Felix's POV :
The safehouse as tranquil as ever stood in it's dark shadows, hidden like some sacred place, forbidden to be seen, heard or approached. Maybe a few months later it won't exist anymore, still it somehow became my second home, if I ever had a place to call home at all. My mind never felt restless or burdened in this place, all thanks to the mother, caged inside it though unbeknownst to her.
For her me being her son was enough, no expectations, no demand, no political dispute. I don't know how she will feel when she will remember everything, will she feel deceived? Will she hate me then? Will her care and love for me disappear completely?
Henry left me at the threshold of the main gate, the small garden looked clean, the snowfall of the last month damaged the whole decor, she might have felt sorry for that. The lights of the hall were on, she was awake as usual, maybe working on some clothing or reading some book.
Opening the door, I announced my entrance, "mom, I'm home."
Surprised by my own exhausted voice, I looked at mom who was already coming towards me with worry etching on her features.
Immediately her fingers created gestures. "is everything alright? You look so worn out."
"Everything is good, don't worry. I'm just tired. The first exam is just one month away and the professors are being extra annoying." With a small smile, I tried to convince her.
"Are you sure?"
Her eyes didn't miss the shift in my tone, it might have sounded too alarming.
"Of course! Why would I..." Before I could say further, I was engulfed in a soft, warm embrace.
My body became tensed as I retorted, "Mom! What are you doing? I haven't freshened up yet!"
Looking at me in the eyes, she pinched my cheeks, completely disagreeing, "you're my son! It doesn't matter if you are neat or dumped with mud!! I love you nevertheless."
A warm smile spreading over her glowing face that washed over me too.
Seeing me smiling, she patted my head lightly, caressing my hair, she added, "there. Now you look relieved. Go ahead, get washed, I'll heat the food."
Dinner was quite almost, just little chit-chat in between, like what recipes she recently wanted to try, the latest version of some novels, casually asking about my day too, inquiring about my teachers, patients, friends. And I could never seek for more comfort than this, she literally fulfilled the void my own mother had left in my life.
My mom, the queen Lawrence always had chosen distance over attachment as if she was always afraid of getting me harmed only because I'm her son. She cares for me, she loves me, she treasures me the most maybe, still she chose to show indifference just because she wanted me to be strong, tough and enough capable of protecting myself, the thing that she couldn't ensure with her other two sons: Matthew and Francis, my twin brother.
"Lix...over here!"
Someone whisper-yelled to me from the wardrobe of the large shabby store room, where I decided to hide for a while.
Opening the door, I met with another pair of honey brown eyes, his tiny index finger put on his perfectly heart-shaped lips, Francis pulled me inside, closing the door carefully.
A few seconds later, the store room's door creaked open again, another pair of light footsteps resonated successfully plunging our breathing into a dead silence as we waited for the person to find us with held breath.
Then an equally quite and comforting voice spoke, "where they might've hidden this time? I can't see a single trace." It was Matthew.
I almost called out his name, when Francis sealed my mouth with his hands, vigorously shaking his head with furrowed eyes, completely forbidding me from giving away our location. But again we had been playing hide and seek the whole afternoon, it's getting late and our evening class with our home teacher is going to start soon, we better not miss the hour or mom would be furious.
Matthew's voice came again, "it's getting late. Where are they? The teacher will be here soon. Mom's gonna be really angry."
"Frank, let's head back. Mat can't find us anyway." I whispered to Francis.
"Wait a bit! Mat is already here, he is just trying to lure us out, can't you see?" He whispered back.
Just right then Matthew's voice was heard again and that too near the wardrobe, "I know you two are hiding here. Come out now or you'll get scolded."
We didn't respond, neither did he barge in, with a quite voice, he tried to coax us, "okay I surrender today. Tomorrow we'll start again from here, com'on."
As I opened the door finally, Matthew gave me an assuring smile to let us know that he meant what he said and he wasn't playing any prank. But suddenly hiding me behind himself, he grabbed Frank's hand and dragged him out of the wardrobe, with an evident smirk he looked at him.
"Gotcha!"
Came Mat's high pitched remark.
Groaning loudly, my twin complained, "brother! This is not fair! You lured Lixie out of our hiding place knowing that I'm here too! I'm not playing with you anymore!"
Then looking at me he added, "and you! I clearly told you that he was tricking us! Why won't you listen to me?!"
Pouting I looked at both of them, clearly clarifying that I was the most innocent naive person ever, how could I not be deceived?!
Just then one more voice spoke from the door of the store room, "I told you, they would be here."
A short, lanky boy looked at us with amusement, it was Connor Stewart.
Right beside him stood another really shy, small boy, Julian Hanson, the only son of our prime minister.
It had been just few days, he came here to stay and study with us and he seemed to be an introvert, but then again it's a new place, new people for him, he just needed time. However our brother took it as one of his responsibilities to let the boy feel home and he was so devoted to do this, that it amazed me and I couldn't help myself from befriend that boy.
As expected, Matthew's mood changed instantly as he strided towards the other two, clearly ignoring Connor, he asked Julian, "how's your day, Julian?"
Me, Connor and Francis shared a knowing look as Julian replied with a soft voice, "it was good."
Then looking at all of us he added, "me and Connor came here to tell you that there's a guest in the royal courtroom and her majesty, the Queen Lawrence wants all of us to be there."
"Why would a guest want to meet us at this hour?" Francis whisper-asked me as we made our way to the courtroom.
And I could only shrug, whereas the oldest among us replied with a critical look, "I don't know why but I'm not feeling well about it."
When we reached at the courtroom, our breathes got caught in our throat, right infront of us sat our dad, the King Jacob Lawrence on his throne as usual but our mom, the Queen Lawrence wasn't beside him, neither was she on her throne at the alter, she had casually taken a seat right beside the distinguished guests, and dad didn't look happy at all. Though the guests were sitting on the same level of mom, they maintained a respectful distance and that erased the forming frown on Matthew's face, he really gets offended when someone disrespects his family.
They seemed to be engrossed in a heated topic as they didn't notice our arrival, only when we bowed, did they look at us.
Excusing herself from the guests, mom came to us and spoke, "as you already know the other two, let me introduce the princes of the kingdom."
Giving Matthew a light pat on his head, she introduced, "he is Prince Matthew Lawrence, the crown prince of the Kingdom of Toyre. My first born." The pride and excitement was definitely evident on her face.
As Matthew bowed, one of the guests who had an uncanny resemblance with mom, me and Francis, got up and knelt down infront of him while the other person simply stood up and bowed a little.
The one who knelt down looked at our brother with a pained expression, as if he was reminded of something nostalgic, "he must've got your attitude and manners." His accent sounded so foreign.
With a silly smile, mom remarked, "you're still as prudent as ever dad."
At once, our heads shot up to the blonde haired, tanned skinned, probably middle aged yet still stout, man. If mom had called him dad then that means he is our grandpa?
"And these two are the twins, Felix and Francis." Patting our shoulders simultaneously, she introduced us.
Taking both of us infront of himself, he ruffled our hairs, amused, he remarked, "they inherited both of you in a unique way." Then looking at us, he added, "you know who I am? My name is Frederick Chase and I'm your grandpa, your mom's dad. I've given those names to you. When I last came here, you guys were yet to be borne, your brother was almost two years old, right?" Looking at mom, he pondered.
As mom nodded, our dad, the King Lawrence intervened with a subtle firm voice, "if you don't mind, the kids have their evening classes with the home teacher. He'll be here soon."
The next time we saw the guests, our grandpa and the other middle aged mysterious man, was the next morning, on the practice ground, observing us. Matthew as usual was focused, determined not to show any mistakes only because he thought it would encourage us. Connor, though younger than brother, didn't lag behind, his blows with the wooden sword was precise, not swaying at all.
Then there comes the one day older boy whose eyes constantly trembled every time the instructor hit his protective hand gloves with small punches. Whereas we two, the chaotic twins were given a task to standstill, barehanded! Francis was doing just fine first, but as the minutes passed by, his blood flow rose to his ears, did he start complaining. I tried my best to warn him that shouting will only drain more energy from him, in the end he didn't listen.
Frank's constant nagging, resulted him being a punching bag for the instructor who strictly ordered him not to move from his position an inch or he would increase the impact. First two punches were okay, but at the third punch he swayed by two steps, as expected the fourth punch was infused with a bit more strength and my twin brother finally let out a groan of discomfort. He was protected with padded jacket, and pillows, it was impossible for him to feel the 10 percent of the strength that our instructor was putting in every punch. If he felt the hit then it meant his training had just got a bit intense.
And there's me, oh! I'm completely fine in this position! I don't want to be a punching bag or a knight in armour. Even if I don't feel my hands for the rest of the day, I'm in much more comfort.
Just breath. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Relax. Let your mind settle down. Repeat.
However my little precious peace was broken after approximately one hour, as the instructor ordered me to run around the ground for the rest hour. I didn't even try to look at the others, I bet they looked betrayed. As expected, my legs found them in their most vulnerable state, lacking normal blood flow for straight one hour didn't do justice to them. As an effect, in first two steps I wobbled, almost hitting the ground, but I definitely didn't want that to happen, not when there were outsiders watching.
Steadying myself in one spot, I jogged a bit on there, only when I felt my legs again, I started with a slow pace, deliberately enjoying the morning wind on my face. A few minutes passed, I completely got lost in my track, keeping a steady pace, after all they never told me how many rounds I needed to run, so I just ran.
"Felix! Come over here!"
My mom's voice resonated from the observation bench and I finally realised that everyone else was there. The training hours are already over and here I'm still running, I might've looked like an idiot.
With the same steady pace I ran to them, only to be teased by my twin, "look! Your legs didn't turn into jelly yet!"
"Frank, don't." Just one word warning from Matthew and Francis actually quiet down.
"Enough, boys. Let's have some rest then we'll go to fresh up." Mom interjected.
"Your first born and last born are competing on top notch, I should say." With a proud look, our grandpa amused.
Then looking at the ever silent mysterious man, he added, "What do you think, Lynn?"
"Crown prince Lawrence and his highness the Third Prince are indeed full of potential as you said, your highness. But I can't unsee the steadfast determination and dedication to stick to his own zone of his highness the Second Prince. His naive behaviours, and indifference might not show his strength but it's not like he doesn't have those."
The mysterious man finally spoke his first sentence infront of us and that too long and too shocking.
Grandpa surprisingly scrutinized me before affirming, "the Second Prince? You mean Felix?"
As the mysterious man nodded, grandpa looked at mom who had been quiet all this time, with a much more cautious tone, he asked, "are you actually getting him ready as your hidden gem?"
"What?! No! Why do you think so? Felix just doesn't like to go out of his comfort zone and we don't force him to do it either. It's nothing like that dad."
Mom's alarm voice definitely sounded more suspicious. What were they even talking about!
"Really? Then how does he feel comfortable while doing handstand for one straight hour and then jogging the whole ground whereas his legs should be numb for a good while?"
It was again the mysterious man who countered.
"That's enough! Prime minister Lynn, you should be aware that just now you didn't only talk back to your former Crown Princess, but to the ruling Queen of this dynasty! I, as the King of this land and her husband can banish you from here forever!" Dad's enraged voice boomed over from the gate.
As he approached us in an intimidating way, the mysterious man whom dad called as Prime Minister Lynn, immediately knelt down, looking at the ground, he stuttered, "I apologise, your majesty. My intention wasn't..."
"I know your intentions very well, prime minister Lynn! Your Second Prince Chase won't say it out loud but that doesn't mean that I know nothing!"
Dad's increasing pressure on the words were really heavy.
"Your majesty..." Mom's tone turned into as humble as possible as she tried to calm down dad.
"No, Fiona, I'm not letting any of my family members go through the same fate as you. I barely rescued you from a near death experience back then and that from these very people who now call themselves as your people again! They don't care about life, they just want power that stays on the hands of their chosen puppet!"
With a deadly glare, dad let out all the heat which definitely silenced the whole pavilion.
"Son, let's not make this a big issue between the two families."
Grandpa's tone sounded more reasoning as he tried to calm down dad.
"Your highness, I'm really not against the Chase family but here prime minister Lynn dragging the future heirarchy to the Khirighan throne! Knowing very well how their King, Theodore almost annihilated the kinsmen of their former Crown Princess!" Dad retorted with rage dripping through every word.
"Your majesty! The kids are still here, can you..." Mom again tried to calm down dad and this time it actually worked.
Looking back at us, with a small smile, mom ordered, "your training hour is over today. Why don't you go and have bath, hmm? The maids will help you."
Judging by the situation, we just silently obliged. But as we were leaving, the voice of the prime minister Lynn was heard again, "you can't avoid the confrontation, your majesties. Even if you won't initiate, he will. He will come to destroy everything just like he is ruining the Khirighan Empire."
I don't know why but that sounded upsetting to me. Was Theodore really that cruel? If so then why didn't the Khirighan people dethrone him? Why are they enduring all that tortures?
As if prime minister Lynn could hear my thoughts, he continued, "the people have lost their backbones. They need something to hold on, someone to show them light. They don't want a king, they want a saviour, who can rescue them from their doom."
My steps halted as I looked back, my eyes met with the other honey brown ones of my twin, who had already halted there since a while now as if he was also upset but his eyes surprisingly reflected rage instead of sorrow. Taken aback, I waved my hands to get his attention and he finally joined me.
"Frank, are you okay?" Cautiously I asked him.
"Hmm. I'm fine." His curt answer made me more suspicious.
"Are you sure? You look like you're about bite someone." I instantly regretted that.
"Felix! I'm not in the mood to bite someone!" His rage finally snapped cause there are very few rare moments when he called me by my birth name.
But before I could even pout, Matthew, who was walking a lot ahead, interfered with a good stern look and firm tone, "Francis Dave Lawrence! Don't forget you're the youngest here! No matter how many minutes older he is, he is still older than you! And you aren't taught to talk with that tone to anyone!"
Though Mat's face remained stoic, deep down he was annoyed, I was about to handle the situation when Connor and Julian called out from the threshold of our quarters and Francis just stomped away.
"Brother.. you know that when he gets angry it gets overwhelming for him and he needs to lash it out on someone. Why would you pour more gasoline on the burning fire?" Meeting Mat's eyes, I asked with a serious face.
"There you go, defending for him. Lixie, everytime that someone doesn't need to be you! Moreover he'll be the one to regret it the most when he calms down. So he needs to learn his lesson." Strangely, Mat's mood was on another level of annoyance.
"But brother, this time his rage isn't simple as silly bickering with me. He turned like this ever since he heard prime minister Lynn. I'm worried for his mindset now."
"Felix, this matter is a very complicated matter now. The adults are here to do what's best for it. So don't bring up this matter over again."
Okay, so Mat also heard everything and his pissed off attitude is simply the effect of that.
The whole day was as normal as possible and Frank successfully avoided me and I didn't push him either, knowing him, he would come to me in less than 24 hours. Later that evening, I didn't meet the other guys as I had my personal favourite class with our royal doctor who brought me to his own clinic and trust me I enjoyed being there. After returning from there, I had dinner and that only with mom who was really absent-minded the whole time, maybe the incidents from the morning really bothered her too much. Without disturbing her, I decided to retire to my quarter.
As I approached my room, I heard a muffled sob and someone calming that person.
Before going into, I listened to the voices;
"Shh... Frank, don't sulk anymore or he'll also get upset if he sees you like this and you know how stressed he becomes when you are upset." Came my older brother's soothing coaxing voice.
"I'm not sulking! I'm just..." Frank's voice came out as meek as his try to cover the truth.
"You're just upset that you shouted at Lix and now you think you can't face him anymore." Mat helped him complete explaining and the way I knew Frank.
I'm sure he had a red puffy face, maybe his head never shot up yet.
Pushing the door open, I finally appeared in front of them and Frank immediately made a run for the door, unfortunately crashing into me and I took the chance to grab him really tight.
Still tackling with a stubborn Frank, I silently gestured Mat to help me and he clearly understood the task. I indicated through the wink: to tickle Francis. Just as predictable, a few seconds later Frank broke out in a feat of uncontrollable giggles and we succeed in erasing all the bothersome borders that he was imagining. How I wish if time stopped forever right at that moment, so that we could stay like that forever.