oOo

Chapter 3 - Grief

"It's fine, Mother." Langris huffed. "You don't need to fuss."

"Nonsense, you need to look perfect." Liliane smiled, adjusting his necktie. "I know that you're no longer a child, but it's not every day that you're at home."

"I don't understand why I couldn't wear my Golden Dawn uniform."

"It would make sense," She hummed, adjusting his vest. "But tonight, it's not just about being promoted to vice-captain. You're also taking the responsibility of becoming your father's new heir. Those are just details, but they're quite important."

"Are they really?"

"Yes, now stay still." She scolded. "We need you to look presentable."

Langris sighed and let his mother fuss over his appearance.

It was the least he could do to still her anxiety. He only ever went home if he was summoned, so he understood her need to seize the moment while he was there. He didn't want to participate in the event, but he had never disappointed his parents before.

He wasn't going to start now.

"You look very handsome!" Liliane complimented. "I wish you had invited some of your military friends to see you."

Langris tried his best not to grimace.

Part of him wished he hadn't been so rash and angry.

He had lied about sending the invitations and the courier losing them to his parents. He almost dug himself a hole trying to explain why he didn't want retribution and another set of invitations. He knew he could've invited a couple of Golden Dawn members to attend, just so he wouldn't have to deal with strangers, but he didn't want them to know about his personal life.

"Will Lady Finesse attend?" Langris suddenly asked.

He wondered, because if she did, at least he had someone familiar to talk to. They were already comfortable with each other, so it wouldn't be like talking to a stranger anyway. Then again, his hopes were dashed when his mother pulled away.

"We wrote a letter," She whispered. "Lady Finesse is feeling a little under the weather."

Langris frowned this time. "Is she well?"

"She's fine." Liliane assured. "She just needs some bedrest."

"I see."

"Forgive me, dear."

"Her health comes first," Langris stated. "I'll check on her tomorrow."

Liliane smiled and praised her son for worrying about Finesse. "I'm glad you two are getting along. You'd make an excellent husband one day. I'm very proud of you." Langris forced himself to not react. He hated it when his parents mentioned the whole marriage thing.

"Guests will be arriving soon." Liliane declared. "I'll just be downstairs."

When she left, Langris sighed as loudly as he could.

He wasn't one to bail, but he would really love to. There wasn't a point to this gathering other than an excuse for his parents to brag to the other nobles. Langris gently lay down on his bed and closed his eyes for a moment. He wished this was all a dream.

He managed to doze off a little until he heard noises coming from outside.

"That must be them."

Langris pushed himself off the bed and walked to the window. He pulled the curtains aside and stared at the guests that were finally arriving. Some had flown from carriages while others used their brooms. Langris grimaced and abruptly closed the curtains.

He didn't even have time to brood.

In his annoyance, he walked over to the mirror in the corner. He stared at his reflection. This wasn't him. It just wasn't. He bitterly cast his thoughts aside to adjust his tie and smoothened out his clothes. He turned away and walked out of his room.

Langris wasn't one to be tardy.

He went downstairs and prepared himself for the long night ahead of him. With his control, at least no one would know the struggles he was facing.

Sometimes, Langris wished he were someone else.

As time wound down, every guest had already arrived. Ledior and Liliane toasted the guests and mingled with each and every one. Langris did his best to interact. It was a good thing he was a good liar or this would never have pulled through.

Then again, he had training.

It was fairly easy to ride through the conversation and praises.

Maybe if he tried hard enough, tonight wouldn't be so bad.

oOo

As the party continued inside, little did the guests know about the Spatial Magic forming in the garden. A portal opened and Finral stepped out; dressed in a suit. He was very anxious. Just looking at the lights from the window of the ballroom and the murmur of voices inside were enough to make his stomach churn.

He took a step forward, but stopped.

Finral tugged his sleeve and looked at the crowd inside.

He felt sick.

What if Langris didn't want him to attend even if Finral promised he would try? He took a deep breath and took another step but stopped again. He turned around and argued with himself. He debated whether it was a good idea to just go in unannounced.

He didn't have an invitation.

After what happened with him and his father, Finral doubted he was welcome.

"Langris probably doesn't want me here."

Finral ran a hand through his hair. By now, Langris should already know about his name change. Finral was sure of it. It had been a week since Langris' visit. It was impossible for their father not to have mentioned it. All Finral needed to do now was to gather enough courage to explain his side of the story.

He palmed his face.

Maybe he shouldn't do this, but he needed closure.

oOo

"He hasn't said a word!" Finral cried. "Should I go?"

"Finral," Vanessa crossed her arms. "You're overthinking things!"

"I'm not." He whined as he began to cry animatedly. "What do I do? I haven't gotten anything! I heard the gathering is tomorrow afternoon!"

In her drunk state, Vanessa couldn't give out a proper advice. Besides, she wasn't sure what to give him anyway. So she turned and draped herself over the couch. "Captain," She whined. "Help." She gestured for Yami to come over. "Finral's being difficult."

Finral cried, "I'm not…"

"Oi," Yami didn't look up from his newspaper. "One of you idiots help him."

"Captain," Vanessa huffed.

"Has he always been like this?" Magna wondered.

"How would I know?" Luck shrugged. "I'm new here."

"Not asking you!"

"Maybe he'll feel better if we fight!"

"You're not doing that!"

Finral ignored Magna and Luck's banter and got up from the couch to start pacing. He hugged a pillow like his life depended on it. Finral muttered to himself while Vanessa tried her hardest to calm him down. She even threatened to tie him up because he was making her dizzy.

"That's enough," Yami said.

He placed his newspaper down and loomed over Finral. Finral carefully looked up in panic as Yami continued to stare him down. Finral waited and Yami sighed.

"Why don't you just go?"

"But I'm not invited!" He immediately responded. "What if he hates me? He knows! He probably already knows!"

"You won't know until you try, right?"

oOo

Finral palmed his face.

He took a deep breath and gathered up whatever courage he had accumulated. He already broke down at base; he wasn't going to do that here. Besides, when Yami loomed over him and told him he would drop kick him into the event if he didn't shut up about it, Finral immediately decided he'd do it his own way.

Sometimes, Yami's threats weren't threats at all.

Finral walked to the entrance of the hall leading up to the ballroom, but stopped himself. Maybe he should find Langris first and see if he could go inside. So Finral decided to move to the window by the ballroom and tried to spot Langris.

It didn't take long.

He found Langris talking to a couple of guests.

The conversation took a while to finish, but when it did, Langris had moved to the buffet table. Finral knew this was his only chance. So he opened up a little Spatial hole and poked a hand through.

Finral tapped Langris' shoulders.

It was a good thing Langris wasn't someone to scare easily.

Langris looked at the hand and watched it point to the window. He turned and grimaced when he saw auburn hair peeking from the side. The Spatial hole disappeared and Langris clenched his fists. He looked at the crowd and made sure no one was following him when he snuck out to the hall.

When he reached out, Finral walked over to him.

"L-langris," He called. "I'm sorry I'm late—"

"You have the nerve—" Langris growled. "You even wore a suit."

"Excuse me?"

"How dare you come here after everything?"

"I just…" Finral paled as he realized what Langris meant. "Please, just let me explain my side."

"And what?" Langris broke. "Let you lie?" He shook his head, trying to keep his voice low. "Why should I believe you? You can come up with any excuse that you want just so you can get your way. Let me make it easy for the both of us. I don't want to hear it."

"Please, Langris."

"Go… away." He clenched his fists. "I don't want you here. You're not invited."

"But you can't—"

"You don't get a say in what happens in my life!" Finral flinched when Langris continued. "You made it clear where we stand when you decided to give all of this up—! That we're nothing more than half-brothers!"

Finral gasped, "That's not true."

"Really?" Langris scoffed. "How much are you willing to risk that, Roulacase?!"

"Please, just give me a chance to explain—"

"I don't want to hear it. Any of it. Go back to your ragtag team and stay there. You're not part of this family anymore. I'm done. This conversation is over." Langris remained where he was, but he averted his eyes. Finral was still there. "You're not welcome here. Leave!"

He didn't see Finral shaking.

There was an awkward moment of silence.

Finral suddenly smiled and said, "I know you don't want to talk, but I'll wait… I wish you all the best, Langris. I'll still be your older brother, no matter what." With that, he let his mana flare a little. He concentrated on opening up a portal back to base, straight to his room. "Congratulations."

And then he left.

Langris felt tears form in his eyes, but he closed it shut, willing it to go away.

He didn't know how long he stood there, but it helped calm him down. There were so many things he planned on saying. He wanted clarification, but he couldn't… he just couldn't hear it. He lowered his head and crossed his arms in thought.

Langris had no time to process anything when he heard the door opened.

"Why are you outside, dear?" Liliane asked. "You'll catch a cold!"

He just couldn't catch a break.

"I'm fine, Mother." Langris answered. "Honest."

"The guests want to see you." She said, latching onto his arm. "Your father is ready to tear his hair out to look for you. Are you well? Do you want to rest a little?"

"No, I just wanted fresh air."

"Let me know then." She smiled, patting his arm. "We don't want the guests to see you like this. You'll be giving a small speech in a few minutes after your father introduces you properly."

Langris frowned. "Is it necessary?"

"Your father thinks so. You will address your responsibilities to the public." Liliane pulled Langris around to turn back inside. "You'll also affirm your claim on your marriage to Lady Finesse. There are other high nobles attending that would love to hear it."

Langris pretended everything was fine.

"It'll get better," He thought.

He hoped he could continue this farce for a long time. Otherwise, he was in for a miserable future. He followed his mother inside and forced out a smile.

"I hope you're happy, Brother."

From here on out, nothing was ever going to be okay between them.

oOo

"You can also check this story out on AO3"

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