Nathaniel POV
I woke up to pain.
Not the dull kind. Not the kind that lingers politely at the edges of your skull.
No.
This was a merciless pounding — as though someone had decided my head was an anvil and taken a hammer to it for sport.
"Ah—"
The sound escaped me before I could swallow it.
I turned onto my back slowly, blinking at the ceiling. The morning light filtered through the thin curtains in pale gold streaks, too bright, too intrusive. My tongue felt dry. My thoughts felt… fragmented.
What happened last night?
I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing the heel of my palm against my temple.
Drinking.
Yes.
That much I remembered.
Drinking far more than I should have. Far more than I ever do.
And before that…
I stiffened.
I had apologised.
The word alone made my stomach twist.
I remembered standing in front of him. Remembered forcing the words out like they were shards of glass scraping my throat.
And I remembered—
Rejected.
A bitter laugh escaped me.
The first time in my life I apologise to someone… and I get turned down.
How pathetic.
"Arrgh… I hate hangovers."
I dragged myself upright. The room tilted for a moment before steadying. The bottles were gone. The table had been cleared.
And Elisha…
He wasn't here.
A strange quiet filled the space he should have occupied.
I frowned faintly. Did he leave early?
I forced myself to stand and staggered toward the table. There was a jug of water sitting there. I didn't bother with a cup — I lifted it and drank straight from it like some uncivilised brute.
The cool water helped. Slightly.
But beneath the physical discomfort was something else.
A faint, nagging awareness.
I couldn't remember how I got into bed.
The last thing I recalled clearly was drinking.
After that… nothing.
Did I collapse on the floor?
Did someone—
The door creaked open.
I looked up instinctively.
Elisha stepped in, carrying a small round bowl. His hair was damp, darker than usual, strands clinging to his neck. He didn't look at me immediately. He simply walked over and set the bowl down in front of me.
"Hangover soup," he said calmly. "Xavier and the others left for the Jade Pavilion already. You'd better get well soon. We'll catch up."
His voice was… normal.
Too normal.
I averted my gaze.
"Thanks."
I took the bowl and drank. It was warm. Salty. Simple.
Comforting.
The Jade Pavilion?
What nonsense were they chasing now?
Fortune telling? Wishes?
Ridiculous.
I glanced at him again.
He was quiet. Composed. As if nothing had happened.
But something about him felt… softer.
My gaze drifted to his hair.
That's right.
The store.
The hair accessory shop.
I had gone back.
I remembered that much.
But where—
I set the bowl down and stood.
"I'll wash up."
He nodded once.
Inside the bathroom, I shut the door and leaned against it for a moment.
How did I get into bed last night?
Did he carry me?
The thought made my ears burn.
How drunk was I?
I sank into the bathwater and let it swallow me up to my shoulders.
"Mother…" I muttered under my breath. "I feel ridiculous."
And as if summoned by the word—
Memory shifted.
---
LITTLE NATHAN
"Mom, why do you always tell me to ignore the other kids?"
She smiled down at me — warm, beautiful, untouchable.
"Simply put, my prince… you are better than them in every way combined."
Her fingers moved through my hair gently, combing it back.
"How so, Mother?"
"In this world, there is only the strong and the weak. The right and the wrong. The truth and the lie." Her voice grew firmer. "You, Nathaniel, stand with the strong. With the truth. So whatever you say… is truth."
I frowned slightly. "But… I told Claude his footwork was horrible and he cried. Mr. Ferdinand said I should apologise. I did… but I didn't understand why."
She chuckled softly.
"You should never apologise for speaking truth. If Claude's footwork was horrible, then it was horrible. His tears are his weakness — not your responsibility."
I looked up at her in admiration.
"Really?"
"Yes, my prince. And remember this — everyone has their own problems. They must solve them alone. Anyone who cannot solve their own problems is unworthy of strength."
Her fingers lifted my chin.
"No one's weakness should concern you. You will not share burdens. You will not bow your head. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother."
"You are perfect. And you always will be."
---
The bathwater had gone cold.
I stared at the ceiling.
"But you never told me," I murmured to the empty room, "why my chest hurts when they hate me for telling the truth."
When I stepped back into the room, dressed and composed, my eyes immediately caught something on the table.
The band.
Ah.
I picked it up and slipped it into my bag.
Elisha was about to leave when I spoke.
"Hey."
He paused and turned.
"What?"
Suddenly… words failed me.
Why was it so difficult to speak to him?
"Your band," I said finally. "It's old."
He raised a brow. "Your point?"
I stepped closer — not too close — and took the new band out.
"Your hair's dry now," I muttered. "This would suit you better."
Why did I sound uncertain?
I never sound uncertain.
"It's… a gift."
Silence.
He looked at it.
Then at me.
Then back at it.
For a second — just a second — I thought he might refuse.
Instead, he stepped forward and took it from my palm.
Our fingers brushed.
It was brief.
But my pulse betrayed me.
He turned his back to me and gathered his messy hair into a ponytail instead of his usual half-up style. It wasn't elegant.
It wasn't refined.
It was… him.
And absurdly—
It looked good.
"Thank you, Nathaniel," he said quietly.
Then he turned his head slightly, a grin tugging at his lips.
"You suck at apologising. So before you hurt someone again, think about how embarrassing it is when you try to apologise, okay?"
He walked out.
And I—
I stood there smiling like an idiot.
What is wrong with me?
I picked up my sword and followed him outside.
The tavern was quieter than usual. Morning air carried the scent of dust and breakfast smoke.
He was waiting seven feet from the inn.
For me.
We began walking side by side.
"Why are they going to the Jade Pavilion?" I asked.
He sighed dramatically. "Darcelle said there's some big shot fortune reader. Grants sincere wishes. Predicts a few days into the future. Paige wants a safe journey blessing."
"A big shot?" I repeated.
He shrugged. "She mentioned a name. I forgot it."
My eyes twitched.
"If the wish fails," I said coolly, glancing at him, "I'll know the cause."
He gasped. "What's that supposed to mean?! And doesn't this guy sound weird?"
"That's exactly why I'm wondering why you all agreed."
"Actually," he said thoughtfully, "only Paige agreed. She dragged Xavier. Xavier dragged me." He looked at me mischievously. "And now I'm dragging you. In case it's a ritual and we all die together."
"Excuse me—"
"I think I'm tired of talking."
The words hit harder than they should have.
Tired of talking.
To me?
I looked away.
About the Jade Pavilion… I'd heard strange stories about it in Astra.
I didn't like this feeling.
And I didn't like not knowing where I stood with him.
Was he back to normal?
Or was he just being polite?
We passed a candy stall.
Suddenly he stopped.
"Hey Nathan. I'm broke. I want that candy. Get five of that one. Three of that one."
I stared at him.
He didn't even look at me.
"I'm waiting, you arrogant ass."
My eye twitched.
"Shut up, you pessimistic idiot."
He stuck his tongue out at me.
Childish.
Annoying.
Infuriating.
And—
I bought the candy anyway.
As we resumed walking, he popped one into his mouth, cheeks puffed slightly.
And I realised something terrifying.
My chest felt light.
Warm.
Satisfied.
Mother…
For some reason, I felt happy when he forgave me.
I felt conflicted when I apologised.
But now…
Now I think I want to make his problems mine.
And that—
That is something you never prepared me for.