Novel The Ex-Villain World Saving Quest

Hello, welcome to this hellhole of mine! If you like time travel, evil main character, family drama, royalty, deities, and godly stuff, also Yaoi stuff. Then maybe this is for you?

You can read it through here https://www.scribblehub.com/series/181960/faith--blurry-lines/
I'm planning to turn this into a webcomic later in the future.

Synopsis:

Being the Deity of Protection and an ex-villainous person are not two titles that mix together! But Seneca is all of those and more, a father, a husband/wife, a babysitter of the fairies, and a sadist.

His dear friend Castor the God of Beginning thinks it’s a “brilliant idea” to send him to the past on a quest to save the world, from his evil twin Pollux the God of Ending. What Seneca doesn’t know is that he has to deal with all sorts of drama from family, political war, to romance.


The cold and heartless father who is actually the God of Swords, and would spend his time wasting behind mountains of paper works, is apparently not even his father.

The Demon King, his former fiance, who proclaimed his undying love to him in the past life, then proceeds to ditch him, and marry the Crown Prince. Is currently under the impression that Seneca is his ex-husband reborn.

The Crown Prince that he thought was his only friend, and the very person who stole his fiance. Can not become the Emperor without Seneca.


Seneca:"....."

Seneca thought that he already knows every single BS that life is going to throw at him, but apparently he doesn't!

Genre: Action, Romance, Fantasy, Boys Love, Slice of Life, Girls Love, formerly Evil Protagonist, Late Romance, Family Conflict, Wars, Time Travel, Gods, Deities, Demons, Reincarnation.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

 

Spoiler: Ch. 1: New Beginning

Seneca quickly grabs Castor’s hand, “Why me?” his voice wavers “I might be a Deity of Protection now Castor, but if this a story book... I used to be a Villain.” his voice trails.

Seneca knows that if there is anyone that deserves a second chance and be a hero it’s not him, It’ll have to be his younger brother Carles. But he’s not here now, he’s gone.

“If there’s anyone that deserves a second chance it’s you Seneca.” Castor tightened his hold around his hand.

Seneca's face is full of uncertainty.

Castor sighs, “No one is inherently evil, it’s just how they are shaped by the people that surrounds them.”

When he heard Castor say this, he felt a burden in his heart somewhat being lifted. He felt like breathing a fresh cold air.

“Fine! If nothing changes your mind then at least tell me why your twin, Pollux would do this?”

He can see that Castor hesitates, “All I can tell you is that the world isn’t ready yet. I’m afraid another Eternal War will start if you don’t stop him.”

Castor turns to the tiny Fairy Queen, Naranse and nods at her to start the magic.

“You better visit me in the past, Seneca!” Naranse shouted at him, “You’re still our deity of protection!” slowly Naranse’s eyes filled with tears, she immediately turned around.

All the other fairies in the room began to cry. He is after all their Deity of Protection that has been protecting them for a thousand years. It includes being their lawyer on occasion. Babysitter on another side.

The corner of his lips curved slightly, seeing Naranse’s antics. She had always been a crybaby and childish despite her abysmal age.

He turns his full attention towards Castor again, “I’m ready.”

A loud chorus of “Don’t go!" resounded from the little fairies.

“Good luck!” Castor grabs his shoulders and whispers something that made Seneca's eyes widened but before he could ask anything, as fast as falling asleep his vision gone black.

***

Seneca’s sleep is disturbed by the sounds of the curtain being opened. He squashes his eyes together, not used to the sudden brightness. He brought his hands to his eyes and covered them.

“It’s time to wake up Master Seneca.” after hearing this soft voice, the once foggy head of his instantly clears up.

He peeked from behind his hand, eyes squinting a little. There standing in front of the window is unmistakably Calpurnia.

Calpurnia the maid with dark red hair, and brown eyes. That had helped him even in the midst of his exile. A woman both him and his brother think of as their mother. He had not been in contact with her since he joined with the Thallo Empire, and that was a thousand years ago in the past-future.

“Is there something wrong?” she rubs her cheeks.

He finally snaps out of his trip down memory lane, “No, it’s nothing.”

Calpurnia gives him a smile, “Well then Master Seneca please take a shower and come to the dining room, breakfast will be ready shortly.” and she made a swift exit out of the room.

Seneca went into the shower trying to process the fact that now he is back in the past. After washing, and dressed he heads off to the dining room.

On the way there he can’t help but look at the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the furniture in nostalgia. He has not seen this place in years, although his childhood days are nothing but filled with anger, hate, and little happiness. This place is still where he spent his childhood days.

After entering the dining room, or should he say dining hall. He bids the maids and butlers a good morning. All he got in return was not a ‘Good morning’ but a surprised look.

Ahhh... he messed up!

After a slight pause on his steps, he continues on to take a seat at his usual spot, or the spot he remembers is his, and proceeds to eat his food as if nothing happened.

Back then he used to be a very insolent and insufferable person. Complaining where there’s nothing to complain about. Accusing them of doing something they didn’t do. Pulling pranks that made their work harder.

Never once has he, Seneca Zion Af Hildebrand, shown any compassion towards the denizen of this mansion. It is only natural that they give him a weird look.

It is not impossible to act as insolent and insufferable as he was back then. To prevent anyone from being suspicious towards his sudden change of personality. The only problem is that he is too tired to act as such.

Seneca is after all a one thousand years old deity with the mentality of an old man. Of Course he will find it tiring to constantly act like a child.

His best option is to keep a distance from the denizens of this mansion, he mentally nods at his decision.

As Seneca eats his food he wonders, yet again how he, the person who tortured, killed, and enslaved people, ended up on a quest to save the world. He used to be equivalent to those last bosses or the main antagonist of story books, even if he is now a retired Villain it doesn’t mean that he has the ability or patience to save the world.

A lot of people in the past-future always asked how he ended up being a Deity, to the Fairies nonetheless! Being a deity requires the person to have a large amount of people believing in them, have faith in them. Having faith in a former tyrant like Seneca, who admittedly still acts like a tyrant every now and then, it's almost close to impossible.

Moreover the Fairies are known to be quite picky and childlike, they get scared off easily by outsiders, yet their faith in him is unquestionable. Even he questions the Fairies' sanity everyday in his life as a Deity!

He sighs and laments on how easy it is to destroy the world into ruins, rather than save it.

Just when he was about to feed himself another spoonful of soup, a cute young timid boy with round cheeks filled with baby fat, grey hair, and round big green eyes peeks into the dining hall...

 

Spoiler: Ch. 2: Cinnamon Roll & Vinegar

Just when he was about to feed himself another spoonful of soup, a cute young timid boy with round cheeks filled with baby fat, grey hair, and round big green eyes peeks into the dining hall.

If Seneca's memory isn't wrong this plumpy cheeks little guy is his younger brother Carles.

'Whoa he looks so different!!' he screamed in his head.

He can't help but laments how puberty hits his brother hard.

In the future Carles looks more of a strong defender, an Ikemen (Handsome man in Japanese). Gone was the plumpy baby cheeks, gone was that big round eyes, gone was that adorable child. It will all be replaced with sharp jawlines, sharp eyes, and a body carved by the gods themselves.

If his memory serves him right this cutie will be chased by even the gods and goddesses. He still remembers that on one occasion Carles was chased around the imperial city of Amordad by the God of Love.

A literal goose chase around the Imperial city!

Now he still looks like a little cinnamon roll. So sweet!

Carles timidly walks to his chair the opposite of Seneca's. When the little boy settled into his chair one of the butlers served him his breakfast.

Carles gives Seneca a frightening look and quickly eats his fill, like something terrifying is chasing him. It might be because of Seneca's stone cold face, after having an 'accident' that definitely happened because of his own wrong doings, Seneca can't seem to express himself well. Thus his face is always by default in 'resting bitch mode' as Naranse always said.

Before Seneca knew it his little brother had finished breakfast and quickly fled out of the room.

And the only thoughts that run through Seneca's head currently is, "Huh… He must've been hungry." he comments in a low voice but since the whole room is in silence his voice is clearly heard throughout the dining hall.

Every of the butlers and maids who are in the dining hall lament 'He's afraid of you!' is what they all are lamenting.

He quickly finishes his food and goes outside to the garden for a walk.

It's not that Seneca doesn't know his little brother's fear of him. He never thought that the little guy was afraid of him to the extent of running away from him at first sight, if Carles had the chance.

Then again Carles has every right to run away from him.

Currently in this time he should be frequently making the little boy's life suffer. From breaking his toys, throwing mean words, to pranking him. Anything that'll make Carles cry, Seneca would do it.

He has to admit that he enjoys tormenting his younger brother. It brings him an odd sense of joy. But if you asked him if he'll do it all again, he would say no.

Looking back at it he was the world's worst older brother and yet…

That cinnamon roll would jump to sacrifice himself to save him.

His old tormentor!

It was an unbelievable thing that he almost fainted out of surprise when Carles jumped to save him in the past future from his former best friend, the Crown Prince, and his former fiance, the Demon King.

Seneca stands in front of a big tree with fluffy leaves that stood at the very corners of the garden. He turns to look around the garden making sure that no one was at sight and climbs. Once he reaches the top Seneca secures himself at a thick branch and sits there looking over the Hildebrand Mansion.

When he was young he used to sit on the very same branch and hides here when he doesn't want to have any company.

Oh, how nostalgic…

"It's a shame that it'll burn down..."

Back then he would just sit here thinking about anything and everything, just like what he is doing now.

He knows very well that this place doesn't fit his personality, if everyone here is a puzzle then he has sharp edges, not the rounded edges of his brother. And this puzzle board needs rounded edges to fit.

If he wants to fit in the puzzle board then he would have to trim his sharp edges. He is a retired villain; it doesn't mean that he's completely good, in fact he enjoys seeing people, who he thinks deserve it to suffer.

Why should he bend the knee and become a loveable person?

Of course he had tried it for that 'man', but in the end he left him for another.

So, why bother changing?

He had tried to fit in but he got rejected…

Currently his best bet is to keep a distance from people, it is a hassle to tell people the reason why he changed, and this place is not where he belongs.

He should also take an advanced graduation test. That way he won't have to go to school and avoid many people.

The less people know about him the better chance he has of catching Pollux off guard.

Castor had warned him that Pollux is almost impossible to find if he doesn't want to be found, and tells Seneca to wait it out. He also explicitly suggest Seneca to fix his old life. Which Seneca himself thinks that it's too troublesome.

His only clue is that Pollux doesn't make any movements until Seneca is in his early twenties, around the time he got exiled. Around the time when Seneca decided that this country should burn.

To sum it up he has around a decade of free time.

But first the advanced graduation test, and getting Calpurnia to agree will be hard.

***

Somewhere in the last floor of a highraised building a man with hair as black as the night, and dangerous green eyes, is working on his paperworks.

A sudden call stopped him from signing his last paperwork.

The man didn't see who called him and just picked it up, "Who is this?"

"What do you mean, who is this you useless Archduke!" the voice sounds very husky as if whoever is on the other side of the phone just woke up.

"Alistair what is it?" the man continues to read his last paperwork.

Alistair sighs, "Your sons that's what this is."

"What about them? Did Seneca disturb Alaric again?" the man asked nonchalantly.

"You can at least call me 'Your Imperial Highness' and my son 'Your Grace', and no your son did nothing this time. He hasn't visited the Palace in a week."

The man puts down his pen after signing the last paperwork and leans back to his chair, "So?"

"So, I asked Calpurnia what's happening in the mansion. Apparently your son disappears almost all the time, and reappears when he needs to eat. What leaves me surprised is that he's asking for an advanced graduation test for the entirety of his primary school years! Calpurnia even went to me to report." Alistair rants to the man.

"So?"

"What do you mean so you biggoted idiot!" Alistair sounded annoyed.

"I just don't see any problems."

A loud grunt sounded from the phone, "That is exactly the problem!"

Alistair turns the voice call to video call, and the man accepts the change.

A man with platinum blond hair, and cold blue eyes appears on the screen, "See here Hadriel this is the face of your Emperor being mad at you!"

The man, Hadriel deadpans, "More like an insolent kid's face…"

"What insolent child! Just you know I am around fifteen thousand years old, and the proud former secretary of Aelianus the God of Sun!" Alistair pouted.

There's not a lot of people who knows that the revered Emperor of Amordad can be childish. Except perhaps his own son and Hadriel.

The two continue to banter, if someone who doesn't know that these two are the Archduke and the Emperor they would say it's a peaceful exchange between father and son.

"You're getting me sidetracked!" Hadriel made a low cursing sound, "Oii! You need to go home and take care of your kids, the two of them need a father figure!"

"Those two are indeed of my blood, but it doesn't mean they are my children Alistair!" Hadriel bangs the table loudly, several pens on the table rolls down.

Alistair never in his life has seen Hadriel so flustered before, except on several dire situations.

"As Calpurnia and I always tell you, the moment you choose Seneca to be your heir you are their father."

 

Spoiler: Ch. 3: Fairy Godmother Granted My Wish!

It’s been three months since Seneca arrived in the past.

He did an awesome job at keeping his distance from everyone, more like avoiding them, but he won’t admit that.

Calpurnia of course notices his weird behavior. She sends Seneca worried looks every time she sees him, and he would pretend that he doesn’t see her in return.

He feels guilty for worrying her but, he can’t just tell her that he time travelled, that would make it awkward.

Most of the denizens of the mansion give him a wide breadth of room. He notices that they would gossip about him when they thought that he was not listening.

They seem to have speculated that he is up to something bad, and proceeds to curse him and belittle him.

No wonder the young him would torture them, i.e. dirtying the floor they have just mopped with lots of dirt, changing the box of potatoes into a box of rocks, going into their private quarters and leaves lizards under their pillows, occasionally spiders, making sure that every table they uses have an uneven feet that will make said table shakes, and etc.

Carles, ever the cinnamon roll with plumpy cheeks that undeniably looks like a hamster’s, have dropped down his guard.

A little.

Though after a whole month of not seeing Seneca, the little guy would look for him everywhere he could think of. From the attic down to the basement.

Even after three months his little brother is still searching for him.

That’s just pure dedication.

Seneca thinks that it’s quite cute, seeing Carles’ cheeks puff from the frustration, and of course Seneca couldn’t smile at his brother's antics, not with his facial paralysis set permanently to resting bitch face, as Naranse likes to say.

Currently the cute little guy is sitting with his two legs stretched out and his back resting on the tree trunk, right below Seneca’s favorite tree twiddling with the tiny flower in his hands. His expression is reminiscent of a sad puppy that got kicked.

Seeing Carles like this reminds Seneca of his disciple in the past future, Suzora, when she is still a little girl. Although He calls her his disciple she is pretty much his adoptive daughter.

Suzora has short bobbed hair with a lot of strands sticking out in every direction, big round eyes, a penchant for burning her clothes to the point she’s naked, and a lot of scars from…

Seneca shakes his head and tries to forget about that particular detail, and continues to focus on Carles.

Looking at the uniform that Carles is still wearing, he just came home from school, though Seneca could tell with one look that his little brother looks roughed up.

Seneca wonders in his head, ‘Did the little guy get bullied in school? I mean I haven’t touched him in months…’

This had never happened before…

Is it because he stopped going to school with him?

After all he never shows his distaste towards Carles outside of the Mansion, and if he remembers it right Calpurnia forced him to pick Carles off the school back in the previous past(Original timeline). She thinks that it’s the most adorable thing, and that it’ll show people that Seneca loves his younger brother, which he didn’t back then.

But now there are things to consider.

Seneca had managed to convince Calpurnia to let him take an advanced graduation test. Calpurnia was very skeptical at first. But after telling her that the lessons are boring. That it’s killing his brain, talk about being dramatic, she finally lets him take the test.

On the day of the exams he had aced it. So much so that a lot of his teachers thought him a hidden genius. Which is a lot of dung, he’s not a genius, he’s just old and well experienced.

And now he could ditch school without actually ditching it, on papers he had officially finished his Elementary schooling after all.

But as a compensation from graduating early from elementary school, Calpurnia insisted that Seneca has to take etiquette classes.

And he regrets ever taking it.

Why?

Because it’s boring and he knows etiquette more than the teacher themselves, so now he needs to figure out how to ditch etiquette class.

Back to the problem at hand. From what Seneca could see, Carles’ clothes are full of dirt, and his hair is sticking out everywhere, his hair looks matted from all the dirt that’s sticking on them, there’s also the bruise on his hands. The little guy looked as if he had rolled on the ground.

It’s awful!

As awful as Seneca was to his brother in the past it never got physical, it’s always pranks that won’t cause his little brother any physical pain, perhaps mentally, since Carles did get traumatized by a spider.

But never will he touch his brother physically!

Seneca knows very well what it’s like to be abused physically.

If people thought that after he pranked all of those maids and butlers, and none of them would physically harm him.

Then they’re terribly wrong.

In three years time when their father, Hadriel, returns home and showed to all the denizens of the mansion that he only favors Carles, and showed a dislike towards his eldest son, those who Seneca had wronged rushed to seek retribution.

Of course not all of the maids and butlers would dare to hit him, but they still did make his life in the mansion from the age of twelve, a living hell.

It’s like indirectly, Carles is getting his revenge towards him for all those pranks and mean words he had thrown at him, via the maids and butlers.

But just because he is being bullied, doesn’t mean that he won’t pay them back, he paid them back by making their life in the mansion more miserable, if his memories served him right there’s at least a hundred plus ex employees that quit because of him.

This somehow honed his ability to strategize in the battle field when he served as a General for the Thallo Empire.

Seneca sighs “Does Calpurnia know that you’re being bullied by your schoolmates?”

He asked, loud enough for his voice to be heard by Carles.

His younger brother jumped off the ground like a startled cat, and abruptly stood up “Big brother Seneca! W-Why are you on a tree?” the little guy steps back little by little, away from the tree.

Seneca tries to quirk his eyebrow, but his face paralysis won’t let him, so it came off as a deadpan. “You know, even if you step back away I would still have to climb down off this tree right?” Which is kind of a lie since he could’ve just jumped off the tree.

That stopped Carles from trying to escape. “But, ‘am not bullied in school!”

“Right…” his voice sounded slightly amused.

“Am not!!” The guy protested.

“Just make sure to tell Calpurnia,” Seneca sighs and proceeds to flick dirts off of his nails. “You’re going to cause a whole lot of problems if you don’t.” He then jumps off the tree trunk and lands safely on the ground, the movement was as smooth and as swift as an elegant crane.

Seneca’s sudden landing left Carles surprised and it made him fall on his bum with a thud. Carles quickly crawls away from his older brother, afraid that he might do something bad to him, he throws his arms to cover his face, when the footsteps grew closer he squashed his eyes shut. Waiting for his brother to throw another one of his meanie pranks at him.

But it never came…

Instead a hand ruffled his head, Carles opened his eyes slowly to an emotionless face of his older brother.

His older brother is ruffling his hair!

“At least go and take a shower if you don’t want Calpurnia to find out, and make a good excuse on how you got that bruise on your hand.” His older brother’s eyes flicker to the bruise on his hand.

When his brother stops ruffling his hair he rubs on the bruise, Carles watches Seneca turn to leave, he just noticed that his brother’s eyes look warmer, that his hands are warm too, and he leaves him without giving him a prank.

With a glimmer of hope in his eyes Carles wonders if the fairies grants his wish.

‘The fairies made my wish come true!’

Calpurnia who was about to open the french glass doors, to call Carles when she sees how dirty the young boy had been, was stopped in her tracks. This is the first time, in a long while, she sees Seneca being so kind to his younger brother.

Not since Lucretia passed away...

A look of pure sadness pass through her eyes, before disappearing into a small panic look when Carles runs to her direction, she quickly ducks into one of the empty rooms. When she calms her self, she pulls out her phone from her pockets.

As she dials a number Calpurnia paces in the empty room, just before the end of the ringtone the person finally picks up their phone.

That day anyone who walks close to the room could hear Calpurnia throwing curses that is best left unsaid.

 

Spoiler: Ch. 4: Knots

Lately Seneca has been regretting his life choices more and more.

He told himself that he will put a distance between him and the denizens of the mansion, but some little hamster decided that they should stalk him…

Carles for whatever reason, is following him around the mansion, each time Seneca turns around to glare at the young guy he'll hide behind something, be it a tiny pole. Pretending that Seneca hadn't spotted him yet.

What is he? A fangirl? More like a fanboy! A cute cinnamon roll fanboy, so precious. Seneca shook his head perishing the thought. "Keeping my distance!" Seneca breaths out.

Though the rest of the denizens found it terrifying and are doing their best to tell the young guy of horrifying stories where Seneca is the main villain.

Their story of course, includes Seneca eating *Censored*, doing *Censored*, while *Censored*!

It's absolutely horrifying to listen to, even Seneca who has done terrible deeds is impressed by their made up story "It's not half bad…"

Seneca can't help but contemplate if in the past life(in the original timeline) the maids and butlers whispers to Carles the same stories.

Shouldn't a good adult encourage them to 'Play nice', like Calpurnia does all the time?

Though the young guy just waves the countless maids and butlers off and continues to stare at Seneca with glittering hope in his eyes, trying his best not to be caught by him, but since there's always a maid or a butler next to Carles in plain sight he can pretty much tell where his younger brother is hiding.

Calpurnia finds it interesting to watch and proceeds to immortalize the 'adorable act' through her phone, she's like one of those mothers who are obsessed with their children. Still, Seneca will make sure that the picture or video is destroyed.

It's just like any other afternoon when Seneca is bored of spending his time up in the tree, he would go to the library and sit on the wingback chair next to the window, enjoying the sunset while sipping on a cup of tea, but the book in his hands is rather dry….

The book he currently busied himself with reading is a book that he had randomly chosen while closing his eyes, and that book just happened to be a very dry history book detailing the Amordad Empire.

The Empire that he is born, raised, and has very complicated feelings towards. He can't describe it with words. No. There's no words to describe this feeling of his. It's not hate but at the same time it is. It always forms a knot in his heart even after a thousand years of making peace with himself, and yet no matter how hard he tried he would love to see this empire burn.

Basically he could care less, and he should, or he'll definitely try to burn in again!

After every single sh*t they threw at him, he'd like to think that this Empire deserves to burn, especially after what their Crown Prince had done to him.

Maybe he deserved whatever the Crown Prince did...

Seneca is an a**h***.

The only place he knew that could truly make him at peace and ease, is the fairy kingdom. He still has to convince a very annoying Naranse that doesn't know him, yet, to let him stay in her kingdom, if he want to move there now. Knowing her she'll pester him like a child for at least five hundred years before letting him off the hook, not to mention the other fairies.

"Seneca let's go and play~"

"Seneca, let's watch the movies!"

"There's a new toy we need to buy!"

"I want that candy now!"

And the Gods wonder why he has white hair! It's obviously because he needs to babysit thousands and thousands of children a.k.a Fairies. He doesn't hate it, it's annoying, but oddly enough it keeps him grounded after going through all of those trials in life.

As Seneca read the book in his hand he told himself that it's "For refreshing my memories of this blasphemous Empire!"

"It's ironic that this whole Empire is a vassal state until the current Emperor steps down." Seneca mutters to himself.

Unknowingly Carles had entered the library and walked to the back of the chair Seneca is sitting on. From behind, Carles can clearly see strands of Seneca's hair poking up. Seneca who was too deep in his own thoughts didn't seem to realize until Carles reached out to poke his hair.

Just a breath away before Carles could touch his older brother's hair, a thin barrier with lightning sparks suddenly materialized. Seneca stands up abruptly with a loud screeching sound. Almost causing the chair he was sitting on to flip backwards. Carles managed to take a step back, cradling the finger that almost touched the barrier close to his chest, then when he saw the cold murderous look on his elder brother, Carles freezes.

He was not expecting his older brother to be so mad at him. His eyes got teary eyed. He looked a lot like a wounded precious cinnamon roll.

It's only normal for a child, with a normal body and mind constitution to bawl their eyes out, scream, and run away when they felt such a heavy killing intent, from a deity nonetheless. No. A normal child would faint in an instant.

If only Seneca could express his bewilderment through his face, his eyes would be almost wide enough for them to pop out of their sockets. For Carles who is only left teary eyed and still looking very adorable, without all the snots and tear stains on his face, and had withstood a deity's killing intent. It is quite the achievement.

'Does he have a deity or a god body and mind's constitution?' Seneca wonders. As he lowers down the protective shield around him.

As the Deity of Protection he has a shield that would automatically activate when someone is trying to harm him, and his shields can not be broken by a person who does not have a strength equal to that of a deity or god. Seeing that he had to activate it manually, meaning Carles doesn't mean any harm.

Seneca leans a little on the chair, his mana reserves drained out more than it should. After arriving in the past he noticed that most of his mana reserves were sealed off. He speculates that it's because this body is too young and has yet to mature. So his magic must have acted on it's own to protect him, it's not an unheard of occurrence.

"What were you trying to do?" Seneca grits out, if Carles pays attention there's a little sweat droplets on his older brother's forehead.

Carles lowers his head, and puffs his cheeks out, making it look a lot like a hamster's cheeks full of food. "I want to touch your hair…"

Seneca can only internally scream 'You made me use my shield to protect my hair?!' Now he misses his ability to express his despair so much.

"Big brother's hair looks like the one the chicken has from school!" Carles stopped puffing his cheeks and exclaimed happily. But after seeing his older brother's cold face, he wavers a little.

"Everyone else thinks the chicken has pretty hair." The little guy gained more confidence after saying this.

Seneca took a deep breath and restrained himself from burning his own brother on a stake tonight. Naranse had said worse things to him. He chanted over and over.

When Seneca says nothing for a whole minute Carles finally asks. "Big brother, what are you reading?" The young guy asks him uneasy.

Seneca can't help but wonder why Carles would suddenly ask something that's obvious, his younger brother can clearly read the title on the cover book he's holding.

"A very dry history book." He finally replies after a suspense.

Carles looks relieved when his brother finally replies, and lolls his head to the side in a cute manner. It didn't have any effects on Seneca, even if he thinks it's cute, his heart and face is very much hardened.

"But a book is dry not wet." Carles looks at him in a very innocent manner.

"I'm saying it in a hypothetical manner." He replies.

"Hippo?" Now his younger brother just looks dumb to him.

"No, hi-po-thet-i-cal." He deadpans, which he doesn't need to, it's his expression by default.

"Okay!" The little guy just cheerfully replies.

"You still can't say it can you?" He finds it slightly amusing.

Carles blushes and puffs his cheeks again. Unexpectedly he grabs Seneca's hand and drags him out of the library. "Let's go take an afternoon walk out big brother!"

Seneca notices that Calpurnia, who is walking in the opposite direction of the hallway is pumping her fist into the air happily. She looks like she won a tournament for some reason.

To Calpurnia she just won a priceless diamond mine. She was passing by at the right time, and took a video of the two adorable brothers, and quickly posted it to her social media. With the caption 'My two adorable sons are getting along! I'm so happy!' Calpurnia skips to the kitchen and prepares the children's dinner happily.

Though Calpurnia laments that Lucretia is unable to see her own sons growing up, she would've been surprised by how fast they grow. A heavy sadness washes over Calpurnia as she chops the onions.

The cooks in the kitchen all wonder if her extreme mood swings are because of her period, and the onions she's cutting.

Back to the two brothers.

When they finally made it into the vast garden, Carles finally realizes that he had been dragging his older brother, whom he very much is afraid of, and quickly released the hand he's been holding. Carles takes an abrupt five steps back.

"I'm sorry!" He didn't want to drag his older brother, he was so embarrassed that he forgot about everything else and dragged him all the way here. When he sees Seneca walking deeper into the garden he can't help but feel anxious.

'Is his brother going to leave him?', 'Will he hate him again?', these thoughts run around in his head. Carles wants to shout at him to tell him to stay, but all of a sudden his throat tightens he can't speak, and there's knots in his belly that it hurts.

Seneca turned to look at Carles. The young boy’s head is lowered down, while his hands are busy kneading his shirt, making it wrinkled up. He looked so stressed.

Seneca knows this scene well. The children he raised would do the similar thing when they’re unsure of what is going to happen. He used to do the same thing when he saw that cold father of theirs, denying him of any sort of attention all those years ago. Even when the memories fade because of how long he had lived, the feelings attached to the memories are very much vivid to him.

The wrenching feeling of when his father denies his existence. When he saw their father accept only Carles at his side, the burning jealousy he felt, how he wanted to grab a knife and throw it at his younger brother, watch as life slowly fades away from his eyes. The satisfaction he would feel, when he sees their father despair.

Yet…

Seneca closes his eyes remembering that memory he somehow still has a clear picture of in his mind, and will forever more be a stain in his memories.

It was cold. Snow was falling down, covering the empty and desolate metropolitan city that looks lifeless if it weren’t for the sounds of battles around him.

Just a week ago the residents of this city would drive around the city, walk on the sidewalk, just going about their daily normal lives . He had to forcefully tell them to evacuate, they weren’t happy of course, but they know if they stayed they’ll end up as a pig in a slaughterhouse.

All of this was because of Alaric, the Emperor of Amordad, a fake friend of his. Who Seneca had antagonized on purpose to misdirect and attack him instead. He was very well prepared to lose, but not like this.

Seneca stares dumbly. He looks very disheveled, his hair sticks out everywhere, clothes are drenched with blood that is not his own. Despite all the cruel things he had done to his brother. All the tears that Seneca manages to make him shed when they were young, and all the mean words he threw at him casually.

The foolish boy had taken a killing blow for him, his tormentor.

“Why?” Seneca can only ask this, before the tears start dripping down. He finally works out that he had actually cared even though he was so jealous.

Carles smiles weakly. “I tried to hate you, but I couldn’t bring myself to. No matter how many times I’ve told myself that you hated me, that I should have hated you. In the end I just want to be loved. You want to be love,” Carles searched his face. He didn't know what emotion his younger brother wanted to see on his face, but it looks like he found it.

“You’ve kept mom alive...”

Carles laid limply in his arms. His younger brother had lost so much blood that he looked delirious. His hands weakly grasp Seneca’s. “Please,” He coughs out a mouthful of blood. “Come home!” Carles manages to say, before all the vibrant life within him disappears for good.

“Carles!” Seneca called out to him. “Carles! Please, please?!” his voice sounded so hoarse and desperate, he held his younger brother closer as his body rocked back and forth, like he was putting the already cold body to sleep.

He had never wept this much, not even when their mother’s funeral was held.

He raised his eyes from Carles’s now cold face only to be greeted by a familiar cold eyes from afar, it’s that bastardous, useless, scum of a father. Seneca glared into the emotionless eyes. There is no sadness in those eyes, not a single drop of it.

With this Seneca made a conclusion. “He never cared…” Not once, ever since the time of their births.

Before Seneca could lash out at the man, an arrow of concentrated magic had shot through his chest, leaving a hole as big as his own hands. To make it worse another attacker with a sword in their hands, decided to make his life even miserable and slashed his back, leaving a very deep cut wound.

He coughs out a copious amount of blood, it trickles down his jaws to his gaping chest like a river with no dam, before the pain registers, he manages to turn around and look at his attacker.

“Alaric…” He mutters out between all the blood filling his mouth, before falling forward to a soft little hand.

He finally opens his eyes and looks at his younger brother's pitiful act.

Seneca knows what Carles wants very well.

Attention, love, and family.

All the things he had wanted to have in his younger years, the very things that every child wants. Now he has the choice to deprive his brother of all of these, just like how he was deprived of it in the past. Their father won’t care for his little brother, he had seen it, when he only stares emotionlessly as Carles breathes his last, it’s enough proof for him.

Seneca is not as emotionless as he wishes all the time. He had given all of those to his own children once, what’s wrong with one more?

He’ll just have to try his best and fulfill his role as an older brother.

“Aren’t you coming?” When Carles had heard him, the boy had lifted his head. His eyes looked very hopeful. “You’ve dragged me out here, might as well.”

He wants to bang his head to a wall, didn’t he plan on distancing himself from everyone. There goes his brilliant plan.

Slowly but surely the little cinnamon’s roll mood lifted, his face even looks like it has a sparkle filter on it.

And so the two siblings spend all of their afternoon walking through the vast garden. It ended up being a tradition that brought them closer, and so they kept on taking long afternoon walks when Carles doesn’t have any homework to do.

 

Spoiler: Ch. 5: Brothers

A few weeks pass by in a flash and Seneca keeps on noticing that Carles seems to have gained more and more bruises. Each time he confronts his younger brother, the young guy would evade and quickly change the topic.

He can’t just burst into the school and demands retribution when his little brother won’t even admit to him that he’s being bullied by his friends. He’ll be accused of accusing younger children.

Seneca finally sat down and had a good talk with Carles. “You need to tell me, tell Calpurnia at least, that you’re being bullied!” He told his brother in a serious yet gentle manner, from across the sofa.

This reminds him of raising his children all over again, though Suzora was the worst out of all of them to handle, but Carles is somehow worse than her. This little guy won’t even admit that he’s being bullied, at least Suzora had told him.

“Am not bullied!” His younger brother insisted, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What’s with all the bruises then? One time I also saw that your books were thoroughly drenched in water, you didn’t even want to change it, you can barely read the text in the book anymore.” Carles is honestly a hard-headed fool. Seneca can already feel his hair turning white from all the stress, it’ll be nice if Carles is a blabber mouth in this situation.

Carles won’t budge, he still won’t admit that he is being bullied. “It was slippery, I fell into the pond!” His younger brother remarks childishly.

“If you fell into the pond then why are your clothes dry?” He points out the fact.

His younger brother wavers a little before finding his words again. “I changed clothes.”

He huffs, Seneca very much doubts that Carles have a spare uniform he left in school. “Stop lying and start telling the truth!” Even though his expression is very flat, you can tell from his voice that he is running thin on patience.

“Stop talking old…”

“You mean stop talking like an adult?” Seneca corrects him. “There’s nothing to be afraid of by telling me, your older brother,” Carles looks briefly surprised. ”And the adults that you’re being bullied!”

Carles looks bewildered, his mouth opens then closes. He looks very confused, and Seneca could guess from his experience of raising children, that Carles is going to say something that the young boy will regret.

“You don’t act like the other older brothers!” Carles already looks like he regretted saying that.

If Seneca could express himself, you can clearly see that he is very much hurt by his younger brother’s words. Even though he expects his brother to say something he didn’t mean to, doesn’t mean that it hurts any less.

Carles looks afraid and quickly tries to explain. “My, my friends’ older brother and sister… they would come to the class and ‘teach’ the bullies a lesson.”

“Are you expecting me to ‘beat’ your schoolmates, Carles?” He knows that he sounds scary to his younger brother, but Seneca can’t help it. He’s frustrated that his younger brother thought of something stupid like that.

“No, no!” His brother stuttered. “You keep on telling me to tell, you don’t…” Because of how frustrated Carles is he ends up crying and rubs his eyes.

The tears just keep on falling, and Carles keeps on rubbing, turning his eyes swollen and red “You don’t, don’t tell…” Carles keeps on searching his mind on the correct words to tell his older brother. “Everyone's brother just knows!” Carles finally said between all the sobs and gasping for air.

Seneca put two and two together of what his younger brother is trying to tell him. It seems to him that Carles’ friends' older siblings didn’t need to be told, they just act and defend their younger siblings as if it’s a natural thing. While Seneca just asks and no actions are taken.

The basis is that Carles just wants to see how far Seneca cares about him, if Seneca loves him as much or even more than his other friends’ older siblings. The younger boy must’ve thought of it without realizing what he wants.

Seneca deeply sighs. He stands up, walks around the coffee table, sits down next to him, then gently pulls Carles into his arms, and sits the young boy on his lap. Though their size difference is not as prominent it made Seneca look like he’s holding a giant teddy bear.

When He notices his younger brother on the edge of falling asleep. He gently puts his arm under Carles’ knees and his other supports his shoulder then lifts him up swiftly into a princess carry. The young guy is so tired that he doesn’t notice that he is being carried out of the lounge until they’ve arrived in his room.

Thankfully Carles had cleaned up and was already in his sleeping wear when they had their conversation, all he needs to do is get tucked to sleep. That’s exactly what Seneca did, he pulled the duvet and covered Carles in it.

“Sleep.” Seneca said softly.

Carles can only blink his eyes, wide and open. He was so shocked when Seneca carried him like a princess that he isn’t sleepy anymore. Carles hid half of his face in the duvet, and sheepishly made a request. “Can you tell me bedtime stories?” Followed by a meekly laugh.

Seneca sighs, and sits on the bed. “Just this once.” Seneca pauses, thinking of a story he could tell Carles of, then uncertainty fills his eyes but it disappears as fast as it had appeared. “How about a story about The Life of A Rich Boy?”

When Carles shows his interest, Seneca begins to tell the story. “There was once a Rich young boy. The boy always felt lonely and unloved in his house. So, he would seek attention from others.” He sneaks a little glance at his younger brother, confirming that he is still intrigued.

“But, the way he seeks attention is wrong. He would cause trouble for everyone in his house. It made everyone hate him instead. Even his two best friends left him all alone. One day, because he caused too much trouble for everyone, he was thrown out of his own house! The Boy wandered the streets for a while. Then a man felt sorry and took him in. He treated the boy like his own son. But, the boy was very ungrateful and caused another trouble, it made the man sleep forever. The boy was very sad, and regrets his actions. A fairy,”

“Is it the fairy godmother?” Carles asked excitedly.

“You can call her that,” Seneca wouldn’t though, the fairy acts more like a child than motherly. “A fairy appears and offers the boy a second chance. “I will give you a second chance to have a family but...” The boy excitedly asks, “But what? I will do anything!” “But you can only spend your time with them until you’re old, then you must return to this place again.” The boy quickly agrees and he is sent to his new family. This new family of his is very poor. But now he has a family that loves him so much. Despite that he could never call this family his home. He knows he’ll leave them so he won’t dare.”

To show his thanks to his new family the boy worked hard. He turned his ragged family to a family with no shortage of money. The boy now a very old man who had lived his life, married, and had children of his own closes his eyes. When he opened them the fairy greeted him. He was back as a child!”

“Now that you’ve learned your lesson, you know what to do?” The boy nods. The time he spent with his loving family had taught him so many life lessons, that he would cherish in his heart.” Seneca glances at Carles finding him dead asleep, his expression showed nothing, though his eyes are filled with warmth.

“So, the boy grew up once again, and lives his life among the fairies. He finally found a place he could call home permanently...” Seneca’s voice trails in nostalgia.

Seneca quickly fixes the duvet, making sure that Carles is very much comfortable, and gives his younger brother a peck on his forehead before leaving the room.

The next morning Seneca tells Calpurnia that Carles is being bullied in school. Calpurnia being the loving caretaker of theirs stormed the principal office, and gave the principal a very long talk.

Seneca who had come along decided to also give the children who bullied his younger brother a pep talk. One of the children even pissed himself.

“So scary!!!” Is the only thought that both the principal and the bulliers could think of to describe Calpurnia and Seneca from then on.

After the incident the two brothers have reached a level of understanding of each other's character, and their bond grew stronger and stronger.

As the seasons change so do the two siblings.

Although it’s relatively peaceful between Carles and Seneca it doesn’t mean that no conflict happened between them. It happens every day, most of them are small problems that they solve in a day. The big ones take months to solve. But with every trouble that comes their way, it made them closer.

Seneca is just walking around the spacious mansion with nothing to do. The time seems to trickle by fast. He still hasn’t managed to release the seal that his own magic had placed over his mana reserves.

He doesn’t mind waiting till his body is old enough for his full mana reserves to be unsealed. It just left him with the feeling of when his wifi isn’t strong enough while he’s streaming videos. Or you can simply say it feels like being c**k b***k.

Carles is currently busy with his school. After the bullies had learnt their lessons Carles’ school life is very smooth sailing, it put his mind at ease, at least a little bit.

Calpurnia that devious caretaker of theirs seems to have an infinite amount of blackmail materials over both siblings. She has every single embarrassing photo and videos of them. He must somehow destroy said phone, oddly enough Calpurnia who has some sort of a sixth sense always kept her phone in her own pocket, going as far as using power banks to charge.

There was one time that Carles tried to embarrass her, of course he failed, and Calpurnia had released some of his embarrassing photos. The boy was thoroughly traumatized and won’t even cause trouble with their caretaker anymore.

All of a sudden Seneca’s acute senses kicked in. He stops before he could crash into a person, and said person has also stopped just before crashing into Seneca.

Seneca’s face is of course still flat, but he very much would like to frown. This man’s face looks very familiar. His eyes flickered to assess the man but before he could process anything the man asked him.

“Why aren’t you in school?” The man has a very flat expression just like his.

“Who are you, my father?” Seneca asks very bluntly.

The man’s lips twitched. “I happened to be yours, on papers.”

Just then Calpurnia who has been standing behind his “father” snorts loudly, while holding up to her phone, recording the two “father and son” interactions for the first time they met after not seeing each other in years.

The alarms in Seneca’s head rings. He actually forgot when this cold hearted bastard of a father is coming home. Even if he’s using the excuse that he had lived for a millennia and forgotten it because it was eons ago, it’s still embarrassing. The younger version of himself would kill him now.

“You should go,” The bastard suddenly said. It almost made Seneca choke on his own spit. “I’ll take you to school.”

Seneca could only blink owlishly at the bastard. “On papers I've graduated high school.”

Calpurnia who is watching the whole fiasco sends Seneca the look of “I want to be mad at you, but I’m proud of you!”

 

Spoiler: Ch. 6: Fairies

Seneca sat on his usual chair in the library by the window. Sipping his tea while ignoring the big roach in the room. His father.

He was just taking his afternoon nap peacefully, but Calpurnia just had to drag and toss him into the library. She even locked the door.

Her purpose was very clear when he had spotted the roach and Carles in the same room. Calpurnia is “forcefully” setting up a family quality time for the three of them.

Seneca had resorted to calling his own father a roach in his mind. Since the man just won’t die. So, a roach he is.

Thankfully Carles is in the room. Or this whole library will be as dead as a graveyard to him.

Carles keeps on switching between observing him or the roach. One minute the little guy is staring at the roach, another he’ll be staring at him. Carles rarely blinks. There’s even little twinkling stars in his eyes.

The roach who is sitting on the sofa in the middle of the library. Seems to have fallen asleep. His chest slowly moves up and down, eyes closed, arms folded, legs crossed. The perfect picture of a sleeping beauty.

Seneca knows better. The roach is not asleep. He’s listening in on them.

He hears Carles is taking a deep breath. He’s definitely going to say something innocent. Seneca thought, feigning ignorance and continued on reading his book.

“Big brother and father are like twins!” Carles, who is looking very giddy, whispered a bit too loudly.

Seneca stopped mid turning another page. But he manages to quickly recover himself and pretends to read the new page. Children, they are the master of being innocent, even the God of innocence almost always in their child form.

“What makes you think of such?” Hadriel suddenly asked.

Seneca peeks at Hadriel from behind the book. Eyes analyzing, trying to gauge the older man's expression.

Carles looks surprised that Hadriel had woken up, but his younger brother hastily recovers and smiles. The smile looks very hopeful, this will be the very first interaction Carles has with the older man. Seneca can’t help but feel slightly sad for his younger brother.

The young boy fidgets on his chair, trying to think of a good sentence to say to their father. “It’s just,” Carles pauses.

“Yes?” Hadriel asked, he doesn’t sound irritated, but bored.

It made Carles lose his confidence, slightly. “You and big brother have flat faces!” Blurted out the young guy.

Silence filled the room. Seneca could only stare at his younger brother emotionlessly. Even more than his usual emotionless face could. Their father, the roach, doesn’t even show a single twitch or a frown, he keeps on observing Carles with a passive face.

Carles finally took notice of the weird atmosphere in the room after a minute of complete silence. “Not face! But your,” The boy ponders. “Expression! It’s your expression. They’re flat, that’s what Calpurnia says a lot of times about big brother’s face.” Carles tries to smile through all of his nervousness. It ends up very sheepish. Instead of a bright smile the young boy is clearly trying to pull off.

“I see.” Their father said with a flat tone.

It made Carles’ joy in interacting with his father wilts. As a fairly committed older brother, Seneca can’t help but wish to be able to frown with displeasure, except he can’t so he could only give the roach a cold stare.

Hadriel swiftly stood up from the sofa, straightened the few wrinkles on his clothes, and made his way towards the locked door. When he placed his hand on the door handle he finally spoke up. “I’ll excuse myself.”

Seneca glared at Hadriel. He can’t help but wish that his gaze could turn the man into a stone. This man is a shitty father compared to Medraut and John. But John will always be the best father, maybe Medraut too… Seneca abruptly stops his flashback when he hears a loud noise.

With brute force followed by a loud metallic twang, and a few bits of wood splinters flying everywhere. Just like that, their father leaves the library with its door broken.

When Seneca sees this he can’t help but lament in his mind. He could’ve used magic to unlock the door and leaves! He sighs and closes the book he’s holding, placing it on the coffee table in front of him.

Carles who finally recovers from his shock turns to Seneca. “I didn’t mean it!” The boy protested. He looks very distressed and is inclined to chase after Hadriel.

“I think what you said is true.” Seneca states. He doesn’t want to admit that the roach shares his “Flat face” as Carles and Calpurnia puts it. But if admitting this would at the very least appease his younger brother, then he would of course admit it. He just doesn’t want to see Carles unhappy, it made him annoyed in a way.

Even though his younger brother is not starving for familial love as much as he was three years ago. The young guy still craves for a father figure. Which Seneca will never be able to fill. The boy clearly thinks of him as an older brother figure, and not a father figure.

Carles’ hunger for a familial love is also the main core. The biggest reason. As to why he got attached to Seneca so fast. Even though his older brother has treated him poorly in the past.

The young boy was clearly doing his best to somehow resist Seneca’s sudden change in the beginning. But his desire got the best of him. Now he is on good terms with Seneca.

Carles’ wilted expression immediately brightens. “Really, you think so too?” He asked, in an innocent manner

“Yes, as to why father just rushed out, I think it’s because of work. He is the Archduke afterall.” Seneca assures his younger brother. Carles doesn’t seem to pick up on how Seneca said father in an unusual tone.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Carles said, slightly unspirited.

Seneca turns his head to look at the noon sky. “It’s not dark yet. Do you want to take a walk?” This way he can distract Carles from thinking about Hadriel too much.

Carles hops a little before a big smile appears across his face. “Instead of a walk I’ll race you, the first one to make it into the garden wins!” At the drop of a hat the young boy blasts out of the room, like a bunny hopping away.

Seneca sighs fondly at his younger brother’s antics. “I suppose I’ll let him win today’s race.” He mumbles to himself.

With that he made a dash down the hallways and out into the garden. Carles who is slightly heaving, gives him a winning smile.

“I won!” The young boy exclaimed, pumping both fists up into the air.

“Then I’ll make sure to win tomorrow, or else you’ll get ahead of yourself.” Seneca stated. He doesn’t appear as exhausted as Carles is, it’s a physical bonus he gets from still holding the claim to the title, Deity of Protection.

With that Carles and Seneca strolls through the garden that is drenched with orange hues.

Despite calling it a garden, anyone with two good eyes would call it a man made forest when they see it. There were tall trees swaying with the wind, that lined up through the paved path they’re currently walking on. The thick foliage gives them a good shade from the afternoon sunlight.

Flowers of all kinds grow, decorating the vast garden, and are magicked to stay in their blossomed state. The ones who are in charge of keeping the flowers in full bloom are evidently the fairies.

Fairies are one of the races that could bond with nature easily. Ergo, why most people would employ them to maintain their plants.

Currently the majority of the fairies who are working in the Hildebrand mansion are busying themselves with Seneca’s long hair.

Seneca had grown out his hair. Enough to barely brush his calves in his past life when he started to live with the fairies, and admittedly he misses his luscious long hair.

Some fairies are busy braiding his hair, while some fairies turn his hair into a swing, and the rest is sitting on his head drinking tea.

This is a sight that Seneca is very familiar with, but Carles who sees this for the first time looks on with admiration.

“They’re so tiny! They have wings, and some of them have cat ears, or dog’s ears. Wait, why haven’t you told me they’re here?!” with glittering eyes Carles demands an answer from him.

Seneca shrugs in response. He is slightly more careful with his movements, seeing as some fairies are on top of his head with a hot tea. “They’ve been here for a week. Calpurnia hires them to keep the flowers in full blossom every single day.”

“Why am I only seeing them now?” Carles pouts. For some unknown reason this young boy is really fascinated with fairies, Seneca searched his memory as to why, but he can’t seem to think of a good reason for Carles’ fixation.

“They’re supposed to be working on the flowers around this time.” Seneca said flatly. In an attempt to indirectly tell the fairies who are turning his hair into their playground to go back and do their work.

Carles looks confused. “Um, okay.” Sounding very unsure. “Why are they acting like you’re their friends then?” The young boy sounded a little jealous.

“Ask them, I’ve only let them braid my hair yesterday.” With Seneca saying this all the fairies have stopped their current activities. “They obviously love me more than you do.” He bluntly stated, rubbing some salt into his younger brother’s jealousy.

The fairies looked at Seneca with an unbelievable expression. You just told us to get off and now you’re showing us off?

There are times when Seneca would say mean things to Carles just to poke the young boy, and this is one of those times. Seneca couldn’t resist to not bully his younger brother. For the simple reasons of it’s fun seeing his brother suffer a little.

“That’s just not fair!” The young boy shouted, startling all the fairies off of Seneca’s head. The little fairies flew away into the bushes as quickly as they could and hid. Carles made a kicked puppy face when he saw this. “They really do hate me.” If only Carles has dog ears, it will lay flat on his head, and his tail will curl down in a sad way.

Seneca wants to laugh at his brother's suffering. It makes him happy, and this is the reason why he proclaims himself as a sadist. “You can always bribe them with sweets, they like it, they're one of the younger fairies you know.” He tries to assure Carles.

“What do sweets have anything to do with young fairies?” Carles blinks. Then his face lights up in realization. “They’re kids!” He exclaimed. “Big brother, how did you know they’re still kids?” Carles is quick to throw him a suspicious look.

It’s because I was living with them for the last millennia. Seneca is tempted to speak his mind, but he doesn’t want Carles to run away from him because of fright. That won’t be good.

“They still have their wings.” Seneca stated this while drawing wings in the air with his fingers.

“What?” The young boy asked, not believing what Seneca said. “But fairies need to have wings!” Carles flails his hands mimicking the movement of the fairy wings.

Seneca sighs. “They will shed their wings once they’ve reached adulthood.” Seneca points out at the fairies that was hiding in the bushes behind Carles.

“They do?” Carless asked.

“Yes, and the animal features they carry now will remain. Like the little fairy you saw with the cat ears or dog ears. Their animal characteristics will remain. That’s why a lot of people thought that adult fairies are one of the Were-people. Who also has animal characteristics, as their defying features.” Seneca told Carles in a manner of a teacher, teaching his student.

“How come I don’t know, but you know this big brother?” Carles asked, demanding an answer.

“Books.” Seneca plainly stated.

“Ugh!” The young boy groans. Carles is one of those people who hates reading books, more specifically books that are nonfiction. “I wish I could bribe father to forgive me…” He pouts.

“He’s just stressed out with his work, that’s all.” Assures Seneca.

“It’s just,” Carles pauses, remembering something. “I heard from someone that once Prince Alaric is an Emperor he’s planning to kill father.” Carles whispers quietly. Afraid that the fairies will hear what he said.

 

I'll be changing the title

 

Spoiler: Ch. 7: Problems

Seneca hums. Amordad, despite being a mighty Empire, is currently the vassal of the Amrerat Empire.

The Empire that is part of the Thirteen Pillars of The World. All of which are governed by Primordial Gods. The Gods that were born when the Eternal War occurred.

The Amrerat specifically is governed by the God of Sun, Aelianus.

Before Amordad was known by its current name, derived from Amrerat. A civil war had broken out. Aelianus decided to step down and took the reins of the war by himself. Seizing the Horatia Empire and turning it into a vassal. Then renaming it Amordad.

Aelianus sends his most faithful friends, Alaric, to govern as the Emperor of the newly named Amordad.

Aelianus had also decreed that if the current Emperor. Alistair. Abdicate his throne, and that a new Emperor are crowned. He would release Amordad as a vassal, and returns their independence.

The next in line is, Alaric, the only Prince that Amordad has. Seneca has to admit that Alaric is the epitome of a perfect prince. Moreover, he is not some double face type of prince, but a pure perfect one. From his appearance, manners, to how he treats others equally. They’re all perfect.

His only flaw that Seneca could see for himself is, not admitting to himself. Be disliking something or someone. More specifically Seneca himself.

A bottle of glass could only hold so much before it cracks.

Alaric seems to have not such an intense dislike towards Seneca, but just constant annoyed feelings. It’s somewhat Seneca's younger self’s fault.

The younger him seems to have processed in his brain that the Prince is his one and only friend. So, each and every single day the younger him would visit the palace or wherever Alaric is currently staying.

He could tell Alaric of anything and everything. If his memory is correct, he would tell Alaric from what scores he earned for his tests. To what type of fruit he had eaten that day.

Seneca’s constant rant about hate though, is what possibly could be the main reason for Alaric’s dislike towards him. Hate towards the butlers and maids. Hate towards anyone who didn’t try to please him. Most of all hate towards Carles.

Alaric would try to smile each time. For the younger Seneca this smile is like looking at the one and only person that agrees with him. An oasis in the middle of the desert. But now the older him could see how much Alaric hated the topic.

I wonder why I could remember this detail clearly, I usually would have forgotten.

Unfortunately, as perfect as Alaric is he doesn’t get along well with Hadriel. Which leads to this kind of rumor. Where people believe that Alaric will kill Hadriel in the future.

Alaric wouldn’t speak up regarding the fact that he could not kill Hadriel even if he wanted to. Instead, he keeps his mouth shut. It just fanned the rumors more.

But if all goes according to his past life, then Alaric won’t kill Hadriel.

There is just no way that Alaric could kill Hadriel. What most people seem to have forgotten is that the Hildebrand family was established by Aelianus.

Their purpose is to be a metaphorical sword for Aelianus himself over Amordad, simply saying it, the Hildebrands are peacekeepers. What he found very odd is that the Hildebrand used to work in the shadows before Hadriel had become the head of the family.

As to why Hadriel decided to work in the open once he inherited the mantle is still a mystery.

“He’ll be fine.” Seneca stated with confidence.

“Big brother, you really think so?” Carles asked, looking unsure.

“I know, because I read a lot of books.” Seneca lightly said in a teasing tone, though his face still remained flat of emotions.

“Just because I don’t like to read a book doesn’t mean I’m stupid!” Carles protested.

With that, it started a goose chase between the two brothers. Throughout the chase Seneca can’t help but wonder how in the hell he, an old man, could actually be so out of character for his age.

Perhaps this younger body of his is affecting his moods?

The two finally slowed down when they arrived back at the mansion and they decided to clean themselves up before heading for dinner.

Meanwhile, up in the office Hadriel is flipping through some documents before it was taken away from his hands by Calpurnia. She tosses it to the far end of his work table, then proceeds to rest both of her palms on his desk. Seemingly towering over him.

Hadriel looked up into Calpurnia’s eyes, waiting for her to start ranting about the topic that he’s expecting her to complain about.

“All I want is for you and those two boys to get along well together,” Calpurnia started, her voice a little shaky from frustration and sadness. “I’m not always going to be there for them, but you can!” She shouted frustratedly at Hadriel.

Hadriel only continues on to passively stare at Calpurnia’s red face. “You know this is not how a maid normally treats their higher ups?” He questions her with one eyebrow raised.

“This has nothing to do with that!” Calpurnia shouted angrily. “They need their ‘father’, those two needs you.” She begrudgingly spat the words.

“You’ve put the title of the heir on to Seneca’s head, and now people are after him. They want to kill him! Them! Those two young boys, Hadriel!” Her hands hit the table repeatedly showcasing her frustration towards the man in front of her.

“Do you know how many fucking assassination attempt that’s been going?! You could’ve just, just, deny them both of being your heir and spare their lives…” With her body trembling, back hunched, hot tears started spilling from her eyes dripping down onto the table.

Hadriel who has been quiet and unmoving sighs and pulls out a tissue box from the drawer next to him. “You should’ve blamed Lucretia for getting herself into this trouble in the first place.” Hadriel coldly states, it contrasted his little act of kindness. “If she didn’t act so rashly none of this would’ve happened. So quit blaming me all the time!” He states sounding very frustrated with Calpurnia.

Calpurnia took some tissue dabbing it onto her eyes. “Just, just take your obligation as a father seriously. It’s the best you could do.” Calpurnia said as she walked towards the doorway. “If you don’t, and so I’m afraid I’ll have to report your behavior to the Emperor. I’m sure he’ll irritate you to death.”

“You should’ve stayed six feet below.” Hadriel remarks, giving Calpurnia a stern look.

It made Calpurnia stop midway. “I can’t leave those two just yet, you know that.” With that said Calpurnia heads for the kitchen to fix the two boys’ dinner. As for Hadriel’s she’d instead have him eat a dung of shit for tonight.

Oh, Lucretia what should I do?

 

Spoiler: Ch. 8: The Roach, Flat Face, and Cinnamon

As long as my little brother is happy, I’m glad. Seneca has been chanting this in his mind for the last hour or so.

The root of all of his misery is none other than the giant roach that’s tailing behind them.

Hadriel Ishmael Af Hildebrand is his fucking bloody name!

They are presently having their daily afternoon walk in the vast garden, and the first afternoon walk that Hadriel is attending. This time oddly enough the man just followed them without Calpurnia’s instruction. Since it even surprised Calpurnia herself.

"It's must've been the Emperor..." He heard Calpurnia mumble.

How laughable that the roach is afraid of the Emperor. Hadriel did afteral bash the Emperor's head in front of a lot of people.

The world’s most useless father, is the highest reward and title Seneca could possibly throw him.

Currently the man is multitasking. One hand is holding a stylus and the other is carrying a tablet. He would scroll up and down for a little while and use the stylus as a pen to sign, what Seneca would like to think are paper works.

The only peculiar thing that the man carries is a long sword. Strapped to his waist. The pommel is inlaid with an orange gemstone. The grip is covered with a red leather that seemed worn out. On the guard there are seemingly thin spikes poking out, forming the symbol of the sun.

As for the scabbard, it is covered with black leather. But if one were to see it carefully, there is an emboss of a very intricate design covering the whole scabbard with a halo of the sun on the middle part.

Seneca, who had once fought against his father knows that this sword that he is carrying is just one of its many copies. The older man did after all launched countless numbers of copies of the sword towards him in battle.

Hadriel, who is busy with his paperwork, finally takes notice of Seneca’s stare at his sword. The man raised his eyebrow in question. Seneca only stared back at him flatly. The two continue on to walk side by side while giving one another an emotionless stare.

If one were to describe the scene they see it will be, two walking flat board with a flat face emoticon drawn on it.

The only sound that is made between the three is the happy humming of Carles. At the start Carles is surprised and a little tense because Hadriel is joining them.

Last week event in the library had made Carles unsure whether his father was mad at him or not. But after noticing that their father is not showing any negative reaction towards him, he had finally relaxed.

There’s a tiny hop in Carles’ steps. A great sign the boy's happy. Today the young boy brought cookies with him to bribe the fairies and get in their good graces. As for the reasoning for which Carles is determined to become friends with the fairies, Seneca is still not sure why.

Carles stops his steps and brings out the cookies. Just like the fairies who hid in the bushes come out one after the other. This made both the young boy’s father and his older brother to finally halt their staring contest.

“Cookies?” Hadriel questioned, it stunned Carles. Then turned to look at the little fairies who are still hovering above the bush of flowers. Their eyes glued to the cookies in Carles’ hands. The older man could deduct what the young boy is trying to do. “You’re trying to befriend them?”

Carles nods slowly, unsure. Afraid that the man would be mad like yesterday when the young boy mentions how Hadriel looks similar to Seneca.

“Yeah, I really want to befriend them.” He said carefully.

Hadriel only hums in acknowledgement.

Seneca throws the older man a suspicious gaze. Expecting that the man would do something brash. Unexpectedly, Hadriel took off his eyes from Carles and just went back to read the documents in his tablet.

Carles dashed towards the fairies' direction. The fairies who were impatient, went to meet him halfway before he could even stand in front of the bush they were all hiding in. The young boy quickly passed on the cookies in his hands to the fairies.

As an older brother when Seneca sees this his heart can’t help but warm up by how sweet and precious the scene is. If Calpurnia is here she would have taken a mugshot of Carles from afar.

It’s too bad that she’s not around.

But Seneca won’t be surprised if Calpurnia had already installed a hidden camera in the garden somewhere.

Their caretaker is amazing like that, she would sometimes put things or take a picture of Seneca who has a pretty sharp sense.

For some reason he can’t really feel Calpurnia’s presence unless she herself wants him to know where she is.

Though Seneca is very curious about what kind of paperwork the roach next to him is currently working on.

“It’s a pretty normal paperwork from Alistair.” Hadriel said suddenly.

Seneca was stunned. Was it obvious that I was curious about what this roach is working on, my face is still as unmoving as a mountain though? Seneca can’t help but ask himself.

“You kids are generally curious about what adults are doing.” Hadriel trails. He gives Seneca a really cold and annoyed look.

Seneca met with Hadriel’s cold gaze equally while blinking his eyes looking very much like a dense child. He’s seen a more terrifying one. If he was a normal child he would be pissing himself to death.

Fortunately, he is not a child in mind.

Does this roach hate us because of those cliches where ‘my wife died because of giving birth to you guys’? Seneca wonders.

But he is very sure that their mom didn’t die from health deterioration from giving birth to them. He just can’t remember the reason why, it was a thousand years ago for him after all.

“Huh,” Hadriel exclaims, taking Seneca out of his own thoughts. “Why haven’t you bothered the prince lately? You used to frequent the castle, you even made him annoyed.” Hadriel remarks.

Judging from Hadriel’s expression the words he spoke of are meant to hurt him in some degree. “I got bored.” With that said Seneca makes his way towards where Carles is feeding the fairies.

Another detail that he has forgotten when he came back. He tends to frequently visit the prince. Alaric. For whatever reason the younger version of himself likes to think that the prince is his one and only best friend.

From what Seneca could retrieve from the deepest part of his memories. He would tell the prince everything and anything. The topics they talked and shared with each other are almost lost to him, but it’s from what he did at school to what time he went to bed.

He was annoying and he admits that.

Alaric is the epitome of a perfect prince. So, he just sat there entertaining him while looking very uneasy. The prince never seemingly avoids Seneca when he requests an audience with him. That is more of a play date. All in all Alaric ways of treating him always pleases Seneca.

Alaric rarely ever shows his anger towards Seneca. Except for that one time. It was around the time when Alistair Alaric’s father had just stepped down from the throne, and was spending his leisure time in Amrerat with Hadriel.

It was just all a misunderstanding on Alaric’s part, but the prince was listening to one of those noble bastards. Seneca was just helping a commoner, but the noble had somehow twisted the story, and Alaric decided to take the nobles’ side.

Seneca was disappointed with Alaric’s decision at that time. But the past him did treat others poorly at that time. It’s pretty much expected from him to treat the commoner badly. Thus Alaric never realized that he had wrongfully accused him.

This one problem is of course what planted the seed of doubt towards Seneca in Alaric’s heart.

After giving the fairies a good amount of cookies they have decided to also like Carles. It made the boy very happy. The fairies seem to have taken a liking to whispers stories that made the young boy giggles.

Hadriel notices something. The tablet in his hand magically had folded itself into a look alike of the stylus. Then with a snap the stylus sticks itself with the tablet, making it look very much like a chopstick.

“We should head back.” Hadriel remarks.

Carles looks a little down and was reluctant. Seneca puts his hand on Carles’ back and pushes him forward slowly making the young boy to start walking. “We should head back.” Seneca states.

Seneca is tempted to look behind into the dense trees behind him. He had sensed a killing intent coming from behind those trees. By the looks of it the roach had noticed said assassins. There are at least ten of them sneaking right behind them.

Hadriel swiftly flanked the two brothers from behind. Pushing them to walk a little faster.

“Will you join dinner father?” Carles asked.

Hadriel hums, it cannot be taken as a confirmation or a rejection. “Depends.” Is all the man said.

Seneca had noticed that the roach has at least a little decency to put a silencing bubble around them. He speculates its purpose is to stop whatever sounds the assassins are making.

What unsettles him the most is that none of the assassins have made it this far into the mansion. He knows for a fact that there are assassination attempts on his life and his brother’s.

It has happened once in his past life.

But he has never seen the assassins walking and alive when he was still living in the Hildebrand mansion, if his memories serve him right. He always sees them dead on the ground or when the servants are in the process of removing the body.

The conclusions Seneca could draw is that these assassins are of a higher ranking than the usual one that are sent here. Or someone had successfully stolen the guard rotation.

Seneca rather have the first conclusion to be true than the latter. If it’s the latter, then amongst all of the workers within the mansion there’s some rats running around.

With that the trio went inside the mansion.

Carles blissfully unaware of the assassins and all the anguish cries they make as one by one the assassins were cut down by none other than Calpurnia, their caretaker.

 

Spoiler: Ch. 9: Redhead

Calpurnia watches as Hadriel flanks the two children. The woman had hidden herself behind the five or so assassins. Waiting for the right time to strike.

All of them are wearing a baggy dark clothes, making it hard for Calpurnia to discern of their gender.

“Shit! The informant said that the Archduke doesn’t seem to care about his sons. Why is he with them then?” one of the assassins muttered under their breath.

Talkative that one, should spill some beans. Calpurnia decided in her mind.

She nods to the fairies signaling them to prepare. With that Calpurnia leaps down from the tree onto one of the cloaked assassins shoulders. Her strong thighs locked her prey’s throat. The knife in her hand quickly plunged into the unfortunate assassin’s head.

The assassin's body fell forward, leaving Calpurnia standing over the corpse.

“That was easy.” She said cheekily.

Her opponents lets out a growl at seeing their comrades being felled so easily.

The assassins frantically grab their weapons, readying for the redhead to attack one of them. The atmosphere is tense, they took notice of the fairies surrounding them.

“A battle maid?” an assassin said, gritting his teeth. Taking in Calpurnia’s maid attire.

Calpurnia is currently wearing the casual maid outfit with a white apron. She had tucked part of the long skirt into her stocking. Leaving one of her long and beautiful sculpted legs exposed.

Calpurnia smiles, shaking off the blood from her hand. “Not quite.” she smirks.

“Ladies shall we?” with a gesture of her hand the fairies begin to attack.

A trembling assassin whispers lowly. "Those fairies, they're one of those Blooming ones!"

A fairy with a cat tail and ears flew across the forest. Making a whistling sound as if an arrow had let loose piercing right through one of the assassin's head blowing it up into bits of pieces.

Blood and gunks of flesh had sprayed everywhere.

“Eww, I shouldn’t have used that skill.” The fairy protested, trying to shake off the blood and tiny little meat that’s stuck in her hair.

The tallest one out of all the assassins saw an opening to attack the cat eared fairy, he lunged towards the tiny fairy wanting to catch her off guard but failed. Even with the fairy attention at her own appearance she managed to block their attack.

The fairy Grumbles. "Can't you see I'm covered with brain leftovers from your friend here?"

“Shit!” Cursed an assassin. “Escape now!” He commanded the other assassins.

A fairy with fox ears and tail hops around in the air.“Get ‘em Alice!” She shouted.

“Why aren’t you, attacking you idiot?” Grumbled Alice, a fairy with a dog ear and tail.

Alice quickly makes her way to the closest assassin preparing to do the same moves as the cat eared one.

Unfortunately said assassin managed to block her attack

“It won’t happen twice, ant! [Great Barrier]!” A green barrier manifested surrounding each of the assassins.

“I just want to nap here!” Cried Alice in frustration while trying to break the barrier with sheer force alone.

“[Armor Pierce].” Calpurnia chanted under her breath quietly, all the while spinning the knife in her hand.

One of the assassins tried to warn their comrade of Calpurnia but failed.

Calpurnia had disappeared from view for a moment and appears behind Alice’s opponent, doing a quick job at killing the assassin.

“Alice, focus. This will be over quickly if you start concentrating.” Calpurnia reprimands the fairy.

“It will be over if Foxy over there helps!” Alice whines her hands balled into a fist kicking both of her legs mid air in frustration.

“Oh, you want help is that it?” the fox eared fairy screamed at Alice. “Here you go, this is me helping your sorry ass [Ice Barrier]!”

Alice clapped her hands together looking very much like she is preparing to pray except she raised it up above her head, A thin layer of ice forms and just like that, another assassin breath their last. With their body cut clean vertically from the head down to their crotch.

“You don’t use barrier like that! You defend with it Foxy idiot!” Alice shouted on top of her lungs.

“Who cares! He’s dead, so here’s another one!” The fox eared fairy screamed, preparing another [Ice Barrier] for the last assassin.

“Wait!” Calpurnia shouted. Just before the barrier fell on the last assassin. “I need to question him.”

Calpurnia made eye contact with the assassin who is in the midst of pissing his pants. Blood was trickling down their temple. The ice barrier had yet to pierce him, but it was already touching his temple.

If Calpurnia hadn’t stopped the fairy said assassin is only a millisecond away from getting themselves killed.

“Who sent you?” Calpurnia asked with a cold as ice voice making the assassin tremble.

“I don’t know! I swear we just received orders from the guild to assassinate the Hildebrand heirs!” The assassin frantically answered Calpurnia.

“Why would you and your friends be foolish enough to take this mission, haven’t the guild inform you of all the blood spilled on this ground to protect the heirs?”

“The ones who came here before us were just newbies looking for quick cash. Me and my friend have been doing this for decades.”

“Yeah right and all you guys do is stand still and look pretty for us to kill.” Foxy remarks with sarcasm.

“We weren’t expecting that a Blossoming fairy would be protecting the heirs, or that Archduke Hadriel would be with them! Of course we’ll be stunned.” Protest the assassin.

“The reward must’ve been changed,” Calpurnia trails. “What is the previous reward and the current one? It didn’t seem to appeal to your group.”

“The previous reward is only one million gold, the current one is five hundred Piercite.” The assassin stated.

“Five hundred Piercite, what the fuck!” Alice shouted. “That’s like having five hundred million gold!”

“The guild will never pull this request out of the board, it’s too profitable for them.” Calpurnia whispers sounding gravely serious. “You said that there’s an informant within this mansion.”

“Yes-” Before the assassin could retort anything his whole body was blown into pieces.

Both Calpurnia’s and the fairies' eyes are wide with tiny pieces of meat sliding down their face and attire.

“Not again!” The cat eared fairy whines.

“Stop whining Bell!” Fox eared fairy dropped the chunk of ice shield on her hand to the ground that’s covered with a bigger chunk of meat from the exploded assassin.

Calpurnia wipes the excess blood that had covered her eyes. “You could’ve just dismissed the [Ice Barrier] Foxy” She looks at Foxy in a very unamused way.

Foxy, the tiny fairy smiles sheepishly.

“Should we call Naranse here?” Alice asks Calpurnia.

“No, no, there’s no need for Naranse to come here herself,” Calpurnia quickly retorts. “Just not yet.” She whispers under her breath.

“What?” Alice asked not hearing clearly what Calpurnia said last.

“It’s nothing, I’ll be going. I need to tell Hadriel about this. Alice, Bell, Foxy clean this up for me.” Calpurnia quickly makes her exit.

Alice looks at Calpurnia's back with suspicion. “Is something going on with Calpurnia that we don’t know.”

Bell sighs. “Obviously, she promised to Lucretia, her best friend to protect her kids, so far she’s doing good." The fairy deducts. "But this is the first close call that she had. She’s just anxious Alice. Let’s just relax girls we need to take a bath.” She said.

“We still need to clean this up though.” Foxy interrupts Bell’s plans.

“Aww, can’t we just tell those other little fairies to clean this up for us. We’re a Blooming fairy about to shed our wings after all!” Bell whines.

“They’re still kids, and we are almost adults. And adults take care of their own mess.” Foxy narrates.

“Fine! Let’s clean this up Alice!” Called out Bell.

Alice, who was still looking at where Calpurnia had disappeared to finally snap out of it and joins her sister to clean all the gory mess they had made.

***

Calpurnia sneaks back into her quarters and decides to take a long hot bath with lemon added into the water before heading towards Hadriel’s office in a hurry.

She knocks on the door. “Enter.” His voice rang out through the door, muffled. Calpurnia entered and quickly closed the door behind her.

The man is sitting on the sofa in the middle of his office. Looking cozy while doing his work on his tablet.

Calpurnia moves towards the sofa across Hadriel’s and slumps down, her arms stretched out on the head rest, head tilted back, eyes looking at the chandelier on top of them.

“How’s the kids?”

“Fine. The eldest looks like he was about to keel over his bed, though.” Hadriel said while giving Calpurnia a look.

“Shit!” The red haired woman cursed under her breath. “And fuck I promised to cook their dinner tonight.” she rubs her eyes, slumping deeper into the soft sofa. Then proceeds to knead her forehead seemingly trying to get rid of the headache she’s feeling.

“The child will manage. Since he has lived this long to not die.” Remarks Hadriel, sounding very bored.

“He’s not you Hadriel!” Calpurnia shouted loudly into the empty room.

“Whatever you say.”

“Five hundred Piercite, that’s how much someone is willing to pay to kill the kids.” exhaustion seeps through Calpurnia’s shaky voice.

Hadriel’s eyes widen by a fraction. “I’m surprised someone is willing to pay with Piercite just for the heir of an Archduke. Going as far as using The Avshalom’s Empire currency nonetheless.” Hadriel tossed the tab in his hand to his side, landing on the soft cushion.

“Why would someone go so far to get rid of an heir. Lucretia’s misgivings were most likely one of the smaller reasons why. The biggest reason is still a mystery to us.” He deducts.

“There’s also the problem of a rat or rats in the mansion.” Calpurnia adds. “You sounded like you care there.” she tracks back a little.

Hadriel huffs. “Let’s just say a certain insect decides to buzz in my ear all day long.”

“I'm glad to see both of you have a quiet conversation.”

 

Spoiler: Ch. 10: Thunderstorm

There was a flash of lightning that illuminated the whole room before a loud noise of thunder was heard.

Currently there’s a little boy who is hiding in his blanket. Shivering with fear because of the loud noise. He hates the thunder, but he can’t remember why.

The little boy couldn’t take it anymore. He leaped off the bed hugging the thick blanket close. It hurried out of its room, slamming the door.

He went straight into his older brother’s room. Not bothering to knock. Thankfully the door wasn’t locked or else the little boy will have a panic attack from all the thundering noise outside.

A little teary eyed the boy climbs into his older brother’s bed, shaking him awake.

Seneca blinks through his heavy eyelids staring sleepily at Carles, whose eyes are red rimmed. “Come here.” Seneca opens his blanket, making a spot for Carles to snuggle in. “Leave your blanket there.” Seneca pointed at a chair in the room.

Carles quickly tosses his blanket away and when he’s about to snuggle in he realizes something. “Big brother you’re wearing a onesie?” His face is full of disbelief.

Seneca is currently wearing his green frog onesie while sleeping. After their walk with the roach he had been feeling very sleepy. He attributes it to the fact that he didn’t get enough sleep last night.

Seneca blinks at the question. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Why?” Carles asked.

“Just because.”

“You’re a…” Carles wants to say something, but he is afraid that he will offend his older brother.

Seneca hums with his eyes closed. “I’m a boy and twelve years old. So, I’m not meant for cute and childish stuff. Moreover, it's stuff that girls tend to wear?” He asked in a matter of fact way.

“Yeah,” Carles said, afraid and unsure. “I just, I, don’t be mad?” He stuttered.

“I’m not.” Seneca assured. “It’s a normal reaction, one that I’m expecting. Keep an open mind Carles.” He reminds him. “Anyone can choose whichever skin they like to wear, as long as they feel comfortable, and they don’t force others into doing what they do. Just like how a man is allowed to cry.”

“Every girl in the class thinks it’s not very cool for a boy to cry.” Carles said, a little upset.

“Girls tend to do that, don't they.” Seneca agrees. “They like to think that boys are all some strong and unmoving mountain, but not all of us are like that. Even if some of us are, it doesn’t mean that they never cried before.”

“Sometimes I just want to hit those girls in my class, because they’re so stupid!” Carles retorted with frustration.

Seneca sits up from the bed and flicks Carles’ nose. The little boy let out a sorrowful sound. “You don’t hit people Carles!” He reprimands his younger brother. “If you can help it of course.” Seneca suddenly adds.

My brother is so… Inconsistent! Carles thought in his mind. “I can’t tell if you actually want me to hit them or not, big brother?” The boy asked in frustration.

“Just do both.” Seneca bluntly suggested.

It’s always like this with big brother! When I just thought he was becoming a wise sage he always becomes a very twisted person in the end! Carles protested in his mind, while having a very blank look on his face.

“It was worse In the past, before the Eternal War, men and women could not marry the same gender.” Seneca remarks.

Carles made a confused face. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Forget it, I’ll tell you when you’re older.” Seneca said. Lightly tapping the bed, prompting Carles to sleep.

“Big brother you’re the one who mentions it first though.” Carles grumbles, while snuggling into the bed.

Carles feels very comfortable despite the raging thunderstorm outside and it’s all because of his older brother in his frog onesie.

Just before Carles slips into darkness he mumbles. “I wish father would be kinder to us.”

Seneca, who was half asleep, opens one eye and glances at the now sleeping Carles. “What a silly child.”





Hadriel huffs. “Let’s just say a certain insect decides to buzz in my ear all day long.”

“I'm glad to see both of you have a quiet conversation.” A voice rang out from Hadriel’s tablet.

The thunderstorm rages on outside.

Calpurnia sighs in relief. “I thought it’s a ghost or something,” She lightly tapped her erratically beating chest. “But it’s only you.” A tired smile appears on her face.

“Alistair! How many times should I tell you not to force a call.” Hadriel grits out in annoyance.

The Emperor, Alistair, would tell his go to ‘hacker’ to hack into Hadriel’s devices and make a forced phone call. Since Hadriel would just ignore him, or straight out blocked his number. So, the Emperor has to be crafty. He would call Hadriel for absurd reasons just to tell the Archduke that Hadriel owes him a beer.

From the tablet Alistair just lets out a belly full of laughter. “Come now Hadriel you must have missed me?” The Emperor teased Hadriel.

“Absolutely not!” Hadriel denies. “I’d rather babysit those two than see your smug little face.” He spits out.

Alistair made a gasping sound. “Did you hear that Calpurnia?” The Emperor asked excitedly. “Our dearest Hadriel is getting attached to the boys! And all I did was pestering him a little.”

“I sure did Alistair,” She said. “I hope you are recording this.”

One can hear Alistair scheming laughter. “It’s been recorded don’t you worry.”

“Fucking little moths!” Hadriel grumbles, crossing his hand over his chest, looking very much like an annoyed child.

Calpurnia pulls out her phone and takes a not so secret shot of Hadriel and sends them to Alistair. “He’s quite cute, isn’t he?”

“Calpurnia you…” Hadriel grits out.

“Shall we get down to business?” Alistair asked, changing the topic all of a sudden. “Regarding the assassination attempt on Carles and Seneca.”

Calpurnia sat up straight, all the tiredness on her face was gone, replaced with a grim expression. “How are you informed of this, it just happened hours ago?”

“I’d like to know too, if you don’t mind.” Hadriel interjects.

“Let’s just say that some bastard decided to steal the wrong documents from me.” Alistair said. “This particular document pertaining to something of Seneca, that has put the child in a very arduous situation. The commission to kill Seneca, and Carles, was posted in the guild this late afternoon. One hour later a group of assassins decided to strike, and failed.” Explains Alistair.

“You’re… the reason why the boys are being hunted.” Calpurnia gasped out.

“Yes." Alistair confirms.

“Why?” Her voice trembles. “Tell me why Alistair!” Calpurnia screamed, her voice hoarse.

Hadriel stood up from where he was seated and walked towards the window. Scanning through the vast landscape that’s currently being drenched with a heavy downpour.

“You’ll find out soon,” Alistair replies. “You should prepare, there’s another group on its way right now. I’m afraid I have to excuse myself. Calpurnia please do take a rest.” With that said the call abruptly ended, just like how it started.

“They’ll be here in ten minutes,” Hadriel told Calpurnia. But he only saw that she was still on the sofa staring absent-mindedly. “Get up, you still want to protect those kids.” He stated as if it’s the obvious.

Calpurnia was stunned and tossed her head to the side to meet Hadriel’s eyes. “Why would you be so sure?” She asked.

“You haven’t disappeared yet.” He stated while preparing his sword. “I’ll take the back, you take the front. I’ll inform the rest of the guards” Is all he said before leaving the room.

Calpurnia takes in a deep breath before standing up and making her way towards Carles’ room. Making sure that the younger boy is asleep. She could still hear the thunderstorm outside, and she knows that the boy fears the sound of thunder. It was all because of that accident.

But what greets her is not a sleeping boy. But an empty bed. The blanket was also nowhere in sight. She panics a little before rushing towards Seneca’s room. There she finds both boys sleeping peacefully. The sweet scene of her two favorite children sleeping peacefully warms her heart.

Calpurnia smiles, then pulled out her phone and took a quick picture of the two brothers. One is wearing a green frog onesie, the other one is hugging said green frog tightly. This scene makes her feel as if she’s eating a very sweet cake.

She stares at her phone screen, the happy smile slowly morphing into a sad and longing one. “Lucretia I wish you could see these boys grow.” Calpurnia sends out the picture, to a person she knows who won’t be able to reply, just like she always does with all those pictures she had taken of the two brothers.

She quickly grabs her guns and throwing knives from her quarters, making her way outside into the pouring rain. The guards are all in their position ready to attack in case something jumps out. Calpurnia nods at them to prepare. Then she greets the assassins that are hiding in the shadows with a cold smile.

“Have a nice death day gentlemen.”