บท 21: Chapter 21
Cecil didn't have to wake up before dawn the next day but in the same way he found himself staying out of his dorm room till he was certain that his troublesome roommate was asleep, he wanted to be out of the room before he was awake.
It was the elephant in the room that Cecil refused to address, and that was how and why Alois unsettled him.
He quickly had his bath and got dressed, scowling at the sight of his hair roots darkening, he would have to bleach it again soon.
Fortunately, he managed to get dressed before Alois could wake up. He glanced at Alois as he packed up his satchel with what he would need for the day, wondering why he was bundled up in his blanket like that. It wasn't even that cold.
He decided to ignore him and be on his way, he didn't want to push his luck.
Alois' piercing green eyes fixed on the closing door, a small smile lifting his lips. He threw off his blanket to reveal himself fully dressed, he had a job to do and that was to keep an eye on Cecil.
-*-
Henri was also up before dawn, he had finally given up on getting any sleep. He never imagined that paying a visit to a friend would be this nerve-wracking. Did Audie stay up all night in this manner before he came over to the castle? Henri quickly cut short that line of thinking, Audie didn't have the attention span to be anxious.
He was up now but that didn't bring him any respite, he planned to go pay Louis a visit after breakfast but wouldn't it be better to go with him to breakfast? Did that count as a visit? Would Louis be interested in going to breakfast with him? Why weren't the solutions to situations like this a part of his early education?
He bathed and got dressed… well, tried to get dressed. Everything kept going wrong. How did people button up their sleeves with a single hand? Why was the zipper for his waistcoat behind him? How was he supposed to reach it? Why didn't he listen to his mother and practice wearing his uniforms while he was still home?
Maybe he should have gotten a roommate after all…
While Henri was struggling to tie his bootlaces with the buttons on his sleeves undone and his waistcoat falling off his shoulders, there was a knock on the door.
Henri's grey eyes sparkled at this, it had to be Audie. He would be embarrassed at a later time but now he needed help if he wanted to go out and ask Louis if he wanted to go to breakfast with him.
"Splendid! You couldn't have picked a better time to com… oh… Lou-Louis?"
Henri had opened the door, snagged his visitor by the wrist, and started to pull them in before he realized who it was. For the first time, Henri felt what it was like to be thoroughly mortified, his face heated up even worse than the night before and his stomach did flips.
He snatched his hand back like Louis burned him. "How did you find my room?"
Louis' eyes widened when he was pulled in unexpectedly, his eyes widening further when he saw Henri's state of dress. "Forgive my presumptuousness but it was rather easy to find, did your Highness need something?"
Henri felt the heat spread to his ears and neck at that familiar teasing quality in Louis' voice. It had never bothered him before that he didn't know how to dress himself but now he was starting to wish that he didn't get up that morning.
"Do-Don't call me that." He said in a small voice, holding out his wrists. "I haven't the faintest idea of how to button up my sleeves." He forced out, keeping his head down so that his hair covered his eyes.
Louis placed both his hands in his hair and ruffled it up, it was to stop himself from reaching for Henri's hair, he highly doubted that the Prince would appreciate that.
It was just… Although, Louis was well aware that the Prince was an omega, all the gossip that had unwittingly reached him was of the Prince being cold and regal. But now, he was finding out that Henri was endearing without having to make an effort, it was giving Louis quite a whiplash.
"Just your sleeves?" He asked, knowing that it was cruel to jest at Henri's expense but he had never seen anyone get red as easily as Henri did.
"Nevermind, I'll do it myself!" Henri huffed, stomping away. "Lock the door behind you if you're coming i… ah!"
Louis had to call up on all of his self-control not to laugh when Henri tripped on his loose shoelaces and fell over. He hurried over and held out his hand. "Are you alright, your Highness?"
Henri glared at him and then slapped his hand away, gracefully getting to his feet. He plopped down at the edge of his bed and started tying his shoelaces again. "I was just about done with them when your knock interrupted me." He said smugly, visibly struggling.
Louis wasn't entirely surprised that the Prince who was homeschooled his entire life would have no idea how to tie his shoelaces, it was expected even. It just wasn't fair that he had to look adorable while struggling.
"There!" Henri announced, looking at his work proudly.
Louis winced at his sloppy tying job, the shoelaces would come undone after a short trip to the second floor. "Henri, I know a thing or two about expert ways of tying laces and buttoning sleeves." He said in the most serious tone he could muster.
Henri made it harder for him to keep a straight face when his face lit up. "You do?! I-I mean it wouldn't hurt to learn something new." He schooled his voice.
"Certainly." Louis humored him. "How about I teach you while we hang out? It's about time for breakfast now."
Louis had actually come to get him for breakfast and Henri was horrified to find out that he had been struggling to get dressed for hours but he didn't tell Louis that.
While Louis helped him zip up his waistcoat, his door flew open to reveal Audie. "Get away from the Prince, I've got a sword and I'm not afraid to use it!"
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