In the Mirror- Chapter 3

Emire Eidolon

Slam!

He was jolted back into reality once more as a book hit his table. He could hear his brothers still arguing-he'd have to be deaf not to- as his tired gaze met the unimpressed one of their tutor, Seth.

"Emire," the man with messy, black hair and golden eyes sternly said,"I am here to teach you, as I have always been. So please pay attention."

"Sorry," he sighed,"I have a lot on my mind."

"Like what?" Seth asked as he straightened out the book he had used to gain Emire's attention.

"Meaningless things; deciding that I shall go to bed early tonight." He shrugged.

Seth was giving him a confused look. "Have you forgotten?"

"Forgotten what?" Emire replied. "If it is a meeting of some sort, should you not be bothering Dante?"

"No.." he slowly answered,"That there is a Ball tonight. It is to celebrate Dante's engagement to
Princess Aria- royals and others of great importance will be here tonight, Emire. How could you forget such an occasion?!"

Scoffing, he looked to his arguing siblings, pausing to make sure Seth had followed his gaze. "Look at him as he is now and tell me that he is mature enough to be wed and help bear children when he himself acts like a child."

They silently watched as Dante rose from his seat with an enraged expression on his face as she glared down at their youngest brother, whom was smugly smiling up at him.

"Perhaps not," Seth said, gaining his attention once more," but perhaps  becoming a husband and father will help reality and maturity dawn on him."

"I hope so.." he grumbled in reply.

Seth stood and walked to the front of the lecture room.

"Alright!" his voice boomed, causing Dante and Ivan to stop fighting. "Since none of you wish to pay attention, I am letting you leave early. However, there will be a test when we are back here on Monday. I will not tolerate any complaints or your father will hear of quarrels and lack of attention during lessons, again."

As Emire neatly closed and stacked his books on top of his table, his brothers groaned.

"So, we can leave?" Ivan asked.

"Yes." their tutor answered.

Dante and Ivan swiftly fled, leaving their books in a mess at their tables before Seth could change his mind- the man had done so before.

As he had begun to stand from his seat, Seth turned to him,"Ah, not you, Emire- at least, not yet. I would like to have a quick chat with you."

Sighing, he sat back down."Alright. Please get right to the point this time."

Pulling over a chair next to him, Seth carefully spoke. "Emire... You are watching Their world again,  are you not?"

He angrily huffed. "I've heard this from my family, I don't need to hear it from you too."

"Emire, it is a problem!" Seth scolded. "You are always locked up in your room watching Them-"

"Not always.."

"And it is all you want to do. Do not give me that look, young Prince- I have known you three since before you each were born. I know these things without you having you having to utter a word of it."

He paused, heavily sighing to calm himself before continuing. "Whether you like it or not, you have a duty to your kingdom and I will  be informing your parents of this."

"Whatever. They already know anyways...  but seriously, duty? What duty?" Dante is heir to the throne, not I."

"Yes, but should an early death fall upon your brother- I pray it does not- and he and Princess Aria bore no sons, the heir to the throne would be you."

"I know that already."

"Emir-"

"Don't even!" He cut him off. "Okay? I get that we're more than students  and Princes to you, Seth. You're more than my tutor- I consider you a friend. So as one friend to another, I ask that you let me figure things out on my own and leave me be. If it will make you feel better, I shall stop watching Them at night, okay?"

He swiftly stood and left before Seth could reply. He went to his room and locked the door from the inside once had entered it.

Maybe I need to be less defensive.. his thoughts said as he crawled onto his bed. But whatever.. There's still a few hours until the Ball, and I need sleep if I wish to survive it..