4. Confusion

"My family is from the Third," Braedin finally said, leaving out the fact that his family ran the province, and that his mother was from the Second. It mattered not, and would be a mark of poor breeding for him to lord it over his roommate.

They would be living together for quite some time, after all. Of course, the O'Shea family had enough power that Braedin could have had his own room, could have had his own wing, but like everything else, he was doing this on his own merit. Something he could say he had done without using his family's name or connections. It's a pity I couldn't do this without their money, but some compromises must be made.

"What do you intend to study, now that you're at University?" Braedin asked after a pause. He studied the man, noting the quality of his clothing, the positioning of his body, the way he carried himself. There was more to this Seventh Province Kiplin than was immediately obvious, he was sure, but thus far he felt no reason to be hostile. What, exactly, do I feel? Braedin wondered; it certainly wasn't any form of animosity. Rather, he felt overly comfortable with the other young man, as if they had known each other for a long time already. Why?

There were a lot of "whys" recently, but this one seemed to be the most important. Why did he feel the way he did toward the dark-haired stranger?

3.3 Braedin

I hadn't realized how quickly one's dreams and plans could be derailed. I didn't know how to react to the instinctual draw I had to my roommate. It wasn't right. I shouldn't be feeling like that for him. I was above him.

His family was only from the Seventh Province. The seventh. They didn't even rank a seat on the Royal Council. And Kiplin? Kiplin? What sort of name was that? It certainly wasn't his family name. The Seventh Province has no Kiplins. I'd been forced to memorize surnames and genealogies of all the major families of Aegea. So it was either a family nickname, or a first name.

The O'Sheas are far above that. Far, far above. We run the Third Province. The other families of our region defer to us. My mother is the most elegant and powerful Lady I've met to this day. None compare, and none will.

I was simply above this roommate of mine, and thus should not have cared that he had a disarming smile. I shouldn't have craved his friendship so immediately after meeting him, and he should not have been able to get so close to me without any serious reaction. I was above him, and my innate interest unnerved me. It was not alright, and living with him could not be allowed to lead to my slumming.

Perhaps I'm a snob, but when your family has as much power as mine, does it really matter?

3. Moments of Intimacy

Braedin reflexively adjusted the book in response to the soft words that came from behind his shoulder. It wasn't until a page or two later that he realized that his roommate was standing behind him, reading over his shoulder. It seemed odd to him, but somehow he hadn't been surprised or irritated by this intimacy. For, it was intimate. He was trusting the other with his back, something that his dark-haired roommate had not earned.

Once Braedin realized this, he turned slowly, his dark eyes meeting his roommate's vibrant gaze. Yet, he did not allow himself to react too quickly. Instead he forced himself to consider his words carefully and determine whether it would be best to keep this instinctive familiarity, or to tear it down and begin working on it from the beginning.

"Hello." Braedin said finally, deciding that perhaps the best course of action would be to ignore the strange incident entirely. "I'm Braedin O'Shea. I suppose I'm your roommate." He smiled cordially, extending his hand to shake. This guy didn't seem bad. Rather, he seemed the sort that was entirely pleasant. But it was best not to make judgments now. They could wait until he had more information to work with. "Where's your family from?"

2. Explorations

Braedin had been wandering for what seemed like an eternity, seeing the stables, the mews, the kitchens, the laundry, the maid's hall, and the Barracks. There were some comely maids, and Braedin made sure to smile at them, exchanging greetings with those who seemed especially promising. Perhaps they would help him later, in little ways, such as helping him clean, or big ways, such as helping him scratch a very particular itch. One never knew when connections such as those would come in handy.

Having explored as much of the fortress as he could access on the first day, the brawny blonde climbed back up the stairs and re-entered his room. A young man slept on the bed Braedin's bag hadn't claimed, making the room feel much less empty than it had been. The few personal things Braedin had brought needed to be placed around the room. A small photograph of himself and his sister on his last birthday, a few books that he had taken from the library at home (with his mother's permission), and the blanket that he had slept with since infancy. This last was tucked beneath his pillows, hiding it from view.

That established, Braedin flopped down on the bed that was just as soft as it had promised to be. He stared at the ceiling for a while, and attempted to associate this new place with "home". For the next four years, it would be his true home. His mother didn't want him back until he was a Knight. His inability to go home was the price he had paid for this schooling. The price was steep, but in the end, it would give him the power to surpass his sister in prestige, and perhaps be the greatest man to come out of his family in several generations.

This contemplation was not good for him, it led him into a downward spiral. So, with a soft growl, he flung himself up from his bed and sat at his desk, pulling his favorite book towards himself and opening it to his favorite passage. Perhaps it would soothe him where his thoughts had hurt. He sank into the novel, his thoughts far from the room which contained his body.

1. First Day

The day that Braedin entered the Royal University was not a pleasant day. The mist hung heavy around the fortress, water dripped from the trees around the fortified structure, guards marched unhappily along the battlements, watching the new students. They were examining the new entrants, looking for those with high potential, hoping to spot the promising few where they could.

Braedin had been waiting impatiently for this day for weeks. The letter had come almost a month ago, instilling excitement that had built day by day until it was too much to handle. But the time had come, and he was finally moving in.

Finally the first pieces of his plan were falling into place. Now he merely had to survive the training, an easy accomplishment. It was simple, impossibly so. In a short time, he would be taking classes, claiming the top spot, and graduating as a fully fledged Knight with honors. At least, that was his plan. Braedin was smart enough to realize that he would have to work for such an achievement, and it would not be terribly easy.

A few moments of confusion, a question to a valet, and several flights of stairs later, Braedin entered his room, realizing for the first time what leaving home meant. The wood here was dark, the furniture heavy, not like the light, airy stuff of his bedroom at home. This place was unfamiliar, different, and yet, not entirely unwelcoming. The beds looked downright luxurious with fluffy pillows and warm comforters. Tall windows let light filter through, promising warm brilliance on a sunny day.

The school's uniform hung in the wardrobe, sized perfectly for Braedin; he'd sent his measurements ahead to be sure. He was allowed to bring one formal outfit and one casual to supplement, but everything else, from socks and underwear to pants and jackets were provided. They would want for nothing while they were attending this school.

Cheerfully, Braedin dropped his bookbag on the bed and went to explore the other amenities around the University.

Prologue: Braedin

Growing up, I always knew that I was superior. It wasn't just a feeling, it was a fact. The O'Shea family- my family- was one of the greatest families in the Realm. My family had a seat in the Royal Council. My mother had been a premier Lady of the Court before her marriage, my father her devoted Knight. My twin sister Emilie was the belle of the ball, promising to become great, perhaps the next Queen.

I had a plan, a great one- I was going to surpass my sister, become the greatest O'Shea yet. I would make a name for myself as an academic and a Knight by attending the Royal University. Perhaps I would, along the way, capture the heart of the infamous Princess Naomi. In my dreams, all was possible, and I was well on my way to a greater Kingship than anyone had known before.

The first step, however, was a difficult one. The exams for the Royal University were vigorous, and though the right connections could be used to help me skirt around them, I had every intent of doing this on my own power. I didn't want there to be a chance for doubt when I used this as my foundation for future conquests. Of course, with 17 years of study behind me, the exams I took on my 18th birthday were simple, and I was accepted unconditionally.

I had great plans, and with this step behind me, nothing was going to stop me.