The royal banquet had begun.
The grand hall of the palace in Elyndria glowed under hundreds of crystal chandeliers. Nobles, ministers, generals, and honored guests filled the hall, their conversations blending into a pleasant hum. Musicians played softly in the background while servants moved gracefully between tables carrying trays of food and wine.
At the center of the hall, King Aurelian and Queen Marlia greeted guests and accepted congratulations. Formal pleasantries between the ruler and his subjects continued smoothly.
Meanwhile, away from the formal crowd—
Near one of the food counters stood Nael and Leo.
Well… technically they were standing.
Only Nael was actually busy.
With eating.
His plate had already been replaced twice, and he was currently chewing happily while looking over the desserts again.
Leo simply stood beside him, watching with quiet amusement.
Just then, Adrien appeared beside them.
He leaned casually against the table.
"My little brother," he said smoothly. "I want one too."
Nael blinked at him.
"One what?"
"Your handmade wristband."
Adrien smirked slightly. "Make one for me too."
While saying that, his eyes briefly moved to Leo's wrist.
Empty.
Adrien raised an eyebrow.
So he didn't make one for him.
Interesting.
Before Nael could respond, two more figures joined them.
Marcus and Ravel had arrived.
They had clearly heard Adrien.
And suddenly—
A crisis began.
"For me too," Marcus said immediately.
Ravel nodded calmly. "Make one for me as well."
Nael froze mid-bite.
His cheeks were stuffed with pastries, making him look like a small squirrel.
He mumbled through the food,
"No."
Marcus frowned.
"Nael, ignore them," he said quickly. "Just make one for me."
Ravel crossed his arms.
"Why ignore us? Ignore him. I'm the eldest brother."
Adrien scoffed.
"I asked first. Nael, ignore both of them."
Marcus glared.
"You're the third brother, stay in your place."
Ravel added calmly, "Children shouldn't argue."
Adrien rolled his eyes. "You sound like Father."
Within seconds, the three princes were bickering like children.
Nael quietly nudged Leo with his elbow.
Then he burst into laughter.
A bright, carefree laugh.
Leo glanced at him and smiled faintly.
Across the table, the three brothers stopped arguing for a second.
Seeing Nael laugh like that…
They didn't actually mind the argument.
In fact—
They loved his smile the most.
That was exactly why they always act silly in front of him.
Just then, Nael noticed someone across the hall.
Queen Marlia was waving at him.
Calling him over.
Nael immediately turned to his brothers.
"Mother is calling me!"
Before they could reply, he quickly ran toward her.
But just as he reached the middle of the hall—
Someone suddenly grabbed his wrist.
Nael startled and turned his head.
A stranger stood beside him.
Nael immediately tried to pull his hand away.
"Let go—"
But the man didn't release him.
Instead, he looked at Nael with desperate, almost unstable eyes.
As if Nael was the last thing holding his life his insanity together.
"Let me go"
The person had grim face he tightly grabbed him and ask
" Don't you remember me"
Nael frownd, jerked his hand back.
____
The person was cassian but nael didn't remember that distant memory that engraved in cassian's soul.