Chapter 10: Withered flower

"what? Is there wrong with that?" Aureus said with a neutral tone.

"Uhhh..."

"Hah everyone knows about him! Except for you!" Hana said.

"Sigh... Seeing him in personal makes my heart jump from my body! It was racing so fast!" Hana added.

Hearing that, Eir couldn't help but to be inscensed.

"You guys are over reacting?! He's just so-so!" Eir said.

" Fool! Look, his skin is so white! His face is so attractive! His sharp eyes is so beautiful! And his long and inky hair is so graceful. "Hana said.

" What's so good about him? "Eir murmured. He then begun to observe them more.

Lumiere and idk's swords were clashing each other. Both of them are so good, but looking at them, their fighting style is totally different.

Lumiere was so elegant as he clashes his sword. He's like a feiry moth dancing gracefully with a sword. Idk on the other hand was looking majestic and a strong soldier fighting with his sword.

Seeing that, Eir couldn't help but to get annoyed yet amazed.

Tch! He's good at fighting! Eir thought.

Suddenly, Lumiere noticed the ladies on the hallway. Idk was charging at him that time so he stepped back and came closer to them intently.

The time he got closer, Idk charge again. He then stepped back as he wink at the ladies.

Seeing that, Zara and Hana couldn't help but to shout in excitement and blushed crazily. Aureus was also astonished.

Eir's eyes was closed at that time as he says this words.

"You guys are so exaggerated he's just so-so!"

He didn't managed to finish his words, because The moment he opened his eyes, Lumiere was in front of him and smiling warmly.

Eir went froze. Everything around him seemed to stopped. The wind, the falling petals of Sakura tree, they stopped right in front of him. The only person he could see is Lumiere and his warm smile.

His heart skipped a beat for no reason.

"Eir! Eir! " His friends are calling for him but he was mesmerized and dazed at the second Lord's beauty.

"Eir!" Hana said as she stepped Eir's toe.

Finally Eir came back to his senses.

The battle was still continuing.

"That hurts you idiot!" Eir said.

"You finally came back to your senses huh? I thought you said he's just so-so. why are you dazed the second moment you saw him closely at the first time? " Zara sneered.

" It's not that! It's just... I was surprised because he literally look like a goddess. " Eir said.

Hearing that, the three of them laughed.

" Pft hahaha! Look at him! Just earlier he's saying 'he's just so-so! Stop exaggerating! ' but now a goddess?! Ahhahahah! " Zara said as she burst out with laughter.

" You! Aureus! How dare you use magic on me! " Eir cried.

" Your welcome. I just helped you to be honest with yourself. A narcissist like you never compliments other after all. " Aureus said.

Suddenly, a Lord showed up out of nowhere.

" Being honest is not bad. Second Lord Cecil is indeed beautiful. There are rumors that he's a goddess in his past life that's why he has a deity beauty. "

Black hair, tall and handsome man. Eyes were like golden orange like a cat's. Lord Azar from witch empire bowed as a show of respect. The other Lords also did the same.

The second moment they looked at the battle, it was already over. I Lumiere's sword was pointed at Aki's throat. Idk's sword was on the ground.

"Amazing... He beat the crowned prince." Eir said.

"Second Lord Cecil is really amazing! Not just in sword fighting , but also in any field! " Hana and Zara said in unity.

"The crowned prince also did amazing." Eir said.

"Yes, but many people said that the second Lord is way better than him in any aspects." Zara and Hana said again in unity.

"Big brother that was great! " Lumiere said as he offers his hand to his brother but Aki just slapped it.

"eh? " Lumiere was dumbfounded.

Aki overhead everything that they said. He left right away.

A senior passed by in front of them.

"Gossiping at the blood moon's empire is strictly prohibited."

"Ah... Yes we are sorry the Lords said as they bowed down."

...

Sitting on a lodge while crushing stone on the ground, Aki couldn't help but to be annoyed.

"Tch!"

Suddenly, A beautiful voice belongs to a beautiful woman spoked up.

"Your highness."

White skin tone, long black hair a beautiful face that gives off a cute vibes . Aki's auntie was already behind of them.

Hearing that, Aki immediately fixed his composure.

He smiled warmly and bowed down as a show of respect. The other person did the same.

"Your Highness I heard that you did great at the ghost hunt! You exorcised 60 evil spirits! That was great! As your auntie, I'm so proud of you! "

Hearing that, Aki felt a little joy on his heart. His lips was about to curve up, when a cold and familiar voice spoked up.

" 'proud'? You're proud of him? Hah! What's there to be proud of, when he placed the second after his younger brother? " Hoshi, the highness said.

Aki feels like a lightning struck right on his heart. Hearing those words, made his heart ache so much. He feels so burden inside and enraged to himself.

"Come on big sister! Don't be like that! Exorcising a single ghost is already hard,so killing 60 is indeed great!" Aoki said.

"But it still doesn't change the fact that he's second. " The majesty said.

Aki couldn't help but to clench on his fist while maintaining his composure.

"Hah! Instead of being proud of that kid, Aren't you ashamed? He'll soon be the next King of this empire yet, he's always behind his 'younger' brother. " The majesty added.

Every words cut so deep inside Aki.

Suddenly a familiar voice spoked up. It was catching his breath.

" Haa... Big brother there you are I was so worry because-"

"Speak of my well mannered son" The highness said with lace of sarcasm.

"Mo-... Your majesty." Lumiere immediately bowed down as a show of respect.

"I heard that father got mad and even ended up throwing things out."

Hearing those words,Lumiere couldn't help but to gulp in nervousness. He knows where is this going.

The majesty's hand was sparking with little lighting. The second moment, the thunder whip was already summoned on her hand.

Seeing that, Lumiere immediateky knelt down and said, "I'm sorry your highness. This person won't do the same mistake again."

"Yes you don't, because you make another different mistake after another." The highness said .

A whip strike at Lumiere's shoulder. His clothes tore apart and his shoulder bled. The thunder whip is no joke after all.

Seeing that, Aoki gesture her hand and said,

"Your Highness,the second Lord is still bleeding."

"So?" The highness raised her brow.

"If you whip him, he might pass out." Aoki said.

"Well then, Lumiere, heal yourself right now so I can whip you again. " The highness sneered.

" You-" Sigh...

" Not gonna heal? Then I'll just whip you." The highness said .

She then strikes three whips in an instant on Lumiere's back. Aoki didn't have a time to react because it was too fast.

"Your majesty!" Aoki yelled yet the majesty still continues to whip Lumiere mercilessly.

Seeing that, Aoki's face darken. She took a deep breath and yelled again.

"Big sister!" This time, the majesty paused.

"He had enough." Aoki said with a cold tone .

"What 'enough'? That's not enough! He must learn his mistake! he never learns! He always brings chaos ! Hah sooner or later he'll bring problem again! I'm certain that he will! You keep spoiling him that's why he became such a brat! " The majesty said.

Blood didn't drip on Lumiere's back, It poured.

Lumiere spat out mouthful of blood. He clenched his hands on the ground and kept injuring the pain mentally and physically.

Seeing Lumiere on that state, his brother couldn't stand it anymore. He tries to ask the majesty to stop. He bows down and said with his all might,

"Your majesty I beg your pardon please let Lumiere off this time his wound is bleeding it must take care first."

The majesty ignores him and make the whips even more heavier.

Lumiere spat out mouthful of blood again. He groaned in so much pain. It hurts so much that he could cry, but he holds his tears back.

Seeing that, Idk's heart was like shattered into pieces. Seeing her sister treat her own child like an animal.

Her face colors turned red. She was about to throw hands, when Aki hugged his younger brother.

Aki was trembling as he hugs him. He was kind of afraid, because Lumiere's whole body was full of blood. Lumiere's blue eyes also turned crimson and it looked so dead.

With a hoarse voice Aki yelled, "Mother! Please stop already! Can't you see my brother is about to lose it?!"

Hearing that, the majesty only replied with a cold tone.

"Naive! " She paused.

"How can you be the next leader if you're like that! Hah that's the reason why you're always behind! Lumiere was always up ahead !"

Hearing that, all of the painful words that everyone has said about him and Lumiere came back.

"Step back " the majesty said.

Aki didn't move at all.

"Very well. Then just be fool forever. I can't believe I had a son like you."

The majesty used her magic to separate Lumiere and Aki. She throws Aki on the ground.

The majesty lit up her thunder whip even more. Just looking at it, if a fly were to pass by in front of it, it would totally burnt alive. If that whip will strike at Lumiere, he could totally die.

Seeing that, idk summoned her sword and burst out intimidating aura.

"What now? Gonna throw hands for this scum?" The majesty said.

Hearing that, Aoki's face grew even darker.

"How... Just how could you be so cruel to him?! He's your own son! Can you even call him like that?!" Aoki yelled.

"Hah! 'Son' ?! just hearing that word makes me want to vomit!" The majesty said

Hearing that, Lumiere's face grow dark.

" What?! "Aoki was about to draw her sword, when Lumiere stood up.

He gathered all of his strength to stand up. Any moment, his limbs could give up. Lumiere cupped his hands and bowed down.

"Auntie, please step back." Lumiere said nonchalantly. His eyes were illuminating crimson. It was so cold that anyone would shrink in fear if they saw him.

Without saying a single word, idk immediately understands what is Lumiere trying to say. "Step back. You'll only make it worse." Idk knows that Lumiere would never say that kind of word, but she has no other way to interpret Lumiere's body language . It's only saying the same word otherwise.

Seeing that,Aoki just backed off.

The whippings continued and Lumiere received 30 powerful whippings in total.

...

"Trash! That woman is 'trash'! How dare she treats her own sons like that!? Idk cursed as she comforts Aki.

Sitting on the lodge idk stood up and patted Aki's back.

"Aki, don't mind everything that she said. Don't take it to heart. Being the second is okay. She's just like that, because father was too strict. Don't grow up like her you understand? Not all fruit are same as the tree. If a tree is not healthy, then its fruit won't be healthy. It could be less tasty, but it doesn't mean that when a fruit also become a tree it would also be the same as the first tree. Remember, a tree's fruit is less tasty because its environment is bad or it didn't have enough care. But if you took a good care of a tree, even if It's from the same tree, it could produce a delicious and lovely fruit. The fruit will still be the same, because it's from the same tree,but the taste is different. She's your mother. Traits can't be worn off but it could be suppressed. Well then I have to go. I'll find Lumiere. "

Aoki then left.Aki was dumbfounded by idk's word.

He draws his sword and begun to practice in air. Aki swings his sword. Every swing,and thrust he makes, hurtful words would flash into his memories. Words that cutted deep inside him than a sword could.

" 'proud'? You're proud of him? Hah! What's there to be proud of, when he placed the second after his younger brother? "

He swung again his sword.

"Hah! Instead of being proud of that kid, Aren't you ashamed? He'll soon be the next King of this empire yet, he's always behind his 'younger' brother. "

" Tch! "

"Naive! "

"How can you be the next leader if you're like that! Hah that's the reason why you're always behind! Lumiere was always up ahead !"

" Second! Always second! "

" many people said that the second Lord is way better than him in any aspects."

He thrusts his sword again and it was pointed at a person's neck.

It was pale white, and beautiful. The person was tall and slim. It has long black hair and a sharp eyes.

The aura it's giving is cold and intimidating. Anyone who would see it would cower in fear. Even Aki was enraged, feeling that aura, he somewhat came back to his senses.

He sheathed his sword and fixed his composure.

"Being second doesn't make you less or more human being nor becoming the first. " Rai said nonchalantly.

Hearing that, Aki couldn't help but to become enraged again. Words slipped through his mouth subconsciously.

"Tch! What do you know? I don't need your opinion about this matter!" Aki raised his voice.

His aura is so fierce and enraged.

Usually, Aki is always conscious to his actions and words whenever he's talking to Rai. because he's afraid that Rai might eat him alive, but this time, all of his fear was eaten by anger. For sure the time he regained his senses, he'll regret his actions.

"You don't know how I feel! You never know how to be compared with others! You don't have parents that's why you'll never understand me!" At the end of his sentence, Aki realized that he have crossed the line.

Hearing those words, Rai just looked at him coldly as usual. He didn't do a single move nor say a single word.

Every time that Rai looks at Aki, Aki would immediately look away and avoid his gaze.

But this time, Aki didn't managed to looked away. For the first time again, he saw Rai's cold eyes closely.

It was beautiful and golden-brown. Rai's eyelashes were long like a woman's. It was so sharp that it was cold but it's giving off some gentle vibes.

Looking directly at Rai's eyes for the first time, Aki felt burden on his heart. He saw his own eyes on Rai's eyes. Seeing that, He was like punched by a hammer and anvil.

Without realizing it, he have always compared Rai to idk Lumiere's servant.

Aki don't originally hate Rai. He used to liked Rai very much. The first time they meet was very a beautiful encounter.

"Aki, this is Rai. He'll be your servant from now on. "

Tall, elegant, handsome face and pale white skin. Rai bowed down as a show of respect.

As soon as he turned his head up, wind blew along with petals of Sakura tree. Rai's beautiful and pitch black hair was blown with it.

He looked so graceful as his pitch black hair flies in air. Aki was mesmerized by him.

It's as if everything around them vanished. Only the two of them are present. At that time, Aki's heart raced so fast. Subconsciously, he spout out one word." Beautiful. " He thought that the person in front of him was incredibly beautiful.

Rai's golden-brown eyes shone because of the reflection of the ray of sun.

Seeing Aki's reaction, his auntie couldn't help but to chuckle.

"Good! Good! At first I thought you won't like it because you keep saying that you don't want to have servant. but seeing your reaction, it's as if you're a withered flower that has been given water after a long time. Your eyes are blooming like a flower."Rei said.

Hearing that, Aki blushed and hid his face behind his auntie.

"Very well. From now on, he'll teach you everything. He'll take responsibility of you and be your teacher."the majesty said.

That day was very remarkable to Aki, but when did he even started to hate Rai so much? Was it because of idk? When did he even liked idk than Rai?

One time, only a mistake changed everything. Aki was punished by Rai because of a simple thing.

Aki just read a book from Rai's personal stuffs and he got punished mercilessly by Rai.

That time,All the first impression that he have for Rai vanished. The sweet and gentle personally that he wants, the caring and understanding servant image that he made into his mind shattered into pieces.

The cold and intimidating aura and gaze that everyone sees on Rai that he have never seen nor noticed, appeared right in front of him.

The gentle and subtle gazes are gone. Only cold and intimidating aura left.

That time, Aki thought that all this time, his own perspective and mind was fooling him. He realized that this was the 'real' Rai. Cold and intimidating, strict and merciless.

The Rai that he knows, never existed. It was just his mind satisfying itself. Covering the reality with sweet lies.

When Aki saw Rai's golden-brown eyes closely again after a long time, he saw the cold look yet also seen the gentle side. Rai's eyes was like a withered flower. The gentleness was there but it was already withered.

Aki thought to himself again, "did I mistaken? " "Did I saw his eyes wrong?" "Was the Rai I knew really existed?" The more he looked at Rai's eyes, the more he see through him.

Rai's eyes was like in so much pain that it became so cold. Seeing that, Aki decided to break the contact.

"The highness seems to have a bad day. Please cool down. You, being flustered will ruin your image. Other Lords are here. Don't act rashly." Rai said with his usual cold tone.

Hearing that, all of the little sympathy that Aki felt vanished in an instant. It turned into huge enragement like a piece of paper lit up by a left over cigarette. It burnt up in an instant.

"Gentle?!" "Pain?!" Bullshit! This mother fucker have no sympathy at all! What did I eat to think it that way?! Aki yelled on his thoughts.

As much as he wants to throw his hands on Rai, Aki couldn't bring himself to do so. His fighting technique is way inferior than Rai's. Asking for a fight is a death wish.

Aki have nothing to do but to fix his composure and resheathe his sword.

Moon has set up high. Stars were twinkling beautifully. The Cold wind blews along with the petals of Sakura tree. A beautiful sound of flute fly away along with the petals. The sound flew beautifully to the whole imperial palace.

A beautiful and elegant figure of a man was resting at the branch of the Sakura tree, playing flute with his mouth. He was being illuminated by the pale moonlight. His long eyelashes are down as he blows the flute.

His long hakama was hanging along with his haori in the tree that made him look like some sort of deity.

Anyone who will saw the figure would be mesmerized by his beauty. Aki looked at the person for a while and then...

"Lumiere! Get down there!" Aki yelled with a croaked voice.

Lumiere fell from the tree with a "bang"!

"Big brother! What the hell?!" Lumiere's head was mess after falling. His silky and ink like hair was messyand has a branch in it.

Seeing that, Aki couldn't help but to crack a little smile, because of amusement.

" Hey! I saw you smirk! Sigh... Just why did you yell at me just now?! Can't you see I'm having a good time?!" Lumiere said as clean the dust on his clothes and removed the branch on his hair.

"Don't you know what time is it?" Aki said.

"It's midnight. Why?" Lumiere replied nonchalantly.

Hearing that, Aki couldn't help but to be mad.

"What do you mean 'why'?! Have you forgotten that tomorrow is the ceremony for the feast of the Gods?!" Aki said furiously.

Seeing that, Lumiere just remained silent.

"If you are late tomorrow you will be dead!" Aki said.

What he just said is a warning but rather than a reminder. Because if thing goes wrong, their mother, the highness will surely punish Lumiere to death. The God feast is the most important event that could happen to them after all.

It's a worship ceremony for Gods and Goddesses. And whenever a feast ceremony will happen, Gods and Goddess would go down to human realm and enjoy the feast with them their selves, but that's not the reason why the God feast is very important.

,