[IC] A Bloody Murder

[cthulu]

Alessandro was not an easily startled man, he'd had half a dozen attempts on his life already and so the possibility of more was something he'd grown accustomed too, even still as the fae slipped silent and deadly, like a panther in the forest, in front of him and the ring and glint of steel echoed up to his ears the Prince found himself take an instinctual half a step backwards. His eyes couldn't follow the assassin's blade but they caught up to it as it embedded itself into the wood of the stand behind him. The fact that had nearly been him didn't disturb him, in some ways he wondered if it wouldn't have been better had it reached its target but the Prince turned his gaze back to his bodyguard.

The fae sprang like any nocturnal predator from that perch, Alessandro regained his composure quickly, showing the face of a man who truly wasn't phased by the attempt on his life, cool, calm and regal and his eyes never moving from his former Assassin as Rei plunged the dagger into the failed assassins back. He took no pleasure from what he witnessed, nor did he seem to grieve for the lost life, he watched passively as the entire thing came to a quick and sudden end.

It was only as the guards went to approach Rei that Alessandro grew tense, though he wasn't sure who he was more worried for, Rei or the guards should the paths cross. With a patent glare the men halted though and gave Rei enough time to slide back over to the Princes side and offer him the spoils from the Assassins body. Gently he takes it and offers Rei a small smile, "I'm glad your on my side." He utters back to the Assassin, had Rei truly wanted Alessandro dead he knew, full well, he would be, that night it seemed the fae hadn't quite made up his mind. Turning to the stand he pulled loose the dagger from the stand and held that and the contract in hand. "I shall look up the seal when we return, father will be sure to know what has happened already. He has spies and whisperers everywhere." Alessandro almost reached to wipe a small spot of blood from Rei's cheek but refrained and merely gestured, "You have a little blood, just there."

[PopeAlessandros]

The prince's comment has the fae rather stumped, not being completely caught up with human sayings, but he stays silent and simply tilts his head tot he side and waits for instructions on what to do next. He'd done his job, and now he's back to having nothing better to do than slake his curiosity, and at the moment he can't even do that since they are in public. Holding up the dagger belt Rei notes that there is more than one missing and wonders why. 'Did he forget to re-stock? It is a fool who leaves their blade behind. Unlike arrows and bolts, many a blade smith will recognize such a well crafted set of knives. If he had the money to spend on such fine gear, I must wonder how such a poor assassin got enough work to afford it'

Dropping his arm back down so the ends of the belt are laying on the ground he looks up as once more the prince addresses him. 'It is good to know his father has a working information network. It may mack tracking things easier, and also bumps him up on the list. . .' Though he knows that Alessandro for some reason seems to love and trust his family, that does not make them any less likely as suspects. Right now in fact, all three are at the top of the list. At the mention of blood he looks down, seeing if he got any on his clothes before taking out the bit of cloth again and wiping away the wet patch on his cheek. 'Must have splashed up when I pulled out my blade. There are a few more drops around my collar too. . .' Putting the cloth away he waits on the prince, wondering if there are any other matters that need to be dealt with before they head back. From across the street Rei can her a few people thanking the gods that the prince is safe, along with a few comments on his own brutality when dealing with the would be assassin. 'Would it not be more polite to thank me since I was the one to save him? Human culture is strange. . .'

[cthulu]

It seemed as if the fae and the human's thoughts were the same, as he muttered beneath his breath quietly, "The gods didn't stop that dagger." With a sigh he offered the people a smile and was intent on getting back to the castle when the wooden sign to the book shop caught his eye as it swayed gently in the wind. His footman and coach driver were rather keen to leave and even a pair of guards had come over to stand at the Prince's side and herd him into his carriage and away from any more potential harm. Alessandro however remembered his promise and with a warm smile he uttered, "Good men rest easy, my body guard assures me that no one else is foolish enough to try so soon and I believe him. I need to visit Fredrickson's book store." A silent eye roll was seen, books were clearly not one of the guards interests. "I shan't be long and I shall take him with me." He uttered gesturing to Rei, "To save you the torture." There was a sheepish smile from one guard and a scowl from the other but the Prince ignored both and turned on his heel with only a glance to Rei to indicate that he followed.

The store wasn't very large, when the door swung open there were three book shelves lined side by side against the largest wall, a carpeted floor desks and chairs and a counter made from a long wooden bench. There was a kindly young man standing there while an elder man hobbled with a book in hand up a set of stairs to put the tome back where it belonged. The shelves were not thick with books and those that numbered the most were books on obscure matters, like Miss Thompson's ten best radish recipes and the dragon who ate too much. While there was nothing that would be truly rare here there were however the odd rare finds, like the complete history of Alessandro's family abridged by some Steward or other. Songs of the people and books on the gods. The tome that had just been replaced looked ordinary but had a touch of magic to it, only a touch and nothing strong enough for humans to sense. The young man smiled as Alessandro entered, visibly going red but it had been well known that Fredrickson Junior had idolized his brother, even if his brother had treated him as less than dog shit. "Good day my Prince, what an honour to have you in our shop again." Alessandro offered a small smile and nod, "I've bought my new body guard here to choose some of your books, should he find anything to his tastes that is, Rei, go look, don't be fooled there are some real gems if you know where to look."

[PopeAlessandros]

When he hears his thoughts echoed by the prince Rei slowly turns his head around to look at Alessandro, his bows furrowed slightly in curiosity. 'He may not have meant the same thing as I was thinking, however his words have an eerie feel. After all, I have never found someone who thinks like me, even in simple matters' With a shrug he turns to follow the prince silently, as sure as the rest that he will head back to the carriage. However when he stops and mentions books he takes his gaze from the guards crowding around and cranes his neck around trying to spot it. Surrounded by so many men taller than himself it is impossible to see the shop the prince mentioned but with one final look at the two of them the guards more aside and Rei spots their goal.

Ignoring everything else he sticks to Alessandro's side until they are in the shop. He does stop long enough to assess those inside even as the books call out to him. The boy behind the counter carries no air of threat and while the old man seems to have a strong spirit he too presents no threat to the prince's safety. His magic snakes around the shop almost on it's own while his eyes begin darting around. He sees several volumes he already owns along with a handful he doesn't and a good deal more he can't identify at a distance due to wear on the binding.

At the sound of his name his head snaps around to look up at the taller human. If he'd been a dog it's clear his ears would be perked up and his eyes excited like it had spotted a squirrel and was just waiting for permission to chase it. As soon as permission is given Rei is off. The boy behind the register's eyes go wide. Not only at the sudden show of energy, but the added fact that the prince had called him his bodyguard. How could something so small and cute guard anyone?

Since he is so small many of the tomes are out of reach and rather than interrupting his search to find something to stand on he simply goes right up the bookcases like a gecko. The boots make the task a little more difficult than usual but the shelves themselves don't even shiver or creak as he mounts them. In less than five minutes he's been through every book on the first floor, a grand total of two books actually meriting consideration for purchase and quickly set on a small table before he shuffles up the stairs like a kitten. Glancing at the tome the old man had put away as they came in he makes not of it to check later before going all the way to the end of the rows and begins making his way back towards the stairs.

Again he takes to climbing rather than using a step stool. In fact at one point he moves it out of the way before clambering right up to the top shelf. Sitting atop the bookcase he reads the first few lines of text in a moldy old tome before they narrow and he snaps it shut. Carefully he climbs back down the book tucked under his arm, and with out even looking at the rest he makes his way back to the stairs. His hand snaps out to grab the magic touched tome as he passes and he tucks it under his free arm before shuffling down the stairs, far more slowly than he ascended. 'Well, who knew they had and fae works in human society. . .' He muses, glancing at the moldy brown tome.

Once back at his small stack he looks through the first two for a good three minutes before deciding to put one back, taking his final selection of three up to the prince. With wide eyes he sets them up on the counter, reaching up to make sure his hat is still in place, which it is. Almost instinctively he brings his gloved hand up to his mouth, intent on removing the offending something touching him but he stops just before it gets between his teeth and his hands drop to his sides. Looking up at the prince he cocks his head to the side cutely, his gaze still faintly more 'alive' than usual.

[cthulu]

Eventually Fredrickson snr came ambling out setting room at one of the tables for the tea tray he carried with some fresh sandwiches, tea and sliced fruit. A humble display for a Prince but the Prince smiled warmly regardless and gave a soft and honest thank you. Slipping over to the chair and being seated he was poured the tea by Fredrickson Jnr who had followed him over at his fathers behest. He glanced from the Prince to the Fae and back again as the boy scrambled up and down shelves like a monkey, at first a smile was all it took to redirect the mans attention to the Prince but Rei's antics soon were causing more concern to the book keeps until finally, under his breath, the shop owners son muttered, "What is he?"

Alessandro had watched Fredrickson snr shuffle out to go organise books or treat the bindings of donations, it was only he, Rei and the younger now in the room. While not panicked he was concerned, no human moved as Rei did and it would only take a man like Fredrickson jnr a little while to realise this too. How he disturbed nothing, how the wood didn't so much as creak, aye Rei was small but even still his size should have produced some noise, some resistance but he traversed the wall as easily as a fish swam the sea. Alessandro was loathed to tell Rei to stop and it would be entirely too suspicious now if he did, the Fae would no doubt dismount like some viper from the branches, it was these small things, this lack of understanding that would have Rei exposed long before his ears or other tell tale signs did. So it was, in his mind, up to the Prince to keep his secret for him, the fae man ever so rarely showed such enthusiasm, except while killing, it really would have been too bad to stop it.

Alessandro took Fredrickson Jnr's hand in his own, the warmth of the Prince causing the book seller's head to whip around so quickly Alessandro was worried for a moment that the man would give himself whiplash. A scarlet colour had slipped into Fred's face and Alessandro rubbed his thumbs over the tops of the book sellers hands. "Did I ever tell you how grateful I am?"
"G-g-g-rate-ate-ful?" The shopkeep stammered out in a high squeaky voice. "F-for for what?" The man swallowed hard and Alessandro felt a pang of guilt, this man had truly cared for his brother and nowhere he was using their similar features to distract Fred from his monkey like bodyguard.
"When my brother died." Alessandro had dropped his voice low, a private, intimate whisper for just he and Fred, both his hands now held one of Fred's, circling the mans smaller, frailer hands while looking him straight in the eyes. "I felt very much alone, the palace had stopped feeling like a home. You and your father welcomed me here whenever I was sad, do you remember?"
"O-o-of c-c-course my-my Pr-prince." Stammered the man, wavering under the smoldering stare of the Prince.
"I don't know what I would have done without this safe haven, I don't know where I'd be." Fred swallowed hard and nodded faintly, whispering timidly back, "It's my duty sir and....and it was no bother."
"Do you remember, you used to bring me hot chocolate and small cakes and we'd sit under the books, I'd never say anything to you, just sit there and you'd let me. Even after the shop had been long closed."
"Y-you lo-looked so sad." Alessandro smiled faintly, sadly and moved one of his hands up to Fred's shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"You gave me time and I thank you for that, I want you to know that I mean that, they aren't words but something I feel, deeply." The poor book seller nodded frantically, almost the colour of scarlet. Alessandro smiled again and leaned across the table slowly, slipping his hand from the man's shoulder to his hair where he picked a small thread, likely from book bindings, from his hair. He could almost feel Fred's disappointment as he leaned away and dropped the thread and felt momentarily guilty.

Not long after that though the fae was silently at his side, scaring Fred almost out of his seat and causing Alessandro to glance over to the man. He was very much like a puppy, adorably cute right now, in the 'off' mode. Though it wasn't long ago he'd been in 'on' mode and had plunged a knife into a would be killers back, he was a puppy but he was a ferocious one when crossed. Although this, the memory of only a few minutes ago, neither disturbed him and he fought the urge to pet the young fae's head. Fred muttered something about ruined moments and shot icy daggers at Rei but any suspicion aside from 'home wrecker' had died from his eyes and his mind as far as Alessandro could tell. Which was at least something.

Approaching the counter with Rei he vaguely glanced at the titles the boy had chosen, curious rather than nosy as regardless what they were Rei would still get them. Once at the counter -Fred still shooting icy, hurt looks Rei's way- Alessandro dropped a hand lightly onto Rei's head, helping stop him from moving that cap and watching as his hands fidgeted, they'd have to go back to the castle soon it seemed. "I'll take all three please Fred, could you wrap them in some paper for the journey back please?" Fred quit glaring at Rei long enough to flash Alessandro a smitten smile and some sweet words of thanks before takign the books and wrapping them in some brown paper. Despite his feelings for both men he was professional when it came to his work, securing the books in their parcel with some string before offering them back to Rei and taking the payment from the Prince.

Fred almost whimpered when Alessandro said they had to leave but perked up again when there was a promise of another visit soon, there was a mutter about leaving the body guard behind but Alessandro ignored it, smiled at Fred and left the shop with the fae in tow. Once out in the town's centre they were hurried into the carriage and whisked back towards the castle.

[PopeAlessandros]

As he had raced around the shop Rei had noticed how the prince spoke with the younger of the two males in the shop, low quiet whispers that even his sharp ears could not always catch even if he'd been listening intently, which of course he wasn't. However as he looks to the man, now glaring daggers at him, the little fae wonders if he should have been paying attention. 'It feels safe in here, but this man is obviously upset. Did the prince do something to upset him? Or did he not appreciate my search style. I did act out a bit. Perhaps I should try next time to be a little more careful. I normally only see any given bookkeeper once every three months so I have little need to be anything but thorough and swift'

However as they approach the counter Rei comes to recognize the daggers from the eyes of affronted lover he's worked for and his confusion mounts to a whole new level. He doesn't understand the feelings, but he recognizes them as quite dangerous in the right context. This man however is quite harmless so instead of apologizing for disturbing the store as he intended he remains silent and just watched the two humans. The feeling of the prince's hand on his head makes him once again recall that he may very well be just a pet to the man but as he once more has to stop himself from tugging his gloves off with his teeth the thought slips back into his mind and his focus goes to not embarrassing Alessandro.

He watches the young shopkeeper bundle up the books, his eyes returning to their normal dull state. The change gives Fred a moment of pause as he hands the smaller male his wrapped books but it is hardly noticeable to anyone not use to seeing it. Holding the books tight the fae focuses on keeping his hands occupied with them, hoping his urge to pull off the offending clothing will die down as they leave the relative safety of the shop. Glancing at the front window he notices a line of guards standing sentry and he nods approvingly inside his head.

'Even with the possible dangers from the palace, these guards at least know how to disrupt a sniper's view' He ignores the rest of the exchange up until the man says something about leaving Rei behind when the prince visits again. He turns slowly to face the man, locking eyes with him dangerously before turning to follow the prince out. The young man felt the chill from the look but is still far too upset with the fae to take heed of it, mumbling something about Rei being rude and interfering. 'I should check him out later. People in love do crazy things. . . .' Once outside he lets the guards hurry them into the carriage, but not before taking one last hard look around the area.

He can still feel touches here and there of familiar eyes however as none are active he slips inside without a word. He's ridden under a carriage, on the back of one, atop one, and even between the horses pulling a carriage, but he's never ridden inside one. Before he can even get a good look at the interior they are off and he flashes his teeth. Being inside a moving box is not his idea of a comfortable ride. Setting the books down he plasters himself f to a window, trying to get his mind and body to settle by watching the movement as well as feeling it. The muted rumbling and rattling from the wheels on the road is a new set of sounds and they make his ears hurt a bit.

After only a minute however he pries himself from the window and sits down across from the prince, finally tugging his gloves off. Taking slow, soothing breaths he finally gets his ears to mute out the rumbling sounds allowing him to relax a bit. Looking to the prince he tilts his head cutely. 'Human ears are duller than ours. I bet it is little more tan a faint hum. He has grown up with the sounds as well. I do not like this box, but if need be, I can get use to it' “Do you travel like this often?” he asks, wondering how often he should expect to be subjected to this experience.

[cthulu]

Rei's question roused him from his thoughts, "Only when they won't let me ride somewhere, a carriage is much more formal and what the people want to see, or so the Steward says. I can't remember how he puts it as it sounds a lot like he's lying when he says it." Alessandro shrugged briefly before glancing over to Rei, "I shouldn't have to for the next few days at least, I'll be too busy meeting the women my father has lined up for me to meet. Though if you like, you can ride my Lady the next time i have to take the carriage, I'm sure she'd let you, she seemed quite placid with you after she got over the initial shock." Alessandro didn't go into much more detail, while the carriage was indeed loud and it was no doubt difficult to hear anything aside the sound of voices he did not want to risk Rei's identity on the hope no one would over hear. Being a fae in this Kingdom still meant persecution, death or exile at the very least and honestly, he didn't want to see the boy go, Rei was, strangely, comfortable to be around and Alessandro couldn't remember the last time he'd felt comfortable in someone's presence. Not since his Sister had lost those glossy eyes that loved and looked up to her brother for the eyes of a young woman, if even then.

The journey back was uneventful and Alessandro was shuffled in and straight up to a bowl of scented water in his room, fresh clothes had been laid out for him and he was told to change quickly and wash for his guest. With a nod Alessandro shut the door, though had some strange half glances at Rei when the Prince allowed him to stay, and removed his shirt to sponge down his body with the scented liquid before drying himself and redressing, "I am not sure the King would permit you to be with me on the jaunt around the garden, if you can keep out of sight however he will have nothing to complain about, is this alright?" Alessandro tied the cravat, straightened his wig and brushed down his jacket. "How do I look?"

He was dressed as typical of higher born, in a fine burgundy velvet jacket with wide embroidered cuffs and brass buttons shone to a shade of gold, a half cloak hunt by a golden chain about his shoulders, the fur white, no doubt some kind of arctic fox or white rabbit fur. He wore a white shirt and a cream cravat with the pin of his family's emblem to hold it in place. Black pants fell fashionably long into the typical white stockings and smart shoes -unlike his usual dust brown travelling boots- which had been shined up nicely. "I feel like an idiot I must say."

[PopeAlessandros]

Scratching at his ear the assassin thinks for a minute before shaking his head. I would rather ride on the outside of the box. Riding Lady would make it more difficult to keep an eye out as I would have to guide her a bit, it would take some of my attention away from my job.” He tilts his head the other way. “If you would not mind, I will simply ride outside unless I am needed in here for some reason.” Falling silent his gaze returns to the window, however he stays in his seat now, tucking the gloves away in his belt as he tries to not slide around. His light frame makes him bounce up over larger than average bumps and he finds the motion quite bothersome.

Once the carriage stops he is the first out. A boy is waiting just inside the castle and without hesitation he strips off the extra covering and hands over both the cape and the gloves. It is a different boy from before and this one does not seem to be as bothered by Rei's presence. 'It feels very odd to be waited upon like this. I mean, sometimes those from the council would come over to deliver something or to check and make sure I am still alive but they never acted like servants do. It is an interesting feeling' Following close behind the prince Rei stretches once they are alone, scratching at his hands and flexing his shoulders. He is not use to the extra weight however he is glad it did not get in the way when he needed to move.

When addressed he pauses mid stretch and looks to the prince. His eyes are drawn to the bare flesh he's seen plenty of but still is mostly a mystery to him. His own flesh is paler, and more scared. Most human skin he sees he is thinking of how to best puncture it so it is interesting to just look at it without seeing the killing spots marked out in him mind's eyes. “I can remain out of sight quite easily in that garden and still be close enough to act should I need to.” Popping his shoulders he lets his arms drop and yawns slightly. When asked the second question his eyes roam over the prince, unsure of how to answer. He has observed that when most women are asked anything less than “Perfect” or “Beautiful” tends to enrage them, however he has never heard a man ask it before so aside from not knowing his own opinion, he's unsure if this is one of those cases where he should say what the other wants to hear over the truth.

However the longer he thinks about it the more he recalls that the prince seems to value honesty so after a long moment he replies with, “You look much as you always do when in that wig. Uncomfortable, unsure, and not yourself. If you are asking if you will look fetching to the eyes of the woman you are meant to see. . .” He tilts his head, blinking slowly as he looks over the male slowly. He gives a faint nod. “From what I have seen when it comes to humans, you would be considered attractive. I personally do not understand the concept when it comes to looks as the closest thing I understand that comes close to attraction is when I becomes curious about something, but you are interesting to me no matter what you are wearing.”

His head rotates around until he spots a mirror. Intent on not embarrassing the prince, as apparently a shabby servant is an embarrassment from what he's seen, Rei slips over and makes sure everything is straight and free of dust and other particles. Licking his finger he rubs away the last faint redness of the blood that had gotten on his cheek and after one last look he turns to the bowel on the table. He doesn't quite get it, but as flowers and other light scents seem to be important he plucks out a petal and uses his magic to create a kind of scent barrier on his skin. It is faint, as there is not much scent to hide as fae do not have much of a scent to begin with, however the light fragrance would be noticeable if one were standing really close. Adding on as an afterthought he says, “I do not know how one feels like an idiot. How does that work? I mean, you are not an idiot, so how does one feel like something you are not?”

[cthulu]

Alessandro smiles faintly, it was ntot untrue that he felt awkward and uncomfortable. While the wig was the finest in the land it was still jsut a wig and it itched after a while, it had taken him quite a while to adjust to wearing it too. When he was younger and his brother was still with them the King and Queen weren't so bothered by his appearance, they kept him out of the public sight as often as possible with concerns over his ill health but now they had little choice but to let him mingle with the public. It was about that time the rift surfaced, it had always been there of course but with his brother alive no one had really paid it any mind. Alessandro grinned faintly, "Now, if you said that to many other people I'm sure they'd think you were hitting on them." He was of course teasing the young fae but he couldn't help but find it rather flattering that he was interesting to someone like Rei.

The prince was utterly unprepared for the fae's follow up questions and while the young man removed the remainder of the evidence of his earlier kill Alessandro pondered in silence upon the question. It was just one of those phrases, he'd never really given it much thought before and yet now that the bright haired boy had asked the Prince was left pondering quite seriously on the matter. After some thought and some perplexed brow furrowing he finally, cautiously began to answer, "I guess...I guess it sort of feels like embarrassment. That horrible hollow and yet knotty feeling you get inside, somewhere near your stomach when you've done something you know isn't sensible or smart. Almost like you're falling and you are close to the bottom...I guess that's sort of how it feels. I should be more careful with my words, I feel like I've been dressed up like a doll, this isn't me and it makes me...nervous to be dressed like this."

With a sigh though he glanced to the door as a soft knock and call for him came. Pulling open the door he found his servant offering him a meek smile and relaying the message that his 'goodly father' would 'kindly ask' for his company in the main hall as it appeared there were guests for him. They of course both knew that that wasn't quite the truth, they knew it had been arranged prior, they knew it was not 'kindly' asked for either but the pair shared a secret grin before the poor boy seemed to get nervous. "Y-your father...I mean...T-the king has asked...that you leave...your body guard here. He said it would be offensive to his guests to see such a man..." The prince offered a much kinder smile this time around and lightly ruffled the boys hair -likely the source of the habit with Rei- to which the boy pouted faintly but chuckled none the less and attempted to flatten his hair back down. "Don't be so frightened, I'm not truly that ugly am I?" He jested, to which the boy went scarlet and protested profusely, "I mean not that i'm attracted to you or anything. I mean Not that I wouldn't be, your a very handsome man. I'm not a girl though so it would be strange if I liked you. I mean I like you but..." Alessandro laughed cheerfully and ruffled the boys hair with both hands which promptly had him grow quiet, red in the cheeks and mumble something about his 'troublesome mouth'. "If I had a little brother I'd want them to be just like you." He teased his servant to which the boy looked aghast and prouder than a man ought to all at once.

Leaving his poor servant baffled Alessandro strode down the hallway, heading down the stairs towards the main hall. He took a deep breath by the large doors as the guards announced him and opened the doors for him and released it subtly and quietly through his nose. Adjusting a smile on his face both unassuming and wise he approached the King and Queen and their company. The royalty were sat on their high chairs of course, seated at the head of the room and elevated by seven stairs above the main floor where a selection of nobles from this kingdom and the visiting one were lined up to see the first meeting of the two royals. Further in the back of the room, in the darker and less comfortable areas were the serving staff for both households who looked as proud as the nobles in front of them. Standing by the kings throne was a slender man, lithe without being scrawny who stood half bent in deep and seemingly humourous conversation with the King. Stood at the bottom of the steps was a dower looking woman whose hair was pulled back so severely it was a wonder it hadn't fallen out. She wore a dark maroon gown that reminded him of a vulture somehow and her beady eyes seemed to glint like coal though he was told they were in fact grey in colour. Beside her was a less severe lookign girl, her light brown hair allowed to be loose unlike her mothers and fell dead straight down her back. She wore a mint green coloured dress with golden embellishments and ties, she had a sweet looking face until she smiled or laughed at which point it looked sharp and angular. She had two hand maidens at her side which she gossiped with readily as the Prince approached, giggling with a high pitched, shrill sort of laugh that set the Prince's teeth on edge. They in comparison were far lovelier looking ladies and seemed to have more of the makings of a lady than the daughter he was to meet.

With all the practiced ease of a man forced to put on a show he walked the carpet to the echoed hush of the room, chatter starting again not long after he passed by, when he reached the lady his father addressed him, introducing the Lord and Lady of a neighbouring city, to which Alessandro bowed deeply before being introduced to their daughter who readily thrust out her hand for him to take. Taking it he dropped low to one knee and kissed the back of her hand as was custom and the lady quickly withdrew it, feigning a blush and giggling quietly to her hand maidens. The King seemed pleased for now and addressed his son, "I am afraid the dear sweet Lady is awful bored of our talk of politic's and empire's, we thought it might be kinder if you took her on a tour of the castle grounds, she has mentioned she is very fond of flowers so perhaps the garden?"
"Why of course Father." In front of so many people he was not to address him as 'my king' lest peopel suspect the bad blood between them, "It would be my honour, if of course my lady would like?"

The girl stuck up her nose in what was perhaps supposed to be cute but looked snobbish and offered him her hand once more. This time Alessandro took it gently to the crook of his arm where he allowed her digits to comfortably rest in the nook of his elbow, with a sweeping gesture he led the Lady out of the busy main hall and managed to spot his sister who looked rather unhappy and mortified for him at the same time.

[PopeAlessandros]

As he's never heard about “Hitting on” someone, Rei looks quite confused at the phrase and wonders if his words some how acted as blows against the man. However as the prince continues to smile and seems quite please at the concept the fae keep his thoughts to himself and turns around to face Alessandro fully. He continues listening, watching with curious eyes as the man seems to drop into deep thought over his final question. The beginning of the youth's explanation does not help the fae at all as he's never been embarrassed as far as he can recall, nor has he ever been nervous since starting his new life. 'Perhaps this is one of those things that will simply never make sense to me. I can see that there are many things they take for granted that I lust. . . .Do not get. . . .' However as he goes on and things he can better relate to come up and he goes from confused about one thing, to confused about yet another thing.

'Falling, and about to hit bottom. I understand that. I have dropped from some damaging heights before and got a feeling deep inside that were highly unpleasant. . .However, if dressing like this makes him feel like that. . . .How does clothing make one feel like falling? I just. . .I do not understand. . . .' His brows furrow as the prince goes to address his servant and he quickly sorts out the important fact of everything the boy told him. 'Dressing up like that makes him feel negatively. It is unpleasant for him' With a faint not to himself he looks up just in time to hear the servant say that the prince must leave him behind. He doesn't quite get the rest of the conversation, other than the fact that Alessandro has no younger brothers, and he watches the prince leave with a blank expression. The servant goes to close the door behind him before stopping. He just remembered that the bodyguard was still in the prince's room.

Pushing the door back open slightly he looks to the smaller male and says with slightly more strength in his voice than what was there when addressing the prince, “Sir, if you would, I don't think it right for you to, um, wait here in the prince's room. . .” Rei stares at the youth, trying to figure out what is right or wrong about being in someone's room, but as this is not Alessandro he does not voice his queries and instead exits the room silently. Once the door is closed the servant casts one last glance at the tiny male before moving off to some other task quickly and quietly.

Once more Rei's interpretation of things runs in his own favor and while the prince was ordered not to bring him with, Rei was not ordered to not come of his own volition. So he does just that. Careful to stay out of sight of eyes that may get he or the prince in trouble he makes his way into the main hall unseen by all bot the normal staff who look far too meek to think to tell the king he is there. He watches the last bit of the exchange from a corner, the noise in the room making it impossible to hear what was said up in the dais, then slips around to a side door and is in the garden before the prince and what he presumes is the suitor he's suppose to be meeting even get there. Carefully he slips into some of the deeper foliage he will be able to move around in freely and watches as the two of them emerge.

'They are walking close together, so if she tries anything I will have to react quickly' He glances back towards the castle. 'With so many visitors today, and so short a time around them, I did not have a chance to check the feeling of the room. There may be yet another in there, ready to finish up what the other failed to do earlier' Despite the serene surroundings Rei is as keyed up as ever, though if anyone could actually see him he would look perfectly relaxed. His hand is on the hilt of his blade and while he does not like throwing his weapon he is nearly as deadly with it at a distance. His magic trickles out and though it takes a good thirty seconds, covers the entire garden in it's web like tendrils and allows Rei to listen in more easily to the strolling couple.

[cthulu]

Alessandro doesn't need to look for Rei to know he is watching, the little, fine hairs on the back of his neck begin to prickle with that odd sensation when someone is watching you intensely. It is a disconcerting feeling to say the least but in this castle there was a fair chance it was only one person, Rei and if it wasn't, it was likely another assassin -or so he reasoned- and thus Rei would be close at hand anyway. Some in his position might think him foolish, unwise to put such trust in a man who was hired to murder others and did so with such ease, an ease he had seen first hand in the town square but for some reason, something even Alessandro could not quite place, he trusted the Fae with his life, more than he'd trust most of his guard whom he had grown up knowing.

The Lady he was with was indeed lovely, she spoke eloquently but without the usual emotionless tone that most Sister's managed to stamp out. Her eyes lit up and her nose gave a cute wrinkle when she was excited or confused and she walked with all the gentle grace of a deer in the woods, barely disturbing the stones beneath her feet or the grass her dress hem brushed against. she was lightly doused in a scented oil though it was faint and fleeting so Alessandro barely managed to catch the hints of jasmine before it drifted away on the gentle breeze. She laughed at his jokes though not long or loud and she spoke little of herself until asked it of her. Alessandro imagined it would have been quite easy to fall for a woman such as her if her smile didn't give her away, it was empty and false and every now and then he caught a chill in her gaze. No doubt she'd spent her young life hoping to be married off to the King's eldest son, like many girls -or so his sister had said- she probably hand fantasised about the day they met, their wedding day and their life afterwards. With the war and the death of the eldest her dreams had been shattered.

______

The princess watched all from her place at the window, she saw her brother laughing and walking arm in arm with the Lady her father had dragged in and she felt a stab of hatred for both the woman and her brother. They had not been walking together for some time now, of course Father probably wouldn't disapprove but since the war it was so hard to guess his moods and with the lessons she was subjected to day in and out it was almost as if they were being kept separated on purpose. Perhaps her father feared she would be corrupted by Alessandro, though to what end she had no idea, her brother was a lot of things she was sure but she doubted he could ever bring harm to a woman willingly. There had been times where she had contemplated asking her father to allow her time with him, she believed she could change him into a better man, more like their deceased brother but with less cruelty. Though every time she got the courage to ask it waned and her mouth went dry. It was dry now but from dainty white teeth digging into it silently so those who also watched from the Window's would not see her distaste.

____

[cthulu]

Alessandro indeed offered his lady to sit where they talked a little longer, from the politics of the kingdom to their desires and aspirations. Alessandro answered with stock answers a future King was supposed to use, the happiness and welfare of his people, producing an heir and all the other kingly trimmings. Her answers too were those taught to her, to support her husband in his every endeavor and care for him if sick and to birth his children for him. Eventually they exhausted most of the topics they could and were permitted to ask and answer and the lady once again indicated her desire to move on. The crowd had thinned some, it had been a good hour and many people had to head back to their work or had decided to indulge in the lunch time buffet supplied by the kings cooks. His sister too had moved from the window to join with the other lords and ladies downstairs, keeping up the appearances expected of her. By the time he and the young lady had approached the castle she paused and turned to him. "My lord, I would dearly like to take a ride and see this Kingdom, would you mind taking me?" Alessandro did mind, if he rode with her he had to be everything he didn't want to be when he rode, restrained, regal and, well honestly pompous. It was not in him though to refuse the lady and even should he his father would surely punish him for it. "I see no reason why we can not, however I really must insist we take my body guard should we go." "I have heard of him, a short fellow that looks rather like a girl. People are saying he is peculiar." "Oh really? Well I would highly doubt a man of his upbringing would be considered 'normal' and I would not want him to be. It is good for my man to be considered peculiar, it will make those attempting to take my life pause for thought." He flashed a playful grin to which the Princess had no reply but a blush across her pretty cheeks and he lead her into the hall, announcing to both their fathers that they would dearly love to take in the countryside and that he would be taking his personal body guard to assure their safety. With a jest and some convincing from Alessandro's father the Lady's father consented and soon they were heading for the stables. She had a sable mare and quickly ordered the stable boy to saddle her horse while Alessandro took to the Black Beast and Silver was saddled by one of the younger farm hands. Silver was so gentle a child could saddle her, should of course her owner allow such a thing. Alessandro managed to pull beast from the stable with minimal fuss and there he waited, the farm hands holding Silver's reins, just waiting for Rei while the lady was checking her horse over as if the help here had no idea how to properly saddle an animal. Alessandro refrained from comment and slid easily up into his saddle, "I am sure he shall be along any moment. I sent my squire to fetch him." He hadn't actually, the freckle faced boy who attended his room was busy elsewhere, apparently not allowed to be part of the festivities but likely better for it too. However explaining that Rei had been watching her all this time and would be stepping out of some shadow or other now he knew his presence to be requested seemed a little excessive to him.

[PopeAlessandros]

As soon as the two are seated Rei swiftly makes his way over to the bushes behind the bench, his keen eyes staring through the foliage, his body still as a stone. His magic trickles out a little more, getting a firmer look at those seated before him, and he allows himself to relax ever so slightly. 'I feel no real threat from her' His focus instead shifts to the prince, watching the expression on his face, the motions of his body. Almost every little thing seems to scream 'false!', but despite Rei knowing this he can tell the young man is quite convincing. Despite the boring nature of the conversation Rei's focus never wavers. He even notes the exact moment the girl in the window vanishes subconsciously and as the two of them once more rise to move on Rei's path is less secretive, being able to move more openly now that the couple are no longer being watched from above. He pauses just within earshot as the woman turns, his own body spinning casually out of sight before she can spot him. His sense of danger rises at the thought of going back out into town, on horses no less. 'Keeping him safe on horse back is not easy as it is, but having a third part along. . .It is not me job to question however, just to do. . .' He nods to himself, a part of him glad that he won't have to try and hide the fact that he's following them while riding a horse. He's good but he's not quite sure how to pull that off. At the next part however he pauses, his eyes slowly lowering to look himself over. 'A girl?' Shrugging it off for now his head tilts. That joke about him being peculiar sounded almost honest and for an instant Rei wonder why that, of all things, sounded different to how he's sounded for the past hour. As soon as they slip out of sight he is less than a handful of paces behind them, his presence masked by both his skill and the steady stream of servants sill catering to those inside. He looks about, noting the decrease in the numbers wandering the main hall and keeping carefully out of sight of the prince's father. Soon enough they are on the move again and to many sideways glances tossed his way by the servants he slinks along looking both out of place and completely innocuous. The stables are not too far from the front door so he pauses there, flagging down a servant. The middle aged man approaches him a little nervously and he does his best to look harmless as he requests his riding gear from earlier in the day. 'I may as well look “respectable” for this. Perhaps even less like a girl. . .Although I am not sure what that has to do with anything. Female assassins are just as good as male ones, though I suppose the reputation of men making better warriors has not yet died out around here. . . .' About the time the princess begins checking her horse over the servant returns with his official looking gear and quickly he slips into it, smoothing it down quickly before stepping out. He knows the prince didn't ask for it, but as long as the young man is pretending to be the perfect prince, Rei may as well at least try and pretend to be a respectable bodyguard. Other than his clothes however he doesn't change the way he is. His walk is still more of a glide and his hand rests constantly on his dagger. He smiles as he hears Alessandro mention that he should be right along, the smile coming just in time for the lady to glance his want and catch it. She stills, staring openly at the strange little man approaching, however other than a nod Rei pays her no mind, his smile falling moments later. Looking instead to the prince he offers another nod before moving over to mount Silver. Murmuring to her silently in his own fae way the two of time come to the consensus that the girl now mounting her own horse is not the most pleasant person.

[cthulu]

As Rei approached Alessandro turned to face him, while impressed with how well turned out the boy was and how he was doing his best to radiate the same kind of aura as Alessandro himself he couldn't help but feel that the boy looked as awkward as he felt. The woman at his side didn't seem to pick up on that but then she didn't know Rei like Alessandro did. The man was slick and supple as a viper and the clothes on him now did not compliment the deadly skill of the former assassin. He offered Rei a grateful smile before he set to calming Beast enough to lead the way, the Prince mentioning Rei as she pulled up along side him. "He really is quite feminine isn't he? I'd almost be jealous if I didn't know he was a boy." The prince glanced to the woman briefly and opted to change the subject, Rei's looks might have been feminine but he was -to Alessandro- clearly a man and he couldn't see how anyone would confuse him that much. Though arguing that with a lady would have been a pointless battle and a smear on the family name. "Where is it my lady would like to go?" "Oh, anywhere that you like, so long as I get to see the city and we can speak more privately." "Then I shall show you the main town and then we shall continue on to the outskirts of the city." Though she would not get to go to the place Rei and he had gone too before. What followed was an uneventful ride, the woman made small talk and asked questions that came across as rude about their town's businesses and workings. She spoke of her own town often and how her father ruled it and how they'd managed in the war. She then moved on to talk about his brother, flattery falling from her lips as she spoke of the time he'd visited them and how she'd asked her father to wed her to him if they had the chance. Alessandro had been expecting such, women didn't come for him but the ghost of his brother and he'd long since grown accustomed to the unspoken but obvious 'but I'll settle for you' tone that the following sentences often held. They toured the outskirts and she asked about the fields and the crops before asking him what he thought of the rule of his father and all the while the Prince was cordial and courteous though one might notice the tightness in his shoulders. When finally back at the castle and dismounted the Prince walked Beast into the stables himself but left the hands to deal with his saddle and trappings. He took the Ladies hand and escorted her to the main entrance where her father and hand maiden waited for her. With a swift kiss to her hand the lady giggled and was gone and Alessandro breathed a huge sigh of relief. Glancing behind him to Rei he tilted his head in the direction of the Meister's tower before making his way towards it himself. Silent, regal and poised until in the confines of that safe zone. Once the wooden door of the tower was shut and he was part way up the stairs he sat himself upon them and put his head in his hands. "If father makes me marry her, I may hire an assassin to kill me myself." He uttered mournfully, beautiful yes, fair, yes but god the woman was spoiled and her spoiled nature had made her callous and arrogant.

[PopeAlessandros]

Rei can not halt another quick glance at himself as he once more hears that, despite his - albeit minor – effort, he apparently still appears girlish in the young woman's eyes. 'I can not see it, and for the life of me I can not understand feeling jealous of my looks. . . .Though I suppose I am not the best judge of such things. Beauty and attractiveness in the physical sense. . .Or any sense really, is not something I understand all that well. Never had use of it. . . .' Looking back up he watches the two nobles finish their word exchange before beginning their ride and with a soft sigh he motions Silver into action. She follows along almost reluctantly, her only drive to say near the prince whom she hopes will give her a little attention.

The ride is a quiet one. Rei's head rotates this way and that like that of a raptor on the hunt, scaring most people away when they spot his piercing stare. Those who stay are either too busy to flee or are to enthralled with the ones ahead of him to be particularly bothered by his presence. He does note that this time through town more people stop to stare and the hum of the gossip is more geared towards the hopeful than the disapproving. He swears he hears many of them call the girl by name and follow it with the word “cleansing”. He doesn't really get it, and none of it is threatening so he brushes it off with a shrug.

One ear remains on the prince and princess at all times, their conversation stuff that, for the most part, either goes over his head, or simply of no consequence to the assassin turned bodyguard. However, after a while, the talk turned tot he late brother and he can not help but pay a little bit more attention. His eyes actually stop on the two on occasion and a deep seated confusion sets up inside that small body. He gets the basic idea of what this meeting and time together with the woman is all about, as it is something he's had a bit of experience with over the years. Meetings like this are a good opportunities for an assassin since the two involved are so absent inside their own heads that taking them out is a snap.

However one thing he'd always noticed was a tit for tat exchange involving selling ones self and likewise doing one's best to buy what the other was selling. Politeness, showing off one's virtues, and pouring compliments on the other. He's not quite sure what all of that achieves however it was always the same and always just as false as what he sees before him. 'With this however, I do not see any of the fawning on her part. At least, not directed at the prince. It is as if he is not here, like she is seeing some shadow and every time she sees who she is looking at she falls from a daydream into a disappointing reality. I do not think that this meeting is like the others. . .But I may be wrong. I should ask later'

Alessandro himself looked not at all like one trying to sell himself and Rei can feel his own heckles come up at the tenseness of his ward. He does not act on his transferred irritation though and instead simply holds a little tighter to his dagger, and gesture that has brought him comfort over the years. The ride is blissfully short and though it stuck to a highly populated area Rei manages to come out fairly calm at the end of it all.

He hops of his mount before the other two, his gaze sweeping the yard quickly before shucking off his riding clothes and handing them off to a servant, sliding up to a spot behind the prince that blocks him mostly from the young lady's view. He's not sure if he needs to keep tot he shadows once again now that they are back but he's decided not to take any chances. He stalks along behind the two of them as they make their way back up to the palace and once they part ways Rei moves in closer. Taking up the spot he's become accustom to when escorting the price around the palace grounds he looks up at the man after the goodbye.

As their eyes meet Rei's narrow and he wonders vaguely at all the strain that the youth seems to be under. 'Nothing about his life is something I have encountered directly before. Everything is a little off. I know he is not exactly unique in his circumstance, however the way this is playing out is different from all I have seen before, and he. . . .' Rei does not know what to make of the man, looking back at him with his near blank curious stare. He falls into line as the prince moves off towards the tower, holding his tongue and following at a “respectful” distance until at last they enter the stone edifice.

He closes the door quietly behind them and makes to follow the prince all the way up. However the prince has other plans and instead plops down right on the stairs, his true self once more shining through true and clear. Rei pauses a couple steps down, suddenly awash in a torrent of confusion. He has to agree, the woman is not one any should seek to spend their life with, but killing oneself? He's not the insufferable one here and removing himself would rob the world of an interesting person. His brows furrow, his eyes narrowing in confusion. Moving so he is one step down from the prince he crouches panther like before the distraught young man and stares at his bowed head.

“I do not think removing yourself from the world is the answer Alessandro. Besides robbing me of the prize agreed upon between us I think that removing an unquestionably good person from the world does no one any favors, especially the one who dies.” He shakes his head slowly, his tone and eyes completely serious as he continues, his head tilting to the right. “The better solution in this instance would be to remove the bad element from the problem. In this case the woman who is causing grief to not only yourself but I do believe your younger sibling, thus also removing the guaranteed damage she would inflict on this land and the people in it along with the ruling bodies.” He blinks slowly, his head tilting to the other side. Then, as if offering to go buy a bolt of cloth he states, “I could always kill her for you.”

[cthulu]

Alessandro looked at the young fae and as he spoke such kind words -albeit likely without realising it- the prince found himself having to resist the urge to lean in and kiss the fae. Oh he'd had compliments paid to him before but none so earnest and without ulterior intent. Instead Alessandro offered him a smile, Rei was such a refreshing change to the woman he'd spent the day with. Honest to his feelings and his thoughts, kind in his own way, intelligent with no arrogance or false pride, if Alessandro could meet a girl like Rei then maybe this whole marriage thing wouldn't be so bad. Instead of acting on the impulse he first had he acted on the second, his fingers brushing into the feather soft locks of Rei in a soft and gentle caress, "You flatter me with your words Rei." He sounded genuinely touched as well. "You are right I can not break my promise to you and I shall not don't you worry."

Although if he was married to her he might be tempted on numerous occasions, Rei continued and Alessandro dropped his hand, resting both on his legs and listening. The woman was upsetting his little sister? Perhaps he would have to ask her what had caused this distress, he certainly would have a stronger case if she was upset by the woman as well and his parents were more likely to listen to her than to him. Of course then Rei shook him from his thoughts with the offer to kill her and for a brief moment he was almost tempted to permit it. Alessandro gave a small shake of his head however and a quiet chuckle, "How tempting such a power would be Rei, however I am afraid I would never ask that of you and as insufferable as she might be -in my eyes- she does not quite deserve to die. Thank you though."

Once more unintentionally the fae had relieved him of his stresses and bought him into better spirits, so with an easy movement he was back to his feet, "Come, lets go find you a book to read, no? After today I think you deserve it."

[PopeAlessandros]

Rei nods in satisfaction as the prince assures him that he will not be removing himself from the world any time soon. The hand, not on the top of his head this time, but in his hair, seems a little different this time. He's not sure why or how, but as he looks at that smile on the prince' lips, that look in his eyes, he's quite sure he's missing something once again. It doesn't bother him though. The prince has never really posed any threat to him, and the look in his eye is. . .Soft, for lack of a better word, and his smile is honest. The touch itself is gentle and he does not move away from it. The prince can do what he likes, and it's not like the feeling of fingers in his hair is unpleasant. “I do not flatter. As I understand the term it is projected falsehoods to compliment another, and I am simply pointing out the obvious truth.”

The hand falls away soon enough however and Rei tilts his head once more, listening to the man talk. He laughs at the idea of Rei killing the woman, though he admits feeling tempted, and the fae has to wonder if this is some kind of royal double talk. He however takes the gratitude and the spoken denial at face value and decides that if the prince really wanted her dead, he would have said so. 'Well, he knows the offer is there. Humans change their minds all the time, and I will be around for some time and ready to act if Alessandro wishes me to'

His keen eyes do not miss the strain leaving the prince's body and as he gains his feet Rei can feel himself relaxing as well. His head perks up almost like a feline's as Alessandro brings up the subject of books and he looks past the prince up the stairs with a faint twinkle in his eyes over the prospect of acquiring – even if only temporarily – another rare book to read. Skittering along smoothly behind the prince he waits for the other to open the door before looking about the room curiously. The old man from before – he'd called through the door and bade them enter without asking who was it that knocked – is sitting by the table, a small stack of books laying about haphazardly.

Many of the tomes are open to random pages and Rei's eyes are drawn to them. Without even really acknowledging the tutor he walks over and begins reading the open pages at a distance, wondering what the old man is looking into or recalling. He recognizes research when he sees it, and the old man has been looking up something. The passages he reads however are rather confusing, having to do more with human history before the age where they knew fae and other creatures like them existed. The old man chuckles at him after greeting the prince and Rei looks at him curiously, then turns to the prince, casting small glances over his shoulder as if to ask if he can go grab a book yet.

[cthulu]

Up they went and he smiled faintly as he was beckoned in even before the door handle was in his grasp, he always wondered about the meister's ability but he'd never question it. The old man was his friend and that was all that mattered, "Pardon the intrusion but I promised my guard here another look at your books." He paused then added, "And if I am completely honest I need to hide away from a certain girl, I'm sure the prospect of books will put her off coming here." The meister chuckled and gave no attention to Rei's nosing but instead addressed the prince, "Woman trouble?" He cooed playfully, Alessandro nodded faintly.

The meisters eyes rose to Rei and Alessandro turned his attention to the boy, with a chuckle he nodded lightly, "Off you go then Rei. Enjoy." With the release command given he sat on the floor by the Meister's chair, glancing briefly to the window in the tower, "I don't understand, I know marrying for love is not a luxury we as royalty get. However to ask me to spend my life with someone as shallow, uneducated and self-centred seems a special kind of cruelty." The meister chuckled faintly and put a hand on the Prince's.
"That seems bad but most Kings and Queens eventually come to respect, if not love one another. I know it seems unfair, it is, you'll find a way to cope...unless of course your sister puts an end to all of it for you." It was Alessandro's turn to chuckle,
"She is my only hope right now. Although, perhaps the Sweet Lady did not take to me and perhaps she will talk her family out of it."
"That's the spirit my boy. So, how are you aside miserable?"
"Well enough to come here and complain my woes to you. I am sorry, is there anything you need? Extra blankets perhaps, candles?"
"Oh do not fret for me so much my Prince, I am old and hardy like the oak."
And so the pair talked casually, of everything from the weather to the stars and Alessandro had that look in his eyes a child might hold for a father telling a tale. It was a contented time indeed and the tension and falsehood of the prince washed away, left outside the tower so only the true Alessandro remained.

[PopeAlessandros]

As soon as he is granted permission Rei is off into the shelves, searching for the book he had been reading before. He'd not seen it on the table and it takes every scrap of his concentration to relocate it as the old man seems to have a filing system that has everything in odd places and never in the same place twice. Once it's located however he slides it off the shelf and into his lap, curling around it as he begins reading. Each passage filters into his mind, filling it with images and scenes in a way only books have ever managed to do. It's not like Rei doesn't have an imagination but without the words before him it seems weak, and a little sad.

Time passes around the fae, the world inside the book growing dimmer and dimmer until he realizes that it's not the images, it the lack of light from the real world darkening his vision. His head comes up, rotating this way and that until he spots the glow of a candle in the distance. He's almost finished with the book, only a few pages left, and he really wants to reach the end before it's time to leave. Standing he walks over to the source of the light, a candle resting in the middle of the table where the old man is sitting beside the prince. Without even looking at the two he sends out his magic to make sure both are okay as he approaches before plopping down into a free seat, settling the large tome gently on to the table.

Diving back in he ignores the conversation taking place across the table and only looks up when he senses someone coming up the stairs of the tower. He pauses mid sentence and his eyes snap to the door, glaring. “Someone is here.” he murmurs, rising and coming around the table just so that he'll be at the ready should it be a threat to the prince. He doesn't recognize the body approaching, so it's not anyone he's had direct contact with before like the princess or Alessandro's manservant so he remain generally alert until the identity of the person is confirmed. The old man looks at him curiously, looking almost ready to chuckle at his hyper alertness on the palace grounds. He refrains however, seeing as Rei himself made it on to the grounds, and it is in the dark hours.