POSSESSIVE (MXM)

Two

Elijah watched Nolan as he climbs up the stairs, he too climbing after him. The last time they saw each other, the prince was only twelve and he fourteen. A nice two years gap between them. The prince has surely grown over the years. And with his training, he has built more muscles than then, but still he was leaner and shorter than he was. His dress sense was so much like Augustus when the king was younger but Nolan was nothing like Augustus. Actually, there was a slight resemblance in appearance and perhaps just a bit in behaviour but other than that, Nolan was just...Nolan.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Nolan turned towards the west wing but Elijah stopped, pursing his lips into a straight line as his eyes dart left and right.

"Where do the royals sleep?" He asked.

Nolan paused and frowned, looking back at Elijah, before leaning with one hand against the staircase rail.

"The east wing. Why?" He asked.

"Because, that is where I shall sleep. Now, lead the way," he said, more like he ordered.

Nolan gasped, and then looked around him as if expecting someone else to be behind him.

"That is highly impossible," he said once he was certain that he was the receiver of such an authorization.

Elijah chuckled, his lips turning up into a smirk that made Nolan blink in confusion.

"Where do you sleep prince Nolan?" He asked.

Blink once, twice.

"Excuse me?" He asked, shoving his glasses up his nose bridge.

"Which floor?" He clarified, gesturing to the stairs that continue up.

"Second, not that is none of your business," he said, plopping a finger up.

"Then the second floor it is. The nearer to your room, the better," he said, turning already and heading to the east since already they were on the second floor.

"Excuse me," Nolan said panicky as he rushes to catch up with the man from Shilian. "Only the royals sleep in the east wing! Guests are on the west!" He huffed when he caught up.

"But I am no guest Nolan. Beside, didn't your father say, grant me the most comfortable room?"

"King Augustus to you, sir. And he said guestroom. Excuse me!" He shouted, grabbing Elijah's hand when he kept walking down the east hall. "Guests sleep on the west!" He shouted in frustration, thrusting a finger to his left.

Elijah blinked once, twice, and then smiled, startling Nolan. The man had a charming smile that made his aluminium silver eyes brighter than they already are, if that was even possible.

"I understand, Nolan," he said, clutching on to his sack clothes in one hand and he other held his spear. "I really do, but now, show me the room closest to your own," he said.

"Even if so, what makes you think that room is the most comfortable of them all?" He asked.

Elijah shrugged, his nonchalant expression back on as they walk side by side.

"Perhaps, prince Nolan, you can spend all night trying to find the answer and we will discuss your possibilities tomorrow morning," he said, before glancing at the frowning prince. "However, you can tell me where the rest of your siblings sleep," he said.

"Gillian sleeps in the first floor because she likes the freedom of coming back late in the dark without our parents knowing. No cracking steps. And Lance sleeps the furthest down the hall from me. He hates noise and down there he hears nothing and so do I," he said, before his frown deepen. "Why am I telling you this?" He asked as if confused for disclosing such information so quick and easily.