The two were left speechless when Leon suddenly enumerated Eli's likes while wearing a gentle expression. They even blinked several times and rubbed their eyes, thinking that they were seeing things wrong.
Leon, the mad dog blood prince, brother of theirs, is smiling!
'Oh my heavens!' Antoine looked at Kazimir with a meaningful look.
'He's really in love with the lady…' Kazimir reciprocated his gaze with the same message.
It was the first time that they saw Leon ask for anything from anyone other than himself.
Moreover, it was their first time seeing that he had actually wanted something for his sake. Because of the past that they had created, this brother of them became unfeeling and distant.
He became like a cotton pillow, who would just absorb whatever words they throw at him, whatever harm their supporters throw his way. He never showed any anger or grievance during those times. He just looked at his enemies coldly, as if nothing could hurt him anymore.
And because of that, he had also learned how to want nothing lest it becomes something that could appear as his weakness. Even his relationship with his Queen mother had been visibly distant in public.
Now the same Leon was now opening up to them, asking for advice and letting them know his vulnerable side - his love for Lady Eli.
So without letting out a single word, they both looked at each other with a look of understanding,
'We must really help him get the Lady's heart!'
And so they both listened to everything that Leon said, with their hands clasped together and their eyes squinting like a hawk ready to grab any possible opportunity to help him in the matter.
"So… what do you think would be the better move?" After Leon had narrated everything he knew about Eli so far, he looked at his brothers intently and waited for their answers.
"Hmm…" The two did not answer immediately but instead faced each other and discussed in a hushed tone.
"I think it has to be music because look at him… look he is such a frigid person I bet that the two would eventually become nerds when they start to talk about something philosophical!"
"Hmm… I get what you mean. Since the lady was already an intelligent person, she must be tired of talking to intelligent people all day. Our brother has to come like a breath of fresh air for the Lady to catch his attention!"
"But we need to take it slow, let's start with offering flowers first!"
"I agree, but speaking of catching her attention, we had to do something about his face… C'mon his facial expression was really something that wastes our handsome bloodline!"
Because he could clearly hear what they were talking about Leon wanted to call their attention and comment. But looking at their serious expression he swallowed his words and waited for them patiently.
It wasn't their fault for thinking that Leon had to seriously court Eli when they did not know that the two of them were already cohabiting with a cute little son.
After some time they both faced Leon with intense gazes.
"Eherm… we finally came to a conclusion. First, we have to do something about your expression, that's the first priority!" Kazimir opened the conversation again.
"Now Antoine here will demonstrate to you how to smile gently and captivate every lady in town."
Antoine then straightened his back and closed his eyes as if he had to focus to channel out his casanova expression.
After a few seconds of concentrating, Antoine slowly opened his crystal blue eyes as he had just woken up from sleep, looking down ever so gently, he looked up and slowly gave a gentle smile.
His smile was as beautiful as a rose, passionately alluring yet full of dangerous thorns. It was a charm that could make any lady in the capital skip a beat and dive into the cliff of infatuation.
"Oh… impressive. Casanova as always." Kazimir could not help but nod in amazement as he saw how Antoine smiled. No wonder even though his brother's support came from a marquis family he still had a stable area of influence - because of his charming personality.
"Yes indeed." Leon also nodded in approval. Among the three of them, Antoine had the most lively and friendly personality, no wonder it was so easy for him to get the ladies.
"Now, do not just nod there, you have to do it too!" Antoine reminded Leon and saw they started instructing him to try smiling at command.
But they never thought that it was hard for Leon to learn how to smile.
"No… your facial muscles are stiff… just relax!"
"You look like you are out to strangle someone with that smile!"
"Your eyes… no don't droop your eyelids like that! You'll look like a creep!"
The brothers were exhausted as they patiently taught Leon how to smile more naturally.
"This won't do, if you don't often smile then the lady might misinterpret you to be someone who was insincerely approaching her…" Antoine rubbed his temples and sighed.
"You really not know how to smile?" Kazimir asked Leon once again.
"I know I can smile… (Little Han even laughs at me… sometimes….)" He answered profoundly.
But the two looked at him with doubt, 'Could this brother of ours really smile?'
"Alright let's forget it, let's move to the next step, that is fashion! This time it would be Kazimir who would teach you!" Antoine then immediately stood up, and Kazimir followed.
They beckoned Leon to follow them and even ignored the chamberlains who were waiting for their documents to get finished.
"Where are we going?" Leon asked in confusion.
"We're going to get you a good suit!!!"
–
Later that afternoon.
The Farauld Magic Institute was in an uproar!
Why so? It was because the Third Prince of the Seirende Empire, the S Class Level, Open Paths Mage suddenly appeared on campus wearing a gallant black suit that had a white and gold undershirt.
He had his neck long red blood hair brushed up nicely, exposing his fair and perfectly sculpted jawline and neck. To add more to his alluring face, he had an obsidian earring hanging in his left ear. As the wind blew, his hair and the earring danced gently, like it was once with the wind, creating a dreamy impression all around him.
In his hands was not a sword, but a bouquet of flowers that were arranged with great care. An array of baby pink and white roses, in Seirende flower language, it means budding love - a love that started to grow more fondly.
"Oh my, it's the Third Prince!!"
"Ah! I never knew that His Highness is so handsome!"
"Did you see the thing in his hand? To whom was he about to give the flowers!"
"Ah, whose house does the lucky lady belong to, I greatly envy her, whoever she is!"
The Farauld students and faculty members were intensely discussing his sudden appearance. Those who were free from any class even followed him to see who was the lucky lady he was going to offer the flowers to.
At one point, Leon stopped in a nearby group of students and asked, "Pardon, would you know in which direction the research branch is located?"
"Huh…." The students were all flustered as the prince suddenly talked to them out of nowhere. Despite his stoic cold face, they were still shocked because of his prominence as an S-Class mage.
"Ahhh… T-the r-research branch is in t-that direction!" They shyly pointed in the direction of the branch.
"Thank you." Leon nodded calmly and followed the direction.
"Haaaa! I'm getting nervous!" Following Leon from a distance were two oddly dressed men who obviously were poorly disguised. Antoine and Kazimir watched at a distance making sure that Leon was able to do what they had discussed earlier.
"Is he the type that would stutter in front of his crush? If yes, then that would be a disaster." Kazimir mumbled worriedly.
"No, the bigger problem is his smile! His smile! What if he scares the lady with his mad-looking smile?!" Antoine bit the white handkerchief in his hands as he watched Leon like he was watching his child finally performing in a contest.
"Let's get a little closer so that we can hear their conversation later on!"
As they two were stealthily following Leon, Eli was now done with her task for today and was about to go straight home.
As she went down in the hall, she was actually surprised that the ever eccentric researchers were heading to the windows and looking outside intently.
"What's with the commotion?" She asked.
"Ah! Councilor! It's like this, His Highness Third Prince suddenly appeared at the gates of the research branch!" They answered.
"Who do you say appeared?" Eli thought that she was hearing things and so she asked once again to confirm.
"It's His Highness, Third Prince, Leon!"
Eli's eyes widened in shock as she heard the news. She scooted over the window and finally saw Leon, handsomely dressed in a suit with a bouquet of flowers in his hand!