my concerned big brother. "Well I practically had the best doctors to heal me!" Smirking, I replied almost immediately and of course I lied, the arrow that pierced through that flesh, was poisoned. I just had a quick wit and good luck to burn the whole area almost immediately, to say it was painful would be an insult but at least it was better than chopping off the whole hand or worse, getting my whole right side paralysed for the rest of my life. But he doesn't need to know that, he has more on his plate already.
"Are you sure, you're alright? You're actually sweating when I grabbed there harder!" Guilt, pure concern and worry covered his eyes, and they were the least thing I wanted to see in these few free days that I have with him.
"Brother, trust me, I'm alright. It's just that I haven't used my right hand to do any heavy works since then so I'm not used to it." I gave him my best assuring smile and the slight disbelief that was lingering on him, vanished immediately.
He engulfed me in a warm embrace once more as he whispered "welcome home Second Prince Lawrence."
Breaking the hug immediately, I whined "Brother, I've told you not to call me that anymore! What if someone heard you?! I'll be exposed!"
He just rolled his eyes for my nagging, "okay okay. Whatever. Welcome home Felix! There, happy now?!"
Smiling widely I exclaimed "yay!" And he just had to ruin it, pinching my cheeks a little too hard, he commented "but you're still my adorable baby brother!" And then laughed out loud, seeing me pouting.
"Oi! You two! If you gonna catch up with eachother in here, I'm ditching you right now!" Another very known voice called out to us from the entrance of the alleyway and surprisingly it was the short, buff, masked man who ran away with my luggages earlier.
I guess I knew who he is now "is that...is that Connor Stewart?!" Brother nodded his head, still keeping the black clothing covered.
"When did he gain so much muscle? I mean I'm not saying it's bad, but I haven't seen him just one year and he is like this, it's so surprising." I commented the fact as I forwarded to give a light embrace to the mentioned male.
"How have you been, my prince?" I giggled at his endearment, "never could be better!" I answered with the same enthusiasm.
Turning to my brother, I inquired again "so?"
Chuckling lightly, he replied "Escortia happened. He is majoring in Defence Strategy with Political Ethics in the side."
I couldn't see Connor's face but his eyes were sparkling, ahh he is flustered.
"Really?! Oh my God! Finally mom got him on track. Congratulations brother on your future General!" I was genuinely happy for both of them.
Connor is our former general's daughter's son and since he didn't have any other lineage left to carry on the general's post, Connor was chosen. But his parents passed away when he was really small, so our mom, the queen decided to raise him as her own and since then he has been living in the palace with us well with my brother and Julian Hanson, my bestfriend and my brother's fiance.
We were already infront of the wagon which they brought from the palace and I noticed the fact that I dreaded most; they actually came here without any guards.
As I was sitting inside it, I remarked "you guys will be in big trouble for sneaking out."
However Matthew Lawrence, the crown prince of Toyre and my brother, nonchalantly assured me, this time without the black clothing around his face as we were inside the vehicle with curtains down "we'll enter through the East gate which is exactly the nearest one to your quarters. And you know that place is literally deserted, so don't worry."
Even without doing anything, I felt dread settling in my system and Connor's nervous yet assuring smile wasn't helping at all.
As we were getting closer to the main entrance of the palace, the wagon made a sharp turn to the left and after some minutes, it stopped infront of the East gate, waiting for the guards to open the doors. When they quickly opened it wide, the wagon didn't move forward and I was the one to sneak a peek outside, rolling the curtain a bit "damn it! You guys better get ready. It's the QUEEN."
Plastering an ever charming and comforting smile over my face, I went straight to my mom and embraced her into a tight hug "how are you mom? I've missed you!"
Patting my back, she almost cried "aww! I've missed you too! Look at yourself! You've got thinner than last time. You aren't eating well again, right?!"
It's a complete lie, I actually have a well maintained diet, regular workout routine and of course my favourite martial arts practice and I'm not going to tell those to her. Gasping a bit dramatically, I denied "no way I'll be ignoring my foods mom. Look at me carefully, I'm just keeping myself fit."
Rolling her eyes in utter annoyance, she closed the topic "yeah, yeah whatever you say." By now you might have figured from where my brother got his manners.
Talking about him, when I caught mom giving them a death glare, I whined "com'on mom I'm starving and tired too. I want to sleep." Hope this saves them.
Looking at me again, she assured me "of course. Just a minute." Then she forwarded to the other two males.
I almost thought she would lash out at them but she only embraced both of them, saying "you two successfully scared the hell out of me." Breaking the hug, she continued "Seriously what were you thinking about sneaking out like that! Crown Prince Mathew Lawrence! You really disappointed me this time!" Immediately my brother lowered his head in guilt. "And you! Connor Stewart! You know where you are wrong, right?" Connor lowered his head too, nodding vigorously. "Good. Now I want both of you in the inner courtroom without any mischief. Understood?"
They both almost shouted together, "yes, your highness!" Then they ran off before mom could scold them more.
"These brats!" Mom huffed in desperation and I chuckled catching her attention back to me finally. "Let's get you settled in your room first. Don't worry I've restricted everyone from entering the courtyard, only the gatekeepers will be here and one of those three will bring your food, just as you prefer it to be. You just relax and enjoy your free time."
I knew it! It was nothing near to any serious matter . "Mom, seriously?! You just wanted me here for my birthday?! What I'm? A five years old kid?!" I nagged.
We were walking towards my quarters. Facing towards me, with a serious face, she spoke "just have a good rest before you start a new journey ahead. I'm not asking much right?"
With a soft smile, I shake my head. She knows every inch of my growth, be it mental or physical and of course all the incidents I always go through, she is my mother afterall. I never felt the need to explain those to her, neither she pressured me to open up, she is kind of my personal safe zone now.
Finally we entered my room which was still kept in the most simple way possible, a soft bed, two midium wardrobe, a tea table which I use for every meals anyway, one big study table and one opened self. Unnoticably a soft smile spread over my face as I went to the large balcony attached to the south side of the room, my mom following behind.
Maybe she was contemplating on asking this for a long time, she sounded so nervous "so? Any sneak peek at him yet?"
I knew exactly who she was talking about, and I guess my expression was alone enough for her to get the answer. Thankfully the driver of the wagon earlier brought my luggage and she did not pry into it much.
"Freshen up, have a good rest. Your dad will join you at lunch." Saying that she left me with the silence of the whole courtyard and probably of my emotional balance too.
A single tear rolled out of my eyes, wiping it as quickly as possible I restrained myself from getting carried away. It has been too long for me to open this matter and how I manage to cope with it?! Simply sneaking out to wherever he is and watching him from afar, trying my best not to stain his bearable life with my dangerous involvement. Yes, that's exactly what I've become to the person I love so dearly, for whom my heart feels enormous amount of joy and bottomless pain of shattering at the same time; the one and only Nicholas Hammond, the second prince of the Kingdom of Hinoi.