Work Text:
*** - timejump
— - POV change
He was never the one to pay attention but still, the fact Calian was dying, still came as a surprise. He only learnt about it when Calian was finally in a coffin.
He looked disturbed, tormented even in death. It was a scary expression that could start nightmares for everyone who looks at it for too long. Burying Calian in an open coffin was a warning and mockery because this way everyone can see what became of the third prince.
Randel knew Franz may have played a role in it and his ignorance could’ve had a part in this tragedy too but it's obvious Calian didn't die because he put a hand on himself although that’s what everybody has been told. The scarf on his neck can only hide so much but it didn't change the fact that Calian's body looked as if it was mocking life. Because it's unreal how anyone could be alive in such a state. His limbs were thin, resembling a spider's legs, he was swollen and his lips had a bluish colour to them.
It was obvious he died slowly while fighting for his life with all his might. Randel took a glance towards Franz and then quickly averted his eyes.
He knew Franz was the one who found Calian as he was the one who informed the king of his death, but even knowing all that, he didn't expect it to have such an effect on Franz.
He looked gloomy and dark. Even sinister. Calian didn't want to meet his eyes, afraid of what Franz's reaction would be.
What did Calian tell him before he died to change him in one day? This wasn't the fool Randel had grown used to.
***
He isn’t sure what forced him to go to Calian’s room that night but he was glad that he did. Because the first thing he saw when he stepped in without even knocking first was his own mother sitting on a chair, watching how Calian was being strangled.
“What are you doing!?”
His legs moved before his mind and he stormed to stop the man holding a rope around Calian’s neck. He got shoved aside by another man who he didn’t see at first and his first reaction was to fight even when overpowered. Calian was the only pure thing in the whole castle. If he were to die, Franz isn’t sure how he would go on because this place was wicked, corrupted to its core. He hated it from the depth of his heart. So Calian, who doesn’t know how to curse someone or be like everyone else, needed to live. No matter what.
But Franz knew there’s nothing he can use against Silike. Nothing but one thing. He put a sword to his own neck.
“Stop it right now or I’ll kill myself.”
It worked. Mother stood up and Franz smiled. Yeah. She didn’t care about anything other than getting the throne and she needed him in order to get that so that’s what he’ll use to keep Calian alive.
“Franz. Stop.”
Silike’s voice cut the air like thunder. Franz had heard this tone enough times to know it’s nothing good and part of him instinctively wanted to listen but then he fought. Because if he stopped now, then Calian would have suffered only worse fate.
But he wasn’t given a choice. His mother’s lackeys pushed him down and took the sword away from him while Silike stepped closer, her expression scary. It was a mask of pity and empathy.
“Did you know Franz? I can keep him alive a little longer,” she said and Franz looked up straight into her eyes to see if she was lying. It sounded too good to be true. She waved to tell the man strangling Calian to stop.
“Why would you?” Franz asked, sure that she didn’t have any good intentions. She hated Calian with all her might, why would she now suddenly change his mind?
“Cause you’ll agree to anything to get it.”
Franz gritted his teeth because she was right. He’d do anything to get her to stop.
“Make a vow. Then I’ll let him live. He’ll be declared too sick to rule and be isolated but he’ll be alive. Isn’t this what you want?”
She was smiling but Franz wanted to curse. That’s a new low from her even after all the bodies that have dropped because of her.
“What do I need to promise?”
“Silence. Obedience.”
It's something he'd never give her. But Calian’s neck was literally on the line right now and he couldn’t risk that.
“I'll do it,” he growled at her, her expression transforming into a victorious smile.
“Let him go. Your work is done here.” She told her followers and then left, placing a hand on his shoulder before going and warning him with a low whisper.
“Don't ever forget, you're the only thing keeping him alive.”
He ignored her and instead rushed to Calian who was shaking on the floor, being a crying mess. Franz pulled him into a hug which Calian fought. Franz thought it was strange before he remembered what had just happened and that he too hadn't been too friendly with him.
“Don't worry. I won't hurt you.”
It didn't help much but finally Calian calmed down and fell asleep. Calian placed him to his bed but hesitated about leaving. Calian wasn't in a good condition and although Silike swore not to kill him, she’d surely find a way to ignore the deal. Franz’s eyes fell on the bad bruise on Calian’s neck. That won't heal for quite some time. Can a healer help him? But he had promised to stay silent. Others can't be involved or mother will take it as a breach of contract.
He’d wish Calian good night but there's no point in that. He already knew that Calian won't be able to sleep well and that was part of the reason why he decided to stay.
—
Calian opened his eyes and stayed still for a moment, just staring at the ceiling. After that, he silently rose up. Franz was still asleep on the chair. Calian looked at him, his expression vague. Even if Franz would have woken up right now, he wouldn’t have been able to tell what he was thinking.
Calian placed a hand on his throat right where the bruise was and winced before taking another look at Franz, this time with clear sadness and misery. He pulled Franz’s sleeve up a little to expose a wound the second prince had suffered when fighting. It was already healing and didn’t bleed anymore. Still tears fell from Calian’s eyes to the blanket and he cried quietly without making any noise.
And when Franz finally opened his eyes, Calian was asleep once again, all the evidence from what he did, gone forever.
—
Franz had a hard time acting like he didn’t know anything or that he didn’t care. During the next few days, Calian was called too weak to rule, placed under house arrest under the disguise of his poor health acting up and pretty much abandoned by everyone.
Franz still went to visit him when the darkness fell and everyone else was already sleeping but it didn’t make him feel better in any way.
Calian still looked at him with wary eyes and turned his head away every time Franz noticed his gaze on him and he always put some distance between them. But worst of all, even if he had been silent before, after that attack, he had completely stopped talking. Franz found it difficult as he wasn’t the type to talk but the silence was even more uncomfortable than speaking. And Franz’s opinion was that Calian still had to know what was going on outside even if he acted like he didn’t care about it at all.
The bruise had already healed and Calian was looking a little better than before so Franz was hopeful that there could still be a day when he can go outside like he used to. That’s why he gave it his all to not go against the vow he made so Silike couldn’t do anything to Calian.
—
Calian stared at the teacup. Silike was standing right before him and watched him, her stare cold and unmoving.
“Drink it,” she ordered without any mercy.
Calian took the teacup, his hands shaking. He placed it against his lips but then hesitated and finally put it back down without taking a single sip of tea. He stared at his bed, refusing to meet Silike’s disappointed gaze.
“Don’t you care about Franz at all? He has done so much to keep you alive and now you’re throwing it all away.”
Calian didn’t move even after Silike’s words, although the fact that he was shaking became more obvious than before. Silike sighed and stood up.
“Did you know? It doesn’t matter what Franz does or what promise I made with him if you don’t comply with the terms.” She placed her hand on his shoulder and quietly whispered “He can’t save you again. Tonight is the day you die. I’ll send someone to get you,” with a soft voice that almost sounded loving if only the words hadn’t been so poisonous. Finally Silike left and Calian pulled his legs closer to himself and started crying. He still didn’t make any noise but when Franz came, pulled him into a hug and didn’t hide what he was doing.
—
Calian wasn’t too well the last time he visited. Franz was worried although mother had stayed quiet like she had promised. Maybe it was the isolation that was finally getting to him. But then again, he had never really had anyone to talk to. And now he couldn’t even if he had wanted to speak to Franz. That was the worst about it. Franz was actually missing his voice although Calian had never talked too much, mostly because of fear. He was hoping to change it.
But then, as he stepped into Calian’s room, all his dreams and hopes crashed. Calian was still there but only his body. His soul had long left. Franz hurried and took him down but it didn’t help anything. Calian’s body was still warm but his heart wasn’t beating, he wasn’t breathing and he just wasn’t there anymore. Franz broke down crying and pulled Calian’s body into a hug. It was almost like they were before but yet, nothing was the same.
“I wanted you to live. Why couldn’t you do the same?” he asked through sobs.
The limb body didn’t answer and Franz continued to hold onto him until he grew cold. After that, he forced himself to put him down and then, all that remained in him was emptiness. He wasn’t ready to let go yet but there was nothing he could do. The dead can’t come back.
Franz was just about to leave when he noticed a piece of paper tucked between the bed and Calian’s pillow. He hadn’t noticed it before being occupied with other things but after pulling it out, he discovered it to be a letter. It was Calian’s handwriting and it was addressed to him.
Franz read it only to cry even more.
How could Calian even fear that he would be angry at him because he got wounded while protecting him? And if he wanted to say all those things, then why didn’t he write any sooner? Why did it have to go this way? Franz could’ve told him it’s okay.
But once he reaches the end, his blood freezes in his veins.
“Franz. I don’t want to die but I haven’t been given a choice. You didn’t break your promise to Silike but I did. It’s not your fault.”
Silike. How dare she? He did everything she wanted. Why wasn’t it enough? She had promised him.
Those few lines are the reason why he storms into her room before going to inform Lemaine.
She looked so unbothered even after his sudden intrusion.
“You promised.”
“Only to keep him alive a little longer. Didn’t say for how long. And he started rebelling.”
She didn’t even deny it was her fault. Franz couldn’t stay in her presence any longer so he left in a hurry and went to Lemaine.
The king didn’t want to believe him at first but after a servant who was sent there said the same thing, it finally dawned on him. And after that came the grief. Franz witnessed it but found it pathetic. Lemaine was no father. Otherwise he would’ve seen it coming, would’ve prevented it.
***
Everyone else had left. The funeral was over. Franz was the only one who stayed but he did it because he couldn’t force his legs to move and because if he faced Silike right now, he wouldn’t care about anything and would just attack her.
His heart was aching for revenge he couldn’t yet take and no one was helping. They didn’t even know the truth. The history was made to believe Calian did it to himself.
“You’re still here.”
Franz turned around to see Lemaine. He didn’t come when everyone else did. Why was he here now? And almost as if he was reading Franz’s thoughts Lemaine answers him
“I didn’t want my people to see me like that. They don’t see me as a father, to them I’m a king who can’t waver.”
“You’re that to everyone. Calian was killed.”
“I know.”
“Then you know the future too. Your days are counted.”
Lemaine didn’t answer him but Franz didn’t need him to. He was the one who was going to change everything so who was Lemaine to give him permission or to try to stop him?
He couldn’t even bring the culprits to justice so Franz was going to ignore that he even existed. If he didn’t do anything, he was as good as an empty space.
Franz hated the fact that he had hoped that Lemaine had no idea of the truth. That hope was worse than knowing.
He had been naïve. This whole place was corrupted to its core and the people were wicked. How could he have forgotten it?