'There are some things you are far too young to understand,' his father told him gently.
'But I do understand that little Ralen is better now! He can join us now!' Rin exclaimed.
The emperor sighed, and ran a hand through his greying hair, that must've once been entirely colored the same as Ralen's. He looked troubled.
'Very well. He cannot leave the palace grounds,' he said at last. Before Rin could seize upon his words, he sighed and added, 'I shall speak with the Empress. If - and only if - she permits it, you may bring the littlest prince around with you.'
…
…
'They do not like me…' Ralen sobbed. 'Mother never holds me. Father does not listen when I speak. They do not love me the same, and I do not understand why.'
Rin didn't refute his words. He simply bit his lip worriedly. It seemed he'd noticed it too.
The two of them were by a hedge somewhere, Rin crouching as he faced his brother, and Ralen with his knees drawn up to his chest.
'The longer I'm here with you and the princess, the more I see the difference in how we are treated. Why? Is it shameful that my magic is weak?'
'That is not true…' Rin mumbled.
'It is. You have seen that it is.' The youngest prince simply buried his face in his hands and continued sobbing.
But Arin knew that Rin had not been speaking of their difference in treatment. He was taking issue with the claim that Ralen's magic was weak.
…
…
Rin trailed behind as Sera took Ralen's hand and led him down one of her secret shortcuts through the inner gardens.
It was later in the evening, and the dull gold of the setting sun gave a nostalgic sort of warmth to the scene.
'Ami helped me with this one,' she told him. 'This way, you will not have to walk too far. It'll be better for you to not get too tired.'
'But my health is much better now,' the boy smiled up at her.
'And, as your sister, I hope that it shall remain so.'
Rin seemed content enough to watch them interact, following after them in silence and only occasionally stopping to pick some of the exceptionally brightly-colored wildflowers dotting the grass outside the hedges.
…
…
Rin must've just left his lessons, considering the ink stains on the sides of his palm that he was looking down at thoughtfully.
A sudden voice from beyond the turn of the corridor before him caught his attention, and he paused for a moment before cautiously peering around the wall.
'Is mother in her quarters?' It was Ralen's voice.
Rin leaned out further to see who he was talking to.
It was a tall, well-dressed woman, possibly one of the empress's ladies in waiting.
'Indeed, prince,' the lady smiled. 'Shall I lead you to her?'
'Oh, no. Thank you, lady Weyer.'
After a moment of thought, Rin started following after Ralen, albeit from a distance. He saw the boy reach the doors to the chambers and knock.
'Mother, it is I. May I come in… please?'
He waited. Rin, further away down the corridor, and hidden by a decorative pillar, waited too.
There was no response.
Ralen waited for what must've been five minutes, before hanging his head and walking away dejectedly. Rin didn't make his presence known, and did not appear to comfort his younger brother. He remained where he'd been for a while longer, until the other was long gone, and then approached the doors himself.
'Mother, I wish to speak with you,' he called out softly.
There was a soft rustling of fabrics from within. After less than twenty seconds, the doors were thrown open by the empress herself.
…
…
It seemed to be on another one of those walks, late into the evening, when the three children spotted the emperor come out onto a terrace of what must've been private quarters. He seemed to have whispered something to a gray falcon perched on his hand, before it took flight.
Sera waved immediately.
Rin waved too.
Ralen did not.
Rin saw him take a small step back. The child smoothed his hair, straightened his shoulders, and then,
He bowed.
The emperor, who'd been waving back, seemed to not notice. He turned and walked out of sight.
Rin bit his lower lip as he watched his sister lower her hand and whip around to face the youngest.
'We are not in public, so why did you bow?' she asked curiously.
Ralen looked confused.
'Because he is the emperor, of course.'
Sera looked at him strangely.
'He is also Father,' she said.
…
…
'No. I will not have him around,' Sera said heatedly. 'How dare he speak against Ami, and report her to mother for – for improper conduct? When we were by ourselves!?'
'It's alright…' Rin mumbled in a low voice. 'Sister Ami forgave him, and it's not as though mother even listened –'
'Yes, because mother must know that most of what comes out of that fool's mouth is nonsense. I mean it. I do not want him here anymore.'
'He's… he's trying his best –'
'He is trying far too hard to prove himself our superior—at lessons, before others, at every opportunity. We are fortunate our parents see through him, Rin. Tell me, was he not trying to set himself above you in your new playmate's eyes, only the other day?'
Rin seemed to be struggling to speak. 'He… Sister, he is lonely –'
'And I am starting to see why.'
…
…