“The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.” ― John Green, Looking for Alaska

  ???

  Chaos.

  That was the only word that Prince Lucien von Aubere could think of as he stared in mute horror across the vast wooden table in Nightray Manor’s great dining hall.

  What seems to be the entire House was gathered in the dining hall for lunch, which had quickly turned into a loud and chaotic affair the moment the platters of food and tankards were placed onto the tables. Nightray men and women were all shouting over each other, slamming their tankards down with heavy clunks, while food was either being passed over, fought over, or even flung through the air with battlefield precision.

  Two tables down, two burly men had descended into an animated argument, complete with arms waving, about whether roasted lamb or wild boar was the more ‘manly’ meal. That had escalated into a full-scale exchange involving bread rolls, insults, and one battered cabbage.

  Another five tables down, two teenagers have started out with whispered arguments before quickly devolving into full-on shouting matches about, “She obviously likes me!”

  The nearby House members didn’t interfere. Instead, they were quick to sit down with their food or drinks, interest all gleaming in their eyes at whatever teenage romance drama had passed in House Nightray that week.

  At the head of the table sat Lord Hamilton Nightray, who was utterly unbothered by the chaos that was currently happening in front of him in his dining hall. He merely sat calmly, cutting into his venison. While three seats down, his normally stern and composed retainer was in the middle of a wrestling match with one of the older members. Beside Luca, Yulia mirrored her father’s serenity, sipping her juice with delicate grace as a roll of bread sailed past her ear.

  “Uh… Is this,” Luca whispered, leaning toward Yulia with wide eyes, “an everyday thing?”

  His past visits to Nightray Manor never lasted long enough to include a mealtime. Even during Yulia’s birthday celebrations, House Nightray was never as chaotic as this.

  Yulia laughed. “First time seeing this, then?” She eyed Luca knowingly. “It’s tradition at this point. Half the House normally uses lunchtime to yell about what’s pissed them off that week. Or air whatever grievances that they had.” She jerked her thumb towards the two arguing teenagers, now rolling across the floor in a tangle of limbs and hair pulling, while the rest of the House members cheered them on, mostly the other teenagers and young adults. “The rest of them just sat back and enjoy the chaos. Or the show.”

  From somewhere down the table, a yell echoed across the room, “For the love of the Goddess, give me back my bloody ale, Gareth, or I’ll stick a fork in your eye!”

  A tankard was tossed against the wooden pillar behind them. Yulia, however, didn’t even flinch. “Besides,” she added cheerfully, spearing a cut of venison with her fork, “it’s about the only time of the day when everyone eats together. Those not on patrol or missions, anyway.”

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Luca glanced down at his plate, frowning.

  Back in the Imperial Palace, mealtimes were solemn and silent affairs. His parents always dined separately—Edric normally had meals served to him in his study, while Lysandra had her meals served to her in her tearoom. Even the servants kept their distance, and had their meals in their own spaces. Even as Crown Prince, Luca normally ate alone in his room, unless Rem snuck in to join him.

  But here in Nightray Manor? It is like night and day, compared to the Imperial Palace. Yulia had hidden it well, whenever she joined Luca for mealtimes during the few times a week when she visited him at the Imperial Palace. But Luca knew that she disliked the silence and solitude during mealtimes. And now, Luca is starting to understand why.

  Luca was startled out of his thoughts when a burly man leaned over and dropped a freshly fried fish onto Luca’s plate. “Here, Your Highness! This was caught just this morning by me!” He jerked a thumb backwards towards himself proudly. “Can’t get this anywhere outside Nightray lands!”

  “Bah! Fish is for scholars!” Another boomed, slapping a slab of spicy venison beside it. “A prince needs meat!”

  The other Nightray members were starting to join in on the fun, gleefully adding to the chaos.

  “What about the sweetened cabbage? Growing boys need proper fibre!”

  “What are you saying, you old goat? Men need real food!”

  The shouting escalated again as Luca stared down at his now overflowing plate, even as a cabbage flew past his ear. He looked at Yulia, who looked thoroughly entertained. “I’m almost afraid to reach for my juice,” he said flatly.

  Yulia just laughed.

  At the head of the table, Hamilton let out a low chuckle at the antics of his House, and also the children. He watched the Crown Prince quietly, noting how Luca’s eyes swept across the dining hall. His gaze was curious, but also alert. And there is also a touch of envy and wistfulness within those dark blue eyes.

  He’s too thin, Hamilton thought to himself with a frown.

  Also too pale. Not like how Edric had been when he was Luca’s age, Hamilton mused to himself, recalling that if anything, Edric was…pleasantly plump, to put it delicately, when they were children. He only shed that weight once they were enrolled in the Imperial Officers Academy, where physical drills and exercises had stripped off more weight than they put on.

  Luca was Edric’s opposite when the king was Luca’s age. Prince Lucien isn’t just sharp, but also has a keen eye and mind for reading people, even without his gift. Even at the tender age of seven, he already knew how to navigate the shark-infested waters that is the royal court. A mind that listened and remembered.

  “Eat up, Your Highness,” Hamilton said, his voice gentle. “You’ll need it.”

  Both Yulia and Luca seemed to understand what he meant. They likely knew that once Luca returned to the palace, he might not eat again that day, and probably the next day, too, depending on Edric’s mood.

  Luca looked at Hamilton, surprised.

  “I have to take you back to the Imperial Palace after this,” Hamilton said, his heart almost breaking upon seeing how sad Luca looked. “The king isn’t pleased. From what I hear, the Imperial Palace is in an uproar. But you’ll be safe until then.”

  Luca’s hand stilled over his fork as he was reminded of the place that he had to live in.

  Not his home. Never his home. Home is Evershade, where Yulia is. Where Lord Hamilton is. Where the people here, and even the village, have never judged him. They played with him and accepted him, even during a time when he couldn’t control his gift.

  The Imperial Palace was always cold to him. And Luca isn’t referring to the cold winds during nighttime, or when winter comes. The oppressive silence. His father’s constant disapproval and beatings whenever Luca did something the king disliked, which is almost all the time these days. Even the loneliness, which only got worse since Luca and Rem were given separate rooms just a few months ago. Luca is still trying to get used to being separated from his twin, when they had shared rooms all their lives.

  Yulia’s nudging of Luca’s elbow made him look up. She had a small smile on her face. “Cheer up,” she whispered. “I know we can’t change anything. But at least for a few hours, you still have me. Us.”

  Luca smiled back at Yulia, the heaviness in his chest easing just a little.

  That’s true.

  The family he had chosen… They have always remained in his corner, duty or not. Even if someday, he loses his position as prince, he knew that he would still have a place with House Nightray. Every member of the House, and even Lord Hamilton, as well as Yulia, have made that clear with their actions over the last two years.

  Luca nodded. “Thank you, Lord Hamilton.”

  The head of House Nightray inclined his head, a flicker of something unreadable appearing momentarily in his eyes before vanishing again. “So long as you’re in Evershade, and in my house, you are safe,” Hamilton said softly. “You are not alone.”

  And for a little while longer, Luca ate, being surrounded by chaos and clamour. By the warmth and teasing voices of House Nightray, and by the unspoken loyalty of the people who had chosen him and accepted him as one of them.

  And for a while, Luca almost forgot what waited for him beyond those walls.