Jorin, the Servant

When Dion and the rest of Prince Nicholas' entourage saw how deep in thought the young prince was, they chose to remain silent.

Nicholas somehow found his feet moving on its own, leading him back to his chambers. When he touched the intricate design on the door to his rooms, he glanced at Dion in confusion.

He had no idea how he had managed to figure out how to get back to the room. It was possibly muscle memory, or maybe part of his memories were coming back.

"We should see to your injuries." Dion cleared his throat, bringing Nicholas back from his thoughts.

Nicholas simply nodded and pushed the door open, allowing everyone in.

Several of the Corporali Mages quickly looked him over, assessing the damage that Princess Brie had done when she attacked him.

"That sister of yours is a tough one, your highness." Connor, one of the ministers, frowned and shook his head as he healed some of Nicholas' injuries. "But no matter how powerful the princess of the night is, she only managed to inflict shallow wounds."

Nicholas wordlessly nodded at Connor, unsure whether or not to admit that he actually had the skills to heal himself.

To the prince's surprise, Dion laughed at Connor.

"Do you really think Nicholas didn't already heal himself? We all saw how far the princess had flung him, it's impossible not to sustain any injuries." Dion crossed the room and checked Nichola's mana mark and frowned. Something about it clearly bothered him, but he remained silent.

"Right." Connor bowed his head as all the shallow marks vanished from Nicholas' skin. "That stupid Owain will get no healing for a week after what he tried to do to the pince in the hall. I'll tell our people."

Nicholas wanted to laugh at how Connor was acting, for a grown man who seemed to be in his thirties he sounded like a hot headed teen.

"It's our duty to serve, do not anger the other princes if it isn't necessary. Prince Nicholas will only suffer more." Dion reminded the minister.

Connor and the other ministers remained silent after the warning that had come from Dion.

"I'd like a private word with his highness, wait for me in the hall." The ministers all shuffled out as soon as Dion gave his order, with Connor keeping his head down in embarrassment.

Dion watched as the door closed firmly behind them and Nicholas moved to free himself from his limiters. They gave him an annoying itch and an uncomfortable feeling, he felt broken with them on and had been wanting to take them off since the incident with Owain in the hall.

"Do you remember more?" Dion questioned Nicholas, clearly concerned about the prince's condition. "You used your magic despite the limiters, do you remember how to use it?"

"I don't remember how to use it just yet." Nicholas sighed as he placed the limiters one after another back into the safe, sealing it with the same method he had used to unseal it before the banquet.

"It's like a feeling I get, but I did have some memories return, They were mostly about my mother." Nicholas frowned as her face crossed his mind once more. "She was beautiful."

"Liira was beautiful, smart, and powerful, that's why the king forced her to marry him. He thought he could make the Cruor line stronger by having a powerful Corporali as his heir or at least have more influence with Liira by his side." Dion sighed as Nicholas sat back down at the edge of his bed.

An awkward silence enveloped the room as both Nicholas and Dion were left to their thoughts, finally it was Dion that spoke up.

"Connor and the other ministers know about your power, and they are hopeful that you will be the first Corporali king of Merlen." He explained as Nicholas turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

"But they don't know that I lost my memories, that much is clear." Nicholas found it suspicious that Dion had not told the other ministers. From what he had gathered only Dion, Brie, and Ryenne knew that Nicholas had lost his memories.

"I couldn't at the time, I had to keep it a secret." Dion frowned knowing that Nicholas would probably not be happy with his choice. "The less people that knew, the better. I told them you had mana poisoning."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, not sure what Dion meant.

"Mana poisoning happens when your mana is contaminated. It's rare, but very possible for you, seeing as that's one of the ways you have become more powerful." Nicholas shook his head at Dion's words, slightly annoyed at the man's statement.

"Dion, I don't remember much, you will need to explain things." Nicholas sighed, not wanting to lose his temper.

"I think it's best if I explain it tomorrow, your highness." Dion said as his tone turned formal. "I suggest he hold a meeting to explain the situation to your ministers."

Nicholas begrudgingly nodded in agreement, Dion's refusal to answer his question annoyed Nicholas, but what could Nicholas do? He couldn't force Dion to answer him, or could he.

Fortunately for Dion, Nicholas' mind was still a mess, he wasn't sure how he would normally behave or if he could force his minister to tell him things. So he let it slide, hoping that tomorrow would bring him the answers he needed.

"I will take my leave, your highness. I will send up your servant to help you prepare you for bed." Dion said as he left Nicholas alone in his large rooms.

Nicholas looked around his room, taking in all the excess and lavishness that surrounded him. His rooms were definitely made for a prince.

His servant, a man three years his junior as he recalled, was named Jorin. He was of the Corporali Clan, but like all servants he was not born with magic.

Based on what Nicholas could remember, Jorin was someone he trusted, a friend in his lonely life. One of the few who did not treat him like a prince but rather as a human,

When Jorin entered, he was silent, he kept his head down and treated Nicholas the way the other servants in the palace acted around royalty.

"Is something wrong, Jorin?" Nicholas asked as he gave the other man a smile.

When Nicholas addressed him by his name, Jorin's face lit up, as if he was very much relieved.

"Your highness, I thought you didn't know who I was. When you saw me earlier today you had a blank look in your eyes, as if you didn't recognize me." Jorin exclaimed as he placed Nicholas' night garments on the bed for the prince.

"I didn't, and I still don't remember much. All I know is you are Jorin, and you are my friend." Nicolas frowned as he knew it would disappoint Jorin to hear that he didn't remember much.

"Your highness, it's fine. As long as you know I'm not a spy or some silly thing Dion has been worried about." Jorin chuckled. "Won't you change, your highness?"

Nicholas nodded as he took the clothes and went behind the screen to change. He noticed how Jorin still used honorifics when addressing him and took note of how the relationship worked. He was still the prince and Jorin a servant.

"Your highness, Princess Brie is here to see you." Jorin called out before Nicholas could start changing.

"Let her in." Nicholas groaned as he came out from behind the screen.

Brie had an awkward expression on her face as she approached her brother.

"Jorin, leave us." Nicholas' voice came out harsher than he had intended, making Brie flinch. It seemed that his sister feared him to an extent.

Jorin bowed and left the siblings alone to speak.