16 Chapter 16: Letter

Aurelion graciously sat down.

"Did you write this?"

He takes a piece of parchment from his pocket and unfolds it.

Looking at it curiously, Neo realizes that it was the letter he had written to those shady noble families, one of them, at least. After Gareth and Aurelion had insisted he cut them off, he decided to write them a letter to address the issue.

Personally, he also agreed to cut them off, mainly because these families will lead him to his death. There was a reason he approached them, a wicked reason, and now that he is no longer wicked, he does not feel comfortable with having contact with the very people that let him drown in the darkness.

"Yes," Neo admits. "Is there a problem? Does Father want me to personally cut ties instead?"

"No,"

Aurelion didn't know what to say, at first. He crossed his arms.

"I just want to know why."

Neo looks surprised. "Why?"

The younger of the two nods sagely. "You made many promises and used up a lot your resources in order to get a connection with them,"

Neo didn't question why Aurelion knew this. He was very much aware of the web of intel his younger brother has built against him.

"So why let them go?"

This punk looked very pale and was sporting some pretty neat dark circles.

Neo watched him closely, and then, he sighs.

"I won't ask how you know this, nor will I inquire how you managed to get your hands on my letter. You have been keeping tabs on me for the longest time, so I'm not surprised by the amount of knowledge you hold against me."

"That…"

"But," Neo held up a hand, "we will continue this discussion once Rainier returns with tea."

And his cakes. He wanted his cakes.

Sensing that Neo will not be disclosing any information any time soon, Aurelion backed down for the moment. He can wait.

"How have you been, lately? Is the Senior department treating you well?"

For the longest time, Aurelion doesn't respond. The question had come out of nowhere, and he wasn't used to his older brother asking about his well-being. Even despite the abrupt change in personality, he had avoided the older boy and kept tabs on him in secret.

"... I didn't think you would care to know."

Neo smiles. "Even I know that integration is difficult. Are you troubled by anything?"

"Who would dare make trouble with me?"

The ice-cube-like boy sounded a little sulky as he looked downcast at his hands.

Neo saw this and almost laughed. Aurelion looks much younger like this, almost like a child. No, he breaks away from that thought, his brother is still a child, far too young to have to hold so much on those thin shoulders of his.

He grins playfully. "That's good to hear. I don't think I'll be able to take on any bullies if they were to offend you. Ah, I might just be a punching bag-"

"No!"

"E-eh?"

Aurelion gave him a burning stare. It was almost scary. What in the world…?

It was only meant to be a joke. Did he offend him?

The frozen-stiff austere face of his brother contorted into a fierce one. Huh, he looked like a mini-version of Vespera during the Lesser Krieg War.

Imagine, seventeen-year-old Vespera Arcadia not-yet-Odum leading the entire army against the Polska Nation.

Neo might have been a year old during that period of time. It had only lasted for a couple of years, and by the time the Rhine Empire won, he was still only a baby. Anyway, the point that he's getting at is the fact that everyone in the family has all seen the paintings of Vespera during the war, (Gareth likes collecting them because he's such a wife-con), and only one word could describe her appearance.

Monster.

Of all things, the painters--for some god-awful reason--loved reimagining her with blood on her face and a backdrop of dead bodies. There's even one where she impaled a Polska soldier with her machete with one hand while the other hand was too busy bludgeoning a soldier to death with the butt of her sword! And each and every one of them made sure to copy down that horrifying expression she made during battle.

It was this exact expression that was currently being made on Aurelion's face.

"Is something the matter?" Neo was nervous. He has never seen Aurelion look like this. Not even in their last life has he witnessed the crazy look that his brother is wearing.

Aurelion gritted his teeth. "No one would dare beat an Odum. Who is it? Tell me their names. I'll take care of them myself-"

"N-no, Aurelion, stop. No one is beating anyone. What are you talking about?" Neo grabs his brother by the wrist to keep him from leaving and doing whatever he is thinking of doing. "Calm down, okay? Let's talk about it. Let's calmly discuss this."

With much difficulty, Neo was able to convince Aurelion to sit back down.

"Brother, if someone tries to beat you up, you have to tell me."

"For the last time, Aurelion, no one is trying to beat me up."

"But brother…"

"Aurelion."

This brat has blown his words way out of proportion! He did not remember him acting like this in their last life.

Neo sighs. "Let's talk about something else. Like, hmm, classmates." Yes, classmates sounded like a safe topic. Classroom drama, gossips, rumors. All seemed very safe and harmless. "I heard Fredrick Meyers transferred classes due to some unknown circumstances. He used to sit in the table in front of me-"

Unbeknownst to him, Aurelion immediately tensed up. That was the subordinate he had forcefully transferred out of his brother's classroom.

"-rather strange since he's really passionate about Professor Ratcliff's Political Studies class. And you know that Professor Ratcliff is only assigned to our classroom-"

Okay, it looks like his older brother hasn't realized that Fredrick is spying for him.

"-a shame, really. He was an excellent partner during our literature studies. The two of us played the main couple, Rose and Gilde, for the Tragedy of Ohmlet-"

Wait, what? His brother played a couple with Fredrick?!

"It was embarrassing for me, but he was quite the actor..." Neo voice trailed off. "I resented playing Rose..." He muttered to himself darkly.

Aurelion was still having his moment and could barely listen to a word that Neo was saying.

Why wasn't this reported to him? Rose and Gilde were a romantic couple! How far did the literature professor required the students to act? Did his brother have to kiss that idiotic, pig-like, son of a-

"-made a good Gilde, though we were only required to read the lines from our seats..."

How dare he? Insubordinate idiot! He is quite glad that the boy has now transferred classes.

"-lion… Aurelion!"

"Huh?"

He came back out from his thoughts and was met with the impatient gaze of his older brother.

"I was wondering when you were going to pay attention. Honestly, if you didn't want to have a conversation with me, you could have just told me."

"It's not that!" Aurelion intercepted quite loudly and immediately grew embarrassed. "It's-it's not like that…"

"It's not like what?"

"It's... it's...mghh..."

"Young Master,"

Thank you, Rainier, you wonderful man.

Rainier enters the library to find a very awkward atmosphere between a blushing idiot ice-cube and a very confused Young Master. The ice-cube looked like he was going to melt, and as usual (since, like, two weeks ago), Young Master is looking like a ray of sunshine.

At his call, Neo perked up and smiled widely. "Ah, Rainier, you're back!"

"Young Master," He bowed, and then pushed the tea cart into the room. "Cook Lillia gave you a little more cream on the tiramisu cake since she found out you liked it so much. The pastry chefs also wanted to give you some extra sweets and tea cakes."

Rainier placed the plates of desserts onto the table in front of the sofa and gave each young master a teacup.

"Darjeeling today, imported from the East. Young Master has been favoring eastern teas as of late."

Neo smiled broadly and accepted the fork Rainier handed to him. "You've noticed." It was more of a statement rather than a question.

The servant smiles in a charming manner. "It is my duty, Young Master."

The melting ice-cube finally managed to gain back some solidity and immediately bumped into the conversation.

"Brother, we should continue with matters regarding your letter." He recovered quite well. In fact, he never wants to bring up what had just happened a moment ago. Goodbye, memories. You were meant to be recycled, anyway.

"Ah, yes." Neo tries to remember, picking up his teacup and playing with the rims as he thought. "Where were we on that…"

He thinks back to the topic that he had forcibly shut down at the beginning. "Hm, ah, yes, the letter." He takes a sip from his cup. "There's not really a reason for what I did it. It was simply the easiest way to break off contact."

Aurelion was put off by this. "But, the resources. Why give it all up when you could have had the chance to…" kill me.

Neo heard the unspoken words. He sighs. Ah, of course, this little brother of his would be so vigilant. What an uncute brat.

Setting down the cup, Neo straightened his back and properly looked at Aurelion with a passive stare.

"You are right. I could very well gain the power to kill you, or at the very least, try to hurt you." He admits, his voice like stone and one that he hasn't used in a long time. He sees Aurelion flinch. "However, it has occurred to me that if I continue on this path, it will not change anything. No, I fear that it will end badly for the both of us, including those that you and I care for," Neo takes a pause. His voice suddenly softens. "For me, that includes you, and Guinivere, and Father and Mother."

The look Aurelion gives him is filled with doubt, uncertainty, hope, and more. Such innocence behind that cold mask.

It wasn't easy to want to seek atonement. In the beginning, when he entered that modern world, hatred still filled him and drove him mad. He had blamed Aurelion, cursed him for killing him. He had blamed his Mummy for bringing him into this world. He had blamed the Duke and the Duchess for being cold. And he had even blamed Guinivere for being a weakling behind that mask of cold confidence she exuded. He hated and hated until that hatred swallowed him.

And then, it all came crumbling down when the first touch of a warm hand caressed him in a way that had reminded him of his Mummy. It reminded him of his humanity. Of who he was. Of who he is.

And then, for a good thirty years, he recovered from that hatred, little by little as he worked for the good of others.

"That…"

Aurelion was lost for words. What can he say? Those words, are they a lie? A truth? Why now, of all times?

The gentle smile adorn Neo's face like a second skin. "I had a long dream. I'm sure your informants have told you about the details. I want to do better, you know? I believe there's still time. We're young, after all."

"But still…"

"Aurelion," The sharp tone of his voice was followed by the intense gaze shot from vermillion eyes. They focused on Aurelion. "These families are… shady, if I were to call them. Both you and father have already reminded me to cut off relationships. I agreed with this decision, so I did as the both of you have asked." He explains in a manner that was more authoritative then he would have liked. He sees Aurelion flinch again and straighten up his posture even more. He keeps forgetting that this kid is still fifteen. "I may no longer seem like it, but just because I'm being nicer does not mean I do not care for the reputation of the Odum family. I have also not forgotten noble decorums. I beg that you refrain from stepping out of bound when just last month I sent a group of people after you. Understood?"

Neo was aware that mentioning the group might bring up some tension, but it was necessary for Aurelion to understand that he is willing to change but it did not mean he was going to toss away his responsibilities as a person from a noble house. It will take time for perceptions to shift, and he is willing to wait for the day that he can be accepted as someone who is good. For now, however, he would like these peaceful days to continue.

Aurelion tenses up when he hears about the group. He and his friends were vulnerable at the time, with no guards nor weapons. Perhaps he is being too meddlesome.

"Yes." He complies, almost in an obedient manner with his head bowed.

"But," He sees pale, piano-like fingers gently hold his chin and bring it back up so that he can face its owner.

The same, gentle smile appeared once again. "I am glad that you spoke to me about this, and I am happy that you were willing to listen. Breaking ties with these families may gain some backlash, but you know I can handle it. You are looking out for me, and for this, I am very content."

Ah, the ice cube was melting again…

Neo chuckled and ruffled Aurelion's black locks in a playful manner. "Don't think I didn't notice that you were spying on me. Ah, your hair is so soft!"

"Brother…!"

Aurelion didn't realize that his behavior would have been strange a couple of weeks ago. This sudden shift in dynamics between him and his older brother.

Neo, however, did. For the first time, he has actually acted as a responsible and mature elder brother. He can't believe this.

Did he… did he just lecture Aurelion?

And then give him encouraging words? And ruffle his hair? And tease him?!

And now, he is playing with his hair. Hahaha. Life works in mysterious ways.

Waaa-hooo! One of his second-lifetime goals has been achieved. In his third lifetime!

"Young Master, the tea is getting cold."

Rainier, who has been treated as a decorative vase for some time now interrupts in a fashion that is worthy of a servant. So smooth, so charming, so cool!

"You are right, Rainier. Aurelion, here, try this. Lillia makes the best tiramisus. Here, say 'aah'."

"A-aah-"

"Master Aurelion, would you like some sugar and milk?"

"Rainier, you know that milk wouldn't go well with Darjeeling. It will ruin the taste."

"Apologies, Young Master. This has simply slipped my mind. Would Master Aurelion prefer cream instead?"

"Rainier, don't tease him! Aurelion, let's go send the letters after this, alright?"

As the two brothers were served by Rainier and sat side by side with each other, the mood was light and warm.

Perhaps not everything is completely fixed, and for a long time, the cracks will continue to remain. But the first step to repairing is to find the pieces. One by one, Neo is gathering them, in hopes that he can mend what he had broken.

It is why he wishes that warm and gentle days like these will last him another lifetime.