Necromancer's Descent

77 - Theodore's Awakening

[Pre-AN: I feel like I should warn you guys that today's chapter is brutal, and includes CA, in the shape of flashbacks. If that's too much, take it easy and I'll see you guys next week where we get Theodore's answer]

[For those who saved it for christmas, there's a notice on my profile]

Liam Nightridge's Point of View
At 12 years old

Which Troyfort brother goes where has finally been decided.

The younger one goes to us, while the older one goes to the concubine's child.

The official statement, is that Lord Troyfort hopes the oldest will help the concubine's child mature, and that we will do the same for the younger one.

Personally I preferred the younger one anyway. Even if he protested strongly against being Alexis' playmate instead of his brother.

Looking at him now, I find that this boy is likely more well suited anyway. And he reminds me of Henrietta.

My parents tell me, that the reason we don't care much for people, is because it's how people in our family is. It's also why we have a law in our family, that we must always prioritize our life partner over everything else.

It's also why our family cannot classify for the fated position of heroes.

Father believes it's the consequences of how the world is, that a family with less emotion will thrive more.

They also said, that other people can lose part of their emotions due to life events.

Henrietta is like that.

Henrietta's mother stole away a lot of her feelings. Then Henrietta, who no longer felt guilty feelings, or at least vastly less, took her mother's life. That was the day I first met Henrietta.

I feel like this boy has lost part of his emotions too.

That he, like Henrietta, is just keeping up a sociable and friendly front, but had the inside feelings scooped out.

When he looks at me, it's feelings of indifference.

Alexis stares at the boy. Alexis didn't have his feelings scooped out. They were sliced off, the night his mother died after drinking her evening tea while reading for him.

They had to wash her coagolated blood off of him, after dragging him off of her, father said.

The king claimed she died peacefully in her sleep.

Father claims those words cut his highness' feelings off in a single snip.

"You are Theodore Troyfort?"

Alexis says, looking at Theodore coldly. They're only a year apart.

"Yes," the boy responds dryly.

"I see. Then, you shall serve me well."

Theodore doesn't even smile at Alexis accepting him, but gives a bow as is expected.

"You're a lot better than your selfish brother," Alexis praises him, without the proper warmth of a praise.

I glance to Theodore, whose known to adore his brother more than anything else, but he just stares at Alexis calmly, without any fluctuation of emotion.

"My brother merely hasn't had the chance to socialize a lot, your highness."

But his expression doesn't change properly with the defensive words of his brother. He believes his brother is selfish too.