Tale of Four

Strolling through the Flower Palace, Sandra smiled as she passed servants, happily stopping to talk to a few with whom she had closer relationships, before bidding them goodbye and continuing her walk. As she did, she stopped seeing a green-haired man with streaks of brown in his hair, his eyes a dark green, almost trying to be brown, Ander Stem. In front of him, another man, a little younger, smiled and nodded along, his hair more green with dirty blond streaks and dark blue eyes, Gerald Stem.

Sandra playfully grinned and crept closer to her nephew, who had his back turned as he spoke to her son. Step by step, she approached before jumping up and wrapping her arms around Ander, chuckling when he smiled, already able to tell who it was. "Aunt." Lowering himself so Sandra could get off his back without hurting herself, Ander spun and placed a hand on his chest, "A pleasure."

"Ander, you don’t need to bow before me. Bastard or not, you’re my blood." Looking at the other man who was with Ander, her son Gerlad, she sweetly smiled and brought him into an embrace, "You’re getting taller."

"Well, His tone was slow as he rested a hand on his chin after breaking away from Sandra’s hug, "I still can’t compare to Ander, unfortunately; it really is a wonder what you eat, cousin." Looking at the two, Sandra ignored the jealousy in her son’s eyes and said nothing. She could understand why Gerald was annoyed about it, however. Although he inherited her good looks, being a beautiful man with a sharp chin, soft eyes and a thin frame, it wasn’t what he wanted. Rather, he wished to be like Ander, a man who was both tall and large, built with thick muscle. Sandra sighed, unsure how to feel. Unlike Gerlad, who looked more like a Clover having their beauty, Ander had taken more from his mother, his face square and looking nothing like Hector, bar his green hair.

"If you wish, I can give you a routine I found that works." Ander politely said, but Gerald shook his head, having already copied everything he had done and failed to get the same results.

"Anyway, mother," Gerald turned to Sandra, "What are you doing right now?"

"Going to your brother." Gerald raised an eyebrow. Saying she was going to find her brother didn’t narrow anything down. Chuckling, she ignored the look Gerald gave her, "I’m going to find George." Nodding, Gerald looked to Ander.

"You haven’t seen my youngest sibling yet. Have you?" Ander shook his head, "Come. I want to see him, it’s been a while." Sandra thought for a moment but sighed. After coming out to Hector about who George’s father was, she had kept everyone, even her and Hector’s children, away just in case they raised suspicion, but she knew it could last forever.

"Fine. Come along." Sandra led the way, the two following behind, "How have you two been, however. It’s been a while since I last saw you both."

"I’ve been travelling with Christian," Ander said happily, thinking of his older half-brother. Sandra thought of the man, the heir to Flower Palace and smiled, unable to feel immense pride in her nephew.

"The Golden Child." Gerald rolled his eyes. "What’s he up to these days?"

"Exploring the Flatlands. With the war raging on, he is trying to find a wife and have a child, just in case he is forced to fight." Ander looked to Sandra, "Has father made a choice yet on what he is going to do?"

"Matters related to the war are not my concern, Ander. Whatever Hector decides, I will follow, however. But I think he is lean...." Sandra paused, seeing the door to George’s room cracked open, the guard stationed out front of it missing. Her heart stopped for a moment, and instantly, both men pushed her behind them, with Ander pulling his sword. The two shared a nod and crept forward, but Sandra didn’t hesitate, running forward, panic running through her mind, ignoring their warnings to stay behind them.

’Hector never would leave him unprotected, and no one would move him without my say.’ Dashing to the door, she threw it open and froze, looking inside. Ander and Gerald quickly caught up, and when they looked in, Ander stepped forward first, pointing a sword towards the hooded figure holding George, staring down at him. Around the hooded figure, numerous servants left to care for George lay on the floor, unconscious, along with the two guards who should have been at the door.

"Sir," Ander spoke quietly, unsure what to do, peeking towards Gerald to grab more guards. He understood and ran off. The hooded figure peeked up. Sandra’s heart stopped again in that moment, the sight of a monocle’s reflection beneath that hood. Next, the pair of black eyes showed a betrayed but happy gaze.

"Put your sword down, Ander." Sandra quietly said, but the man didn’t listen, inching closer. "ANDER!" Shouting, she grabbed his arm and forced it down, gulping in fear as she pushed past and stared at Brandon. "My Prince."

"Sandra." Brandon’s voice was quiet, scared of awakening the sleeping baby in his hand. Despite the happy nostalgia in his eyes whenever he looked down at George, his face remained as cold as a statue, the ability to smile having even vanished with his son. "You break my heart."

"Sir." Ander stepped closer, bringing Sandra closer to him. "Please, can you put the child down?" Brandon’s gaze flicked towards Ander, making him tense up. Scrutinising him, he scoffed.

"Ander Stem. Hector’s eldest bastard." Pulling his hood down and revealing his golden hair cut just above his shoulders, he stared into the man’s eyes with a cold look, "Why should I put my grandson down? Who are you to order me to?"

"Brandon..." Sandra said with a shaking voice, getting a sharp glare in her direction. His gaze alone made her silent.

"Sandra." Bradon spoke again, taking a step closer towards them, "When were you going to tell me my son left a child behind?" There was heartbreak in his voice as he poked the baby’s cheek with his finger, making it wake up and giggle.

"Cillian didn’t want me to." Sandra worked up the courage and said, making Brandon tense up.

"He didn’t want you to." His eyes twitched. A small silence followed before he sighed and spoke, "Why?"

"Becuase we didn’t marry. He said that if it were revealed, there would be a scandal." Sandra calmly explained, easing up, able to tell that Brandon wouldn’t hurt her son. Despite that, she couldn’t completely relax seeing George in the hands of someone else, afraid that Brandon might use him as a tool for his war.

After minutes of silence, Brandon looked away from the two, unbothered by the tension in the air, instead playing with the baby, making George happily squeal whenever he felt the cold touch. For a moment, carried on, a sweet sight if Brandon wasn’t surrounded by bodies. With a final giggle from George, Brandon pulled his hand away from his face and looked at the two speaking again, "Do you think I would care about a scandal?"

"He did." Sandra snapped. It took Brandon by surprise, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. Finally nodding, he walked over to Sandra, standing an inch away from her. With a deep breath, he leaned down and kissed George’s forehead before handing him over to the woman. From the door, Gerald returned alongside him, numerous guards and Hector. Hector looked in with a cold smile and met Brandon’s gaze.

"My Prince. If you are coming, please let me know." Hector’s joking tone was betrayed by his gaze as he inched closer. Like with Brandon, the heavy air didn’t seem to affect Hector as he strolled forward. "It is rather rude to break into another man’s home." Brandon nodded and walked past Sandra, placing a hand on Hector’s shoulder.

"It is rude not to tell me I have a grandson, Hector," Brandon replied with an equally cold voice before leaning down towards Hector’s ear. "You have yet to decide." He whispered so quietly that only Hector could hear, "But now that I have a male heir, things can be different." Patting his shoulder, he peeked back at George and lifted his hood back over his head, "You should have told me." With his final words, a silver light spread across his body from underneath his cloak, and his figure vanished, blending in with the colours around until he was unnoticeable to the naked eye.

Ander stared at where Brandon had just been, holding his breath when he realised he couldn’t see him at all anymore. Going closer to Hector, he spoke, "My Lord. Are you sure we can just let him leave?" Hector stared at Sandra and George for a moment before smiling and nodding.

"My boy, do not concern yourself with him. Had he wished for you or anyone in this Palace dead, it would have already happened." Looking to the door, unsure if Brandon had left or not, he shrugged, "Leave it be." Looking at Sandra, he smiled, "Follow me. And bring George."

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