Darcy hadn’t wasted much time finding a ring after getting engaged to Annalise. He knew she had said that a ring didn’t matter, and he agreed with her for the most part, but he also wanted to get her something to have that would symbolize their engagement. He had gotten the ring and had it wrapped up for her, deciding to himself that he wouldn’t make a huge fuss about it.
When they had both gotten ready for the day, he figured now would be a good time to bring it up. “So, I was thinking we could take a walk around the gardens today?” He asked, trying not to sound too suspicious. “It’s a really nice day out, and I don’t want us to be cooped up in here for all of it.”
I don't like anticipating my face in a red flush
I don't like that anyone would die to feel your touch
Everybody wants you
Everybody wonders what it would be like to love you
After having met Felicity finally, and deciding that regardless of whatever might have been going on in Celine and Eton’s friendship, she didn’t know about it, he decided to seek out Darcy. Maybe Celine’s brother also wasn’t the one who would understand or even know anything, but besides his brother, he was really one of the only other friends Berlioz had at the palace. That was something he had regretted when he looked back on all of the time he had spent here, he had very few friends to show for it. Sure, he had Greta and Darcy, but most of his attention had been spent on Celine. He met her so soon after he had arrived at the palace again, the thought of finding other friends wasn’t a priority.
Berlioz texted Darcy to meet him outside by the garage, just in case they decided that going into town would be a good idea, and he waited for him there. Within a few minutes the boy came around the corner looking as he always did. His hair was slightly messy and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, though he still looked quite put together. He wasn’t quite as stuffy or awkward as the Darcy he had first met, but through plenty of meetings since then Berlioz had made sure to loosen him up a bit.
“What took you so long?” Berlioz asked playfully, grabbing his arm and using his other hand to ruffle his hair. “Did Annalise keep you?”
All he got in response was a scoff, though that wasn’t surprising. “What is all of this about, then? What’s so urgent?”
Berlioz sighed, letting him go. “Right down to business, huh?”
“Well, your text sure did make it seem like I needed to meet you as quickly as possible,” he put his arms out, “so here I am.”
“There you are,” Berlioz replied, looking at him. He was stalling, and he knew Darcy was aware of that, but he couldn’t help himself. “You’ve gotten taller, haven’t you?”
“Berlioz,” he whined.
“Okay, okay.” He nodded, knowing that he would have to get to the point. “I got to talk to Eton’s girlfriend today.”
Darcy looked at him expectantly. “And? What happened?”
Berlioz motioned for him to follow, walking along and heading for the path that would lead them into town. “Well, not much but also a lot, if that makes any sense.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She reminds me a lot of Celine.”
“Ah...” Darcy nodded his head, seeming to understand what he meant. “I guess that can’t be too surprising, right? You expected as much.”
“I just need to know if it means anything,” he said, sighing. “I mean, plenty of girls here are also blonde princesses who happen to be sweet and outgoing. It could just be a coincidence.”
Darcy seemed to be considering this, and Berlioz was glad he had gone to him. He knew he could have also gone to his brother, but for some reason bringing this up with Darcy seemed to make more sense. He was Celine’s brother, after all, he had to have some insight.
“You know my brothers didn’t like Eton, right?” He asked, which wasn’t exactly news to Berlioz.
He nodded. “Sure, I’ve heard something about that. I don’t really remember Celine going into any detail, it was around when we first met. She just kind of warned me about her brothers...”
Darcy shrugged. “Tristan punched him.” He chuckled. “There was definitely something going on there. Sure, my older brothers are protective, but I don’t think he would have done that if there wasn’t some obvious feelings going on there.”
“Shit,” Berlioz breathed out, raising his brows. “I didn’t know that. No wonder she seemed nervous about me meeting Tristan and Nicolas. Fuck.”
This new revelation about what had happened between Eton and the Charmings before he had ever arrived made everything that much more complicated. If Darcy was right about his eldest brother not having done that over any other circumstance, then that had to mean something. Not that he could hold any prior feelings against Celine, especially not ones from before they had ever met, but it was important to him to know especially when everyone had been telling him it was nothing. Even his brother had made him feel like he was overreacting, but now talking to Darcy about it, it seemed like he had been right all along.
They got to the bar and Berlioz chose two seats, ordering them both beers so they could continue talking.
“Were you at the palace when this happened?” Berlioz asked, turning to Darcy on his barstool.
He shook his head. “No, I wasn’t so I kind of heard it all second-hand, but I got it all from each of them. They all told a pretty similar story, so I figure it’s what happened. Except Celine wouldn’t really say what her relationship with Eton was like.”
Berlioz nodded, taking a sip from his beer when it was placed in front of him. “And what did your brothers say?”
Darcy shrugged. “Kind of that they assumed that there was something going on between them. Tristan seemed pretty sure, but Nic seemed like it was just a hunch. Like he could tell from talking to both of them.”
“Hm...” Berlioz took another sip, this time longer, just so he could process. “You haven’t met Eton, have you?”
“Nope,” he admitted. “But you’ve met him. What do you think?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure, really. They spend so much time together, which isn’t a bad thing, don’t get me wrong. Celine can have any friends she wants to.”
“But you think there’s something more?”
He sighed. “Maybe? I don’t know. I don’t want to accuse her of anything, because I don’t think she’d cheat. I know cheaters, and she’s not the type.” He took another sip. “But also, I do think that they did have feelings for each other at one point and maybe they lingered.”
Berlioz could tell that this was hard for Darcy to hear, especially about his sister, but thankfully he was being a good sport about it. “So you think there still might be some residual feelings?”
“Yeah.” He finished off his beer, sliding the glass forward. “I don’t blame her, and I’m not mad. I just wish everyone wouldn’t try to tell me I’m wrong or that I’m overthinking it. I have two eyes and a pretty good intuition.”
Darcy nodded. “And maybe you know a thing or two about emotional cheating?”
Berlioz raised a brow to him before smiling ruefully. “Exactly. It takes one to know one, I guess.”
The bartender set down a fresh beer, and he took it gratefully. “I guess that’s why I’m not so mad about it on her end. I get it, and I don’t blame her for it.” He took a sip. “All of my anger is for Eton.”
“So, what are you going to do about it, then? You can’t just go up to him and confront him. Would that solve anything? He has a girlfriend, and for all you know, he hasn’t made any sort of move on Celine,” Darcy said, making more sense than Berlioz would’ve liked. “Maybe you just need to let it go.”
Berlioz rolled his eyes. “I hate when you’re right. You’re too young to be right.”
Darcy chuckled, taking a sip of his beer. It was almost gone. “Growing up as the youngest, I’ve seen some things. Learned lessons for mistakes I didn’t have to make.”
“That’s why you’re so smart,” Berlioz replied with a smile. “So I just let it go, then?”
He nodded. “Exactly. There’s nothing you can do. Besides, you’re going to marry her and then take her away to Paris far, far away from Eton. You win.”
He laughed outright then, holding up his beer. “You got me there,” he said, touching his glass to Darcy’s. “I guess I have to keep you around, too.”
Darcy grinned. “I’m kind of a packaged deal as the baby of the family and Celine’s favorite brother.”
( A continuation of this thread. From Darcy’s perspective. )
Darcy could tell there was a difference between Colin and Gabriel. Where Colin had had some emotional baggage left over from not always being there for his sisters, it was clear that Gabriel had a more light-hearted approach.
“Germany,” Darcy replied when asked where he was from. “I feel like I’m so far away from home, but it’s nice to have made some friends here. And Annalise makes me feel less homesick. It’s hard to be sad around her.”
Gabriel nodded as they walked down the hall. “She’s always been like that, always making sure that everyone is happy.”
“Exactly.” Darcy told himself to relax a bit more, not wanting to come off as too stiff. “I hear Italy is really beautiful. I’ve never been, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to go and meet the rest of your family.”
He was surprised to hear a chuckle coming from Gabriel. “Oh, they’ll be excited to meet you too. They’ve heard all about you.”
Darcy paused, swallowing before speaking, “Really? They’ve heard all about me.”
Gabriel clapped him on the shoulder. “Relax. They’re going to love you. If you were anything unlike this,” he said, gesturing to Darcy, “they’d probably be disappointed. But you’re so...unassuming. Unintimidating. You’ll be fine.”
He wasn’t sure, exactly, if he was supposed to take that as a compliment or not. He figured it was a good thing, if it meant that their parents would like him and all would be well. But part of him knew that it was just big brother speak for you’re a shy, insecure child. He’d heard it all from Tristan and Nicolas before. Perhaps not always directly to his face, but he knew that’s what he thought of him. Now it seemed pretty obvious that Gabriel also saw him that way. All older brothers must have that intuition.
“Besides, they want what’s best for Annalise, just like I do.” Gabriel squeezed his shoulder before letting him go. “You come from a good family, you’re a prince, and you seem to be treating her well. I can’t imagine Annalise would stay with someone who wasn’t treating her well.”
Darcy nodded. “Sure. I don’t think she would, either.”
They turned a corner down to another hall, and thankfully the library was in sight. Darcy might not be as comfortable talking to Gabriel like this, but at least he would soon be in a place he was always at ease.
“So, tell me. How did you and Annalise meet?” Gabriel asked as they approached the entrance of the library.
Darcy took a deep breath. “Well, it was my first day here and she came up to me and we started talking. Then we went to the maze and walked through there. We kind of got a little lost and she twisted her ankle, so I carried her out and got her some ice in the kitchen.”
Gabriel laughed, though kept it at an appropriately low level, which Darcy was glad for. “Of course she twisted her ankle. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
He watched as the man beside him looked around, taking the entire library in. It was huge, most likely bigger than either of them had ever seen. Even though Darcy had been to the library many times before, it always managed to take his breath away every time he stepped foot inside.
“Are you a reader?” Gabriel asked, still looking around.
Darcy nodded. “I love reading, though I think I’m more of a writer.”
“What do you write?”
“Poetry, mostly.” Darcy continued on inside with him, heading over to the history section. “I do write short stories sometimes, if I get the inspiration, but mostly poetry.”
Gabriel looked at him, brows raised. “Impressive. Romantic poems?”
Darcy tried not to blush, though the heat from his cheeks was telling him he failed. “Perhaps. I mean, sometimes.”
“For Annalise?”
He nodded, clearing his throat. “I’ve written for her a bit. She’s a wonderful muse.”
Gabriel smiled. “I think if I had any talent with words, I’d write poetry for the girl I loved. It’s quite romantic.”
Darcy sighed in relief. “I’m sure you’re not bad with words. Though, I think with girls it’s usually the thought that means the most.”
Gabriel nodded, looking around at the books, though seeming to find nothing of interest. “What is your family like? I know some of them have been here at the palace, but I haven’t met any of them.”
“Oh, well...” Darcy placed his hands in his pockets, “I’m the youngest of four. I have two older brothers and an older sister. Tristan, the eldest, has been here for a while. Even longer than I have. And then Nicolas, he was here even before that and got married and had a baby, but he’s back home. And then there’s Celine, she’s the only girl.”
“Who are you closest to,” Gabriel asked, looking genuinely intrigued.
Darcy shrugged. “I suppose I’m closest to Celine. My brothers and I didn’t get along much, what with them being knights and my being more interested in writing.”
“So they’re the typical princes, knights in shining armor?” Gabriel asked, raising a brow.
Darcy nodded. “Basically. Not that we don’t get along, but I prefer my sister’s company.”
Gabriel looked at him for a moment before smiling. “I think you’re a great fit for Annalise.”
Darcy felt a bit of a victory then, feeling that he had passed whatever test Gabriel had been putting him through. After they left the library, Darcy showed him around to some of the other notable places within the palace before they parted ways with Gabriel promising him that they would talk again.
( A continuation of this thread. From Darcy’s perspective.)
Darcy had just told Colin that he couldn’t imagine ever hurting Annalise, and he meant it. Ever since the moment he met her, and every moment afterwards, he had wanted to be perfect for her. They really never fought, and he found that despite that, he felt no resentment towards her. On most things, they agreed. Or at least if one of them had once disagreed, it was easy enough for the other to see the opposite perspective. He never even felt like there was any unresolved grievance between them that lingered in the background. They were good for each other.
Colin nodded his head before looking around the room. “I’ve never been that close with my sisters.”
Darcy wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he just gave a sound of acknowledgment.
“With them being twins, it just felt like they had each other as companions. I didn’t really need to look after them.” He chuckled. “They always seemed smarter than me, anyway. Like they would make better decisions on their own than with my influence.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Darcy replied. He didn’t know much about Colin, but he couldn’t imagine him being that bad of a role model.
He thought of his own older brothers, Nicolas and Tristan, and despite the fact that he wasn’t necessarily close with either of them, he did see them as good role models. They were determined and strong, never wavering on their beliefs and values. And at least with Nicolas, he did seem to know how to have fun. Tristan felt a bit more stoic, but he could see why that was. He understood his older brothers and why they did the things they did, and he was certain that Annalise and Stella understood their older brothers more than either of them were aware of.
Colin sat down in one of the chairs in the room’s sitting area and smiled. “No, I’m very sure.” He crossed his legs. “But that’s all in the past, really. I want to be more involved in my sisters’ lives. I know Annalise might not need me or my opinions or judgements, but I do want to at least be there to look after her.”
Darcy joined him, sitting in the chair opposite of his. “I understand, I think. I mean, I’m the youngest so I guess I don’t completely understand.” He smiled, running a hand through his hair. “But I’ve seen the way my brothers care about our sister. I’ve seen the way I care about her.”
“I think you get it,” Colin replied with a laugh. “I feel like I have a lot of lost time to catch up on. I just hope that she lets me make up for it.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. Annalise loves you.”
Colin pressed his lips together tightly and nodded. “I think having my daughter has taught me a lot of things.” He sighed. “I think you’re going to be good for her. I have a pretty good sense of bad boys and what they want, the way they act and present themselves. I don’t see that in you.”
Darcy smiled softly. “Like I said, I won’t hurt her. I wouldn’t dream of it.” He chuckled. “She’s my first girlfriend, actually. I guess I don’t have a lot of experience. But I’m learning a lot too.”
Colin looked at him for a moment, like he was trying to figure something out about him. “Why did you wait so long? You’re still pretty young, but by your age I’d had a few girlfriends already. A few hookups.”
“Well...” His voice trailed off and he sighed. “I don’t know. I’ve always kept to myself. And I think after seeing...” His voice trailed again and he swallowed. “After seeing the way my older brother’s relationship devastated him, that is when his girlfriend unfortunately passed away in a freak accident, I wasn’t sure if it was all worth it.”
“How old were you when that happened,” Colin asked, his brow furrowed.
He thought for a moment, trying to remember. “I think I was probably 11 or 12. It devastated all of us, truthfully. She had been practically a part of the family. It was tought losing her, so I just never got close enough to anyone.” He smiled. “Then I came here and met Annalise on my first day, and it was like love at first sight. I’d never felt like that before.”
Colin was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry that happened to your family, especially to your brother. I can’t even imagine.” He tapped his hand against his knee. “I think if something like that happened to me, I might have reacted in the same way.”
They were both quiet for a moment, and he could see Colin mulling something over in his head. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was thinking about, but he hoped that his story hadn’t bothered him too much. It was a lot of trauma to unload on someone, and part of him regretted telling him, especially since it wasn’t his story to tell.
Before he could open his mouth, Colin spoke instead, “Thank you for telling me all of this. I can’t stay for long, since I don’t want to leave Izzy and Greta alone for too long with the twins, but I’m glad we were able to talk.” He smiled. “Maybe we’ll be able to hang out again without so much of this obligatory older brother talk.”
Darcy chuckled, nodding his head. “Yeah, I’d like that a lot.”
Colin nodded back at him before standing, saying his goodbyes, and leaving just as quickly as he had come.
