1.2

James noticed that his father and brother were no longer close. He also didn't have any servants next to them, as they went to the back of the house, where a beautiful garden lay for them to enjoy. Only the two of them, he and Brandon, were there. Both were at a table in the garden that was used for tea parties and was protected by a small building from the sun. The boy moved his feet and looked at the older one with curiosity and a little concern. So he decided to ask.

"Brother, are you okay?"

James had called Brandon his brother for a long time, it was something everyone on the estate knew. Even the countess and the earl enjoyed their friendship. Due to Brandon's long time at the mansion, he was through most of James' childhood and took care of him when others could not, as well as keeping him company whenever he could. Also, after the war started and the lack of his older brothers became evident, it was Brandon who helped him in everything and stood by his side.

So, thanks to the long years and time spent with him, James could see behind the facade of Brandon's nonchalant expression and knew he was sad. He didn't, hardly ever, show any negative emotion in front of others, but James could still recognize it. His green eyes, which usually sparkled when he looked at her, were dull and his mouth, while apparently normal, was a little firm and minimally drooping.

'He is engaged.'

He wasn't focused on James like he always did. It looked like he was thinking about something else so seriously that he couldn't concentrate. Brandon was in the moon world for James.

"I am fine." Brandon said, putting a smile on his face for James, but his eyes weren't smiling.

He lied and James knew it. There was no way to know what Brandon was sad about if he didn't tell him so. But how would Brandon tell her what was going through his head when she was a mess?

The green-eyed redhead was angry at what just happened and at the way he was betrayed. After the initial shock of seeing your boyfriend, or now ex-boyfriend, arrive with a girl of unknown origin who doesn't even know how he met her, saying she was his fiancée and introducing her to his family with a huge smile and affectionate eyes for her , he got angry.

Where did all the memories you made go? The feelings she claimed to have for him? Wouldn't he wait for him, as he had? Was his time wasted and he was humiliated by that piece that appeared in front of his eyes?

'Was I important to him, at least?'

It was horrible to look at and it felt like there were a thousand knives going into his chest with every passing minute and he had to see the two of them together. He felt his eyes grow heavy and almost wanted to cry right there. However, he endured. Brandon wasn't going to shed tears of sadness or anger over this man.

His desire to see that had been to run to Phillip and demand an explanation, why he had done that. What was the reason he broke the promise he started, maybe it was just to hurt him? Or did he just want to see Brandon pathetically?

Whatever the explanation, Brandon knew the best thing he did was act as if it didn't bother him and he was just an employee oblivious to his master's relationships. However, in addition to anger, he was sad. He felt his heart beat rapidly at the mere thought of the two of them together and the water in his eyes when he thought of the betrayal of the one he loved.

It was as if he were surrounded by water and at each moment he was drowning even further to the bottom, and the force was too great to let him rise. He wanted it all to be a nightmare and he would wake up that very day in the morning, only to find Phillip riding alone on his horse, without any unknown blonde girls. It was his first love and lasted almost his entire adolescence. He loved him for five years, even without him by his side. It was cruel to make him feel that way.

Except that even if he wanted to go to him, Brandon couldn't. His relationship with Phillip was just between them and not public knowledge.

The commoner status he had was something that held him back, as he was just a commoner and nobles did not favor relationships between nobles and commoners very well, although it had improved over the years. Especially between two men. If Brandon were a woman and his fiancée, he might demand compensation, an explanation, or something that would appease him for having suffered such humiliation. But he was not and never will be, as that woman was and was being engaged to him in the eyes of all.

There was also one more reason he didn't want satisfaction from Phillip. He was no fool. He was twenty years old, an adult, and smart enough to know what he should and shouldn't do and his judgments. Since the day Phillip had left the mansion, Brandon had prepared himself for several situations, one of which was that he had met someone he loved, a knight, soldier or survivor. But he never thought it would actually happen.

Seeing it in person was painful, even more so when she remembered all the sweet words he said to himself. Maybe they were empty and just to appease him, he couldn't say.

James stared at him, as if he didn't like the answer. The boy wanted a confession, wanted his brother to be able to tell him his troubles. Even though he was young and didn't know much, he wanted to help him get cheerful and excited again, like he always did with himself. He didn't like seeing that sad face as it was now. It looked like melancholy disguised as indifference.

"You are lying." James said and crossed his arms.

His braced-armed figure was cute in Brandon's eyes, something that lifted his mood, even if he was at rock bottom. James' light purple hair and brown eyes were a cutie for the child who had barely hit puberty. Brandon was sure he would be the cutest of the three brothers when he grew up.

"I'm really fine, no need to worry or anything." Realizing that his angry figure was not helping him, James sighed. He lost his posture and leaned against the table, resting his head on his arms.

The purple haired boy knew Brandon wouldn't say even if he asked. Brandon only revealed his happy emotions and when he was sad, he kept it to himself. As much as he didn't like that fact and wanted to hear it, he didn't want to upset him even more by making him think about what it was.

Brandon watched him lying there, he didn't scold him. Brandon knew that if Ms. Nigrien, James' etiquette tutor, had been seeing this, she would have complained and told her to sit up straight. But he didn't, it was good for the other to feel comfortable with him as a child.

His slender hand approached the boy and stroked his purple head. Brandon's face became a little lighter and a smile crept onto James' face, he enjoyed his brother's affection.

"Aren't you going to show me the new spells you learned in class?"

"But it just started..." Brandon asked and the boy protested, shaking his head and jerking his head as if asking for more affection. The redhead laughed at the answer he was given.

"Oh, really? I really wanted to see the spells..."

"OK..."

James gave up and stood up, meeting Brandon's eyes which were now more alive than before. He was glad to see that, how he managed to improve his mood. He also wanted to show the fruits of his studies, something he always did when he got something.

Rising from the chair he was sitting in, he was next to the table and pondering which one he should start showing Brandon. He learned them during Mr. Below, your magic teacher, for the fun of it. The art and magic-loving teacher showed him some parlor magic tricks, and he wanted to show his brother.

Deciding which one he wanted, he started to concentrate the mana in his hand and prepared for the spell. Brandon was watching him with his head resting on his chin as the young man in the suspenders moved his hand and balls of water, marble-sized but flat, began to appear one by one around him.

They were previously focused on James, then they started to pull away and surround Brandon as well.

When there were a considerable number of them in all directions, small lights appeared in their flat centers, making them mirror the surface they were on and making them look like crystallized stars. The sun's rays that hit some of them that fled from the shadows of the building reflected because of the water that acted like a mirror, but the light inside it remained intact, gaining a new brightness and elegance that attracted attention to whoever looked.

It was beautiful magic.

It didn't matter where you looked or moved in any direction, it felt like the suspended stars followed if you were in the middle of them.

"Wow." Brandon exclaimed, surprised by the magic James showed him.

The sight in front of him was incredible. Even during the day, those lights didn't dim and made him sure that if it were at night they would be even more beautiful for the environment. A proud smile grew on young Miller. He'd practiced this to show his parents the next breakfast outside his mother's decision. And seeing how Brandon looked on in amazement at the fruit of his effort was good, he wondered if his parents would be the same as he was when they saw it.

"Did you like it? Professor Below told me he learned it from one of the artists he knew. I was also surprised when I saw it."

"That's beautiful, James. You worked really hard."

"That was nothing." James puffed out his chest proudly. "But there's still one more, want to see?"

"Of course, show me."

Nodding, James undid the spell he'd cast. The flat surfaces of water, like crystals, disappeared and the light disappeared, as if they were never there. He then closed both hands and concentrated mana into them again. As he opened them, bright birds flew out of his hand one by one and scattered in various directions.

Rings began to form around it and were made up of various elements such as water and fire. The bright birds were small and passed by them fast, as if they were on a race track, leaving small trails as they passed. It was fun to look at, amazing too, because of the visual elements that formed with the view.

Before Brandon could get any words out, applause was heard towards them. The two turned to where the source of the sound was coming from and discovered that it was the countess who came to them applauding her son's magic. Rising quickly, Brandon bowed in greeting to the countess. She simply looked at him and waved him back to his seat.

"Mom? I thought you were with your brother." James asked, as he thought she was accompanying his second brother and his fiancée.

"I think he wanted a moment with his fiancee." He shrugged, answering the question of the boy with the same hair as her. "So I came to look for my lovely children for tea."

Employees appeared behind her and placed some snacks and drinks on the table quickly and silently. This demonstrated how skilled they were and what they had done many times before. She sat in their midst, reaching for the teapot and pouring herself some tea. Their eyes were on her, a little surprised that she had suddenly appeared, but they soon returned to normal.

For James it was his mother's usual behavior and for Brandon it was the countess being the countess.

"What magic were you showing just now?"

"It's one I learned from Mr. Below. It focuses on using the light attribute and creating a shape, the bird, and taking it through the different types of rings." He explained, as if he was about to report, but the happy expression showed that he was sincere and that he just wanted to show off.

"I see. You did well, it was good magic." She smiled at him.

James felt good about his mother's praise and turned to Brandon, staring at him for one as well.

"It was amazing. Good job." James smiled, returning to the seat opposite Brandon and next to his mother.

"Brandon, would you like to accompany me to the clothing store? I would love your company."

Brandon set the cookie he was going to eat on his plate and pondered whether or not to go. He didn't want to stay at the mansion and meet the face of Phillip or the girl he'd brought with him. Before answering, the countess continued.

"Of course, it's tomorrow. It's too late to go to the shopping street and buy clothes. Today is also the day the family is together after so long, I don't want to spoil that."

"I see..." He nodded, agreeing with the countess's words. It would be inappropriate if they left on the same day their children returned after three years. "I do, ma'am."

"That's great!"

"Can I go too?" James asks, wanting to go along with them. It's been a while since the boy left the mansion.

"Oh, of course, honey." The countess caresses her son's cheek.

Both adults, the countess and Brandon, looked at each other. A mutual conversation was made through each other's gazes. This was only possible with years of knowledge as well as a coincidental interest.

"Now honey, why don't you tell me more about the spells you're learning? I'm sure you have more."

"Yea!" James exclaims loudly and starts talking to his mother about studying with Professor Below.

The trio continued there, enjoying the good afternoon weather and the snacks had a good conversation for the three of them, for a while.