"Welcome to the 66th anniversary of—" The sound was cut as the television was turned off. Some rustling was then heard before a loud slap resounded next.
"What the fu—" another slap in the back made the voice stop. He had to pause. After seeing that familiar glare, and knew what would happen if he continued.
Still, he knitted his brow. He was not even fully awake yet, his eyes heavy, wanting to sleep some more.
"Why are you here?" Sighing as he brushed his messy hair, he asked the rude newcomer. Seeing that he was still being glared at, he could only soften his tone again.
This was his twin brother, Arleus. Someone always insisted as his older brother. In times like this, who the 'older brother' really was meant to be questioned.
"Arle, you barged in here and woke me up. At least tell me the reason why you're mad."
Arle glared at him. "I told you to stop seducing my friend!"
This made the other blink in confusion, question marks full in display in his expression.
"What?"
"Hmph. Stop acting stupid, Savier Remminton." He now crossed his arms and raised a brow at his twin brother. Even calling his full name. "My friend is now crying because of you!"
What the fuck... I made someone cry, now?
He worked his ass off last night completing a project, and he barely slept in the past few days. Where would he find the time to flirt with someone?
Suddenly being accused for no reason, Savier could not help but be annoyed. It was now his turn to glare at his brother.
"I'm not doing anything. And, who? I don't even know your friends."
Their circle of friends was completely different, after all. Arle mostly hung out with betas and omegas.
"Wow, what a scumbag. You don't even know his name, and yet you seduced him?" His words made his brother fume further.
Savier's jaw dropped slightly. When Arle became unreasonable, it was hard to talk to him. He brushed his face, starting to get annoyed. It could not help that he was sleep-deprived.
No, I can't get mad here.
He took a breath and calmed his temper.
"Arle..." He paused. "Tell me what happened first."
They could not get anywhere if they could only talk in circles; one was fuming, and the other was confused.
And it seemed his calm tone worked as Arle calmed down slightly. He then recounted what happened, and with each of his words, Savier's expression became darker and darker.
He knitted his brows and repeated, trying to clarify.
"Your friend... told you... I'm ghosting him?"
Arle nodded. "His name is Rin."
"Right, Rin... told you that. Now... how the fuck am I ghosting him when I never had a conversation with him in the first place?"
Arle opened his mouth about to retort, but he seemed to realize something and went quiet instead.
Savier did not know if he should sneer at his brother's naivety or get mad that his friends led him by the nose sometimes. This was getting out of hand.
They could only stare at each other in complete silence. The other was the first to look away as if guilty.
Ugh, seriously. Savier leaned back in the bed frame and massaged the space between his brows. One of these days, he would give those friends a visit.
How dare they deceive his brother? Arle was a prince, for fucks sake. Are they getting bold now?
The problem was... this brother of his did not care at all. And in the end, he knew that his good intentions might scale to a new fight instead.
"Look, Arle, if ever I'll seduce... wait," he shook his head, Arle's words messing him. "No...date someone. I won't go after your friends, okay?"
Arle looked offended. "What's wrong with my friends?"
Savier put a 'are you kidding me look and sneered.
"Everything is wrong with your friends. No, don't defend them. Last time, someone pretended to be my fling and invented all sorts of fantasies."
Savier still had that experience fresh in his mind. It even escalated to national news! How embarrassing it was, and yet now Arle wanted to defend his delusional friends.
"Arle, I and our parents don't want to be too overprotective of you. But," This time, his expression turned serious. His intimidating gaze made Arle not look at him. "Once... I mean, once you were in danger because of your friends... I can only apologize to you. You won't be able to be free as you are now."
Arle was an omega and so needed to be taken special care of. While he had his bodyguards, he and his parents did not forbid him to do anything he wanted. So to say he was spoiled was actually an understatement.
He was a darling of the royal family, so that was to be expected.
And also because their omega father, the empress, did not want Arle to be sheltered and wanted him to experience the golden age of youth. Maybe it was also because of his younger days.
Their omega father, after all, had a notorious reputation when he was younger. And their father indulged him with it; even to this day, it never changed.
The conversation ended there. Savier did not want to sound harsh, so he did not reprimand Arle further. After apologizing to him, the other left with head bowed.
He clicked his tongue. He did not take it to heart; in a few days, Arle would act like nothing had happened anyway.
Once he was alone, he tried to sleep again, but for some reason could not do so anymore. Seriously, Arle was a pain in the ass sometimes.
Savier stood up and decided to eat breakfast first and try to sleep later. Having decided to do so, he first washed up and, once presentable enough, he went downstairs.
Someone was waiting there and bowed upon seeing him.
"Your Highness," he saluted. Before he could speak again, Savier already waved his hand.
"No need. I'll prepare my breakfast." Savier then went to the kitchen. He did not have requirements and made a simple meal.
The attendant who saluted him followed.
Unlike in the palace, his lifestyle in this place was rather carefree. Without any formalities, he could indulge in a rare, simple life.
Since he started college, he had already asked his parents to live outside of the palace and was given permission, which made him choose his place to stay.
Savier chose a quiet neighborhood and a small villa by noble standards, though of course it was still huge for him. Five royal attendants and a few royal guards lived with him. Rather small entourage for the crown prince of an empire, but Savier liked it this way.
Of course, he could only live this way for a few years at most, and it was almost coming to an end. After he graduated, he had to take official duties.
"Your Highness,"
"Hm?" He answered while drinking strawberry milk.
"His Majesty already selected a few qualified royal guards to serve as your personal guard."
This made Savier pause. He looked up and looked at the attendant who also served as his butler in the villa, who quickly bowed his head, not daring to meet his eyes.
"Personal guard, huh?" Savier traced the mouth of the glass, a bit absentminded. Then he nodded. "Alright, I'll meet them tomorrow."