This was the first time Levi had actually been to Aldrich's home. They had to leave the city walls since the de la Rossa estate was located outside it. Levi could see why it was, it was quiet and peaceful out in the countryside.

They were greeted at the door by a little girl with the same dark red hair as Aldrich and his father. Levi gave her a small wave. "Nice to meet you. I'm Levi, Aldrich's friend. What's your name?" he asked.

"Aeris," she replied. Then her eyes moved from his face to his hair. "Why is your hair two different colours?" Levi wasn't sure she would understand the real reason, so he just told her that's how he was born.

"Where is Father, Aeris?" Aldrich asked. "In the courtyard," she answered, pointing in the opposite direction. Aldrich patted her on the head and then headed in that direction. Levi followed, the little girl at his heels asking him even more questions about his unusual appearance.

They found Aldrich's father and Larian sparring in the courtyard. Their blades clashed with sparks and clangs, echoing through the stone walls. Larian parried his father's heavy strikes with apparent ease, launching his own counterattacks almost immediately after. He had had a spear when they first met him but it seemed he was just as skilled with the sword.

Alistair had what almost looked like a grin on his face. Aldrich had rarely ever seen him smile. A vine tendril shot out of the ground, wrapping itself around Larian's right leg. Alistair readied his sword for a strike while Larian was distracted.

But Larian didn't miss a beat. He dropped his sword from his raised right hand into his left and with one quick motion sliced the vine in two, freeing his leg. From a few meters behind him, another vine shot out of the ground.

It was a different shade than the first one, so Aldrich assumed this one was of Larian's creation. It latched itself onto Larian and pulled him backward, out of Alistair's reach.

Alistair laughed and made a motion to chase but found himself unable to move. He looked down to see both of his feet wrapped in vines, dark red roses blooming on them. Larian strolled up and knocked his sword out of his hands with a heavy strike. It clattered on the ground a few meters away.

"He's pretty amazing," Levi leaned over slightly and said to Aldrich. Aldrich folded his arms over his chest. "Not that amazing," he retorted.

The only other person he had seen beat his father in a swordfight was Andrius. He had even countered his father's virtue with his own. Aldrich wasn't about to admit that he was impressed, though.

Larian and Alistair exchanged a handshake as the vines entangling Alistair receded back into the ground. They began to exchange words which Aldrich and Levi couldn't make out from where they were standing.

Larian looked over his shoulder and made eye contact with Aldrich. His dark red eyes locked onto him. A smile grew on his face, the same one that always did whenever he was looking at Aldrich. Aldrich didn't like it.

"My dear cousin," he began as he started to move in their direction. "I'm so glad you're back, we missed you today." He stopped in front of them, his gaze moving to Levi. "And you've brought your friend. How… nice," he said, his voice tinged with heavy disdain. But Levi didn't seem to realize.

Aeris tugged at Larian's clothes and begged him to make her another flower. He flicked his wrist and produced a white rose, handing it to the little girl. Aeris giggled and ran off with it.

Alistair, after setting both swords down, joined the three of them. He acknowledged their arrival with a nod and wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.

"Where were you all day?" Alistair questioned.

Aldrich scratched his head. "I was uh…"

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"We were called by the second class commander of the Order of the Cross for a… very important task," Levi stepped in. Aldrich gave him a thankful look.

"Is that so?" Alistair said, folding his arms. "Very well then. But your training continues tomorrow. There's a lot you can learn from Larian here."

"I'm sure there is," Aldrich replied with a small, forced laugh. The same fake smile was still plastered on his cousin's face. Alistair excused himself and went back into the house.

Larian watched until he had disappeared, then turned his focus back to Aldrich. "I'm sure we'll have a splendid time tomorrow. We'll need you in your best shape after all… for later."

Then, without elaborating, he walked past them after Alistair. Aldrich turned to Levi in disbelief. "You heard that too, right? You can't tell me that wasn't weird. What even was that?!"

Levi shrugged. "Maybe you're reading too much into it. He isn't from around here after all; maybe they just speak differently there."

Aldrich scoffed. "You're not from around here either, but you're not weird. Or at least, as weird."

Levi answered with a dry 'thanks'. Aldrich couldn't understand why people didn't find Larian the least bit off-putting. There was something up with him, and it seemed like Aldrich would have to figure it out by himself.

x

Over the next few weeks, Larian had completely integrated himself into life in the Yves kingdom. Everyone knew him, and everyone loved him. He always had the same thin smile on his face, which didn't look half as friendly to Aldrich as it did to everyone else.

He sparred against Aldrich regularly, with his father watching from the sidelines. Aldrich never won a bout, or even came close. Alistair's frown of not-so-subtle disappointment grew deeper with each loss.

Even the king and princess seemed to be under Larian's spell. He visited the Palace often. Veliona had started to spend a lot of time with him. Whenever Aldrich asked her what they did together, she would just give a vague answer or avoid the question completely.

Finally, Aldrich couldn't take it anymore. He decided to follow his cousin and find out something, anything, to prove that he had been right about him. And most definitely not 'just jealous'.

Larian started his day with a long bath. Then, putting on his armor and tying up his hair. All in Aldrich's room, which he had been pretty much kicked out of. Then he had breakfast with Aldrich's family.

Aldrich eyed him suspiciously from across the table. Larian gave him his signature fake smile whenever their eyes met. After breakfast, he left the estate and took a scenic route towards the city. Aldrich waited for him at the city walls since there wouldn't be many places to hide in the open countryside.

From there, he made his way through the city towards the Palace, receiving numerous greetings and replying with a smile. Aldrich stayed outside the Palace till he exited a few minutes later. Then Larian headed back to the estate, just in time for Aldrich's training session.

After embarrassing Aldrich in front of his father once again, he retired to his room. Aldrich had to see what was going on in there. He had asked Veliona to borrow her dagger, but she had refused when he'd told her what he wanted it for. So he'd have to spy on Larian the hard way.

Larian's, or rather, his room was a floor above ground. There were some ridges on the wall outside he could use as footholds. He climbed up to his window and peeked through.

Larian stood at his mirror holding some kind of bowl in his hand. He set the bowl down and created a red rose. The rose's stalk had multiple thorns. Larian crushed it in his hand, thorns and all, and held it over the bowl. Blood and petals dripped into it.

Then he started to speak. Aldrich strained his ears to make out what he was saying.

"Everything is going smoothly, my lord," Larian reported to the bowl. "Although I still think that I-… yes, I understand. My apologies, I will continue as planned."

Aldrich lost his grip for a second but managed to regain his footing. He had made a noise though, so he ducked in case Larian had heard it. After a little while, he raised his head cautiously, and came face to face with his cousin's smiling face.

"Why, hello Aldrich," Larian said. "What on earth are you doing out there?"

"You can cut the act already," Aldrich replied. "The jig is up."

Larian's eye twitched slightly. His smile changed from his usual unnerving one to a full-on disturbing one. "Yes, it would seem so. Perhaps it's for the best. I've grown a bit tired of this act anyway."

With a swift movement, he reached out, grabbed Aldrich's shirt, and yanked him into the room. Aldrich got off the floor as fast as he could and backed away, keeping his eyes on Larian.

He inched to the side slowly, trying to reposition himself to run for the door. "I thought there was something off about you. Now I know there definitely is."

Larian didn't respond to his statement. Instead, he made his own. "I just don't get what he sees in you. I'm stronger, faster, just better... in every way."

"What are you even talking about?" Aldrich continued to move slowly towards the door. "Actually, it doesn't even matter now, does it? Because I'm going to tell everyone about this."

Larian cocked his head to the side. "Tell them what exactly?"

Aldrich turned on his heels and lunged towards the door. "Stop moving," Larian commanded.

Aldrich felt his feet stop in place. They wouldn't budge.

Larian circled him, a sly smile on his face. "You actually believe you hold any of the cards here. Even if you do tell them, no one will believe you."

"What did you do to me?" Aldrich gritted through his teeth.

Larian showed him a dark blue rose. A strong smell wafted from its petals. It made Aldrich's stomach lurch. "You and everyone else in this city have been breathing in my roses for weeks now. They're full on neurotoxins. The blue ones, in particular, are quite bad for your nerves."

He laughed at Aldrich's confused face, "Did you think these roses were just for show? You really should beware their thorns."

Larian moved closer, putting his face right in front of Aldrich's. "I've been ordered only to watch, so I won't do anything as long as you don't try anything stupid. Stop breathing."

Aldrich felt his lungs stop taking in air. His chest began to grow heavier and heavier, but he couldn't do anything.

"I hold all the power here. I can't harm you, but your family and friends aren't off-limits," Larian sneered. "Do you understand?"

Aldrich nodded. He felt himself growing light-headed. Larian took one last look at him before turning away and waving a hand. Aldrich dropped to the ground. Suddenly, he could breathe again.

And then Larian's mask was back on. He smiled at Aldrich as if he hadn't just almost killed him. "Well then, cousin, I need to go out for now. But I'll be seeing you tomorrow. Have a good night."

And with that, he left Aldrich alone in the room.