June 10th, 1810 — Moscow, Grand Empire of Russia
Several days passed.
To some, time dragged like an endless winter.
To others, it slipped through their fingers without warning.
Before the House of Ivanovich—within the grand courtyards of the Tsarigrad Citadel—the atmosphere could not have been more different.
Laughter filled the air.
Xavier stood at the center of it all, surrounded by friends he had not seen in what felt like ages. Their voices overlapped, questions flying in every direction, hands gesturing wildly as they tried to speak over one another.
"So… are we not going to talk about the fact that half your hair turned gold?" Jack demanded dramatically. "What happened—did a dragon sneeze on you? Did you shake hands with a sun god? Are we supposed to bow now? Does this officially make you the empire's 'golden boy'?"
Xavier scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I woke up like this."
"That is the most suspicious answer you could have given," Sophie said flatly.
But before Xavier could defend himself—
"WAIT!" Jack suddenly shouted, eyes widening. "Hold on. We're just brushing past the bigger issue here!"
He pointed accusingly between Xavier and Teslaine.
"There's NO WAY you two are actually related. This has to be a joke."
Teslaine immediately leaned her elbows on top of Xavier's head as if it were a cushion, grinning proudly.
"Yup! And I'm the older sibling, by the way."
"As if," Xavier shot back, smirking. "You're way too childish. I'm clearly the mature one. That makes me older."
"WHAT?!" Teslaine gasped in outrage. "That's not fair! I can be silly and still be older! You big meanie!"
Xavier shrugged provocatively.
"Well, at least I act my age."
"Is that supposed to be an insult?" Xavier replied, amused.
Teslaine scrambled for a comeback—nothing came.
Xavier burst into laughter.
Which only made her angrier.
Without warning, she bit the top of his head.
"STOP LAUGHING!"
But he only laughed harder, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
And soon, everyone else joined in.
When the laughter finally settled, Aria tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Wait… didn't Miss Victoria say Xavier's father and Teslaine's father were brothers?"
Sophie snapped her fingers. "You're right!"
Jason folded his arms with a knowing expression.
"They were already unknowingly cousins before Teslaine was adopted into the royal Ivanovich family," he explained. "Honestly, I figured it out the moment I heard her last name."
Jupiter glanced at him sideways.
"You sly fox."
Jason only responded with an unapologetic smirk.
Teslaine exhaled through a small laugh.
"When you put it like that… I guess it doesn't sound as insane as it did at first."
"I guess it was fate that made us cross paths, little brother," Teslaine teased.
Xavier twitched.
"Stop calling me that."
Misaki giggled softly. "That's one incredible twist of fate if you ask me."
"After this," Elowen added, "I'm going to assume everyone I meet is my long-lost cousin."
Emily laughed. "It is a small world, apparently."
The girls exchanged amused looks while Xavier and Teslaine resumed their ridiculous argument over seniority.
But then—
Xavier's gaze shifted.
"Hey, Jupiter."
"Yeah?"
"What's with the eyepatch? You look like a pirate."
Jack immediately chimed in. "That's what I said! Is this your dramatic emo era? Feels a bit early."
Laughter erupted again.
Jupiter flushed red.
"IT'S NOT AN EMO PHASE!" he snapped. "I got injured back in London months ago."
The laughter faded.
Xavier's smile softened.
"Are you going to be okay?"
There was something genuine in his voice now. Concern. Guilt, even.
Jupiter noticed.
"I'll be fine," he said, regaining his composure. "Doctors said it just needs time. A few months. I'm wearing this so my left eye can rest."
Xavier nodded slowly.
"Alright. Just don't overdo it."
Jupiter bumped his fist lightly against Xavier's shoulder.
"I should be the one saying that, little brother."
Xavier's face immediately turned red.
The group burst into laughter once more.
"I still can't get used to your new look," Jupiter continued, examining him. "The gold streak actually suits you."
Aria crossed her arms thoughtfully. "Your curly brown hair and those cosmic blue eyes were already unfair. Now it's just ridiculous."
The girls nodded in agreement.
Misaki smiled warmly. "You should try modeling someday when you grow older, Xavier. You'd probably do well."
"I'll consider it," Xavier laughed.
Jupiter stepped slightly closer—unintentionally brushing nearer to Misaki as he spoke.
"She's right," he said casually. "You've got that soft, approachable look. Annoyingly charming."
Xavier blinked.
"Annoyingly?"
"Very," Jupiter replied without hesitation.
And just like that, the courtyard filled with laughter again—light, warm, and blissfully unaware of the storm quietly gathering beyond their world.
Misaki's cheeks immediately turned crimson when she realized just how close Jupiter was standing.
She stiffened like a startled cat.
Everyone noticed.
Even Xavier.
And Xavier, for all his strengths, could be astonishingly dense when it came to matters of the heart.
Apparently… there were levels to it.
Because while the entire group picked up on the shift in atmosphere—Jupiter remained completely unaware.
He might as well have been blind in both eyes.
"I-I think you would do great too, Jupiter," Misaki added quickly, trying to steady her voice.
"Huh?" Jupiter blinked. "You think so? That's the first time someone's complimented my looks who wasn't related to me."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"But if you say it, Misaki, then I guess it must be true. You're pretty honest with your opinions."
If possible, Misaki turned even redder.
She nodded stiffly, mumbling a shy thank you.
Around them, the others fought for their lives trying not to burst out laughing.
Jack bit his knuckle.
Aria, Emily, and Elowen looked up at the sky like they were studying cloud patterns.
Sophie had physically turned her back.
And still—Jupiter remained oblivious.
The pirate truly could not see.
Eventually, the group decided to head out toward the capital of Moscow to continue their fun. The streets were lively, filled with vendors, laughter, and the hum of the growing industrial age.
But before they could leave the citadel grounds, a maid of the Ivanovich household approached.
She bowed deeply before Xavier and Teslaine.
"His Majesty requests a brief private audience… with Lord Jupiter Cavendish."
Everyone blinked.
"Me?" Jupiter pointed at himself.
Even Xavier looked confused.
Before Xavier could question it, Jupiter waved him off.
"It's fine," he said casually. "You all go ahead. I'll catch up if I can."
Xavier hesitated.
"I… I guess," he replied slowly. "But hurry, alright? It won't be the same without you."
Jupiter's expression softened.
That's just Xavier.
Always thinking of others first.
"Yeah, yeah," he said lightly, starting to follow the maid. "Save me some fun."
Xavier stepped forward first and lightly fist-bumped Jupiter's chest.
"You're so emotional," Jupiter teased.
"And you're worse," Xavier shot back.
They held the bump for a second longer than necessary—grinning like rivals who would never admit how much they cared.
"Catch you later," Jupiter said.
"Yeah. Catch you later," Xavier replied.
And then they finally turned in opposite directions.
Hours later, Moscow's capital streets buzzed with energy.
Steam engines hissed in the distance. Merchants called out from stalls. Children ran past in bursts of laughter.
Xavier walked alongside his friends, taking it all in.
But eventually, his gaze drifted toward Teslaine.
She was surrounded by the others again, animated as ever.
When the group finally gave her a moment to breathe, Xavier approached.
"Teslaine."
She turned. "Yeah? What's wrong? You look serious."
"I… wanted to talk to you about something."
Her playful expression faded immediately.
"Oh?"
Xavier adjusted his glasses slightly—the Visors of Time catching a faint glint of light.
"When I found out you were adopted by Grandpa… that we're officially siblings now…"
He paused.
"I was shocked."
Teslaine listened quietly.
"And it made me think about how I treated you… after I learned who your father was."
He met her gaze directly.
Then—
Without warning—
Xavier lowered his head in a formal bow.
Right there in the middle of the lively Moscow street.
Teslaine froze.
"H-Huh? Xavier?" she stammered, flustered.
She glanced desperately at the others for help.
They all very deliberately looked away.
Whistling.
Inspecting nearby buildings.
Studying cobblestones.
Absolutely useless.
Meanwhile, passersby began slowing down.
Was that… the young prince bowing?
To a girl?
In public?
"X-Xavier!" Teslaine hissed under her breath. "What are you doing?! Stand up!"
But Xavier remained bowed, steady and sincere.
"I owe you an apology," he said quietly.
And for once—there was no laughter in his voice.
He didn't give her time to process it.
"I need to say this clearly," Xavier continued, still bowed. "I regret how I reacted to you back then. I was hostile. Cold. And you didn't deserve that."
His fingers curled slightly at his sides.
"I wasn't in the right state of mind. That's not an excuse. Just the truth."
A small pause.
"Percival took many things from me. But you weren't the one who did it; your father did. You are not your father. And you should never carry the weight of what he's done."
His voice softened.
"That burden is his to stumble under. Not yours."
He inhaled quietly.
"You're one of the kindest people I've ever met. You showed me nothing but sincerity. And I'm grateful for that… more than I've ever said."
The crowd noise around them seemed to dull.
"So… if you'll allow it," he finished, "I'd like us to move forward. Not just as friends. But as brother and sister now."
Silence lingered between them.
Teslaine's thoughts raced.
He had bowed.
In public.
As a prince.
For her.
Slowly, she stepped forward and gently placed a hand beneath his chin, lifting his head.
"Xavier…" she said softly. "You don't need to apologize like this."
Her ruby-red eyes were steady now.
"I knew you were overwhelmed. Hurt. Shocked. Anyone in your position would have reacted poorly."
She smiled faintly.
"The fact that you realized it on your own means more than any apology."
She let out a small breath.
"Honestly… I would've been fine even if you hadn't said anything. What mattered most to me was seeing my first real friend smile again."
Her voice grew warmer.
"Aunt Victoria once told me something. That you and I were bound by fate."
She hesitated only briefly.
"My mother gave her life to save you. She knew she would die… and she still chose it without hesitation."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"I've never met her. I've wished countless times that I could. But if she chose to protect you… then that means you were precious to her."
"And that's enough reason for me."
Xavier's vision blurred slightly.
He blinked.
Teslaine suddenly giggled—an embarrassed, almost shy sound.
"And to be honest… when we first met in London, I kind of had a silly little admiration crush on you."
"What?" Xavier's jaw dropped.
She laughed again, waving her hands quickly.
"I know, I know! It sounds strange now! But my first impression of you was someone deeply wounded… yet still stubbornly clinging to his ideals."
She tapped his forehead lightly.
"You apologized to me even when you were the one suffering. That stuck with me."
Her smile softened.
"So I decided to keep those feelings. Not romantic," she clarified quickly, cheeks pink. "But admiration. Respect."
"You stood back up when despair tried to bury you. You inspire people, Xavier. That's why so many care about you."
Her expression brightened.
"To me, you were like an angel disguised as a stubborn human boy."
She nudged his head gently.
"And you still are."
Xavier stared at her, eyes wide and suspiciously glossy.
"Don't look at me like that," she laughed. "Those puppy eyes are dangerous."
Then she extended her hand toward him.
Sunlight caught in the strands of her blond-and-black hair, illuminating her like something out of a painting.
"Come on," she said with a radiant smile. "We've got a whole day ahead of us."
A beat.
"Big brother."
Something in Xavier's chest loosened.
As if a weight he hadn't realized he was carrying had quietly fallen away.
He took her hand.
And she pulled him back into motion—back toward laughter, toward friends, toward a future that no longer felt as heavy.
For now, at least, the day was theirs.