"Let them see tears. They won't see the blade."
❅❅❅❅❅❅
A loud knock wakes me up a few hours later. Fuming, I storm to the door, only to see an unapologetic maid.
'The Ninth Prince is here to see you,' she says flatly before walking away.
I blink a few times before closing the door. It took me a few minutes to fully register what she'd just said. Ninth Brother Xander is here?
I quickly change and make my way to the dining room. Whenever he comes, that's where he usually is.
'Brother Xander!' I cry, slamming the doors open.
There he stands, the dining table filled with food. I nearly gag at the sight. After eating Uncle Nox's jook, I'm still full, but the food would be great for later. I blink my tired eyes at Brother Xander as I smile weakly.
'Is that all for me?' I ask.
'Of course it's all for you,' he says with a wide grin.
A slight sob escapes my mouth because it sounds like he wants me to eat all of it right now!
'I-I'm not hungry right now,' I stutter, trying to think up a good excuse.
Brother Xander frowns.
'You're not? I'm pretty sure you haven't eaten a thing since Lady Cardinia died. Are you sure you're not hungry, Adi?'
I hiccup.
'Yes,' I whisper.
'Pretty sure?' He urges.
'Y-Yes!' I hiccup again, tears filling my eyes.
Why do I keep crying? First, last night with Uncle Nox, and now with Brother Xander. I feel like all I do recently is cry. I can't become a crybaby!
Brother Xander sighs.
'Fine.'
He turns to the maids.
'Wrap it all up into containers my sister can carry.'
By now he already knows that I prefer handling my own food. Turning back to me, he hugs me.
'I'm sorry, Adi. I don't want to force you. Don't cry.'
My tears fall silently as I cling to him. A few minutes later, when my tears dry up, I step back.
'Sorry for getting your clothes all wet,' I sniffle, as I wipe the remnants of the tears away.
'It's alright, Adi! I don't mind. You've got it tough right now.'
I smile weakly.
'Thanks, Brother Xander.'
I look away.
'Can we talk?' I ask tentatively.
'Of course. Is something wrong?'
'Let's go sit in the library.'
The maids didn't need much time to pack up the food, so with a snap of his fingers, the maids follow us to the library with the food, set it down on a table, and leave. Closing the door behind them, I take Brother Xander to the window seat to sit comfortably.
I look down at my fingers, trying to think about how to approach the topic of him helping me. With how tired I am, it's hard to think.
'What's wrong, Adi?' He asks.
'Well… I need your help,' I start slowly.
'What do you need help with?'
'I want to beat Lady Kaitlyn and Brother Brutus!' I blurt out.
'Huh?'
'I-I want to take Brother Brutus out…'
'Take Brother Brutus out? Adira, are you crazy?'
Brother Xander looks at me as if I have mental problems.
'No! Not like that! I-I mean… I-'
I burst into tears.
'I'm sorry, Brother Xander,' I sob, hiccuping at the same time.
'What happened, Adi?' He sighs, patting my back.
'A-after the f-funeral, I h-heard her talking,' I sob.
'Heard who talking?'
'L-Lady K-Kaitlyn.'
'What did she say?'
'T-that it's g-good that M-Mamma is d-dead, a-and that the p-poison she u-used w-was effective.'
'What?'
Brother Xander looks shocked.
'She really said that?'
I nod, my lips trembling.
'S-She was t-talking to B-Brother B-Brutus.'
'Did he say anything?' Brother Xander asks, looking concerned.
I shake my head.
'N-no. H-he just said that it was g-good her plan w-worked, but not to s-shame him by letting others f-find out…'
He frowns.
'Are you sure?'
'Y-yes.'
I look down at my hands, fidgeting as tears slip down my cheeks. Brother Xander says nothing for a few minutes, and anxiety churns my stomach inside and out. Unable to wait any longer, I slowly look up at him.
He smiles sadly.
'If this is true, then you're in serious danger, Adi,' he starts slowly. 'You could even be killed.'
'I know…'
'You definitely want to move forward with this? Blocking Brother Brutus' path?'
I nod.
'I-I want him o-out of the line of s-succession.'
'And you'll do anything to get your way?'
'I just want justice for Mamma…. No one cares…'
'I do, Adi. I care.'
'You'll help me?' I ask hopefully.
Brother Xander nods.
'I'll help you.'
'Really?'
'Really.'
I fling my arms around him, laughing and crying at the same time. I hope Uncle Nox is wrong. I truly want to trust Brother Xander.
'Oh, thank you! Thank you, Brother Xander!'
He laughs, hugging me back.
'Alright. Settle down now.'
Sitting properly while wiping away my tears, I look at him eagerly.
'So, to get to Lady Kaitlyn, you want to block Brother Brutus from being heir, is that right?'
'Yes,' I say firmly.
'Why not Brother Leod? He's older.'
'But Brother Leod doesn't talk to Lady Kaitlyn, right?'
Brother Xander nods.
'That's true. I've heard that he really hates his mother, but Brother Brutus follows her every command.'
'So Brother Brutus is the one she's relying on!'
'And if we remove the one she's relying on-'
'We can go after her next.'
'It's risky. As a daughter of the Duke of Scotland, she has the Kingdom of Europe's influence.'
'Yes, but they're far, far away from here. It'd take them a little bit to find out and then help. Plus, their influence in Oceania is negligible at best.'
'True. Father would never allow another Kingdom to interfere with Oceania's succession.'
Brother Xander pauses thoughtfully.
'We need the help of my butler.'
'Your butler?' I ask confused.
'Yes. Butler Roberts knows a lot.'
'Knows a lot?'
Brother Xander motions for me to move closer. I comply, and he whispers in my ear.
'I think he's a spy of some sort. I never hear in when he's walking and he always seems to know everything in the palace.'
'Really?' I whisper back.
'Yeah. I'm pretty sure he knows we're talking about him right now.'
Knock. Knock.
'Your Highnesses, is everything alright?' An old voice booms from outside.
I jump in shock. Brother Xander just grins.
'Come in,' he calls out.
The door opens to an old man with a very straight back. His hair is snow white and his beard is neatly trimmed. He is dressed in an all black suit and coattail, and his shoes shine like the sun.
Brother Xander looks at me.
'This is Butler Roberts,' he introduces.
Butler Roberts looks at me with a very kind smile.
'It's nice to meet you, Princess Adira,' he says warmly, bowing.
'Nice to meet you too, Butler Roberts.'
'Oh, please call me Grandpa Roberts. I'm old now, and don't need that stuffy title.'
'Being called Butler is stuffy?' I ask.
'Of course it is! Being called Butler is being formal, and being formal is being stuffy.'
I just stare at him, wondering if he's trying to make a joke. Are all old people like this?
'…Can you help us, Grandpa Roberts?'
'Oh! She's soooo cute!!! Calling me Grandpa for the first time. So much better than stinky little Prince Xander over there. Grandpa Roberts will help you, my Princess.'
And with the flip of a switch, he suddenly becomes serious.
'Now, what do you need help with? Tell Grandpa Roberts.'
'We want to block Brother Brutus and get rid of Lady Kaitlyn.'
'Aah. So you're after Prince Brutus? Well then, you need to find his little secret.'
'He has a secret?'
'Yes. Find out where he's always scurrying off to when he's back.'
'Those times he disappears?'
Grandpa Roberts nods.
'Do you know, Grandpa Roberts?'
'Of course I do.'
'Will you tell us?'
'Of course not. It's a secret after all,' he says with a wink.
Brother Xander and I sigh.
'Is he always like this?' I whisper.
'Yes,' he whispers back.
Grandpa Roberts just watches us with a smile.
'…You really won't tell us, Grandpa Roberts?'
'Nope.'
Brother Xander groans.
'You're so annoying,' he complains.
'I know,' Butler Roberts says happily.
'So when should we move?' I ask.
Butler Roberts looks at his watch.
'Well, Prince Brutus will be on the move now.'
'Now!?' I jump to my feet, pulling Brother Xander with me. 'We need to follow him!'
We rush out of the library, pause and then look back at Butler Roberts.
'Are you coming with us, Grandpa Roberts?'
'Nope. Tata! I will see you two later.' Butler Roberts waves at us, one hand behind his back.
Pulling Xander along, we quickly leave the Southern Wing.
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I watch as the two children leave. How nice it is to be so young. I remember when my son was their age. He was climbing up trees like a monkey, scaring the other children with ghost stories. He was kind, though, always looking out for the younger ones, and bossing the older. I feel sorry for leaving him to clean up my mess, but as I got older, I also got wearier. Now, I'm feeling spry from taking care of the young Prince Alexander.
Fourteen years it's been, since I took over looking after Prince Alexander. He's grown up to be a wonderful boy, full of love and kindness, but he's also still heavily influenced by his mother. I hope he makes the right choice when the time comes.
Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I hum as I leave the library, gently fixing my clothes as I walk. I may be old, but I'm still sharp. And I will be of use to the children. They just need to ask at the right moment.
The King may control what I say, but he cannot control what I do.
◇ ◆ ⟡ ⟢ ⟣ ⟤ ✦ ✧ ✩ ✪ ✫ ✬ ✭ ✮ ✯ ✯ ✮ ✭ ✬ ✫ ✪ ✩ ✧ ✦ ⟤ ⟢ ⟣ ⟡ ◆ ◇
After leaving Butler Roberts, Brother Xander and I search for Brother Brutus, but we're unsuccessful so far. Since the palace is so big, we decide to split up and use the phone crystals to communicate with each other.
Moving closer to the Eastern Wing, I search for Brother Brutus, hoping to find him. I see someone behind a pillar.
'Brother-' I start, before seeing Brother Murdoch with another woman.
He turns to look at me, something in his eyes scaring me. I take a step back before he smiles that playboy smile.
'Oh, it's little Adira. How are you feeling? Do you want some company? I can find you some if you'd like.'
'N-no thank you, Brother Murdoch,' I say, moving back another step.
'What a shame. Well, then please leave us alone. We want to have some fun, don't we, my dear?'
The woman in his arms giggles.
'S-sorry, Brother Murdoch. I-I'll leave now.'
I turn tail and run away, my hands trembling.
My phone crystal lights up. Squeezing the crystal, Brother Xander's voice comes through.
'Adi, I found him,' he whispers.
'Where?' I ask.
'He's near the northern entrance.'
'I'm coming!'
I sprint to the Northern Wing. It takes me a few minutes to get there, nearly missing Brother Xander hiding behind a shrub. I only notice when he pulls me down next to him. Out of breath, I look at him.
'W-where's B-Brother B-Brutus?' I pant, trying to cool down.
'Over there,' he says quietly, pointing to the entrance.
There stands Brother Brutus, ready to leave the palace. He has an identification gem that allows him entrance and exit from the palace freely.
'We can't follow him,' Brother Xander muses.
'Then what do we do?'
'We get an identification gem ready for next time.'
'We'll need two.'
'I can get them. It just takes time.'
'Are you sure?' I ask, concerned.
'Yes. If we want to know his secret, we need to find out where he's going.'
'It might take us a few tries.'
'I'll collect as much as I can. The ones I can get will only be onetime gems.'
'So we wait?'
Brother Xander looks at me.
'We wait.'