Chapter Text
Vil didn’t know what to do.
Giving Leona his phone number was supposed to be an emergency thing. A way to keep himself updated on Princess’ state.
Not this.
(When Leona called, I was already in a bad mood)
(He and I tried to calm ourselves for a long time)
(We failed)
Idia not knowing who they were was one thing.
Idia not knowing he had a brother he used to love so much was another entirely.
Vil tried to remain optimistic, tried to think about a reason for that to happen, for Idia to maybe lie, to keep his brother a secret.
Tried to convince himself that there was still a way for his Princess to remember someone he used to adore to death.
“He wasn’t lying,” Leona growled into his ear, more agitated than Vil ever heard him be, “His heartbeat was normal, Radish Sprout isn’t the kind of person that could lie to me without freaking out.”
He was right, of course. That didn’t mean Vil had to like it.
“Maybe he is a better liar than we thought,” he said, not believing it himself.
Vil didn’t believe that Idia, his Princess who used to mention his brother in every other sentence, would ever be able to lie about him, not even if it was a government secret.
Finding another one of their own was an accident.
Riddle Rosehearts, for as little as Vil has known him, seemed to be a level headed young man who thought things through before acting.
(At first, anyway)
He understood the situation quickly and took it about as well as Vil had - with a muted voice and eyes turned downwards. Just thinking for a while, before nodding and taking it in strides, asking for details.
Already, Vil had assigned him as another Queen in his head, ready to lead and reach his goal at any and all cost. A different ruler to him and Leona, but no less dedicated to his subjects. An acceptable companion and a future accomplice, if his claim of invitation to Night Raven Collage was to be believed.
So, in no way has his absence been unnecessary or useless.
On all accounts, progress has been made.
Vil just wished it didn't leave him with more questions than answers.
(It made no sense)
(Very little about our situation did, back then)
Who would do something like that?
Why?
Idia was a child, still is in some ways, he wouldn't have made a decision like that, and, while maybe naive, Vil wanted to believe that his parents wouldn't do so either, unless there was no other choice.
Not that he ever met them, as far as he could remember.
None of the scientists back them bothered to introduce themselves, even by a nickname.
(Unsurprisingly)
(Prohibited, from top to bottom, every information was a secret)
(As if wiping our memories wasn't enough)
But if it was so, what could it have been? Who, and for what reason would make a child forget he had a sibling, one he clearly adored?
Even as reading his next script, he couldn't focus on the words, his mind a mess as he tried to find a proper explanation that didn't exist.
As such, it was no wonder when he almost missed a curious gaze that fell on him, only to glance up and see a fashion crime right in front of him.
He might have audibly gasped, too, since the boy looked all the more excited at his reaction.
(Rook before was… something else)
“Hi there! I saw one of your shows the other day!” said the fashion crime itself, and Vil couldn't help but stare. That was definitely one of Leona’s freshmen, and yet, this was, by far, worse than what he ever expected even from that dorm. What were those boots?! And hat?! There were even leaves on it! “I’ve seen you perform before but you've never really stood out to me before.”
And the audacity! If he had any less self control, he was sure his mouth would be hanging open.
Did he even moisturize? With the way his skin was looking, Vil very much doubted it.
And then he just kept on going, obvious to the thoughts Vil was having, just went on and on about the last villain role he played, only to wave at him after he was done and just went on his way. As if nothing was wrong. As if he didn't just give Vil a crisis of a different kind.
There was Idia’s kind of mess, and there was… whatever this was. Vil had half a mind to run after the boy and demand his presence in his dorm room, just so he could try to fix whatever was wrong with him.
(Not that I'd catch him)
(Even then, Rook was just as quick and sneaky as always)
(By the time I'd get up, he'd already be on the rooftop, watching some other poor soul)
Which, at the first glance, was a lot.
Great Seven, there was so much wrong there.
May the Beautiful Queen give him her blessings because the next time he met the boy, he might not be so awestruck as to let him go without a proper routine.
Or at least a guide of some kind. To at least clean up a little.
There was a potential there, Vil could feel that but, it had to be deep, deep, underneath whatever the boy did to get into that kind of state. A mess from the top to bottom.
He might have to ask Leona about him, just to make sure the boy wouldn't disappear on him before his intermission.
But, at least until then, Vil would have to do the one thing he was neglecting for a while. Getting Idia to class on time.
Because as much as Leona proven himself to be a great replacement, for a short while, there was little Vil himself could demand from a man who spent half his life asleep.