"A Little More Than Kin..."
By: Crystalis Blade.
Chapter 2
The two turned to leave just as the chancellor remembered,
"Your father wants to see you, as soon as possible. He's in a meeting right now, but he should be finished in a few minutes."
"Alright, shall we wee one," Edgar said to his brother.
"'Wee one?' Wee one!' Who are you calling wee one,'" Sabin snapped back. Edgar smiled,
"Well, you are the youngest"
"Yeah, by five minutes"
"That means you're still younger and I'm your big brother," Edgar added with a stupid pouty face putting his arm around his brother. Sabin rolled his eyes,
"You are so immature Eddy." The chancellor just sighed as he heard the two leave. He figured they're just being themselves.
Edgar and Sabin walked out and to the throne room, bickering the whole time. They were just about to enter the room when they heard a familiar voice.
"Hey! Arguing as usual I see" Liam rolled his eyes. The two stopped and smiled; they knew it was true.
"Whaddya doin' here," Edgar asked pushing his younger sibling away. Sabin gave a contemptuous snort and Edgar's grin got even bigger. He loved picking on his younger brother. He was quote, "bigger, stronger, smarter, older and better-looking" His brother would always mumble back "and arrogant"
"Hey there Sab, hangin' in I see," Liam said turning to him.
"Yeah" Sabin said in response.
"Well, I guess the chancellor found you two, huh?"
"ApparentlyDoes he have a rod up his ass, or is it just me" Edgar asked as the three burst into laughter.
"No, he does. Don't worry," Liam said wiping a tear away and continued, "I give him credit though, with this stupid Imperial visit and that ball tomorrow. We're all on edge. I take it you two are inoh what's that saying." Liam put his hand to his head to think.
"Don't hurt yourself, Lee," Sabin said with a grin.
"Shut up, squirt" Liam retorted.
"Full attire," Edgar finished.
"Yeah. You guys are gonna love that." Liam winked. He knew truly how much the two brothers wanted to kill themselves at the moment.
"You have to show up, too. And, in full uniform if I may add."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. So we're all screwed." They all laughed again, except this time, it was interrupted by the throne room opening. The general came out and Liam instantly saluted, while the general bowed his head to the princes,
"Your highnesses. You can see your father now." Liam finished his salute to his boss and turned to the two with a massive grin,
"Your majesties I shall see you later." He then bowed and left, well, more like ran. The two hated to be called "your majesty, highness, sire, etc" They knew they were princes; they didn't need it reinforced.
"The throne was intimidating only if you saw it's power, not it's potential." That's what the boy's father said to them. But still, they didn't care, there was a sense of fear and awe when they walked into the room. It was like a long corridor that led to two short stairs. There were two stone pillars at which the guards stood. On top of the stairs were the two throne chairs. Above them were three skylights that, just below them, was the Figaro family coat of arms.
The two walked all the way up two the stairs and bowed in front of their father. He, on the other hand, placed his hand over the bridge of his nose and laughed,
"Don't mock it you two" The sons smiled in return.
"Hey dad," Sabin said walking up and hugging him.
"I see that you took out your brother and quite well for once."
"Finally" Sabin smiled and continued to chat with his father. Eventually, they turned the conversation to Edgar. "Edgar, EdgarEdgar Roni" His father asked, but Edgar, in spite of this, look upon his father and not only did his voice drop, but so did his eyes.
"Heh, he earned his victory" Sabin noticed the drop in his brother's demeanor. Edgar always tended to hide his emotions, well, not be outright with them so, Sabin let it go.
"Are you okay, son," his father asked.
"Yeah! I'm fineIt's just thatuh, it's insulting to get beat by your little brother and have your father brag about it," Edgar quickly finished and the king coughed.
"Alright thenanyway, to be serious. Did the chancellor talk to you?" The brothers nodded. "Soyou'll be pure, princely gentlemen, correct?"
"Of course," Sabin said with a grin. Edgar added,
"you can count on us!"
"That worries me. Anyway, you two get outta here, and send in the chancellor for me, please."
"Okay dad. Talk to later," Sabin said hugging his father and started to leave.
"Bye dad." Edgar walked up and hugged him, too, but the king held him longer,
"what's wrong Edgar?"
"Nothing. Just tired, that's all."
"Okay. Later then?"
"Later." As Edgar walked towards the door the chancellor came in.
"Chancellor," the king began, "how do you think their doing?"
"Growing up." This caught Edgar's attention; they were talking about him and his brother. He stood by the door and listened.
"I hope they are. Do you think their ready?"
"I'd rather not think of it now, Sire." Edgar knew they were talking about succession, not a topic for his palette. He then realized, that's what his father really wanted to talk to him about. He felt comfortable leaving for the time being.
As he walked through the castle, he didn't notice the people saying hello or calling him your majesty. He even walked into a few of them. He couldn't get the image of his father out of his head: the pale skin, gaunt face, sunken eyes. He was worried, too, about the fact of succession. There were rumors being passed around Figaro like candy, and people were eating them up. He, being older, would be king first, if he didn't share the throne. Being king was not his most favorite thought. He mused to himself,
"This wasn't part of the job description."
He let his feet take him where they pleased, ultimately, he knew he'd end up where he did; the library. It was a massive room with shelves everywhere. There were two large, rectangular tables with eight chairs per table. When you first walked in, to your left, there was a staircase out.
Edgar pulled his hair out of the ponytail and grabbed the usual books and notes. He sat there for hours. He let his mind wander, but it always came back to the same thing; father and succession until he was interrupted.
"Brother, what's wrong with father? Andwhat's all this talk of a successor?" Sabin only called him brother' when he felt something wrong or was worried; he had full right to be. But, he had walked in at a bad time, Sabin was the last thing that Edgar wanted to deal with at the moment. He snapped at him,
"Are you blind? Look how thin his face has become!" Edgar quickly turned his head to hide something and Sabin noticed.
"? Edgar, what is it? Edgar...Edgar, look at me" He stood quickly, almost knocking over his chair and he headed towards the stairs. "Brother!" Edgar rushed out of the room.
"Tears"
Author's Note: All characters are property of Squaresoft, all other original characters belong to me. Tell me what you think.
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