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It’s understood that as a Prince, Arthur’s life will be different to others his age. Add on to that being a wizard on top of it, and you don’t really get to have the typical teenage boy experience. Even before being summoned as a Sage’s Wizard, he’s known this. It doesn’t mean he’s ignorant though. A few things said here and there by knights, a girl from the kitchens talking about how she fancies the new stable hand, idle discussion when people don’t think he’s listening about matters that wholly don’t pertain to him. And then there was the previous Sage, who definitely taught him about a thing or two that weren’t suitable for royal ears.
It’s not even the fact that he hasn’t felt that pull to someone like they talk about, but given his role in society, he knows he’s never going to get a chance to experience romance in any proper way. He’ll be married in an arranged political marriage and perhaps will learn to love his wife, but it won’t be born from that. He’s heard whispers about a young lady in Western Country, it would be a union that would do well to calm the tension between both countries. That’s his reality though and he doesn’t mind too much about missing out on the romance aspect of marriage if it will help his country. He worries more about the danger of his wedding vows counting as a promise and leading to the loss of his magic more than anything else.
To Arthur that’s just how things are and how they’ll always be. Snow and White used to read him romantic fairy tales about knights and princes and princess when he was young and he’d listen in awe as they’d enchant the books to display the pictures around the room for him. It does sound quite nice, admittedly, to have a life partner who you love and cherish. From people like Cock Robin and Canaria, to the more long lived example of Snow and White, having that other half does sound lovely but Arthur’s never going to be allowed that so there’s no point in seeking it out.
“I do enjoy indulging in a little bit of love talk.” Shylock lifts his cup to his lips, taking a sip of the tea that’s been served to the wizards in the manor. It’s a strange little group of them that are left there today, the others all busy on errands or jobs. It’s a miracle Arthur himself has the afternoon off to join them in the courtyard. “The innocence of your youth gives a unique perspective, one I barely remember ever having.”
Rutile’s cheeks flush slightly as he lifts his own cup to his lips. They’re only a few years apart and both respected in their communities but Rutile has such a different life experience compared to Arthur. The fact he’s able to so freely engage in dating and romance is just one aspect of that.
“We aren’t together anymore, he’s a past boyfriend from a couple of years back, but he’s coming to Central Country for a week and sent a letter asking if I wanted to catch up for drinks. I don’t think he still likes me like that, but when I think about him I still feel my heart racing sometimes and that feeling in my stomach.” There’s a small smile on Rutile’s lips as he talks and even though the two of them aren’t still together, he can tell he thinks of him fondly.
“My, he sounds like quite the dangerous man to have captured your feelings like that so long after.” Their conversation yet again touches on all those things that he isn’t allowed to experience. Seeing the little smile on Rutile’s face as he and Shylock continue talking does make him wonder if perhaps he’s missing out, but he knows he can’t change his fate and with no one having caught his heart yet, it’s not like he’s had the opportunity any way.
“Prince Arthur I know it’s probably improper to ask a Prince but have you got your eye on anyone?” Abruptly the conversation turns to him.
Taking his time to place his fork back onto his plate he shakes his head elegantly.
“I haven’t, but perhaps that’s for the best, given my duty to my country I’m unlikely to have the chance to freely experience love like yourself.” Rutile looks crestfallen at his response and while Heathcliff has been sitting the conversation out with a dark flush on his cheeks, he nods in agreement with Arthur’s words. “It’s likely I’ll be married for the gain of Central Country and to strengthen it’s political ties.”
“Marriage huh… that’s such a tricky one for a wizard.” It is, Arthur will have to navigate that when it comes to it. “I suppose that’s the same for you Heath? Being a noble or royalty must be tough.”
“There was a time when I too was considered a noble, in fact you’re the only person at this table who may not have had to consider it. However I avoided any of that mess by stepping backwards and providing support to my family over the years, something that both of you are far too diligent to consider, but I must say I do quite recommend it.” Shylock’s words lighten the mood a little, the three of them cracking a smile at his recommendation to just not perform your duties.
“But you’ve really never had a crush? No one who thoughts of twists your stomach in knots and makes your heart beat super fast? Sometimes thinking about them feels like you’re in agony but you want nothing more than to be with them all the same?” Rutile starts rattling off symptoms if liking someone and Arthur can’t fathom why this is a feeling you’d want to have, it sounds awful. “Even when you’re apart you can’t stop thinking about them, it’s like they take over your brain and seeing them makes you feel like you could do anything.”
Except.
There is someone who fits some of those symptoms. Someone who’s been a part of his life for so long, who he was torn from and has only just been reunited with. Someone he wants the acknowledgement of and to sing the praises of to the world as a whole. Pressing his lips together, he turns his attention to his half drunk cup of tea. He can’t say what he’s thinking, even among friends if the thought he’s just had were to get out there could be an international scandal. People in Central Country already hold Oz in disdain, he’d hate to bring more of that upon him by leading people to believe that Oz has bewitched him into falling for him.
He can’t pinpoint when his feelings started to change toward the romantic, but the revelation doesn’t hit him as strongly as it perhaps should. He’s always harboured these feelings for Oz, it makes sense that somewhere along the way his feelings for him morphed from familial into romantic. Having never considered it as an option due to the way his life is mapped out for him meant he never opened his eyes enough to see it. Now that he’s been made aware of it though, it hits him with full force. He’d simply attributed that longing to a desire to have back the Oz who’d raised him. Perhaps things would be different if they were still in the North, perhaps he would have realised it so much sooner.
“Oh? Is there someone?” Rutile is clearly excited by the idea Arthur might be able to join in their gossip.
“I have a feeling that even if there is, Arthur’s going to have to take some time to come to terms with the revelation you’ve just bestowed upon him.” Shylock comments, saving him from politely declining to gossip himself. “Heathcliff you’ve been awfully quiet, perhaps Rutile’s words resonate with you as well?”
Flushed cheeks and flustered stammering, Heathcliff scrambles to deny that he has his eye on anyone, bringing up much the same reasoning as Arthur himself.
Politely excusing himself from the table, Arthur heads inside, feeling a little bit guilty about stranding poor Heathcliff with two wizards very interested in gossiping about the sort of thing that thoroughly embarrasses the Eastern noble. Arthur needs to do some thinking though, and that’s not something he can take care of at such a table. Opening the door to his room, he lets himself inside, closing it behind himself as he heads to his desk.
There’s no way he can pursue a relationship with Oz, not until he’s lived long enough to step back from his duties and has an heir in place. A hundred or so years of holding off from acting on his feelings. It feels like a lifetime but for someone as old as Oz that must seem like nothing at all. He wonders how much longer he’d have gone oblivious to this change in how he feels about Oz. Probably not forever, but would he have realised it when walking down the aisle with a bride on his arm? When things weren’t working out and he realised that his heart was always going to be with another? A distant future with Oz only works if he’s able to avoid his future marriage being a promise too, or else he’ll risk aging and dying before it can even be on the table.
Perhaps he’ll never get to have that sort of a relationship with him. Maybe Oz doesn’t harbour the same feelings for him as he holds. He can’t see a reason for Oz to be opposed to their relationship otherwise, and if it weren’t for his role as the Central Country Prince, Arthur would find himself longing to be back in Oz’s castle. Perhaps for most humans pursing a relationship with Oz might be bizarre, but the royal bloodline has a few too many intersecting lines on it for Arthur to be put off by the fact Oz raised him and relationships between master and disciple are common (even if Oz won’t call him that).
It’s a love that feels doomed from the beginning, and one that he can barely rationalise a future for. Trying to figure out things in his own head just doesn’t work. He needs to be able to talk about this with someone, but there aren’t many people he can do that with. Snow and White would be logical choices, they were there during his childhood and definitely feel a strong love for each other so understand the feeling. There is one other person who he trusts will be able to give him the advice he needs, and not to spill the beans. Trying to push aside the confusion until Figaro returns later in the day, he reaches for a pile of letters. Putting his signature at the bottom of them isn’t urgent, but the monotony of the action will help clear his mind.
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“To what do I owe the pleasure of having cute Arthur come visit me on this fine evening?” Opening his door wide, Figaro welcomes him inside with a wide smile on his face.
“Good Evening Lord Figaro.” Casting his gaze over the room, he’s relieved to see that he’s Figaro’s only visitor tonight. “Do you remember telling me that I could come to you for things I can’t ask Lord Oz about?”
Sitting down on his bed, Figaro pets the mattress beside him. He seems delighted by the fact Arthur sought him out for advice and while it’s a tricky topic that he doesn’t know if Figaro will be much help with, he’s pleased to see Figaro being so happy in response to seeking him out.
“Yes yes, of course, perhaps tonight I’ll be Mr Garcia and not Lord Figaro to you. Wouldn’t that be fun, I’ve always wanted to hear how it sounds coming from your mouth.” Taking the spot next to Figaro, sits politely, crossed legs and hands folded in his lap as he decides to humour Figaro.
“Well then Mr Garcia, I look forward to learning from you.” He gets a pet on the head for going along with Figaro’s request and finds himself laughing in response, it helps to ease the mood.
“That’s a good boy, now do tell me what it is that you’re wanting to know.”
“Well it’s more advice than anything.” He looks into those strange eyes of Figaro’s, “it’s about love.”
With a raised eyebrow, Figaro lets out a low whistle.
“Look at you growing up so fast, I remember when Oz first picked you up out of the snow. You were so small back then, you’ve grown up to be a fine young man.”As Figaro pauses, Arthur realises that perhaps he’s got the wrong idea about what he’s asking. “Let’s start with the basics and then we can move you onto the birds and the bees. I don’t think Oz would have taught you anything about that given how he is and I don’t quite trust the Central Education system to teach you anything specifically pertaining to wizards.”
Figaro’s gone wildly off topic very fast but there is something in what he said that Arthur is curious about.
“That’s not the sort of love I was asking about, but is there a difference between humans and wizards for that sort of thing?”
“There is, talismans use bits of the body containing DNA for a start. You should know that’s not just limited to saliva, blood and hair.” Figaro gives a knowing chuckle as Arthur feels heat rise in his cheeks.
“When you mentioned Oz before, what did you mean by ‘how he is’?” Arthur knows in general what Figaro means but perhaps there’s information that he’s missed.
“You’ve met Oz, can’t say I’ve ever seen him have an interest in any of that kind of stuff. I’ve never even seen him show interest in anybody.” It’s exactly what Arthur thought it would be and he knows his face visibly falls when Figaro confirms it.
“Ah.” He says simply, his understanding of the situation is suddenly very clear. “Doesn’t mean you can’t try though. Never thought he had any interest in raising a kid till he took you in so maybe you can be his first here too.”
Shifting slightly uncomfortably on the mattress, he tries to figure out how much Figaro is just trying to placate him and how much he genuinely thinks he has any chance of things working out there.
“There’s the issue with my role as well.” He speaks slowly. “I’ll be expected to marry someone chosen for me and to produce an heir. I don’t have the freedom to pick and chose who I wish to date and the expectation that I marry is of concern, especially as I’ll already be breaking my vows simply by entering into a marriage while my heart is with someone else.”
“There’s always the option of going in and changing a few people’s minds with a bit of magic, just a few strings pulled here and there and suddenly people will think it’s a great idea to have the Central royals and the strongest wizard there is with a strong tie between them.” Arthur laughs but he’s not completely sure Figaro is joking with the idea. There’s a surprising amount of conviction in his voice and it’s more than a little concerning.
“No?” Figaro leads on, giving a laugh of his own. “Wizards live long lives but that doesn’t mean you should pass up a chance when you have it. You’re already breaking tradition by being a wizard, and you're a Sage's Wizard on top of that. They might start pressuring you into marriage tomorrow, but we could all die with the next calamity attack regardless so I don’t see the point in denying yourself something for a future that’s uncertain. Push back on their attempts to marry you off and work on changing the system that lead to that. We can work on Oz's reputation a little bit as well, it might not help but if you frame things the right way, you might start to get somewhere. The work you're doing to re-write the history books on him is already a good start there.”
“So you think I should pursue him?” He asks in earnest, he values Figaro’s word.
“He’s the most powerful wizard in the world and you’re pretty powerful yourself. Who’s going to be able to tell you no? You’re doing the right thing for this country and your heart is in the right place. Tensions with other nations don’t need to be smoothed over with political marriages, and you shouldn’t have to be sacrificing your happiness to take care of something that could be sorted out by cutting a few deals.” Arthur has a feeling Figaro doesn’t know quite how dire the tensions between West and Central are getting, but there are other ways to ease those than by marrying him off. He doesn’t even trust that the two nations will hold off on war for long enough for such an arrangement to be made anyway.
“Thank you Lord Figaro.” He gives a gentle smile, the words that have left Figaro’s lips have helped to ease his mind about the path forward that he might be able to take. He doesn’t know yet if they’re the right path, but it gives him a new perspective worth considering.
“If anyone stands a chance with him, it’s you.”
As he leaves Figaro’s room and finds himself in the hallways, he contemplates heading back to his own room to attempt an early night sleep. The smell of food from the kitchen tempts him away from his plans though. Just a little snack before he settles down for the night.
The voices from the kitchen are ones he recognises instantly. Snow, White and Nero are chatting, at this time of evening the twins will be in their photo frame, so there must be others in there too. Rounding the door he takes in the room, to find that there are definitely others down in the kitchen, one of whom simply nods at him, and he feels his chest explode.
The revelation he’d had today stuns him, he hadn’t expected to feel such a change from merely seeing Oz. Trying to hide the pink that must be dusting his cheeks, he turns away from the group. The last thing he needs is for the information to come out when he hasn’t had time to think through things yet.
“Arthur.” A large hand surprises him by pressing itself to his forehead. “Are you ill?”
Looking up into Oz’s face, he completely understands what Rutile was talking about earlier, and if this is how it’s going to be from now on, then he doesn’t know if he’s going to be able to bear waiting 100 years, or potentially even longer to reveal how he feels to Oz. His duty to his country is important, but there has to be an answer that can allow him to have both.