The Royals’ Aching Heart

Jolting awake, she sat in her massive bed with beads of cold sweat trailing down her neck. Her arms crossed over her chest as she dug her nails into her shoulders and all four wings outstretched yet limp behind her. Such freezing temperatures in the room caused frost to create a mess out of everything.

”Another nightmare?”

A voice spoke, the door opened with ease to reveal a familiar figure walking through, she detected that single wing folded behind the person through the dark, knowing who it was eased her pain ever so slightly.

”Ani’ue..”

A raspy voice called out, a heavy weight came over Castiel’s heart at the sight of her incomplete set of wings. Yet his face showed little emotion, each step he took the ice melted around them. Leaving little to none of the frozen and dampness. He smiled, at his youngest and only sister while sitting down beside her, even if it’s minor, her storming heart seemed to calm. Wrapping a wing around her shivering frame, their feathers brushed along one another as a form of comforting while he wiped away any tears. Gently pulling her hands away from her shoulders.

”Was it about my death again?”

Castiel felt her head nod against his shoulder and despite having such awkwardness to his comfort, Viåncelyne still craves for it. Intertwining their pinkies together as she rested her head on his shoulder.

”Siva was always better at this than me when we were much smaller.”

A genuine smile formed at the Emperor’s lips, how rare it is to witness. Viåncelyne’s lip quivered as her jewelled eyes welled more tears. Soft whimpering rumbled in her throat before she wrapped her arms around Castiel’s neck.

”He is our anchor, isn’t he, Vian?”

Seeing the tears well up in his sister’s eyes, his silver orbs softened as five wings sprouted from his back, caging the teary-eyed girl in a feathery hug. The princess couldn’t help but silently cry in such a warm embrace, both hearts still so heavy from the loss of a dear brother. Castiel had to mask

”You mustn’t die... Kiva.. You can’t leave me alone…”

He couldn’t say much to that, knowing well his position isn’t the safest to begin with. He stayed silent, his hand gently caressing the top of her head. The desperation in her voice made him furrow his brows.

She knew. Quite too well, this was a promise they made in their fading childhood, and it was an empty promise they knew better than to make again. She knew better than to ask such silly requests, but she was nowhere near prepared to lose another family member. She’s not someone who can rule a kingdom either, she can’t face such responsibilities when she was never a contender for the throne to begin with.

She’s afraid.

”Sleep, I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow.”

His voice hushed while speaking, changing the temperature of the room from the freezing cold, to a comfortable cool. Tucking the princess under her blankets before leaving the room. Castiel glanced at the hounds curled up by the doors, then made his way around the large mutts to head to his chambers.

Sleep didn’t come so easily before, yet Viåncelyne couldn’t recall how she fell into slumber. She was greeted with sunshine peeking through the thick curtains. For once, she didn’t feel grouchy enough to glare at people throughout the morning. The maids dressed her after a bath, yet they didn’t see nor hear her usual aggressions through the mornings. It was refreshing to see their Princess was still kind.

”Princess, you have to visit the Wistira Estate. At the earliest of tomorrow evening. Hiro’mi will be your escort again and letters have arrived for you again.” A maid announced, her knee bent and her head bowed towards the Princess’s desk after setting a tray filled with sealed envelopes. Afraid to meet the bluer eyes of the Emperor.

Ink blotted her paper at the middle of her sentence, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Viåncelyne rested her feather pen in the pot of ink before taking a glance at the maid...

What was her name again? Oh, whatever.

”Alright. I don’t think ani’ue was too happy to let his aide escort me last time.” Viåncelyne’s giggle chimed through the room as she rested her cheek on her fist while sitting back against her chair. Her smile fading once the maid left at her dismissal, the tapping of her fingernails against the arm of her chair and her hum as she processed a thought.

”Iynior Naero… Hm, aren’t you best of friends with him, Omi? Do thank him for me, I enjoyed my time with him. My sword finally had a taste of blood again.”

A set of cruel eyes and a cold snicker accompanied her words, though she wasn’t too happy about it herself. She felt a tad bit concerned with the thought of what her brother might do as a consequence, yet so far it seems she just got off with loads of paperwork…

Maybe the worst has yet to come.

”Yes, your highness.” Hiro’mi sighed, he stood by the door and occasionally set out to do tasks given by the Princess, but he was still bitter towards her. Controlling his facial expressions well as he drew in a breath before sighing quietly through his nose.

”Your highness, I still think it was foolish of you to-“

”I don’t need to hear that from you, Omi. Be a good pretty little knight. You’ve given me enough scolding the day I returned, it’s not any different from when I tasked you to kill someone for me. Now, go get me some tea, I’ll be taking a break soon.” The Princess stated, her watchful gaze made him bow his head. He didn’t bother to hide his heavy sigh, it amused Viåncelyne to see two knights being so casual with royalty; they were quite unique.

”Still, your highness, did you kill them within reason?”

”Of course I did! I know my limitations. Even if ani’ue is kind towards me, he won’t tolerate any mistakes…?” Viåncelyne sounded as if she wasn’t too sure about her own older brother. Though, she wasn’t sure of many things when it came to Kivarius. He, himself, is a mystery. If not the living and breathing definition, she wouldn’t know what else it could be.

”I also think you need to lessen your alcohol intake at night, your highness.”

”How much more will you talk until I cut your tongue off, my pretty knight?”

Her threats meant nothing to him, sure he may treasure his life ever so slightly, but he still had a job to do. And that threat itself made him zip his lips. He bowed his head, soon marching out of the room to fetch her highness’s tea and snacks.