Memories

"I told you to fucking let her go." Sebastian, at once peeled him off of Azora whose eyes widened at the action of her brother. The sudden move caught Azora off guard and she lost her balance and stepped on the emperor's foot. When she realized what he'd done, her entire body started shaking out of fear.

Sebastian glanced down at her small frame that now shook and tears ran down her cheeks. He clenched his fists. If someone didn't stop him right now he knew he would truly murder the emperor right this moment.

"Let's go, Azora," he took her hand and lead her away from the emperor who stood watching with an amused expression.

He had not expected Sebastian to take an interest in Azora. Sebastian was never concerned about the well being of any of their family members so certainly this was quite new.

When they were out of the emperor's sight, Sebastian took Azora to his room and sat her on the bed. Her shaking had stopped but her eyes darted in every direction of the room. "Wh-why did you stop him? What do you want?"

"How long has this been going on, Azora?" he questioned her softly, not wanting to scare her.

"A... a while," she responded softly.

"Why didn't you tell somebody?" her eyes met his at this question and she quickly looked away as Sebastian realized, everyone already knew.

"What did they do to you?"

Azora hesitated for a second before telling him everything she and Alastair had gone through.

A spare tear rolled down Sebastians cheek. He had spent his entire life in the battlegrounds just so his siblings could be safe and live a better life than him. When their mother was put to death, everyone had condemned the children of the unfilial empress. He knew that Azora and Alastair would get worse treatment than him for they were just powerless children but yet he went to war with hope that the glory he brought home would save them from the bitter treatment.

But all this has been going on behind his back and he never knew. Its almost as if people hid things from him on purpose.

He refused to get close to other members of the imperial family because it was clear, as the crown prince, that he was a walking target of the other children. The empresses obviously wanted their own children on the throne and the emperor couldn't care less about it. He should have been there for his siblings who lacked both parent figures. He failed as a brother. He failed the promise he made their mother to look after his siblings. He failed.

"I am so sorry Azora," tear after tear rolled down his cheeks. Azora stared at him, too shocked to move. "I failed you both. I cannot apologize enough... what can an apology even do? Haa..."

He rubbed his eyes but the tears didn't stop. He had never cried like this before in his entire life. He always told himself that only the weak cried but right now he didn't know what else to do except cry.

"I will kill him. I will fucking kill that old man," he muttered and Azora touched his arms.

"Why do you care so much?"

Sebastian looked at her with widened eyes. "I am your brother, Azora. I will give my life for you if need be."

"But I don't even know you." Azora looked at the man crying on his knees before her, not understanding why he cared about someone who was only related to him by blood and he didn't even know anything about her.

"I will make it right. I will make it all right. I have made a huge mistake, I should have reached out to you before." Sebastian took both her soft hands in his large ones. "Lets get to know each other slowly, sister. Lets make it right again, okay? I won't ever let him touch you again."

Azora smiled sadly at him, an indication that she didn't really believe him yet Sebastian found comfort in the fact that at least she didn't shut him out even after what she'd gone through.

He made a promise to himself to make everything right and after that, for a few weeks, he kept to that promise. Everything was all right until a war began in the south and he had to leave. He promised Azora that once he was back he would be the emperor and end this once and for all.

But he never came back again.

*

Azora traced a pattern on the side of her dress absentmindedly, thinking about the past. This situation would take place about one year from now. Sebastian was currently across the room, talking to the Duke Lionel about something. His shining black hair and red eyes and flashy getup earned him some very envious looks from gentlemen and admiration from the ladies but he didn't look very interested in either party. He spoke only when he meant business.

"He told me he would get to know me better," she murmured to herself, recalling his words from the past. Would he help me?

"Sister," she turned her head to find Alastair standing next to her. "Would you do me the honor of having your first dance tonight?"

She tilted her head. "But you can't see, dear brother."

"Oh but I am an excelled dancer, blind or not," he grinned a childish grin and her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. She had not seen him smile for so long that her heart hurt at the sight.

"Are you sad again, sister?" he reached out, his hand brushing her cheek.

"No I am fine," she took his hand. "Lets dance." But before they could head to the dance floor she heard an announcement that made her blood go cold.

"The Duke of Argyll, Duke Lain has arrived!"