Chapter Text
Crystal chandeliers, golden champagne, and a bunch of snakes—that is what this banquet consisted of. I have never been a huge fan of the European royalty, let alone their parties, so being stuck with the poisonous snakes until midnight seemed like a nightmare. I, of course, had no choice, as one of my friends was going and I desperately needed to keep watch over them. It was really his idea. Honestly, he was just chasing after some girl who happened to be an acquaintance of a European prince. I never understood why he was so interested in her, but that's his discretion I suppose. Not because she wasn't pretty or anything; I never judge people on looks actually, only their personality. To be frank, she had a terrible personality and was always rude towards me because of a stupid prophecy. Just because I’m in the military doesn't mean I want the world to burn for fuck’s sake. That prophecy is really something else. Even if I'm a little messed up in the head, it doesn't mean I’m going to go ballistic and kill everyone. That thought process just doesn't make any logical sense, not that it's based on logic anyway. Prophecy is faulty, that's a fact, not an opinion. it was incredibly idiotic.
The more I walked around, the more I realized that my friend was absolutely nowhere to be found. It pissed me off quite a bit. So, it was at this point that I realized I had two options: leave and save my peace, or stay and possibly almost murder someone again. I have never gotten along with Royal Europeans; they treat foreigners like dogs and have no respect for anyone but themselves. My father is Russian and even he dislikes them, so I think it's an all across the board thing. I continue to walk around in desperate search of an exit. I choose my peace. The place was so bright and full of gold that I couldn't tell my right from left. It felt awfully disorienting. Finally, I see a glow of dark blue and feel a light wind gust. An exit! I step faster in anticipation towards the door only to realize it’s just an exit to a garden
I felt foolish for believing that it was so easy to get out. This banquet is in a castle, not a normal building. Ugh, damn it! I’m so killing Anakin when I see him again. The idiot forgot that I'm a commanding officer at our school, so it'll be 100 laps for him. I sit down on the cobblestone stairs leading to the lower part of the garden and decide to lie down for a minute. As I look up, much to my surprise, the moon and stars are still very visible despite all the lights of the castle. The night sky is one of the best and most beautiful things to come out of the universe. When I was younger, my mom would tell me stories of the constellations and stars while we sat out on the dry Mongolian plains. It was fun back then, so fun. I miss Mom and Dad. I miss Klaus and Sebastian too. I miss a lot of people from my past, but what can I do now? It was all their decision and what's done is done. I couldn't change it if I tried.
“Excuse me?” I hear someone ask. It almost gives me a heart attack from how soft and relaxed it is. I get up and turn to the owner of this mysterious voice. Wavy, dark strawberry blonde hair, caramel-toned skin, and striking Renaissance gold and midnight blue eyes attack me with no warning. If I hadn't felt the frigid air, I would have thought I was dreaming. It was a boy wearing a royal court uniform, and he held some type of flower. I sprung up to my feet. “Sorry, my apologies, I was kind of zoned out. Do you need help with something?” I could only hope I wasn't making a complete fool of myself. He gave a confusing set of blinks before he just smiled. “Nein, Όχι, you’re perfectly alright. I should be apologizing for sneaking up on you like that.” He laughed a little at that last part. I swear I could feel my heart melting away slightly. So he speaks Greek and German? Perhaps he's mixed and a prince of both kingdoms? But then why have I not seen him before? I know I hate these events, but I've been to enough of them to know who the majority of these people are. Moreover, if I ever saw someone as beautiful as him before I would have surely taken note. It's not in a weird way or anything, I'm just an art kid at heart.
“Oh no it's fine. You didn't scare me really. Say, do you usually come to these banquets and balls?” He shook his head and responded, “It's complicated but I suppose not. I don't really like them because they're just old men trying to marry off their daughters and it makes me melancholic.” Ah… “I see…That's very reasonable of you.” He smiled again, this time a slightly sadder one. “I suppose so, but I wish it wasn't like that. Well in either case I'm glad you agree with me. Anyways, what brings you here yourself? Forgive me if this is rude but you wear a Republic military uniform, not a royal one.” This guy… Why am I in shock? I've never met a European prince so, well, open-minded. He's gorgeous, educated, and not stuck in the 1600s?! What are the chances? “You're correct, the uniform of my military boarding school in Japan to be specific. I'm not Japanese though, I just happened to get into the boarding school. I was just really here for a friend but I guess they decided not to show up.” His smile faded again, and his face showed pity now. “Oh, I'm sorry. That's not a very good show of friendship if you ask me. Also, if you don't mind me asking, where are you from? Since you have just told me you go to a Japanese military school but you're not Japanese.” I knew this was coming. I hesitate for a little while. I mean, he doesn't seem like the stereotypical colonist European so it should be fine if I tell him, right? God, if you're up there, don't make me regret this.
After much hesitation I finally answer, ¨Um, I don’t have just one nationality you see. My mother is Mongolian and my father is Russian. Both of them are scientists and mathematicians.¨ For a second, I could've sworn I saw stars in his eyes. He grabs my hand enthusiastically, basically beaming with excitement, and drops his flower. My face flushes to a deep red. “I- I'm amazed! That's simply wunderbar! Tell me, are the Russian mountains as beautiful as people say?! Or is it true that the Mongolian stars shine the brightest in all of Asia?!¨ I could feel myself melting even though it was so cold outside. This boy is different, very different. Not only that, but he looks around the same age as me. This isn't weird, right? I could talk to him for hours even though I'd just met him. This is a strange feeling. “Your Highness!” I am taken by surprise by the voice and so was the boy, though his hands still firmly held mine. “Ah… Mr. Authar, what is it?” It seemed as though this man was his duke, which made perfect sense. He bowed slightly before saying anything. “Your grandfather has ordered for your return, as this was the wrong destination.”
He blinked for a few seconds, clearly in disbelief. Then he looked at me. His eyes killed me, they really did. Looking at them was like looking into the stars. He frowned, clearly upset. “I…” I sighed. “It's fine, you should be heading back now.” Sadness was written all across his face. I don't think I had ever felt so bad for someone in my life. To try to deescalate, or rather to make him feel less sorrowful, I picked up the flower he had just dropped moments prior. I still had no idea what it was. “Before you go, you dropped this.” As I offered the flower back to him, he rejected it, instead putting it in one of my uniform jacket buttonholes. He smiled again. “Thank you, but I think it's best if you keep it. It's a white gardenia. Perhaps if you keep it, we´ll meet again, Lieutenant Saturya.” Ah, I forgot I had a name tag with my rank, though it was my last name, not my first. Before he could fully walk away, I grabbed his arm lightly. “Wait, how are we supposed to meet again when I don't even know your name?” He smiled one last time, a more mischievous smile this time around. ¨My name is Alexander. Alexander Seckendorff Kalos. I guess I'll be seeing you around then, Αντίο!” Alexander… That's a name I'll never forget now.