Chapter 29

Lily is rarely ever home ever since she had been accepted to the school, the holidays notwithstanding. It was to be expected, considering that the school provided a dormitory and was likely way better than her own room.

This is why it is rather shocking that said sister is here now and looking happier than ever.

Rey had to wonder if something happened. Maybe she got together with one of the love interests and was about to tell them? Well, Lily is more likely to not tell them, considering that she dislikes him...

...if Rey were to be honest, willful ignorance is a very nice thing.

He knew there was a love interest named Christian and that said love interest was the crown prince and had blonde hair and green eyes. He knew that Christian had a younger brother named Leonard, Rey just hadn't wanted to think it true.

Because if it is true then hadn't he taken the one his sister loves away from her? Lily has always talked about being queen and—

—and why should he be the one who surrenders to her again? Annoyance wells up in him, it's wrong Rey is sure that being annoyed at his sister for something like this is probably wrong but, if Lily wanted to be queen then she can go be queen of whatever kingdom would want her.

"Hey," Lily calls out and Rey smiles at her. "What is it?"

She shoves a piece of bread into his mouth, smiling brightly all the while. Rey blinks but accepts what he thinks is a peace offering and chews, finding an odd aftertaste to it. Did... she make this herself? That's oddly sweet of her.

...something is wrong with this. A faint feeling in the back of his mind says and Rey sees a vial of brightly colored liquid being slipped into Lily's pocket.

No way. No, no, no, but what Rey sees come out of his mouth is brightly colored.

/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\

"Do you think I overreacted?"

She wanted to give you a poison. No.

"She's my sister! How can I call myself her brother while suspecting..."

It is fine for you to do so.

"No, it is not!"

Go to someone else. Talk to them and listen to what they have to say, because while I appreciate that you turn to me first, using so much magic at once in such small frequencies will hurt you in the long run.

"What?"

If you actively do this when your still tired then it will hurt you.

"But you used to talk to me all the time..."

Understand that the situation is different now, you no longer carry the same body you used to.

"...ah."

Leave before I force it.

"One last question."

What is it?

"What is my name?"

...your name—

/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\

There is a saying that Rey-Ieshige-they remember. No one else knew it and seemed not to remember it just moments after he says it.

For as long as he could remember, he simply knew about it.

"Stars be damned if they allowed their child's beloved people be harmed." Simple. Yet there is an odd feeling that rises whenever he thinks about the saying and how it oddly emphasizes the "they" in it.

Who is "they"?

...your name—

Name? He's Reyham Lovell, whatever had possessed him to ask such a question...

He doesn't remember though. Rey remembers talking with someone, their admonishing advice and the concern. He doesn't know how he does it though, what he does know is that when he talks with that person; he knows more than he should.

"What is my name?"

What an odd question. There seemed to be a message in there and Rey doesn't want to know what it is.

/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\

Alex opened the door to a not-sniling Rey and his first thought is, "What the f*ck did Lily do?"

Honestly, that brat simply could not do without angering Rey in one way or another. But the person in question didn't seem angry as much as upset right now.

"What happened?"

Alex asks this as he guides Rey to his room, making sure to lock the door and draws the curtains close. "I... think I overreacted."

And Rey talks, spills the entire story, having to catch his breath several times. Alex has never seen his friend so talkative, he has always been the epitome of the gentle, caring stereotype.

Ah! And don't forget dense as f*ck.

...but a brightly colored substance? Alex had felt his heart stop when he heard those three words. Could it be...

He rushed downstairs, saying a quick excuse to his parents before taking a flower from one of the potted plants and a cylindrical fruit from one of the trees growing in their backyard.

Mashing the two things together and bringing the liquid it resulted in, Alex purses his lips and shows his friend the poison he had just created and asked, "Is it the same?"

"It was... lighter, I think. I only saw a little, don't worry."

Don't worry, he says. 'Lighter', he says.

...tranquilizers are clear liquid.

/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\

Duke Valenrett watched his son, worried that he might keel over anytime due to heartbreak. Young Elroy has proven to be an outstanding general if too soft-hearted and his father has seen fit to bring him to the battlefield to harden his soft heart...

Allan, who really isn't as subtle as he thinks he is with his feelings and still thinks his feelings towards young Elroy is mere friendship, has been fretting more everyday. It's almost reminiscent of a wife worrying about whether or not her husband is fine because he is running late or something...

Astara, his precious daughter who would first destroy the world before admitting her feelings explicitly to the person she liked—what is it with his children and feelings?!—has promised to leave and tail young Elroy right after she angers the person she likes...

Ugh. Did his ways of parenting lead to this?

Honestly, what in the ever loving f*ck could he do? Oh, wife in heaven, please bless him so he can live long enough to see his grandchildren because at this point, he would have to be a hindred years old before any of his children start having a love life.

Duke Valenrett, Corliss, can hear his wife laughing at his misery already.

Damn.

/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\

Oof. I did not mean to make Lily's part so long but I guess... things happen.

Oh, right, you won't see Lily for a while after this and that may or may not have an excuse... there is, I just don't want to talk about it here haha.

I'm sure that the identity of the person who speaks in italicized is obvious right?

Words: 1131