'A Game Between Two Brothers?'

'This hallway is cursed. It's super fucking cursed because it's one after another. First, the twins, then Thaddeus, and NOW it's Valerian?! Just kill me now for God's sake!' 

In contrast to his inner thoughts, Azrael turned around to face Valerian with a kind smile on his face. 

But as usual, Valerian had his eyes narrowed down at his little brother, his gaze screamed 'You're acting suspicious, you little shit.' or so, that's what it seemed like to Azrael. With a tired sigh, he bowed his head respectfully and spoke as delicately as he could. 

"Greetings, Valerian. I didn't expect to meet you here. I was just on my way back to my room."

Azrael did not even bother raising his head until Valerian said anything to him, but it seemed he was not his brother's target right now. "Thaddeus Meadowcroft, I believe this isn't the floor you are handling, as Caelum Eversly and I already made it clear to the headmaster that we will be overseeing the princes here in the Celestial summit."1

'I get it that Valerian is much harsher when it's just him and Azrael, but has he always acted like this towards staff? It's crazy how different he is from Eirian's point of view.'

"I-I am aware...your imperial highness. I was just..." From the corner of his eyes, Azrael could see Thaddeus shaking and looking around as he thought of an excuse, and when both their eyes met, Azrael knew instantly what he was about to say next. "My presence was requested by Prince Azrael!" 

'Jerk.'

"Mhm. He requested a guidance counselor's presence. I wonder why?" 

'He's not even asking me or talking to me. It's as if I'm not even here.'

Thaddeus vigorously nodded his head. "Yes, yes. I am not sure myself...I was just about to speak to him before your imperial highness arrived! So, uh..." He stood up rather abruptly then bowed again, turned around and walked away. 

"I'll be taking my leave now. Good bye, your highnesses."

Azrael did not know if he should laugh or what because the dramatic change in Thaddeus' demeanor and his exit both amused and confused him. 'If he's that afraid of Valerian, I wonder why he's messing with Azrael? At the end of the day, Azrael is still a Celestria...and about the deal....'

"Honestly, these staff..." Valerian spoke to himself, making Azrael finally look up from bowing his head to see that the red-haired prince was touching his forehead in frustration. "The unprofessionalism, but then again it might be because he was born a commoner."

'There it is again. Is it just common knowledge that Thaddeus was born a commoner?'

Valerian took a deep breath then his eyes dropped to Azrael, and his mood visibly soured which did not really surprise Azrael at all. 

"Then, I shall also take my leave." The younger prince decided to take the chance considering Valerian obviously did not want to speak to him, and it's not like Azrael caused any trouble so there was no need for them to speak. 

He was about to step back, hoping and praying to any type of God that Valerian lets him go but fate had other plans for him as he heard Valerian's booming voice.

"Hold on."

'Oh no. What does he want this time? I've done nothing but behave.' Azrael thought to himself as he begrudgingly straightened himself up. "Yes?" He asked as he tried his best not to sound too annoyed.

"Since you are already here, I have been meaning to speak with you." Valerian started as he placed a hand on his hip, glowering down at Azrael. 

Azrael did not understand why Valerian seemed angry because, as he said, he hasn't done anything but behave. What issue could Valerian still possibly have with him? "What is it?"

All the air of calmness dissipated as soon as Azrael asked. Well, not that there was any calm air in the first place, but Azrael felt the tension between himself and his so-called brother. There was something about Valerian's presence that made him feel dangerous, and alarm bells were ringing inside Azrael's mind left and right. 

Still, he did his best to smile as if he didn't notice anything, and he plans on keeping it that way until he is in the comforts of his own room.

"What are you planning this time? And do not deny it any further, I know you are trying to do something."

Nope. 

No.

Azrael's smile dropped almost instantly. 'This again? Seriously? THIS AGAIN?' He hid his hands behind his back, his nails were digging into his palm to calm himself down. There were too many things in his mind now, and he just wanted to rest. 

"What do you mean? Did I do anything wrong this week to make you suspect that, Valerian?" 

Valerian's eyebrow twitched at the mention of his name, which again, still confuses Azrael but he was too frustrated to care at this point. "By now, I believe you should have learned that lying to me is pointless." He tilted his head a bit. "But if you insist on feigning innocence..."

Azrael wanted to laugh out loud in disbelief with Valerian's audacity, if his head wasn't hurting as much as it did at the moment, he would've actually let out a chuckle. 

"I heard you've been letting the Aquarise family's charity case hang around you. Not only that, but you've been treating your student servant quite nicely this week. Are you hoping to gain my favor by acting like a generous prince?"

"Excuse me?" Azrael could not help but say out loud this time as he took a step back from Valerian, his brows furrowed in disbelief. 

Valerian raised an eyebrow at Azrael, he was not expecting Azrael's reaction. "What? Did I say anything wrong? I have known you all your life, and in eighteen years you have never had any proper acquaintances. You barely talked to your servants, except that disrespectful maid that I had removed from the palace2. Now, out of all your dignified classmates, you choose the illegitimate son of King Nereus, and now you're also writing letters to Sir Gregory to reconsider your servant for knighthood, knowing well enough that we, as prefects, also take part in overseeing those kinds of requests?"

'He saw my request for Adham? Hold on....why does it matter—ack.' Azrael instinctively held onto his left temple as he felt a stinging sensation. His headache was growing worse every second he spoke to Valerian. Hearing his tone towards Azrael, and how he looked down at him...it made him furious.

Azrael, the real one, had been pushed around most of his life. Even a mere guidance counselor who was regarded as a commoner was able to manipulate him. All because of his brother, the one who should have been taking care of him, but instead, hates him without even giving him a proper explanation.

And based on what he knew from Thaddeus, Azrael's suicide was for Valerian, but it was supposed to be fake.

So something went terribly wrong.

No one, not even Valerian, bothered investigating. That meant, Azrael did what he did in the novel with the hope of getting Valerian to pity him, only to have it fail horribly and end up dying for real, and even then Valerian still did not bat an eyelash or shed a single tear.

"You're quiet. It seems I was right." Valerian let out a disappointed sigh as he gazed to the side with the look of disgust on his face that made something snap inside Azrael. "You are truly predictable. I've told everyone not to worry about your sudden change because there is no change. You are still doing everything to get my attenti—"

"You are terribly mistaken."

Valerian looked like he was about to scoff but as he turned to Azrael his whole body freezes, and for the first time since they've spoken; Valerian looked absolutely surprised, even stepping back a bit with his eyes wide open but he still tried his best to keep his composure.

Azrael stared back at him, his eyes cold. It was different from his 'usual' looks of affection and adoration for his brother because, as he always said to himself, he was not Azrael.

And he's grown tired of trying to act like Azrael.

Only a week in, he was already exhausted, and it wasn't even from helping Eirian or defending him. Living Azrael's life, the life he has lived for years and years, no wonder he resorted to such measures to feel any form of love.

He, for the time he's known Azrael, felt the need to protect the body he is inhabiting. Initially, he just wanted to know more about Azrael to be able to act like him so he could avoid any form of suspicion, but the more he knew...the more he felt connected to him.

The more he wanted to give this body a better life, a better future. Not just Eirian. In hopes that, maybe, just maybe if he was successful in giving the novel a better ending...

The real Azrael, wherever he may be right now, might return to his body, living a life that he deserved.

'And that starts with dealing with the one major thorn in his life.' Azrael balled his hands into fists as he looked straight into Valerian's eyes. "Caspian is my friend. He is not a charity case. He is one of the few people who has not treated me with disrespect, even after every so-called shameful thing I've done."

Valerian seemed like he wanted to speak but Azrael was done letting people talk over him so he continued immediately. "Adham? I know he has the potential to become a knight, and I would love nothing more than to support him because he's done nothing but help me even when I ignored him for months. He is not just my servant, he is also my friend."

Azrael moved from his position, preparing himself to leave because he was done with this conversation, and he was done with Valerian.

"Your attention? It is no longer needed."

As he said that, his heart started hurting as if it wanted Azrael to take it back, but he knew better. It wasn't him feeling that, it was the real Azrael. There is no need for him to feel hurt by telling someone he barely knew the truth.

He didn't need anything from Valerian. He will naturally help Eirian once the truth is out, so he didn't need to do anything on that part.

If anything...Valerian was just a burden.

"I now have friends. I am doing well in my classes, I am acting like the proper Celestria you always wanted me to be. The only person who cannot seem to stop with senseless things is you."

"What?"

A dark red aura emitted from Valerian's body when Azrael said that, and though he was intimidated by it because he knew how powerful Valerian's magic was, he made sure that his expression remained neutral. It seemed he hit a nerve because Valerian seemed even more furious than he already was.

"You honestly expect me to believe someone could change how he has acted for eighteen years in just a single week? I would have made a terrible heir to Celestria if I was that naive."

"You don't have to believe me right away, all you have to do is ignore me unless I actually did something wrong." Azrael shoots back as he runs a hand through his hair. "I am innocent until proven guilty. You cannot prove that I am planning something. You were the only one who assumed despite the fact that I have not done anything that could potentially affect you or bring disgrace to our family."

Valerian was silent, letting Azrael's words sink in while the young prince stood firm on what he said. He knew he was right. There is no reason for Valerian to see his actions in a negative light when all he's ever done is befriend Caspian and help Adham.

That's it.

He was assuming for the sake of assuming. He disliked the idea of Azrael doing anything good so badly that he tried looking for faults even when he had behaved properly.

'Look at his face. He's in disbelief as if I was the one who has been spouting nonsense all throughout our conversation.' Azrael lets out a sigh.

When Valerian did not respond for five whole minutes, he decided to end the conversation because he was afraid that if he didn't, it would just drag further.

And he did not want to stay another second in the cursed hallway. Azrael feared that Caelum might suddenly pop up from behind him and he might end up jumping out the nearest window just to get some rest.

"I have said what I want to say. If you want to keep your eye on me, do it. If you don't, then don't. I do not mind either way. Every action I make moving forward has nothing to do with you." Azrael turns around, trying to keep his heart steady as he feels it beating against his chest. "I am just doing what you've always wanted me to do, and that's leaving you alone."

"Good day to you, Valerian." That was supposed to be his final words before he walks away, but then Valerian bursts out laughing.

He was laughing.

It was unexpected. Even in the novel, there has never been a moment of Valerian actually laughing. It did not seem like a happy laugh too, it seemed almost ominous.

Azrael had to turn his head to look at Valerian, and he felt something crawl inside his skin when he saw how his so-called brother was looking back at him.

Valerian's eyes were glowing, a red aura surrounded his body as he had a knowing smirk on his face which confused Azrael. "You want to play this game with me. Huh? Acting independent, as if you are a completely different person. I never knew you could be this cunning."

"What?"

"Alright. I'll play your little game."

'What does he mean?'

"What on earth are you—" Within a blink of his eye, Valerian was suddenly right in front of him, making him gasp in surprise and jump back. "What the..."

"Go back to your room. I will see you again next time." Valerian said with a cold tone as he walked past Azrael who stood there in shock. He wasn't even sure what was happening anymore, or what bullshit Valerian was spouting but it did scare him to the point where as soon as he was sure Valerian was gone, his knees gave in and he fell to the ground.

He did not even realize that his hands were shaking until he placed them on the ground.

"Everyone in this place..." He breathes out with his eyes wide.

"They're all insane!"