You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 630

’... Should I escape the meetings due to today and wait for her at the Main Hall of the Palace?... Yet she will probably need rest before starting preparations for tonight’s Ball...’ — Just bathed, he stood before a mirror while contemplating his impatient ideas. Sobering up as he convinced himself he should not be impatient... yet could still be cleverly curious.

"... I’d better get dressed and go to Dioclecià’s before it’s too late." — Moving so his clothes could cover what should not be so freely exposed, Zeleskiaz left his chambers determined to stay informed no matter what. Crossing the corridors quickly and finding the chambers of his little brother he has never visited before.

"Sh-should I a-a-announce you, your highness???" — Surprised and petrified to see him there the third prince’s servant asked. Receiving a sophisticated denial that was followed by the crown prince’s knock on the door.

"Dioclecià are you awake? It is I, Zeleskiaz. I need to talk to you for a moment."

*THUD!!... Ack! Thud, tap... tap, tap tap tap- CRASH!*

"..."

*Creaaa~aak...*

"Huff... b-b-brother Z-Zeleski-k-k-kiaz???? W-why??"

"... Your nose is bleeding. Did you fall on your face?" — Raising his brow, astonished by the sight, Zeleskiaz watched the child quickly wipe his nose while still wearing his fluffy pyjama. Finding him odd as usual although mixing the thought with entertained concern.

"N-no, hehe. W-wh-wh-n-no I d-d-d-did not!"

Taking the child’s wrist, he stopped Dioclecià’s arm to see the wound. Frowning once he saw the thick trace of blood and a few tears fighting their fall from the hues they shared.

"... why are you still standing there blankly?" — Zeleskiaz turned at the perplexed servant. — "The third prince is bleeding. Your death won’t suffice to make up for it if a drop of his blood falls."

Terrified, swallowing the scream, the servant was only able to run and get the aid needed, aware that the calmness in Zeleskiaz’s voice was death itself. Meanwhile, the crown prince paid no true interest in the man as his little brother commenced to stutter more as he tried to ask why he was there, forgetting the pain that was making him cry while wearing a forced smile.

"B-b-b-b... b-brot-th-ther? H-here? W-why a-a-a-are you he-h-here?"

"..... Is it that you cannot breathe properly?"

"Uh-h?? W-wh- n-no?? I... fuhh... I-I am a-alright. I-I c-c-can breathe."

"... you are stuttering too much." — His demeanour conveyed his displeasure further with a deeper frown. Much more as the child’s eyes continued to cry while smiling with blood over his clear skin. The view... bothered the older brother and taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he cleaned the little prince’s blood. Roughly as he did not know well how weak Dioclecià was. Fortunately not hurting him, but becoming more conflicted once he saw the child chuckle. — "... why do you laugh now?"

"Hehe... sniff... b-brother’s strong, hehe..."

— Sir... Do you have brothers? —

"....."

—... Unfortunately. —

"?... brother?"

— I hope they won’t die young... —

"... b-brother Zeleskiaz??"

"... Don’t-... haaa..." — Contemplating on the past again, a knot made him unable to speak. For a moment, his little brother resembled the reckless child he met on the battlefield. Feeling nauseous to think Dioclecià could ever meet such a destiny. — "Cursed child... Don’t get yourself covered in blood. Don’t cry as well."

"?? I-I f-fell on m-my face o-out of s-surprise... b-b-but I-I am n-not cr-crying, b-brother!"

"... tsk. Then are your eyes sweating, huh? Go wash your face. It’s upsetting. Throw that pyjama away too. Don’t ever use it. I cannot even begin to say what I am here for with you looking like that, shorty."

"I-I am getting t-taller!"

"Hurry and do as told! Don’t make me mad, Dioclecià!" — The strength of his voice, unable to conceal the disturbance made the child jump in fright. Running to do as told quietly, falling again but standing up quickly as he was yelled at once more. — "TSK! Bloody hell, don’t trip with thin air!!! Are you that clumsy?!"

Dioclecià’s head was full of frightened confusion, just as if the time they met after his return was repeated, meanwhile his brother experienced a headache, taking a seat while he waited and watched the dirty handkerchief he had used to wipe the blood out of his brother’s face.

’... he’s small and weak... tsk. I can’t have that..... Who is he guarded by? Maybe I should place a knight I personally trained to keep him safe...’

"Your highness! Where is the third Prince?! I have ointments to treat-"

"Are you a physician?"

"?? Pardon??"

"Do you mean to treat him when you don’t have the proper knowledge of how to?" — Becoming enraged he growled this time. Feeling a need to harm the servant for testing his patience so recklessly.

"!!? N-no, your highness!! The physician is on his way!!"

"... good. He’s washing his face. Go help him."

"U-understood!"

Little after the servant rushed to Dioclecià’s side, a physician indeed arrived. Zeleskiaz waited patiently while they treated the small wound, ultimately checking the little sibling’s visage once done.

"..."

"There... uhm, your highness, there was no big injury. The hit made the third prince’s nose bleed yet after stopping the bleeding his nose does not seem to be broken or anything we should worry about..." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"... how is it?"

"... I-it d-doesn’t hurt b-brother..."

"... alright. You two may leave now." — Seeing the servants bow as they left the third prince’s room, Zeleskiaz turned to look at the timid and cautious Dioclecià. Taking a moment to appreciate how small he was compared to him and asking some of what he wanted to know now. — "Your studies, are you getting good grades?"

"Huh?... uh... y-yes."

"... what about your skills. Have you improved in your training?"

"I-I... I have a l-little tr-trouble w-with that..."

"..... I want you to tell me who your royal guards are and when your lessons to develop skills are scheduled later. Make someone inform Biel about them. By today."

"? W-why? A-am I in t-trouble, brother?"

"... No."

"Sniff... t-then... hic." — Clenching himself to keep rein of the sadness, Dioclecià fought himself while standing before the strict and cold Zeleskiaz, who as he saw him tremble while curving his lips with dropped head scowled more, ignorant of what he was about to mutter. — "W-why is brother... m-mad at me... sniff?"

"... I’m the one in trouble so don’t cry. I’m not mad."

"?... b-brother is in trouble?"

"Yes. So stop making that face." — Fatigued by the fragile character as well as the thought of explaining his ways, Zeleskiaz cleared up his brother’s questions without further detail. Making a gentle gesture with his head to invite him to come closer for there were other issues he needed to address instead. — "Now... Come here for a second, there is another reason I came here."

"Y-yes..."