Better Left Unsaid

20

Licht glanced up to the distracted tutor opposite to him. It had been weeks with this routine. Even more suspiciously, their own father had been equally distracted during the lectures given about their education.

It didn't hit him until now but maybe Heine might be becoming just like the other tutors. Maybe all Heine was starting to care about their father's mood. Both were distracted, after all.

To be fair, Heine would snap out of those distracted stupors from time to time. It was during the quiet moments where it was noticeable. His eyes had a longing gaze and his shoulders would fall as if he was carrying the world on his shoulders. Maybe he was. Licht couldn't entirely know the amount of stress that befalls on an adult. His biggest worry is wanting a torte. Given the fact that Heine didn't entirely have it easy as a child, he probably had other things on his mind. 

Yes, it wasn't father's mood at all! It was the stress of being an adult. In that case, Licht didn't want to be an adult whatsoever. It was stressful for Heine then he couldn't imagine how stressful it would be for him. Taking up the position of king would be a nightmare. The chance was highly unlikely. He was the youngest. It would have to be one of his older and better and smarter brothers. Still, if he were to take up the throne, Heine would be so proud. He would finally get the respect he deserved from Heine. 

"Is the problem hard?" Licht blinked at the sound of Heine's question. 

"What?" He said dumbly. 

"You have been on that problem for ten minutes. Is it hard for you?"

"No, of course not!"  

"Is there something distracting you?" Heine's eyes returned his gaze with a gloss of parental concern. "Outside distractions will only be a detriment to your education."

"No."

"The problem is too hard, then?"

"No." Heine raised a brow in confusion. Licht, realizing he wasn't making any sense whatsoever, mustered up the most convincing grin. "I think I might just be hungry, I haven't eaten lunch. If anything, I think it's you who needs a break."

"I see." That gloss of focus in his eyes was starting to fade. "Finish this problem and I will leave you alone to go eat." Licht nodded.

Finally focusing on the problem, he realized that it was more difficult than the others but still doable. It took him a few minutes but he got it done. Heine was quick to take the paper, give a basic run down of tomorrow, and leave. All with that gloss over his eyes creeping back. Licht didn't like this distracted Heine one bit.

Maybe it really was love. Licht was mostly joking when he brought up Heine having someone in his life. He had certainly seen his fair share of lovestruck idiots. Few acted similarly. If he was being completely honest, thought, he wouldn't care if there was mystery behind the behavior. It's only recent and Heine had kept his lips sealed about anything personal. However, interestingly, among the staff there had been talk of Heine wandering around the palace at night but no further details about where he was going are known. Licht, himself, had tried to stay up and look out for Heine but each time he suddenly woke up the next morning. Not that he entirely minded it, his beauty sleep was important.

~

"I think we should tell them." Heine simply threw out. He shifted his head to find a more comfortable position on the pillow. It was much too soft so he settled on resting his hand in-between.

"Are you sure?" Victor raised a curious brow.

"I think so." Heine sighed. "They're suspicious and I can't focus on anything else except the fact that I could tell them in that very moment."

"I can't say it hasn't distracted me either." Victor lightly chuckled. "But we have to be careful."

"Careful is practically my real name."

"I would be surprised if it was 'cocky' instead."

"If only your kingdom knew how kind and loving their king really was." Heine smirked. The two almost immediately broke out into quiet giggles.

"What I was going to say was that we need to plan it out so it doesn't get out and they don't get upset."

"It's highly unlikely that they would get upset."

"Why do you say that?" In that instant, the entirety was his time here played in his head. Good, bad, strange, even the bittersweet. It was clear that the princes cared about him like family. Even seeing him somewhat as a father figure already. What difference would it be to them knowing of his relationship to their actual father? At most it would be slightly uncomfortable.

"Just a hunch." He shrugged.

"I trust your word. You know my boys better than I do. Unfortunate but a truth I can't help." Victor frowned.

"They still love you, you know."

"I know, I just wish I could see them more."

"Then take a day off."

"Kings don't have days off."

"Fine then, half a day."

"Now I'm listening." He grinned. "So, what's the plan?"

"Perhaps..." Heine paused for a moment. Suddenly, it hit him. "...you could take half a day to do things with your sons. An afternoon would be best, we tell them towards the end. You know, together." Victor thought silently for a moment. Eventually, he stretched out a hand to cup Heine's cheek.

"I think that's perfect." He flashed the sweetest smile possible. "I'll have to check when that would be possible in the morning."

"As long as it's possible." Heine smiled. Victor nodded in agreement to that.

"I say this a good time for a celebratory drink."

"You'll become a drunk at this rate."

~

Bruno stood outside of Heine's door, arm stiff in the air as he hesitated to knock. Talks with Heine about all things cryptic were becoming the norm. Bruno simply wanted that. His master could be waiting for him right then and there because, he too, enjoyed their chats. He could also be asleep and Bruno would be done for; a disgrace in every sense of the word. He was in quite the predicament.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps echoing from down the hall. It wasn't to long until a somewhat disheveled Heine walked into view. He wore a smile like it was the most expensive hat ever bought. He stumbled and limped ever so slightly. Either he was drunk or he had fallen and hurt lumbar area. His hair was all over the place and his clothes looked thrown on. Now this was an encounter that Bruno could say he never predicted.

"Your highness? What are you doing here so late at night?" Heine stopped next to him. He tipped his head to the side curiously. This stretched his neck and revealed spots on his collar bone.

"I came to speak with you."

"About what?" His speech slipped into something much more improper. "Something bothering you?"

"Well, yes, mainly you."

"How so?"

"I think you're drunk."

"Oh." Heine burst into a fit of quiet giggles. "I most certainly am but that is not a thing to worry about. I am an adult, after all. Adults are able to handle themselves drunk just fine."

"It's only worrying because, given your small stature, you probably have a low tolerance—"

Heine was quick to interject, "I have beaten your dad in a drinking match." His speech was starting to make no sense. "I'm pretty damn capable." He yawned. "If you're really that worried, we can discuss what you actually wanted to in the morning. I'm exhausted." Bruno simply nodded and watched Heine enter the room.

What in the actual hell had he just witnessed?