𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒊𝒎 {𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏}

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 1

ɪ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴍᴏᴜɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ʜᴏʟᴇꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇꜱᴄʀɪᴘᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ? ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ɪᴛ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ɢᴏᴇꜱ ᴏɴ.

ᴛᴇxᴛ - ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ/ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ'ᴛᴇxᴛ' - ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ"ᴛᴇxᴛ" - ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ

The biting cold of the snowy landscape wrapped around him like a relentless embrace, a stark contrast to the warmth of the memories that flickered through his mind. As he trudged through the thick, white blanket of snow, each step felt heavier with the weight of nostalgia. He remembered the way his father's laughter would fill the room, a sound so familiar it was almost tangible, and how his brother's bright eyes would light up with mischief. 

The contrast between the family's gentle warmth and his own icy solitude was palpable. He recalled his mother's smile, a memory now tinged with a bittersweet ache, and the comfort of his new stepmother's kindness, always so genuine and soothing. Even in the midst of the snow's cold, he could almost feel the echo of their love surrounding him, a comforting reminder that, despite his differences, he was deeply woven into the fabric of their lives.

The snow crunched beneath his boots, each step through the wintry expanse mirroring the heaviness in his heart. The icy chill seemed to seep deeper, a physical manifestation of his internal struggle. As he trudged through the snow, his thoughts drifted to his new stepmother, a woman whose warmth and kindness he admired but struggled to fully embrace. 

Her presence, though gentle and sincere, felt like a bittersweet reminder of his own sense of displacement. He couldn't help but feel like an outsider, a stark contrast to the easy closeness his father and brother shared with her. 

Despite her efforts and the genuine affection she had shown him, he grappled with the feeling that he didn't quite fit into this new family dynamic, as if his very essence was at odds with the image of familial harmony they portrayed. The snow-covered landscape, vast and unyielding, seemed to echo his inner turmoil, a reminder of the distance he felt from the warmth he so deeply craved but found hard to accept.

"Your Highness, a letter send by His Majesty has arrived." He could hear the footsteps of his closest aid as he trudged through the hard climate. A shaky breath left him as he opened the letter. The emperor's letter arrived, sealed with a crest that carried the weight of authority and affection.

A shaky breath left him as he opened the letter as he broke the wax seal and unfolded the parchment, the carefully penned words seemed to dance across the page, each stroke a testament to a father's longing. The emperor's request was clear and heartfelt: his son was to return to the empire for his little sister's birthday.

'Dear Elliot,

I hope this letter finds you well despite the harsh weather. It feels like ages since we last heard from you, and I wanted to let you know just how much you've been missed here.

With your little sister's birthday coming up, I find myself thinking about how wonderful it would be to have you with us. She's still so tiny and has never had the chance to meet you, but I know having you here would bring a special kind of warmth to the occasion.

I can't tell you enough how grateful I am for everything you've done and how deeply we all feel your absence. It's not just me who misses you—everyone here does. Your presence would make this birthday even more meaningful, and it would mean a lot to all of us to have our family together, even if only for a day.

Please think about coming home for her birthday. It would be a precious moment for us all, and I believe it would bring immense joy to both you and us. Ysis never once stopped asking about you or when your coming home. He and I misses you the most.

Stay safe and take care out there. Know that you are dearly missed and always in our thoughts.

With all my love,

Dad'

The letter was send by a father to his son, not an Emperor to a General. Usually, his father would send two separate letter regarding the situation and how things are going, the other is just about a father- a family who are worried about their family member. "We are finished here. Tell the knights to start patch things up and rest. We are returning to the Empire soon." 

The prince walked away without hearing his aide's reply. "Yes, Your Highness." The aide left to carry out his master's command but not before giving one last glance at his retreating back. Roderick Mortimer, the First Prince's aide and right hand. Roderick was with the Prince since childhood due to being the same age and watched how that young boy become so closed off after the death of his mother.

The sight of a child curled up in a ball crying in his room has been printed in his mind for years made the black haired aide freeze in his steps before proceeding to carry out the order. 'Elli, what can I do to make it better?' Having been with Elliot since childhood, he knew the boy better than anyone else.

Meanwhile, Elliot retreated to his tent as he was left with his thoughts. The last time he visited his family was when Aisha was born but even then, he hadn't talked to them. The moment he saw the whole family together, he couldn't bring himself to walk toward them. He couldn't bring himself to middle or come in between the perfect family.

It was currently night and the teenager curled up in his bed as if it would protect him from his thoughts. After the birthday he will leave the palace immediately to resume his position. He can't relax around when there is work to be done. 

As he closed his eyes to fall into a deep slumber, he heard the door to his tent open to which he assumed it was Roderick since no one else is allowed to come in beside him. "Your Highness, the order has been carried out. Everything is ready for departure." 

Roderick reported as he took off his coat and put it on a chair. "Thank you." A quiet gratitude was what Roderick heard before it was silent again. A sigh left his mouth as he took off his shoes and vest before climbing behind his master, comfortably hugging him. "...What are you doing?" Elliot asked, not really trying to get out of the comfort or warmth the other was emitting.

"It seemed like you needed this, no?" Even without questioning him, Roderick can assume what the letter content was saying. His Majesty once again asked for his son to return home. If there is one thing that's consistent with the letters is that each contain the Emperor asking for the Prince to come home or at least visit. 

In the years the Prince was absent, he only visited twice. Of course he does send gifts when its one of his family member's birthday. "It's Aisha's birthday...Ysis keeps asking about me and father says he misses me." 

Elliot turned around to face Roderick and hugged him, burying his face on Roderick's chest. It hurts. Elliot wants nothing more than returning home and seeing his family once again. The only person causing him pain and pain to his family is himself and the insecurities he is feeling. 'I wanna go home. I wanna see father and my precious little brother.' 

That was what Elliot thought every day for years but despite that, he never once thought of wanting to see the Empress. Or the the little sister who he only saw from afar. He just couldn't bring himself to think that or dream of it. 

The guilt has been eating him for years as he imagined the hurt in his family's voice and faces each time they asked him to come home. He wants to go home, to make the pain and scars from growing after each battle he fought. But Elliot himself knew he had no right to complain when he brought this upon himself. He wanted this.

"You want to go home, Your Highness?" Not having the strength to voice out his thoughts, Elliot nodded. "...Roderick, why am I a coward?" Imagining the scene he saw the last time he went home made him want to cry. Especially knowing that his mother wasn't there to greet him back. 

"Why can't I move on?" Roderick looked down at the vulnerable, shaking child who couldn't stop himself from crying. Despite being the same age and having the mentality of an adult, Elliot and Roderick are still children who left together to face the harshness of the world. "I'm sorry." The two hugged each other tightly to sleep.