❤ ~wielderofleraje
1. My muse has become mute. They are seeing yours for the first time since this happened.
It was the first day he’d been permitted to work since his accident, as he had taken to putting it. Assassination attempt sounded so much more unpleasant and garnered so much more attention. The bandages finally removed from around his neck, scar tissue peeked out despite his best attempt to adjust his hair to hide it. He sighed, then winced at the sensation. Breathing was still uncomfortable.
With paperwork as a distraction he could finally avoid the bitter thoughts that had haunted him while he was out of commission. For the longest time he’d wondered where he would be if just one little thing had gone different; what if Kouen had been in the palace and able to use Phenex immediately, if he had chosen to go for a walk during the daytime when someone would notice his absence before he’d nearly bled out, if he was just a bit more capable of fending for himself? Now when those thoughts came to mind he could just push himself to take another scroll and worry about strategies rather than his injuries..
Then he heard that voice, probably from all the way down the hall, and his heart stopped. Kouha was not meant to return for another week, and it was the worst possible time for him to be there. Someone must have sent word to the battlefield of his state, because he could hear all the shouting as clearly as if they were in the room.
"Your brother needs his rest, Lord Kouha!"
"I don’t give a shit! You can’t keep me away now, I came all this way for him! Let me see him!"
Had no one been informed that he was well enough to work, and therefore well enough for visitors? Shaking his head, he left his study to sort the problem out himself. Even just the short walk to the end of the hall left him out of breath and dizzy.
They didn’t notice. Kouha being, well… Kouha, he was making such a scene that it was very easy to go unnoticed. The one time he actually wanted attention and he wasn’t able to get it. With a scowl he banged loudly on the wall, gesturing for everyone but his brother to leave.
"Mei! That’s a scary look." The third prince chuckled nervously, wondering if maybe he should have toned it down a little for his brother’s sake. "Are you okay? They already told me what happened, so don’t bother lying about it."
Koumei just shrugged; it wasn’t like he was able to lie anymore. Apparently no one had told his brother about his condition yet, he could see the confusion etched on the boy’s face. Pushing his hair out of the way he revealed the new scars then lightly put his hands around his neck, shaking his head.
"You’re joking." Had he possibly misunderstood? Maybe Koumei was just playing charades with him as revenge for all the trouble he’d given him over the years, surely Koumei was just trying to scare him. "Really funny, Mei, quit screwing around. Does it still hurt? How did it even happen anyways?"
Koumei didn’t think he could make it anymore obvious. He shook his head again, and slowly mouthed an apology. If he could he’d gladly answer the questions, he’d tried plenty of times before accepting that he could no longer make a sound. He pointed back in the direction of his study, them mimed writing before beckoning for Kouha to follow him. His brother was stunned into silence, a silence that he wished so badly to be able to break with more than just the scratching of a pen on parchment.
