Leo entered the class to see his brothers huddled together, whispering, and muttering amongst themselves. He could only guess they were talking about him with the way they hushed up and turned to look at him like a deer having heard a branch snap.

"Good morning, brothers." He sneered at them and took his seat.

"Leo… are you alright? Yesterday…" Bruno started.

"Yesterday was… unfortunate," Leo said, not looking at them.

"Leo, you have to apologise to father." Kai said.

"No." Leo said simply and sat back, waiting for Heine who came in soon after.

"Leo you can't act like this! You're here, you're safe! Why are you treating us like this!" Licht demanded, turning his chair around and Leo's eyes widened, freezing momentarily at seeing Licht looking down at him like that. He stood and shoved Licht so hard that Licht toppled down after banging against one of the other tables, looking up at him shocked.

"Leo!" Bruno yelled coming to step between him and Licht.

"Enough…" Heine said and they turned to see their teacher arrive.

Leo took a seat, ignoring his brothers. He knew he was out of the race for the crown, but he needed to learn whatever Heine would teach him about the world.

"Prince Licht, are you alright?" Heine asked and Licht nodded, taking Bruno's hand to stand and sit, glaring at Leo as he did so. "Today we will discuss the kingdom of Verstace," Heine said. Leo's attention homed in immediately. "Verstace is a mountainous country to the North East of Granzreich. Its main ethnic majority are the Kvels." Heine explained.

Leo recalled coming across that name as he read about the country. "Master is of Kvel descendance," Licht mentioned. "We've been having trouble at Café Mitter Meyer with some ruffians, they left some racist slurs on the door once, I made sure to scrub them off before the Master could see them." Licht said.

"That's right Licht. Although our kingdom is a multiethnic nation, in the capital, Wienner, the Kvel are only 3% of the population." Heine explained. "During your grandfather's reign, as the war was in full swing, the public sentiment was that the Kvel's, not the country of Verstace, were to blame for a lot of the deaths in the north. The sentiment that the Kvels were to be hated remained even after your father signed a peace treaty once he was king." Heine said. "There was a tough embargo placed on the country and tough restrictions still remain. Because of this, the economy of Verstace has been poor for a long time. Many Kvels fled the country of Verstace over the years and settled in Granzreich, looking for a better life. Of course, there are still people who regard them with great contempt."

Leo looked down at his notes. He didn't think the Kvels had much to do with this mess. Eins and Ernst's theory of greed seemed more believable if, like they said, the country didn't seem to be preparing for a war. He looked up and raised his hand.

"Yes, prince Leonhard?" Heine said turning his attention to him.

"What's the embargo exactly? How is it enforced?" He asked.

"Currently Granzreich does no trade with Verstace in any of their major exports. It means that Granzreich's monetary input into their economy is minimal."

"What do we buy from them then?" Kai asked.

"Some weaved fabrics, fruits, some spices, nothing that is majorly produced by them and are cheaper elsewhere, driving their prices down. Hence they're items that don't provide much boost to the economy." Bruno explained and Heine nodded.

"What is their major export?" Leo asked.

"Up until recently there was no real exports of note. However, recently, the production of an ornamental flower known as Papaver Somniferum has increased in the country. Its processed form is that of the painkillers you may have used recently, your highness. As well as some cough syrups in the market. Granzreich imports such medicines from other sources to avoid affecting the embargo." Leo didn't understand. Painkillers? Cough syrup? This couldn't possibly have anything to do with Kurt and Klaus or that third man.

"The opium made is also said to be of the purest form." Bruno said and Leo froze for a second. So, it all came back to what Eins said.

"Indeed," Heine continued. "An interesting choice considering a terrible addiction problem with such substances being widely available. If we look to the eastern empire, a couple of centuries ago they attempted to forbid its entry, but smugglers were still able to enter the country, due to the great size of its borders. Within a number of years, the great eastern empire was weakened considerably due to a great addiction epidemic that spread and rendered their people unable to work, including their soldiers. They lost several territories in the following years and to this day have been unable to reclaim them." Heine explained.

He kept talking about the eastern empire but it all became a blur to Leo. When he interrupted, the topic had changed to sculptures and art of the eastern empire.

"So… the peace treaty, the embargo… is to avoid Verstace becoming strong enough to smuggle opium into Granzreich?" Leo asked and Heine blinked, as if trying to gather from what point of the class Leo was asking his question.

"The reason for the embargo with Verstace is as punishment for their part in the war." Heine said simply.

"But politically… that could be a reason, yes?" Leo insisted and Bruno frowned.

"That's speculation, Leo. Not really something you should ever say out loud to a member of the court." Bruno reprimanded him.

"Who enforces the embargo?" Leo insisted, ignoring his brother. Heine seemed to hesitate at the heightened desperation in Leo's voice but answered, opening a book about Verstace that Leo had been reading. Four family crests stood out and Leo recognized them, having read up on them when he first heard Eins and Ernst in the library.

"These four families sit on the border and have jurisdiction over it. They receive funding from the capital yearly and make yearly reports on how they spend those funds to protect the border." Heine said. It was nothing Leo didn't know. He didn't know what questions to ask to get the information he needed. He was too stupid to know.

But Bruno was the smartest brother he had. If anyone could figure something else out it would be him.

oOoOoOo

That evening, Leo approached his brother's room, knowing he would be there, working on some essay or other. He knocked on the door and heard his brother call for him to enter.

"Leo? Is everything ok? Are you alright?" Bruno asked, standing up, shocked to see him come over to his room. Even before… everything, Leo never came to interrupt him unless something important was going on.

Leo held himself and forced himself to remember his imprisonment to make the tears start to flow. "I… I'm sorry… I shouldn't have come brother Bruni… I should go." Leo said, turning to leave but Bruno rushed to his side.

"No, Leo, wait, it's ok, come sit." Bruno said gently, trying to coax him over to the couch which Leo allowed and sobbed for a good couple of minutes before allowing himself to calm down. It was easy to do when he knew he was using what happened to him to try and manipulate Bruno.

"I'm sorry brother... it's just... today's talk about Verstace had my mind reeling. There was so much I didn't understand, and I just felt stupid again." Leo said. Well, it wasn't a complete lie.

"Oh Leo, you are not stupid." Bruno said softly. "I'm here for you... we're all here for you." He said. Leo wiped his tears away slowly and looked up.

"Brother Bruni... I was wondering... could you teach me more about how Granzreich funds embargo?" Leo said. "I... I think... if I learn more about it, it could help me understand what happened and... maybe overcome it." Leo said.

"Well... I haven't looked into it yet..."

"I'm sorry... if I wasn't so stupid I could probably understand it without your help." Leo said hatefully, hatefully at himself. Bruno held his hand tight.

"No, you are not stupid Leo... I'll have a look into it and let you know I promise." He smiled and Leo smiled in return. He ignored the instinct to trust his brother, to accept his protection and warmth and stood.

"Thank you brother Bruni... I'll let you get back to your work now." He stood and left before Bruno could ask him to stay longer.

oOoOoOo

Bruno promised to himself that he would do anything he could to help Leo. Although his erratic behaviour would not be tolerated in normal circumstances, they were giving him space to breathe for now, and let out whatever frustration and anger he had pent up. Licht seemed to be reaching his limit but maybe soon Leo would calm down.

And today was the first time since he left for his university studies that he heard Leo call him 'Bruni'. It was impossible to not let himself be swayed by him. He approached Heine just before sunset, to ask him about it.

"Is there a way to look into how the four families spend the funds? It would be fascinating to see in more detail how funding would break down into different areas for the defense of the border. Perhaps I could make an essay on how to improve on the current system." Bruno said, his brain already cooking up ideas of a good system. Master was still in his evening clothes, not quite having started to prepare for bed but close to it.

"Well, the documents are confidential, as they are detailed descriptions of how Granzreich defends its borders, however, I'm sure his majesty would make an exception for a scholarly overview of the process," Master said. "What caught your attention about this?" He asked.

"Well, it was really Leonhard who asked me about it, he said it might help him to understand the situation better." Bruno said. Heine frowned looking down in a pensive manner.

"Leo wanted you to look into how the money is spent specifically?" He asked. His voice, as always never revealed any emotion, but if Bruno were to take a guess, he would say that Heine was suspicious with a mix of concern. "If… your father grants permission and you find anything… abnormal, make sure to let your father know first and foremost." Bruno frowned, having promised to tell Leo, but he supposed it was important to let his father know first.

"Yes, Master."

"Please don't call me that." Heine said and Bruno smiled.

"I will let you rest now, professor."

oOoOoOo

A few nights later, Leo sat by the window where he had been taken, staring out into the darkness beyond the palace gardens. His heart wouldn't settle. He woke up late at night, and found his feet taking him to the window, feeling as if he was being watched. As if any second he would be taken again by someone hiding in the darkness.

But it wasn't the darkness he had to worry about. There was someone in the court who had him kidnapped. Because of that person he was in constant fear and anxiety.

"He'll get what he wants, my little flower." Kurt's voice rang in his ears and he shuddered in disgust. He closed his eyes, trying to block out that voice. "You should have stayed with me…" It purred and Leo whimpered as his body began to respond to the horrific memories of that man doing things to him.

"No… no… why?" He grabbed his head, shaking like a leaf as his body began to crave something that filled him with disgust.

"You wanted me too… don't forget it…"

"No! I didn't! Go away." He whimpered, tears forming as he crossed his legs as tight as he could, until he was even in some pain. He stayed that way until the feeling awakening in him faded away. Once it was gone, and he was sure that voice wouldn't return, Leo burst into tears, holding himself and dropping to his knees, dropping his head onto the cold marble floor.

He felt wretched. Who could he talk to about this? No one. He was ruined. He was disgusting. How could he recall those memories and start yearning? How could his body betray him like that? He hated it. He hated it so much. If he went to sleep and never woke up it would only be a blessing.

There was a knock on the door and Leo didn't even have the strength to answer as he sobbed a little more quietly.

"Your highness?" Leo looked up confused.

"Professor Heine?" He asked softly.

"May I come in, prince Leonhard?" He asked and Leo wiped his tears away, wincing as his hands stung, looking at them to find that he'd dug his nails into his palms at some point.

"Yes." He said, holding himself as he stood up, coming closer to the door. The professor came in, and looked up at him. Leo waited for him to say what he wanted to say, instead, Heine received a tray with tea from a maid outside and brought it to the table.

"I brought you some lavender tea, your highness. It will help you sleep." He said.

Leo stared at the brew for a second. "I… I'm fine… the doctor gave me something called Laudanum to sleep." He said, coming to sit across from his teacher anyway.

"Laudanum?" Heine frowned and Leo shrugged.

"It tastes really bitter so I avoid taking it…" Leo said, receiving the cup that Heine poured for him. "What time is it?" Leo asked.

"Two-thirty in the morning," Heine said and placed one cube of sugar on Leo's cup, just as he liked it. Leo didn't know why that made him emotional. "How long have you been taking Laudanum, your highness?"

"Since I came back…" Leo didn't notice the concern in his teacher's eyes, but he did wonder what his teacher was doing up at this time. "How did you know I was awake?" Leo asked softly, sipping the tea.

"I heard you crying."

Leo froze. Normally one would pretend not to have heard someone else's moment of weakness out of respect, but it seemed Heine had chosen a different approach.

"From all the way in your room?" Leo asked.

"No, your highness. Your father wants to… discuss something before he goes and was heading over there when I heard." He said, looking only at his own cup of tea. Leo's suspicions perked up, but he was too tired to probe on.

"I'm sorry professor… I wish… I wish I could just… forget it ever happened. But… every time I close my eyes… I'm back there." Leo said softly, his hands beginning to shake as he held the cup.

"No one expects you to forget about it, Leo… but don't push your family away. They love you. They're hurting for you. They would do anything for you." Heine said.

Leo felt the tears form once more and trail down his face. "I know." He whimpered as his voice cracked. "But I can't… I don't want them close…" He sobbed.

"Why Leo?" Heine asked, placing his hand over Leo's shaky wrist.

"I don't want to…" Leo sobbed, curling into himself. "I'm dirty… I don't want them to get dirty by being closer to me." He pushed out between the sobbing.

"Leo…" Heine said softly.

"Don't try to say I'm not! I am! I am… I feel disgusted with myself every second of the day! I can't… I can't eat or sleep without this feeling consuming me. If they knew… if they knew… it would hurt them too much… or they'd be disgusted and… it's better if I push them away now." Leo insisted.

Heine came into his view as his teacher knelt before him, cupped his cheeks and wiped away his tears in a tender and paternal way that made Leo want to just curl into Heine's arms so he could feel safe.

"Leo… you are not disgusting. What happened to you was horrific, but it was not your fault. You are still a wonderful, caring person. I know you are."

"No… not anymore." Leo sobbed.

"Yes, you are. I know you are. You are a gentle person, you love your family so much that you don't want them to feel even a little bit of the hurt you have inside, so you push them away to protect them. Am I right?"

Leo shuddered and closed his eyes, nodding his head. "It hurts so much… but they don't understand… and I don't want them to…"

"While at the same time wishing they could understand." Heine kept going and Leo's tears kept coming. He nodded once more. "You're a good boy, Leo. Nothing can change the pure soul you have inside." Leo shook his head. He wasn't pure. But Heine pushed on as if reading his mind. "You are. What was done to you without your permission says nothing about the person you are. Nothing. Do you understand me?" Heine said, once more wiping the tears away and Leo found the words reaching his wounded soul. "This is my lesson to you, this night."

Leo nodded, wrapping his arms around Heine, holding onto him for comfort, no fear in his heart that he couldn't trust his teacher. His friend. Heine understood, somewhat, his pain. And didn't think him damaged beyond repair. At least what little he'd told him so far. For now, that was enough. He had someone to trust.

That night, after Heine left he had a deep sleep plagued with no nightmares, and woke up fresh, his emotions calm and settled for now. Even though the sun had yet to rise, he didn't feel tired. He stayed in bed for a little while longer, thinking about his father, who would be leaving to sign the peace treaty today and took a deep breath.

Maybe he could let it go. Maybe he was in way over his head. Maybe he could trust his father to handle this matter and he could… maybe… try to move on.

He got up and got dressed in his formal clothes. He would try to make amends with his father before he leaves, at least starting with an apology. He looked at himself in the mirror, straightening his clothes and combing his hair.

"Mmh… so beautiful." Leo shut his eyes tight and focused on Heine's words from last night.

He made his way toward his father's office, where he'd likely first go once he woke up. The guards let him come in and wait.

In the silence he looked at his father's chair, thinking of what he would say to apologise. He noticed an opened bottle of wine and two cups. And a noise from the door, connecting through a corridor directly to his father's bedroom, caught his attention.

Leo frowned as he heard a groan of pain and wondered if his father was ill. He quietly opened the door and made his way to his father's bedroom. It too was slightly open and the noises coming from it became more familiar, sending a cold chill through his entire body.

"NNh… Viktor…" Came a groan and Leo felt sick hearing Heine's voice making a noise like that. Leo stood frozen, hearing them get hurried until finally, they stopped.

"Heine… you're so beautiful." Came his father's reply and the words hit Leo hard as Kurt's voice mingled with his father's.

Leo slammed the door open, his breath picking up from trying to control the nausea he felt. When he saw them together in bed, he stumbled back, leaning against the door frame.

Heine and his father turned to him in shock. His father was on top of his teacher, covered from the waist down by the covers but it was clear what they'd been doing.

For a moment all Leo could hear was his heartbeat banging against his ears, deafening the rest of the world.