Darien's Existence

Third-Person POV:
In the dining room,

Aidan sat at the head of the table with Eirian and Darien beside him, waiting to see the lunch dishes prepared and neatly arranged on the dining table.

Darien's face was full of astonishment, and his eyes lit up with excitement. His mouth was slightly agape at the sight of all the different types of food being served. You can't blame him; he likes to eat food after all.

His expression looked so adorable that it made Eirian chuckle with amusement. He was sure his brother was starving after a week of 'sleeping'. A loving smile formed on his face, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aidan giving a small, serene smile with his eyes closed. It made Eirian feel a little stunned.

'... Well, as long as he doesn't do anything bad to Darien, I'll let it slide for now...,' Eirian thought, glancing back at his brother with eyes full of fondness.

After all the food was arranged on the table, a few maids stood on the left, in front of the two brothers, as if they were waiting for them to finish eating and would then clean up. At least, they weren't staring at the two brothers while they ate.

Darien still couldn't get used to his new life and new home. The thing that made him most uncomfortable was when they all called him 'young master'. It looked like it would take him a while to get used to all of this, especially being called 'young master'.

He glanced at his brother, who seemed to have already gotten used to their new life. Well, his brother had been living alone for a week, after all. Maybe he had already gotten used to all this.

The novel's writer turned to look at the food. So many different kinds of food were on the table; some he had eaten and knew, and some were new to him. When they were living in the palace before, the two of them were also served luxurious food.

'... But why are there so many? This is just lunch, right?'

"Darien? Why haven't you eaten yet?" Eirian's question caught him off guard, and he almost fell from his seat. He just gave an awkward smile at being caught. It wasn't his fault that his mind was always thinking.

He then took a spoon that was already placed next to his plate, and Eirian put a bowl filled with what Darien guessed was mushroom soup in front of him. "The doctor said to eat light food first, like soup. Your stomach will hurt if you eat the wrong things."

A man who seemed to be a chef standing in the line of maids flinched a little. Even though no one saw it, his face looked uncomfortable and worried, with narrowed eyes as if he was observing the two brothers.

Darien nodded his head in understanding and began to eat. He blew on the soup a little because it was hot. He didn't realize that all the maids, especially the chef, were paying attention to him with curious looks, while Eirian's eyes were full of affection, and Aidan's were filled with tenderness.

To them, Darien looked adorable as he blew on the soup little by little and put it into his mouth.

Nom.

"!!!"

His crimson-red eyes beamed with shock and then delight. He then hummed softly, looking so ecstatic. Eirian chuckled again, and his face looked happy for his brother. He also started to eat.

After Aidan made sure the two boys were eating, he lifted his spoon and was about to put it in his mouth when suddenly, a notification came from his status window. It made the two brothers stop eating and glance at their guardian with a weird look.

Darien's mouth was still chewing the mushrooms, and Eirian had already placed his spoon beside the bowl.

"... Is everything okay?" Eirian asked. Even though his face didn't show it, there was a hint of worry and fear in his tone. It's just made him feel anxious because every time he hears a notification from the status window. it reminded him of another big event, like that The Grim Reaper game.

"Nothing, just a call for an emergency meeting from the King. I have to go now," Aidan answered, already getting up from his seat with a maid coming to stand beside him, while holding his work coat.

From the novel writer's perspective, they all seemed used to Aidan being called to the palace suddenly or for an emergency. They were already prepared with his work coat, which answered his earlier question of why one of the maids was holding a coat.

"Darien just woke up, so don't let him do anything, especially using his power. You two can roam around outside, but don't go past the gate. If you need anything, just ask Suhee-san (the housekeeper) or Ayumu-san (the butler)," Aidan said while putting on his coat, then went toward the entrance of the dining room.

"Yeah, yeah,  yeah... I know all that," Eirian replied with a grumble. He didn't like being treated like a little kid or a mischievous kid who didn't listen because of the way Aidan gave them the instructions.

Darien, meanwhile, looked a bit stunned. He could see how worried Aidan was. Even though he didn't show it on his face, the way he spoke to him and his brother made him realize that maybe... Aidan was sincere in taking care of them, and it wasn't just because of the deal.

Aidan nodded, satisfied with Eirian's answer. He then glanced at Darien, who was also looking at him with a look of admiration. He didn't know why the little boy was looking at him like that.

When Aidan was about to step out of the dining room, he stopped when Darien called him. "Aidan-san."

He turned to look at Darien with a confused expression. He was in a hurry now, but Darien just called him; maybe he needed something. 

Darien looked stunned because everyone was now looking at him, even Eirian. "Ah... that..." He stammered a little, his eyes darting back and forth. He looked nervous. The writer regretted calling Aidan now; he had to finish what he wanted to ask.

The hazelnut-haired boy felt his cheeks flush red from embarrassment. "Ai... Aidan-san... Aren't you going to eat first? I didn't see you eat a single bite just now...'

Silence. Everyone seemed stunned by Darine's question, including Aidan. He didn't expect Darien to ask that, while Eirian burst out laughing, which made Darien glare at his brother, and his face turned so red that smoke came out of his head.

"Grr... Stop it, Eiri-niichan!"

"Hahahaha! I thought you wanted to ask something serious, but... Hahahaha! You're never changing, Darien! Hahaha!"

The novel's writer didn't know how red he was. He was so flustered by his brother, who liked to tease him. He then pouted without realizing it and looked away, trying to ignore his brother's laughing.

"Hehehe, don't pout, my angel~~"

"Stop calling me angel!"

While the two brothers were arguing, and all the maids were still dumbfounded looking at those siblings, Aidan gave a small, gentle smile that was plastered on his cold face. Even the butler, who was about to accompany him, saw it. He was stunned because he couldn't remember the last time he saw his master smile like this.

The butler, Ayumu, was the oldest person here, which meant he had lived in the house the longest, even before his master, Aidan-sama, was born.

Ayumu then glanced at the two brothers. He didn't care what his master wanted to do with them. He also never cared about them or where they came from. He never questioned what his master wanted with them. He was just an old butler who had served the Ryuu family for a long time without questioning what was right or wrong.

But their existence... No... More or less, the younger brother had made this house more lively and warm. As long as he had observed the older brother, he had noticed that Eirian was almost like Aidan. Even though he still showed respect and smiled at others, he never acted like this before.

'It's as if this little boy... Darien... is the reason they are showing their true selves. It's as if he's the one who lights up their lives.'

"Darien."

Aidan's call made Eirian stop teasing his brother, and Darien turned to look at Aidan with a confused expression. "Thank you for asking... Don't worry, I have a packed meal and will eat there later. You and your brother, take care while I'm gone."

"We're not little kids anymore..." Eirian grumbled again, and Darien just nodded, giving his angelic smile.

All the maids there felt as if they were pierced by an arrow in their hearts, holding themselves back from pinching the angel's cheeks.

After Aidan left, the two brothers continued eating in a silent but comfortable atmosphere for them. When Darien wanted to drink water, he noticed his glass was empty, and he wasn't sure what to do.

He was about to get down from his chair while holding the glass to get more water, but Suhee saw him and stopped him. "Little young master, why didn't you tell us you wanted more water?" Suhee asked while lifting Darien easily and placing him back on the chair like a doll.

'... Why is he so thin and light? Has this boy not been eating enough before?' Suhee thought, worried, and confused. She could feel bones when she lifted Darien just now. She then glanced at Eirian, who was wiping his brother's cheek while asking why he didn't tell him he wanted water.

Her eyes were focused on Eirian's collarbone, then his wrists, which were also quite thin, almost showing his bones. She noted in her head to pay attention to the two brothers' diet from now on. She had never paid attention before because Eirian always ate in the room, waiting for his brother to wake up.

Now that she had seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't make the same mistake again. "You, the newbie."

"Yes!?" One of the maids was startled when Suhee called her in a firm voice with a serious face. "Please pour water for the little young master, and all of you, from now on, please be more observant of what the two of them want."

They all bowed their heads a little from embarrassment, then nodded in understanding. Eirian and Darien looked at each other. They both started to feel uncomfortable and felt it was their fault for not telling them to ask for things.

The maid who was called then helped to pour water into Darien's glass. The novel's writer noticed that the woman's hand was shaking a little, and when he looked into her eyes, he was a little shocked to see the fear in the maid's eyes.

Then he glanced at all the maids who were standing, waiting there. He noticed that they looked awkward; some appeared scared, while others didn't look at them at all. Only the housekeeper and that butler can look straight into their eyes.

That made Darien feel weird. Why were they all so scared? 'Could it be... They're scared of me and Eirian?' he thought when he met the maid's eyes this time.

The maid flinched hard, and the water pitcher she was holding fell onto Darien's thigh. He immediately jumped out of the chair due to reflex, as did Eirian, who went straight to his brother. 

The novel's writer breathed a sigh of relief that the water was not hot, but of course, Eirian was Eirian; he immediately got angry at the maid.

"What did you do!? What if that was hot water!? Darien's skin is very sensitive and thin; he could get a bad burn!"

"Eiri-niichan! Stop! I'm fine! I'm just wet--!"

"I... I'M SO SORRY! PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON ME!" the maid screamed, full of fear, and prostrated herself on the floor. That made everyone fall silent and turn to look at the two brothers with nervous expressions.

Eirian and Darien startled and then, confused and shocked. The writer felt weird about why the maid was overreacting to this. No matter how much of a bro-con his brother was, he wouldn't hurt the maid because he knew she was not at fault. He was just angry, but this...

The blond boy clenched both of his hands while biting his lips. The shadows from his bangs hid his facial expression, and Darien, beside him, looked a little panicked and confused. He kept looking at the maid who was still prostrating herself for forgiveness, then at his brother, and then at everyone else.

He didn't know why they looked hesitant and scared, even wary, but he knew he couldn't let the maid continue to prostrate herself like that. Darien then approached the maid, who was trembling even more now that she was aware of Darien's presence.

Before the writer could even touch her and ask if she was okay, Eirian had pulled his hand away first. His face looked full of disappointment and anger.

"... Just because our power is dangerous... You guys think we're monsters or even the Demon King's children... We're not so bad that we would hurt all of you. If you all don't like us, you don't have to whisper behind our backs, you don't have to pretend!

But I just want to emphasize something here. My brother will never, ever hurt anyone on purpose. He is too kind and forgiving. But, if you hurt him, I won't hesitate to make your life a living hell."

They all shuddered at his threat and Eirian's cold tone. They then lowered their faces again out of embarrassment and didn't know what to say. Darien was speechless after he heard what his brother said just now.

'So, it's true that they're all scared of us... Well, I can't blame them. My power is too strong and dangerous; it almost harmed an entire kingdom. Who knows, I might hurt someone one day if I don't learn to control it quickly.'

"Come on, Darien, let's go change your clothes," Eirian said, pulling his brother's arm strongly but still gently and carefully not to hurt him. Darien didn't say anything; instead, he was silent and followed his brother, leaving the dining room, which was once full of life and warmth, now turned awkward and cold.

Skip...

Night had arrived, which meant it was time for dinner. Aidan managed to get home in time for dinner with the two boys he had adopted. Even though he didn't show it, it was clear he felt affection for the two brothers.

But when he arrived at the dining room, he noticed the two brothers weren't there. "Ayumu-san, where are Darien and Eirian?"

His question startled the maids when he mentioned the two brothers' names. He felt weird about why they reacted like that. 'Did something happen earlier? The atmosphere here isn't great...'

 He then glanced at Suhee, who was assigned to take care of them, with a serious and determined look for the answer. "Speak."

Suhee sighed and explained everything that happened at lunch to Aidan without leaving anything out. The maid felt guilty and anxious about what Aidan would do.

"... The two of them haven't come out of the room at all. When I called for dinner, the little young master said they would eat in the room." Aidan nodded his head in understanding before letting out a long sigh and rubbing his forehead. A headache had already started.

'... I have to give them some time... They must feel like they don't belong here after knowing that not everyone here accepts them and is scared of them...'

"It's fine, I'll go take a shower first, then please bring some food to my study room. I have work to finish tonight."

"Yes, Aidan-sama..."

"Oh, one more thing. They are orphans... just two little kids, innocent and naive. I understand if you're all scared of them, but... Is it so wrong to try to get to know them first?"

Aidan then left them all, who started to rethink what their master had said and remembered how the two brothers were and how lively this house had become after the two of them came to live here.

At the same time... In Darien's room,

"Seriously, Eiri-niichan? Why do you want to sleep here, too, when you have your own room now?"

"Ehhh~~~ Is it wrong for me to want to sleep with my little brother?"

"Stop making that face and tone; it doesn't suit you at all."

"So mean! Hmph!"

Darien laughed at his brother, who was pretending to be sulking with him, and then Eirian also started laughing, and he immediately jumped onto his brother and hugged him tightly until they both lost their balance and fell onto the soft, fluffy bed.

"Hehehe, Eiri-niichan, I don't really care what people think about us. As long as I have Eiri-niichan by my side, that's enough!" Darien said with a giggle and a gentle look in his eyes.

Eirian was stunned for a moment before he also gave a gentle smile and hugged Darien tightly this time while smelling Darien's hair, which smelled like roses and was so soft.

'I won't lose you again, Darien. No matter who you are, I will make sure you are safe and live comfortably...'