lightrealms | basil ( open post )

[It was an honor to serve the crown.

Kelsey, son of one of the greatest knights in the kingdom and brother of Henry the great, never really subscribed to that notion. When he chose to be a knight it was to have proper access to great training grounds, to learn how to fight with various weapons and, most important than anything else, to get a chance to spend time around horses.

Oh, how much he loved them!

The great Hero of the family was his big brother, anyway, so people had very little expectations when it came to him. Kelsey couldn’t sit still for too long during the theoretical lessons, nor did he enjoy learning about the kingdom’s history or the tales of all those ‘dead people’ who were considered great heroes in their time. Who even cared if Ser Reginald of Mosley saved a village near the river more than a century ago?

His life was peaceful enough, with only his mother still living in the small village they came from. Kelsey patrolled the city, made friends around the place, and focused on the little things whenever he wasn’t training or working… like mapping all bakeries of the town to find the best treats, no matter if moving back and forth to the citadel was a pain.

Things were good… until they suddenly weren’t.

One day they were celebrating the fact Henry was chosen as prince Basil’s personal guard, the next day his brother’s bed was empty, only a small letter left behind explaining he couldn’t take the job. He had been madly in love with the princess of a foreign country since he visited it for duty and he couldn’t serve another. Not anymore.

If a week before anyone told him his brother would ever want to elope with a noblewoman… Kelsey would have laughed. Hard. Mister Perfect was too much of a, well, perfect knight to do anything wrong. Now they were sitting in panic not even knowing what to expect from that, was it going to cause political turmoil or what? Did she even return his feelings? How long had his brother been unhappy to begin with?

It didn’t matter. Not when his parents’ main concern was to sweep everything under the rug, to protect the family name. As much as he hated their plan, Kelsey resigned from his job, telling everyone he was moving to the countryside to join the guards over there and protect the borders instead… and took Henry’s mantle.

Kelsey’s long braid fell to the ground as his mother adjusted his hair to be more like his brother’s- fortunately enough, Henry was someone who kept his armor on most of the time and he was so often dispatched away from the castle that most people didn’t remember him too well. His actions were known, his face much less. And he and Kelsey looked similar enough for people not to question too much.]

“It’s not like you will cross your old comrades in the castle, the royal family’s guards don’t mix with the losers in the barracks.”

[]Kelsey had to bite his own lips not to remind his mom he lived in said barracks. And he could only pray no one would figure out the truth. One hand moved up to his own neck, the king was going to have his head if the truth came to light.

It was with a heavy heart that, the morning his brother was supposed to meet the prince, he put an armor too fancy for his tastes on and headed back to the castle.From the little he knew about actual nobles, considering he mostly interacted with the lower classes even inside the citadel, he could only pray the prince wouldn’t be a pain in the ass.]

Edited 2024-06-17 17:24 (UTC)

( Basil was normally someone who kept to himself. He was always someone who was rather introverted, but it was almost as though he became more avoidant as time went on. Why he suddenly changed was a mystery to just about everyone, but that worked out for the better. ... For the most part.

Any time spent after school is spent helping those in the gardening club. He isn't exactly a member, but it's not secret that he has a fondness for plants. Oftentimes, when asked for help, he would make up a weak excuse to go home -- but, the request made today wasn't anything he really minded doing. He'd move a few pots with budding flowers outside, where they could properly bloom. How could he say no when it means helping them grow...?

But, there's some pots that are heavier than others, and after a while he's started to struggle. The school's deserted for the most part, but luckily, he's about done.

... Maybe he shouldn't have saved the heavier pots for last. He's struggling to lift the last pot, sighing quietly. )

( It's easier to be alone now, Basil always thinks. Making friends was always difficult for him, but his interaction with others now outside of Polly (and very seldomly Kel) oftentimes meant that something would go awry. He's been the target of bullying for so long that it can be difficult to assume that social interactions can go well. Perhaps he can be blamed for it, partially if only because he's become accustomed to assuming the worst from some of his peers.

It's why he's at the edge of the park now, attempting cowering away from one of the Hooligans. His entire body is tense, and his legs are shaking. Slowly, an arm moves upwards to nearly cover his face.

What's your problem, Basil? Calm down! )

P-Please, someone help!

Prince Basil and knight Kel AU

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