Elliot let out his breath as he closed his eyes, letting the letter rest on his lap. Enough, I'll let him be. He figured he should let Flynn take care of what he needed. He had to trust in this general...though he felt uneasy. 

Doctor Phelps silently watched the small prince, trying to decipher the boy's thoughts. Elliot's skin itched by the gaze, making him slowly open his eyes. Glancing over at the doctor, Elliot wondered. Simply because he was sent away by Mathew, this doctor believed he was trying to become king? No, he didn't say sent away but leaving his safety.

Phelps averted his gaze as he gathered his items before placing freshly made medicine onto the table beside the bed. "My Pri-"

"You're quite a qualified doctor." Elliot cut him off, making Phelps's hand tense. The man didn't dare look up at the prince as he stood upright. Elliot gently grabbed the medicine, rubbing his fingers along the white porcelain cup. A soft hum left his lips while he sorted through what to say. He felt that his train of thought was correct, glancing back at the doctor. He could see perspiration fall from his forehead, making Elliot curious.

He slowly continued, "If I recall correctly, Flynn told me that you were surprised to find this poison in my body. Is it rare?" Phelps hesitated for a moment before nodding. Elliot smirked; there seemed to be a dark mist in his blue eyes.

"A rare poison...I would assume that not many doctors can figure it out, let alone know the antidote. Really, doctor, I commend you. Someone of your skill, it's hard to believe that an Earl, let alone the royal family, hasn't discovered your talents."

Phelps let out a low self-deprecating chuckle, "I do not deserve such praise, my prince. I've just traveled a lot, that's all."

Though, Elliot didn't stop. He wasn't sure if he originally liked to overanalyze. But with his memories completely gone, he figured it was Gabriel's mischievous trait showing. His voice was still hoarse, but his eyes were glistening with a cold light. "If I remember correctly, Flynn found you."

This sentence made Phelps pause. A noticeable paleness showed on his face. The meaning was clear to him more than anyone. Flynn found you, meaning he trusts you. Elliot knew it wasn't easy to gain Flynn's trust. Not to mention there were many doctors in this kingdom. So, why Phelps out of all the doctors? 

The doctor couldn't help but feel that this child was not ordinary. No, he had this feeling before, but now, it was more noticeable. His overall presence gave a slight foreign pressure. As if saying one misstep would easily crush his every being.

Phelps opened and closed his mouth as if to say something. Aching to jokingly push away the words, but he felt he couldn't utter a single word. His gaze stared at the prince, feeling the cold blue eyes pull him in like the deep ocean. It was suffocating.

"Prince..." He finally managed to speak. Elliot observed this man and lightly drank the medicine, keeping the room in deathly silence.

"You're from his kingdom." Elliot didn't delay further. Phelps turned his gaze away, his silence confirming Elliot's guess.

Elliot held his surprise...he shot in the dark and seemed to have hit the target. He assumed that Flynn wouldn't trust anyone from this kingdom...he would only trust those from his own. Phelps was a doctor from the rival kingdom that the king, his father, had destroyed. Where this man was hiding, only the two would know.

This truth made him doubt Phelps. In the doctor's eyes, Gabriel could be the key to his revenge. Whether he led an army or not, Gabriel was still part of the royal family.

Phelps read Elliot's mind, making him quickly kneel on the floorboards. He hung his head, and he didn't say a single word until Elliot asked him to stand.

"I am no threat; I am a doctor after all."

Elliot's cold eyes peered at him, "Are you saying this because you are in my hands or because you are loyal to your general?"

Phelps flinched but kept silent. Elliot watched him quietly before letting out a deep sigh, "get up." No matter, Elliot already decided to trust Flynn. If this man was brought by him...then so be it. It's not bad to have extra help.

The doctor quickly pulled himself together. A small relief hid in Phelps's eyes. He made a deep bow before gathering his things. There was a silent understanding. At this moment, Elliot wouldn't tell anyone that he was an enemy doctor, and Phelps would keep Elliot's desire for the throne a secret. Both parties relied on each other.

Just then, a heavy knock hit the wooden door of the bedroom. Elliot sighed softly, "come in." Edward made his way into the room, his voice as stern and cold as ever. "Good. You're awake."

Elliot glanced at the knight before looking towards the doctor. Phelps quickly saw himself out, having no desire to stay in the room. Edward silently frowned at the smell of medicine and swiftly patrolled the room. Elliot involuntarily felt his heart quicken. Did he hear their conversation?

Elliot didn't want to linger in the room any longer than he needed. He was asleep for too long and wanted to move his body. Slipping off the bed, he pulled over a simple robe and headed for the door. He was sluggish as he felt his muscles struggle. His joints ached with every movement, furrowing his brows, he slowly got used to moving again.

Glancing back, he saw Edward quietly following behind him. The knight's eyes looked away and watched the surroundings. Elliot let out a soft sigh; was he going to be monitored even more now? Though there was no helping it.

Elliot made his way toward a sunroom near the back of the estate. Jasmine rested in the sun with her hair elegantly tied back as she gracefully held a teacup to her lips. Small sandwiches and pastries were neatly lined onto a ceramic dessert stand. George sat across from her as he slowly nibbled onto a small sandwich. His eyes were unfocused until they shifted towards Elliot.

They immediately shimmered, creating a puppy-like expression. He stood up from the chair; his voice didn't hide his excitement. "Prince Gabriel!"

Jasmine glanced over, and her gentle face brightened, "Oh my! You're awake! We were so worried! Should you be moving? How are you feeling? Never mind, Come and sit! My goodness, you must be starved!" Jasmine then waved to some servants to bring more food.

Elliot felt awkward before he walked towards them, "I apologize for scaring you...I'm fine now." Elliot didn't mind spending time with the two. Something told him that he hadn't had this type of warmth in a long...long time. Elliot chatted with the two, filling his already starved stomach with all the food he could. It wasn't until George noticed Edward's figure leaving the room that he stood up, "ah! I have to train!"

Elliot woke up from his food daze, "train?" He chuckled, "what are you training for?" Jasmine giggled, "He's persistent; he asked sir Edward for guidance and was quickly denied. But now, this silly boy follows the knight whenever he starts his workout. Seeing him trying to copy the knight is truly inspiring...and entertaining."

George's face flushed red. Elliot eyed the teen and realized; this guy had gotten taller! Not to mention he toned up! Elliot couldn't help but feel envious! Muscles! A body that won't break by walking! I! Want! To! Be! Tall! Elliot was at a prime age for growing, but instead, he seemed to have shrunk! 

George shrunk into himself. Despite growing taller, his personality was still timid. "I just want to be of help to Prince Gabriel."

Elliot blinked at the boy. This child, did he want to become his knight? Elliot couldn't help but feel a bit touched. He lightly cleared his throat, "don't do such a thing for me...as long as we're friends...I'll be happy."

George's eyes shimmered before he beamed with a determined smile, "mn! I will always be your friend!" he glanced at the entrance before heading off, "I still want to train! I'll see you later, Prince Gabriel, Jasmine!"

Elliot hummed as he browsed through the books within the Earl's study. The gentle afternoon sun shone through a big stained glass window that hung in the middle of the study, illuminating it with a warm glow. 

Ever since he arrived at the estate, Elliot would linger here, hoping to find something interesting or useful within. He figured this would be the best way to get closer to the earl, or at least get on his good side.

Not surprisingly, many of the Earl's books were about politics and history. Nothing was different from what he read before. Though, he found that between some poetry books, there was a text about revolutions. The worn-out book instantly caught Elliot's interest as he pulled it off the shelf. The spine of the book was bent, with yellow loose pages.

Elliot flipped the book open, running his finger down the pages as he read. Notes covered the edges of the pages, but he couldn't decipher the chicken scratches. He shook his head, letting out a condescending chuckle, "Surely...this Earl's interest in an uprising is quite interesting...is it fear or hope?"

"It's fear."  A husky voice drifted into the small study.

The earl stood at the doorway. His eyes had a warm glow as he smiled at Elliot. "You've grown since the last time I saw you." Elliot's expression was stagnant before his eyes slightly smiled, "Uncle...it's been a while." A while...to be correct, Gabriel had little to no memory of this earl Winston. To be precise, the only times he's shown in the memories are when the king would throw his ball parties, which brought all the important noblemen together. Even then, Gabriel had little contact with this man. Still, during the times they've met, Winston showed familiarity. The earl smiled softly as he made his way beside Elliot. He watched the boy with care, "You've grown to look like your mother." He said softly. Elliot felt there were hidden emotions behind those words. Though, he didn't linger on it. 

He softly smiled, "Thank you." The Earl stayed silent for a moment before glancing at the book in Elliot's hand. "This…" Elliot followed his eyesight and realized what he had said earlier. Quickly clearing his throat, he handed the book over and spoke softly, "this- uncle, it's quite interesting...to think you would read it...even the pages are loosening." Winston let out a soft chortle, "This first belonged to an old friend..." Elliot's attention was grabbed again, "friend?"

The earl nodded, "he was a good soldier whose heart was with the people." The earl's voice was light and soft as if recalling a good memory, "He would always spend his time in the cities that weren't well-governed. Places riddled with the poor and crime. He would try to be their voice and even wrote this book to express the people's frustrations. Perhaps he thought it would scare the noblemen and our king. To better pay attention to the common folk. Yet..." The earl's expression then sank as his eyes dulled. Elliot was quietly listening when the earl suddenly stopped talking. After half a minute of silence, Elliot spoke up. "What happened?" His words seemed to have pulled the earl back from his thoughts. The man's dull eyes slowly regained light as he focused on the prince. His expression couldn't hide the soft sadness on his brow as he sighed. Slowly shaking his head, he spoke gently, "Yet...the king saw it as treason."

Elliot grew silent. Indeed, a book about possible revolutions could be considered treason. The soldier, in the king's eyes, was only enticing a revolution. Which is dangerous and something 'his father' wouldn't tolerate. Just destroy anything that would jeopardize his power. The earl sighed once more, pushing away the memory of his good friend before handing the book back to Elliot. "I've secretly kept this book for some time now. Tell me, Gabriel, what do you think of it?" Elliot paused a moment, putting his thoughts together before speaking. "I feel it has some truths to it…and this battle for the thrones is just making people angrier and angrier. If not addressed quickly...we may have more things to worry about than who's the next king."

The earl watched Elliot quietly, as he did, his eyes smiled before nodding, "You have good insight." Elliot smiled, "Thank you, uncle, but I am not an expert. I still have much to learn." The earl nodded, "You're young, so you'll learn quickly. But if you'd like-" Though his words were cut off when a knock tapped on the door. "Prince Gabriel, Earl Winston dinner is ready, and the countess is waiting for you in the dining hall." Sir Edward stood by the door with his head bowed. Elliot watched Mathew's loyal knight with keen eyes. He couldn't help but feel they were interrupted on purpose. Elliot stayed silent as Earl Winston replied, "Very well, we should head over then."

Elliot rested on a soft sofa just outside the balcony of his room. The night sky was speckled with white stars as the waning moon hung in the sky, giving a beautiful glow. Elliot flipped through the pages of the red book, trying to decipher the chicken scratches that were known as handwritten notes. Dr. Phelps quietly walked out, holding onto a small tray of tea. Placing it down, he let out a subtle sigh, "You should sleep. Staying up late will only make your body worse." Elliot's focus was on the book, letting the doctor's words slip in one ear and out the other. The boy's eyes squinted at the pages, making his nose wrinkle slightly. Phelps helplessly sighed as he served the tea. He had the feeling that he was now this small prince's maid instead of his doctor. Placing the cup onto the table, he tried to get the boy's attention again, "Prince Gabriel, you won't grow if you don't sleep."

This poked at Elliot's sore spot. His cold eyes flashed towards Phelps. Though this action was intimidating, it made Phelps chuckle. This was the first time he felt the boy truly acted his age. "Here, this tea will relax you." Elliot stayed silent before closing the book and taking a sip of the tea. If Elliot had to be honest, he was slightly afraid of falling asleep. The fear of not being able to wake up the next day lingered in him. He was in a slight coma for a few weeks! Although Phelps said his body condition seemed better now, Elliot couldn't fight the unease. Still, it was inevitable; his tired body was stronger than his will as he quickly drifted to sleep. He felt himself slowly drift to sleep before he heard three annoyingly familiar beeps.

✧･ﾟ: *[ Ding dong! Congratulations! The earl has joined your party! Congratulations! Congratulations! ~ ]* :･ﾟ✧

Elliot scrunched his eyebrows. This didn't seem right...but before he could speculate, his consciousness drifted.