Normally servants shared a dormitory, but Isaac, who was chosen to be the attendant for Felix, had been given his own private room relatively close to Felix's.
This was a rare preferential treatment, probably intended to prepare for the time when Isaac would become Felix's double.
Isaac spent his busy days working as Felix's attendant during the day, learning self-defense and horseback riding in between, and completing a huge amount of homework given to him by the duke at night after returning to his own room.
As an attendant for Felix, he had to imitate Felix's behavior and gestures.
Self-defense, horseback riding, and the large amount of homework were all for when he would eventually serve as a double.
Continuing such a life, Isaac came to understand why the Duke of Crockford was in such a hurry to have a double ready.
Felix was too weak. He probably had weak lungs and watery blood. He would soon faint even if he ran around a little, and his muscle strength was considerably weaker than a child of his age. He would develop a fever even with a slight change in the weather.
The adults around him seemed to have realized that the second prince would not live long.
The first summer since Isaac became Felix's attendant had passed, and as the mornings and evenings grew colder, Felix developed a high fever and took to his bed.
He barely ate, his cheeks were flushed red, and his breathing was strained and painful.
Despite this, the duke, who lived in the same mansion, made no attempt to care for his grandson. It seemed he was thinking that the boy could die if he did.
Isaac personally stayed at the bedside of a delirious Felix and nursed him. He would tenderly wipe away his sweat and offer him water from the water jug. And every time Isaac did something for him, Felix would look at him with watery eyes and say painfully,
"…I'm sorry I'm causing you trouble."
"You're not being a bother."
Even though Isaac spoke to him gently, Felix's sorrowful expression did not brighten.
Although he was royalty and deserved to be taken care of, Felix always apologized to everyone for everything.
I'm sorry I don't understand my studies.
I'm sorry I can't ride a horse properly.
I'm sorry I'm not good at greeting people.
I'm sorry I can't meet everyone's expectations.
It was easy to see how the Duke of Crockford had treated Felix up until now.
His eyes always said that anyone who didn't meet expectations was not needed.
That was why the duke was training Isaac to be a double so that Isaac would do everything that the useless prince was supposed to do.
"Why am I … always so bad at things? … I want to meet my grandfather's expectations …"
There was a sniffling sound. It seemed that Felix was not only physically but also mentally weak.
"I'll probably die before I become an adult… and everyone will forget about me. A weak and shameful second prince… like I never existed…"
It would be no use trying to comfort him by saying, "That's not true." Felix's tears would not stop. Felix closed his swollen eyelids, which were red from crying, and murmured in a hoarse voice.
"…I wish I could become a star when I die… like the first king, Ralph. If I became a constellation, everyone would remember me."
It was a story from a book that Felix had been reading recently.
The Founder King Ralph had been afraid of being forgotten by people after his death.
When Ralph's wife, Amelia, learned of this, she asked the Spirit King of Darkness to make Ralph a constellation at his funeral.
Isaac smiled wryly at Felix's idea, which was fitting for a star-loving boy.
…Even if you don't become a constellation, I won't forget you.
Still, it wouldn't be enough if only Isaac remembered. Surely.
Isaac wiped Felix's forehead with a cloth that had been soaked in cold water and brushed his sweaty bangs.
"Once Your Highness's fever goes down, I will grant you any request."
"Yes. So, please don't be so disheartened."
When Isaac nodded gently, Felix shyly played with the edge of the blanket, saying,
"Then … I want a friend."
"Then, let us ask the duke. I'm sure he can introduce you to suitable children from good families."
When Isaac made that suggestion, Felix reached out from under the blanket and timidly grasped the hem of Isaac's jacket.
" …I wanna friend with you, Isaac."
"But I'm your servant?"
" …Only when other people aren't around."
As he said that, Felix mumbled, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Isaac stifled a small laugh and said as he wiped Felix's forehead again.
It was Felix's middle name, which he was rarely called by.
Felix looked up at Isaac with wide, aqua eyes.
Isaac winked at him, teasing him a little.
"If I call you differently, it'll feel more like we're friends, don't you think?"
Felix's face suddenly brightened. It was as if all his dejection and whining had been a lie.
"Then, then, I'll call you Ike too!"
"Okay. Ark and Ike, they sound kind of similar."
Felix nodded again and again, his eyes sparkling and a huge smile on his face. He looked very happy.
If Isaac knew he was going to become Felix's double, he would probably despair. He would realize that the duke did not need him.
That was why Isaac had not told Felix that he was going to be a double.
He could not possibly say, "Because you are weak and incompetent, I was bought by the duke."
…But he knew that such a day would come when he would have to tell him the truth.
Isaac turned a blind eye to the truth and immersed himself in his secret game of friends with Felix.
When there was no adult watching, Felix would pull at the hem of Isaac's clothes and call out "Ike" with a smile that befitted his age.
When Felix called him "Ike," it was the beginning of their time as secret friends.
"Um, hey, there's a meteor shower tonight, apparently. Let's watch it together, through my window, if it's okay?"
Isaac was a little troubled by the childish request. It was easy to sneak out of his room in the middle of the night, but he had a lot of homework from the duke to do.
Still, he wanted to fulfill his cute Ark's request, so Isaac smiled.
"Okay. I'll come to your room quietly when it's night. But will you be able to stay awake until then, Ark?"
"I'll stay awake … If I start to fall asleep, will you wake me up, Ike?"
"I'll prepare some biscuits and mint tea. Will that keep you awake?"
That night, the two of them sat at the window, drinking tea, nibbling on biscuits, and gazing at the night sky.
Felix loved stars. Although he couldn't exactly be called quick-witted, he seemed to be good at remembering what he liked.
Felix pointed to each of the shining stars and told him the names and origins of the constellations.
In the end, Felix dozed off in the middle of it all, and Isaac ended up carrying him to bed.
Isaac stroked Felix's hair as he slept, just as he used to do for his little brother.
For Isaac, Felix was a master, a friend, and a little brother-like existence.
The little prince gently filled the empty heart of Isaac, who had lost his family. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
Their time together was too precious to be called mere make-believe.