Please Let Me Live a Lazy Life!

Chapter 10: I Just Want to Sleep (1)

His father had always been rather cool and distant when it came to affection, something that both he and his sister were fine with, but he was also gentle in nature. This change had baffled them greatly, but they were too young and naive to address it. All they could figure out was that the reason why their parents had changed so much was because of the new addition to their household.

It didn't occur to Edward to blame Thomas for their parent's abnormality, though. He wasn't convinced that someone so small and quiet would have caused so much trouble, but then, it only took that single instant to convinced him otherwise.

Edward had participated in many galas and social events since he was practically a baby and was familiar with the kind of gazes that would follow him in consideration towards his social status: envy, calculation, greed, sneers-- sometimes adoration from time to time. But seeing the burning, brown eyes trying to pierce through him, as if they wanted nothing more than to see him dying a slow death, the first time Edward had ever encounter pure and complete malice was from the person who was supposed to be his little brother.

Their relationship only seemed to devolve from there, creating a cycle of hatred and jealousy. As the firstborn and heir to the Prime Minister seat, it was only natural that Edward would have done his best to set himself from the rest. If he had shown any weaknesses or appeared unsuitable as his father's successor, those adults who often praised him would then come forth with their own children to suggest to both the King and the Crown Prince. While he was confident that Prince Xander would become a responsible and just King, his best friend was often too optimistic and lacked wariness; it has always been a concern for Edward that his charge's excessive kindness would one day be taken advantage of.

Thomas didn't understand this-- or maybe he never did want to understand Edward's position as heir. Edward, himself, didn't think his little brother was fit for the seat. Not because of his magical capabilities (or lack thereof) or his identity as their father's illegitimate child, but because of his sensitivity to the opinions of others.

As the heir, he would be subjected to many unwanted and unwarranted commentary, especially from his peers. Thomas was already so defensive about his status as a five-tier magician and the nature of his birth, the nobility would have latched onto that vulnerability like bone vultures to a feeble prey. He would have been devoured within seconds.

But Thomas didn't care about that. All he saw was the large mountain he had to climb and ignored the surrounding beasts and pitfalls. He was so caught up in his own inferiority that he never stopped to consider what it meant to be the Rosetta Heir, next in line to become one of the most powerful figures only below the Royal Family.

Edward was not that much older than the youngest, so he never bothered to soothe Thomas' insecurities, nor did he ever explained himself. He could not get close to him-- Thomas wouldn't allow it in the first place, so the misunderstandings and distance only grew.

It was only later on, when their father, for some inexplicable reason, enrolled Thomas into Evadne Academy, did his little brother then started scheming against him. They were all childish ideas and plans that often failed even without Edward's (or sometimes Katherine's) meddling, but it didn't mean he wasn't tired having to deal with them. Keeping up his guard even in his own home, no wonder his personality became so cold.

Around the same time as well, much to Edward's bewilderment, his father began to act even stranger than usual. Whenever Thomas was in the same room or area, he would put on a play that would baffle both his children and his wife. Though Kyron had always treated Anais very well, he rarely displayed any adoration towards her, but in front of his youngest, he would act very tender and loving. To his two oldest children, though he was a humble man and was the type that would withhold his pride from plain sight, in front of Thomas, he would actively praise them and embellish their accomplishments.