Chapter Text
It's been four months since Theseus died... Four months since the Royal family has killed his dear friend. And Deo can't forgive them for it.
Many years ago when Deo first set foot on the land occupied by the northern territory, he found the journey boring. With only endless snow and pine forest occupying his vision. His Brother, The Duke of the west, told him to not get himself down in the weather as every journey starts of with nothing to show. Of course, Deo mildly listened to what his brother said not bothering to even hide his disinterest.
When he arrived in the northern territory's capital, the houses and building were exactly what he read in his text books, completely cementing in his mind that the north was as boring as what those young nobles in the wester and other territories say.
That is when a certain blonde changed his mind. When Deo first met Theseus, he found the blonde to be quite dull.
A child far smaller than children his age supposed to be, but, it didn't take long for the two of them to grow close. Deo found that Theseus was someone who is worth more than just a look and judge, but someone who is resilient despite the odds stack against him.
But soon after the duchess died, Theseus became even more of a recluse than he already was. Without the duchess shouldering the judgment of the empire's nobles, Theseus, as her son became live bait. It didn't help that the duke despite claiming to love his son and wife to his brother, the duke didn't defend his own blood's reputation and character resulting in Theseus becoming a social pariah.
Deo did everything he can to help Theseus, he made sure to keep nobles from every daring to try with Theseus in his presence, made them taste the consequence if they do, and strike their hearts with fear if they even looked at Theseus wrong.
...
But nothing worked, Theseus still kept spiraling and spiraling... Until, it killed him...
They killed him...
The royal family, those pesky nobles, those insignificant fools! They were the reason the person he cares about left the world to early. And because of that....
They. Will. Pay.
And Ranboo? Who knows? he never saw that boy ever come close to Theseus publicly only at a distance, yet people insisted Theseus humiliated Ranboo in public disgrace many times. But non of those people could even give a proper timeline of where and when, this made him suspicious of the accusations and the following crimes that Theseus supposedly had committed, and he is sure to investigate it thoroughly...
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It's been two weeks since Tommy regressed back in time, and safe to say his life has never been more easier. With the duchess running the mansion and Ann checking on both the staff and the Norte family. Tommy is quite certain this time the outcome would change, if he can just get Ann to keep a more watchful eye on the duchess's health, then Saraphilia wouldn't die and Tommy wouldn't be left to deal with the aftermath right after.
The clock is already ticking, and Tommy doesn't know when will the duchess fall into illness and die. And all he knows that he can't let that happen, not only for himself but also the well being of the servants in the Norte mansion.
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A carriage rides through a frosted path surrounded by a forest of hard evergreen trees, it's golden trims stood out against the dark wood carrying a carved insignia on the dark wooden doors.
Inside two figures are sitting opposite of each other, one dressed in red velvet fabric with golden opulence, and the other dressed in orange velvet fabric. Both had deep brunette hair and similar looking features.
"Eret, do I really need to attend this meeting with the duke of the north with you?" The younger of the two asked in a bored tone directed at the older.
"Normally Deo you wouldn't have to, but I think this would be a good opportunity for you to make some friends" Eret said with a smile "Besides I've heard that the young heir or the north is looking for companions, and if you could become buddies with him it would serve the western douchy well"
"Hump, it's all about western douchy this and douchy that. When will it stop being just the western douchy with you?" Deo said Crossing his arms "the west doesn't need anymore allies or connections, our family is practically good for the next two or three generations because of you overworking"
"Well that maybe true" Eret said with a dismissive wave "but as the current duke of the west it's my duty to do what's best for the territory."
"And as the heir-" before Eret could finish speaking, Deo cut him off saying
"You must do the same for the benefit of our house and blah blah blah." Deo cut of sticking his tongue out right after
"Rude, but at least you remember what I said" Eret signed and Deo giving a huff back in return.
The two brothers sat in silence for a good while, one reading a book while the other watches the scenery outside the carriage.
After spending over half an hour sitting in silence and minding the other's business, a knock broke the soundless noise inside. It was the postilion, they came to tell the western duke to tell them that the North's city gates are just up ahead and they will be reaching the northern capital soon.
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Entering the frozen gates of the northern territory, Deo observes the gray scale coloring of the houses and it's lack of artistic designs. And after passing by a busy market, it seems like what those other noble's idle gossip of the north is true.
Seeing his younger brother look at the northern architecture and scenery with an unimpressed look, Eret knows what kind of thoughts are running through their little brother's head. Especially since just before they have left, they overheard some of their little brother's peers talk to him about how unimpressive the north is and the only thing the norther territory is good at is their ability to produce good soldiers in battle. But Eret knows the north is more than what many people think it is.
"Now, now Deo" Eret said after gathering the right words to talk to their younger brother about his visible disinterest in the northern capital after just arriving.
"I know the north may not look as much, but I can assure you that it's much more worth it than you can think about" seeing that his brother caught on to his disinterest. Deo turned his head away from the window and look at his older brother looking at him with a smile.
"I beg to differ my dear brother" Deo retorts back
"Trust me Deo, I've been here more times than you. And I have seen many unique traditions and architecture customer to this land" Eret can feel this head starting to have a migraine, it looks like convincing the younger of the North's greatness would be specially difficult with the other having been set on his first impression.
"Uhu, it's hard to believe you when the place you speak about is practically barren of all the things other territories would tie to tradition and architecture." Waving his hand at his brother, he points one of his hands at the window of the carriage, gesturing to the moving houses and streets outside.
"Well my dear brother whose never set foot outside of the northern territory for most of his life, some cultures are not for show." Eret said with a thin smile, clearly done with his younger brother. It looks like to them, the other didn't pick up about the cultures and traditions of each territories. And now it's clear to them that they should clearly see if their brother's tutors is teaching him any good.
A couple of minutes go by as the carriage returns back to silence once again as the two brothers return to their previous positions.
The carriage soon enters a forest path, and the scenery goes back right to endless columns if trees and snow. Thankfully Deo didn't have to bore himself watching the outside weather for long as, as soon as the carriage exit the path what greeted his eyes was a mansion, it looks like a fortress from the outside with those dark bricked stones creating a wall around the estate.
This made Deo wonder how could anyone live inside such place.
The carriage soon approached the entrance of the estate, from what Deo could tell peaking outside from inside the carriage, two guards are stationed outside the gate and from the looks of hit they are signaling for their ride to stop, probably to verify the people inside.
Deo saw the postilion, approach the guard in navy with something akin to a scroll with an insignia on it. And upon seeing it, the guard said something inaudible to Deo who can't hear what is going on outside.
As soon as the guard said what they did. The gates of estate opened allowing the their carriage to pass through the imposing walls and little did he knew what lies beyond the stone cold walls of the Notre estate.
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Deo is in awe, as soon as the guards of the front gate of the Norte estate let them through, he has expected the walls beyond would contain the exact same cold and lifeless imposing look just like back outside the walls.
To his surprised, he did not expect the environment inside the walls to be... Warm. Not only is it warm but also free of snow and filled to the brim with lush greenery and flowers. Deo could guess this would be what his brother was talking about the north being more than what it seems, but he knows their brother didn't mean this kind of more.
Deo could see servants tending to the gardens in front, while some are running of somewhere probably going to where their told to be.
Looking at their brother's awes and star stricked face, Eret finds himself smirking. It seems like their expectations of the estates was beyond their comprehension that Eret has not heard a single sound come out of the younger's awestruck expression.
"So, my dear little brother" Eret spoke with a tinge of smugness in their voice "how is your "first" impression so far?"
Hearing his brother's smug voice Deo's cheeks flushed a shade of red akin to a tomato "I guess it's not dull as what those nobles say back home"
"I'm glad you see so. Now straighten your appearance, you wouldn't want you first impression on the duke being a red tomato would you" hearing such words from the older brunette, Deo can't help but squawk at the thought.
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Introducing himself to the norther duke was not as bad a he thought, if he were being honest to himself he thought the duke of the north would be more imposing and cold. Instead he did expect such a man rumored to have a cold heart to have such close connections to his brother, thought he doesn't know how truly close the two are.
As of right now Deo finds himself roaming around the garden, the duke has told his brother that it is alright that he can roam around the Manor's grounds to entertain himself for a bit while the two of them talked.
Deo is of course glad that he isn't getting dragged into such formalities at his age, but he knows that soon those responsibilities his brother have will soon fall into his shoulder and he would have to take over.
Walking the stone path of the garden, Deo can help but compliment the beauty of the garden. He heard from servants working in the garden that most of the flowers and greenery of the Norte estate is all thanks to the duchess.
From what Deo knows the duchess hails from the eastern territory, and was the daughter of a marquis, he also caught some word of mouth before that the duchess magic is related to the environment and plants.
Lost in his thoughts Deo failed to pay attention to where he was going, as so he failed to see a child with golden hair stood just a short distance away from him. And at the last moment when he finally brought him mind back to reality he saw two pairs of blue eyes looking up at him, as if the two spontaneously thought of their concerningly close distance it was already to late to react fast and as a result the two boys toppled over landing on the stone path below them.