ꋊꄲ꓄ ꋬ ꒒ꄲ꒦ꏂ ꇙ꓄ꄲꋪꌦ- ꋬ ꋊꏂꅐ꓄ꂵꋬꇙ ꇙ꓄ꄲꋪꌦ

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 5: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔗𝔬𝔲𝔯

" Your rooms are this way," Newt said as he lead the small group down the hallway, the boys that he now knew the names of, " The servant courters are close to my room and my sister's but everything else is on the other side of the castle."

"Why?" Aris asked curiously,

Newt stiffened looking down at the ground, he wasn't ready to tell them about his... problems; everything seemed so normal right now, and reminding them of this could sour the mood. He knew he couldn't avoid the subject forever and from the group's initial reaction to meeting him it was obvious his issue wasn't a secret.

"Newt?" The boy asked again this time concern starting to surface on his face.

"Are you ok?" Another voice asked but the prince still didn't lookup.

" NEWT!"

His head snapped up like a whip to find to group staring at him all with confusion dotting their eyes. At that point, he didn't know what to say. What should he say? Sorry? Tell them the truth? Maybe change the subject and try not to bring it up again? The last one seemed to satisfy him the most he just had to figure out what to change the subject to besides his rocky family relations.

" The... um... the castle is over 300 years old built when the renowned explorer Marcus Montero and as his family grew and the population here grew him and his wife became the first rulers of Vesuna a name picked meaning worthy as they felt our kingdom was at the founding."

Minho whistled impressed and nudged the boy next to him Newt believed his name was Thomas, who had been blanking staring out the window during his small history lesson and only now turning his head to face them, his dark brown eyes downcast. He glanced to the window, the sun outside was starting to lower from the sky signaling darkness in a few hours, Newt gestured for them to continue following him down the twisting maze of hallways, wanting to get back to his room to change before supper. They passed only a few others as he lead them to their rooms only seconds away from his own and when they reached the hallway in which they had all been appointed.

 I have to get going," He said quickly to the boys " I have to get ready before dinner tonight, your rooms are right here, two people per room your names are on the doors, and the curfew is 10:00 pm. Someone will be here soon to assign you to your posts."

He turned to leave but someone grabbed his arm, although the hand was warm goosebumps rippled up his arm at this unexpected touch. He turned to see Thomas's hand grasping his wrist loosely,

" Are we going to see you around" he whispered as if this question could get him in trouble if anyone overheard.

Newt gave him a half-smile happy that the boy wanted him around, " Sure, I'm not as busy as my siblings; usually, I spend the most time in my room reading or drawing."

Gally snorted at this " Imagine reading for fun." He muttered under his breath

Newt's ears turned pink with embarrassment as his eyes flitted around to the others only to land on Thomas who was giving Gally a sideways glare,

" Just because you can't read doesn't mean other people can't find things enjoyable because they're smarter than you," Thomas said, the quiet sound of defiance making its way into his words along with the sound of humor

Now it was the other boy's turn to look uncomfortable and scowling angrily replied his tone no longer full of pleasure " I may not be able to read but at least I have both of my parents unlike you because your Dad saw your sister's ugly face and was so disappointed that he had two ugly children he left all of you, even your mother wasn't enough to stop him, probably because she stopped being beautiful when this castle was built."