𝟐𝟑
"Ah... young love."
Kilian stopped in the middle of sipping his apple juice to give Becky a bewildered look, "The hell?"
Becky pointed to Anya who was lurking around a corner, peeking after Damian who was observing a notice on the board regarding a meet up for imperial scholars.
"I'm so frustrated." Anya muttered, likely due to the whole Operation Strix plan. If Kilian did some meddling, he could probably help, but why would he do that?
Meddling required energy.
All of his energy was reserved for when he was set to go on vacation with his grandfather in a few weeks.
"And I get so frustrated seeing you like this!" Becky exclaimed, looking all excited and 💩, "I know exactly how you feel, Anya! Love can be so difficult to express~!"
"Love?" Anya echoed.
Kilian could practically see the gears turning in her brain as she thought for a long moment before shaking her head rapidly, "Nope."
"You don't need to be shy about it, Anya!" Becky chimed, "Kilian and I already know, so you can be open with us!"
"Hey, hey, don't loop me into this!" Kilian snapped.
"I've got an idea!" Becky declared, ignoring the boy, "I'm gonna help you make Damian fall for you!"
'Oh no.'
So that's how Kilian ended up going out that weekend. He told his Aunt about Becky's invitation to go shopping, and she encouraged him to go on ahead.
She sent Elena to monitor him from afar to be safe, but sent him on his way with some money. Kilian ended up running late because he didn't want to leave, but Elena and Y/n dragged him out the house and threw him into the car so Elena could drive him there.
"Elena, I don't wanna go..." Kilian mumbled as the woman fixed his jacket for him, brushing some of his hair out of his face, "I'm not good at shopping."
"You're hanging out with your friends, aren't you? Don't worry about the shopping piece, just have fun! Your Aunt said that if you ever want to go home, just say the word and I'll take you back." Elena pointed out, "Just give it a try, okay?"
Kilian didn't look convinced.
"You trust me, right?" Elena asked and the boy nodded, "Go on ahead, Kilian. I'll stay nearby if you want me to, so just enjoy yourself!"
The boy reluctantly nodded before heading off to the store begrudgingly, burning up with embarrassment again.
He was stopped at the store front by a lady.
"Sorry, but the store is reserved today. I'm afraid that you won't be allowed to enter for the day." the woman began.
"Oh. Sure." Kilian immediately turned away.
"Kilian, there you are! I was afraid you wouldn't be here!" Becky gasped, running over to greet the boy,
"Come on! Anya has already started trying on outfits! Since you're a boy, we need your input!"
"Just because I'm a boy doesn't mean I'll have any good input." Kilian groaned but was dragged off anyways.
Kilian felt like dying as he sat in that chair and was forced to watch Becky and Anya put on a fashion show.
The outfits went from nice to horrid in a matter of minutes, and Kilian had something to say about all of them, but stuck with two blunt answers.
"My Aunt would like that."
"Wouldn't be caught dead near you."
It was easy to tell which was good and which wasn't.
Anya dropped to her hands and knees to catch her breath after a while, but Becky was still ready to go, "Fashion... is hard...!"
"It really is!" Becky huffed, "How are we supposed to narrow down our options if we don't even know what Damian likes?"
A long moment.
Then Becky's gaze snapped to Kilian.
The boy instantly got defensive, "No! I don't know!"
The girl let out a huff, "Man..."
"Wait a second!" Anya perked up, "We only wear school clothes to school everyday! When would he even see my new outfit?"
"All the halls throw parties at the end of the term. If the teacher allows it, you may be able to go in your own outfit." Becky explained, "That's your chance!"
Kilian frowned, 'Then that would mean... oh no.'
The boy opened his mouth in a desperate attempt to change the subject, but Becky was just too damn sharp.
"Wait, if the parties are open to parents too, then..." Becky instantly went into panic mode, "We don't have time to waste on picking clothes for you, I need something to wear too!!! What sort of look is Loid into?!"
Anya gasped.
"Becky, that dude is almost five times our age!" Kilian snapped as the girl rushed off, "Ohhh we're done for..."
"Is it the tried and true cute girl style?"
"Or is he more into the high fashion type?"
Anya looked back and forth between Becky, trying to figure out which of them was emitting the squeaking noise as the little girl's fashion show continued.
"Maybe something like this?"
"Becky-"
"I could go all out sexy?"
"You're a child!"
"Or more like his current wife?"
"This is home-wrecking!"
"Ugh, I don't even know anymore!" Becky huffed as she tossed some clothing over her shoulder.
"They all looked wonderful on you, Madam." one of the staff assured the little girl who shrugged.
"Alright, I guess I'll take them all then." Becky said dismissively as Anya's face shifted to shock while Becky's butler Martha let out a sigh.
"Ian, did you hear that?" Anya whispered then paused when she observed the less than surprised look on Kilian face.
"Oh, right, you're rich too."
Kilian grimaced, "Don't loop me into that group."
"What did you decide on, Anya?" Becky asked as she joined her two friends once more. The pink haired girl could only heave a sigh.
"I can't even look at clothes anymore..." she mumbled before looking at Kilian, "But Ian didn't get anything..."
Kilian blinked, then held up a bag, "I found a couple of things I liked, so I just went ahead and grabbed them."
"Really? Let me see!"
"Anya wants to see too!"
"No! Mind your own business!"
They moved on to try shoes, hats, sunglasses and explore the store some more before retreating to a nearby cafe where Kilian took to happily nibbling on the strawberry tarts they had available.
"I think I almost shopped myself to death..." Anya groaned, slumped over in her seat and only moving whenever Kilian paused his snacking to offer her a pastry.
"Yeah, even I'm feeling a little tired." Becky admitted.
"Madam. You've bought too much." a voice emerged from the pile of boxes and bags behind Becky who grew alarmed, "Martha! Martha, where are you?!"
"Looks like Kilian got a couple of things..." Becky murmured, looking over to the much smaller but still shocking pile of boxes and bags seated behind the little boy, "But Anya, did you not buy anything?"
"I don't even know what I want!" Anya whined.
Becky stared for a brief moment before looking down almost sheepishly and mumbling a quiet, "Erm... Anya? Kilian? Did you guys enjoy shopping with me?"
Kilian, for the first time that day, smiled.
"Yeah, I really enjoyed myself."
"I had so much fun!" Anya chimed in with a radiant smile of her own, "This is the first time I've ever gone shopping with a friend!"
"A-A friend...?" Becky echoed.
"Mhm." Kilian rested his head on his hand, "We're all friends, aren't we Becky? Best friends, I daresay."
Becky's gaze immediately lit up.
"W-Well then we should get back to it!" Becky exclaimed, "Let's find something Anya really wants!"
"I want cartoon toys!"
"They don't sell that kind of thing here, but there is a stuffed animal shop just over there!"
As they were running to their next destination, a case on display caught Anya's eye and she halted.
"What're these sheep doing here?" she asked.
"Oh! The department store's mascot is a sheep! See?" Becky pointed over to where a giant sheep statue stood a distance away, "They started off selling wool, apparently."
"I want to buy a keychain then!" Anya declared.
Becky blinked, "Really? You're a such a child, Anya."
"This way, we'll never forget our shopping trip together!" Anya explained.
Becky looked down as a memory with her father crossed her mind, "Oh, then... I guess I should too, but..."
"Remember, Becky, you're a Blackbell. I don't want you wearing anything less than the finest!"
"I will, Papa!"
"Here! I bought one for you and Kilian too!" Anya exclaimed as she came raving back with two little gift boxes.
"What?! That was so fast!" Becky gasped.
"Huh?! Why me too?!" Kilian protested.
"Um... uh..." Becky seemed unsure as she watched Anya wrestle one of the boxes into the flustered Kilian's bag.
"To spurn a kind gesture of friendship would be to sully the Blackbell name." Martha piped in with a hushed tone, "I am certain your father would say the same."
Becky blushed, then accepted the other gift box from Anya, "Then, I guess... embarrassing as it is, I'll just have to accept this gift. Thank you."
Anya seemed overjoyed by this.
"Sooo, why'd we go shopping again?"
"I forgot."
"Meh, let's just go home then."
When Kilian returned home with a bunch of boxes and bags, both Elena and y/n were shocked. They rushed to help the little boy put away the clothes, and when they finished, he offered them their gifts.
"Here. I know Miss Elena likes sunglasses, so I bought you a pair." Kilian said as he offered the small box to the woman.
She covered her mouth with a hand, "Kilian... that's so sweet of you! Thank you, I'll treasure this forever!"
The boy nodded with a little smile before turning to his Aunt and offering her another box, "Here!"
Y/n accepted it with curious eyes, opening up the bag to find a watch. Her e/c eyes lit up and Kilian held his hands behind his back, swaying from side to side.
"I had it custom made. They were awfully quick about it." he mumbled, waving a hand, "Do you... like it?"
A smile settled on the woman's features and Kilian's heart skipped a quick beat when she nodded and scooped him up into a hug.
"It's lovely, Kilian. Thank you..."
His cheeks burned with embarrassment as he pointed to the few other boxes, "Those are for Aunt Corinne, Aunt Serafina, Uncle Laurence, Uncle Zain, Uncle Oleander, Uncle Gabe, Grandpa and your lady friend with the cool hats."
"I'll make sure they're all delivered to them." y/n agreed with a nod, "Elena and I need to run out for a quick errand. Will you be okay by yourself?"
Kilian gave her a thumbs up and giggled when his Aunt ruffled his hair affectionately.
Yuri returned later on and immediately had a small gift box thrusted into his hands by Kilian.
Before he could even ask about it, the boy retreated to his room to go to bed without another word.
'What even is this?'
The next day, Yuri went to work with a brand new watch with his wife and nephew's names branded onto the side of it.
He wouldn't admit it aloud, but he liked it.
✄ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Imperial Scholar Mixer, huh?"
Kilian stared at the letter in his hands with a frown.
As lunch was starting, Mr. Henderson had asked the boy to stay behind. It was then that Kilian learned that there was an event regarding Imperial Scholars coming up soon.
Because of the sheer amount of Stella Stars Kilian had earned from his mid-term scores alone, he was given the opportunity to attend along with his parents.
He thought this was stupid.
But the food was sure to be good.
So he was given a letter and a permission slip as well as a, "Excellent work, Kilian Briar. Keep up the great work."
The boy could only manage a grimace-smile.
When he returned home and shared the news with his Aunt, she actually seemed a little surprised.
"What a coincidence, Mr. Desmond reached out to me with an invitation to attend." y/n mumbled before giving her nephew a warm smile, "I'm very proud of you, Kilian! To be invited to the Imperial Scholar Mixer even without being an Imperial Scholar is huge! We should celebrate!"
"Won't it be crowded?" Kilian whispered, a worried look on his face, "And if you're supposed to be meeting someone, doesn't that mean I'll be left alone?"
"Yuri is busy on that day, and I don't want to bore you with the business discussions I'll be having with Mr. Desmond... but father is feeling much better now." y/n pointed out, "I'll have him and Elena go with you. How about it?"
Kilian nodded, "Alright... yeah."
He regretted this decision.
He felt like a rabbit in a lion's den as he hid behind his Grandfather. So many people... he needed to escape-! It was way too stuffy! Way too crowded!
"Grandpa... I feel sick..." Kilian groaned.
"Really? Let's go get you some fresh air, then." the man murmured, scooping up his grandson.
Due to his sheer size, it was easy for Alessandro to clear a path to a balcony where he set down his grandson on a little bench.
"Do you need anything?" he questioned, "Water?"
"Water..." Kilian mumbled.
Alessandro gave the boy a reassuring smile, "I'll go get you some. Elena will remain here with you."
While the old man retreated to go grab some water, Elena remained in the shadows. Kilian didn't think it was necessary, but didn't want to interfere with her job.
His world was still spinning as he tried to calm his nerves, but voices nearby caught his attention.
"Look at him! He's gonna cry!"
"You guys, don't bully him too much, he might go crying to his parents then we'll all get in trouble!"
"Parents? He doesn't have parents, remember?"
Kilian frowned and slid off the bench to go investigate. He hid behind one of the pillars on the balcony, peeking around it to get a good look.
There were three imperial scholars there, sneering down at a little boy with a familiar head of short golden blond hair.
Oh, it was that kid again. Luka.
He was looking furious, green eyes filled with anger as he glared at the three older children. He did indeed look like he was about to cry, but was clearly trying to hold back his tears.
"Didn't you hear? He was apparently part of a royal family or something, but his entire family was killed." one of the imperial scholars whispered.
"Shut up, that's none of your business!" Luka snapped only for one to the older kids to shove him.
"You think you can talk to us like that just because you're a Prince or something?" the jerkface sneered.
"I can talk to you however I want because you're not deserving of respect!" Luka retorted, dusting himself off, "Put your hands on me again, and see what happens!"
The three older children snickered amongst themselves before the one in the lead stepped forward to shove Luka again only for Kilian to step into his path.
"That's enough. Don't go harassing little kids." he grumbled, "This behavior is rather unbecoming of an Imperial Scholar, don't you think?"
"And who are you, huh?" one of the older kids demanded, "You think you're important enough to talk back to us too?"
Kilian blinked innocently before pointing at the boy in the lead, "You have a really large spider in your hair. I'm pretty sure it's poisonous."
"Ha! You think I'll fall for that?!"
"Uh... you actually have a spider in your hair-!"
Luka watched in horror, and Kilian in amusement, as a really huge soldier scuttled out of the older boy's hair and down the side of his face.
In an instant, he started screaming along with his friends as he tried to get the spider off of his face.
"GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF-!!!" the boy shrieked, turning to his friends for help only for them to take off running.
He ran after them screaming like a banshee, and Kilian crossed his arms with a little smirk.
"Heh, that was actually kinda funny." he murmured before turning to look at Luka, "Are you alright?"
The boy inhaled shakily, the tears he'd been trying to hold back finally pooling over. His lip trembled as he mumbled a quiet, "Y-Yeah... I'm okay..."
Kilian cringed, 'Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into?' "Alright, come on, let's go sit down." he offered the blond boy his handkerchief which Luka gratefully accepted.
He silently willed his Grandfather to get back quicker. The man was better at reassurance than Kilian was.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"C-Can I?"
"Keep it under twenty words."
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