ROYAL AFFAIRS (MXM) ✔

Twenty-six

The king has fallen!

The whole nation has gone into the mourning stage for they have lost a king. Not just any king, but a kind, strategic, and selfless one. Elizabeth has been a mess which was expected. Today, they had just laid the fallen king to rest. It was such a beautiful funeral, if the word beautiful can be used to describe a sorrowful event. The sun had made it presence, the white lilies King Carson liked had been placed on his casket. He laid next to his mother, a well respected queen, Fiona Rubenstein. So many legends have been placed to rest in Larmont.

"Hey...." Augustus said softly, as he crouches down in front of Sebastian, who was sat on the bed. "Are you sure you want to make the trip to Neverland. We've just buried your father," he inqured with a sense of worry.

Sebastian sighed, looking over Augustus' head, through the balcony door.

"I think it would do my mother some good. To get away from the castle, just for a while," his voice was hoarse from all the crying. He hasn't been eating, nor speaking much.

Augustus nodded, standing up straight.

"I'll go and see that the arrangements have been completed, then we'll leave," he said, but recieved no response from his husband.

Augustus was worried about Sebastian. He had been lucky to have his parents alive and well. Honestly, Augustus still couldn't believe the extent Elizabeth went to protect his mother. The woman had made sure she led the both of them back to the castle alive. Roseline couldn't stop expressing her gratitude to the queen. His father had stayed at the council house, as instructed by the commissioner. He had wanted to come back but was locked away in a small room. Augustus was actually grateful for that. His father hasn't handled a sword in years.

The journey to Neverland took them approximately three days, as they had to make stops for the horses to rest and get fed. Neverland was nothing like Larmont. Immediately they were greeted by flakes of snow falling from the sky. Sebastian had started to shiver already.

"I told you to put on a coat," Augustus sighed.

"You know I don't like wearing too many layers of clothes. It uncomfortable," the brunnet grumbled.

Augustus rolled his eyes, as he stepped out of the carriages.

"Come inside, at least get yourself warm. I'm sure Dorothy has a fire going," he said.

"Dorothy?" Sebastian questioned.

"She's our chef. But we like to view her more of a second mother to us," Augustus responded.

The prince of Larmont nodded, completely getting his husband. He also view their chef Margaret as their very own second mother.

The two families walked into the castle. Theirs was a bit smaller compared to the Rubenstein's. It was also completely different from the one in Larmont. Instead of the wood flooring, it was completely cemented. The walls a pale coloured grey. It was also very cold, probably because of the constant snowfall.

Thomas and Isabella walked down the staircase to greet them as they walked through the door. Isabella had her blonde her styled up, her honey brown eyes stood out from her pale skin tone. Her ice blue dress flowing nicely on her body. Her and Thomas looked like that power couple in a vampire series, only they were nice people not villains.

Another teenage boy came down the other staircase. Weirdly, he was the only one who had blonde hair. A huge grin plastered on his face, showing off his dimples.

"Brother! What is this I hear you married a prince? Don't prince save princesses and marry them?" the element of a tease was clear in his voice.

Augustus rolled his eyes at his prude little brother.

"You've grown, Wyatt! And very disrespectful too," he scoffed, but still smiled at the teenager who was stalking towards them.

Wyatt pouted, doing cute puppy eyes. He turned towards his father.

"Father," he bowed. "You've been gone too long. Brother here thinks he's now king," he jabbed his finger at Thomas.

Erico chuckled, ruffling Wyatt's blonde hair.

"He is king," he said. "I forgot you're on spring break," he said.

"It's winter outside," the teenager countered.

"It's always winter in Neverland sweetie," Roseline chuckled, pulling the teenager and smacking a kiss on Wyatt's cheek.

Wyatt grinned, turning to Hazel who was still clutching on her famous throw now.

"I didn't know we were to have guests," Wyatt took a step back, when he saw the look of loss in his sister's eyes.

"Oh yes! Where are my manners. This is the Queen of Larmont, Elizabeth. We've just lost her husband in an ambushed war," Roseline sighed.

Wyatt bowed.

"My condolences," the teenager muttered.

"And these are her two sons. Sebastian and Ronaldino," Roseline continued to do the introductions.

Wyatt gave a curt nod to each of the prince. This was the first time he was meeting the Rubenstein's. He hadn't been able to make it to the wedding, because of his on going exams. Sebastian took note of those green eyes that looked exactly like Augustus'. Wyatt looked so much like Roseline, unlike the others who look a bit more like both their parents. And where he got blonde hair from, was a mystery the prince of Larmont had no interest investigating.

"Be kind to them. I was hoping Thomas could learn a bit more from, Seb. There are a couple of changes I would like implemented on our kingdom. I've learnt a lot from the people in Larmont," King Erico informed.

Thomas didn't appear pleased with this, but didn't object. It was nothing personal, he just didn't like conversing with people. Which was a weird trait since he were to be king. Isn't a king a people's person?

The entire family headed into the kitchen where they met Dorothy. The twins had already gone home as soon as they arrived in Neverland. Dorothy was so happy to meet Queen Elizabeth. She has fed them way more than they needed. What Augustus found amusing was how none of the Rubenstein's could say no to the elder woman. He could tell they had have enough of the chicken soup, but Dorothy would keep filling their bowls. They would look at the soup and frown but would keep eating. Augustus eventually felt sorry for them and asked the chef to stop fattening his husband. Dorothy had laughed, claiming they loved her cooking but she stopped.

Augustus led his husband to his room as their maid Tina showed the others to their designated rooms. Augustus' room was full of scattered books. He quickly picked them off the floor and his bed.

"We had left in a hurry. And I prefer being the only one cleaning my room, so the maids never come here," he explained.

Sebastian looked at him with a frown, and Augustus blushed.

"You're a weird man," the brunnet mumbled.

Augustus chuckled.

"I've been told that many times in my life time," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sure you're exhausted. You can just crawl into bed," he said.

Sebastian grabbed his wrist, pulling him closer.

"I'd like to do more than just sleep," he declared, pressing his lips on the dark hair prince.

Augustus moaned, his cold fingers creeping beneath Sebastian's shirt. But the man didn't seem bothered by the temperature of his hands as he pushed them back onto the bed.