As the street lights illuminated the entire city in dazzling blue, Mikhail walked with Methew on his shoulder.
He was dressed a lot better than normal — a pristine white shirt, baggy jeans and an oversized coat draped his shoulders.
He also had a bouquet of white flowers that Kevin's mother loved.
He ran his fingers through his hair to set them before he slowed.
Mikhail turned towards his left side, looking at the luxurious mansion.
It was three floors tall, painted in an off white colour that gave it a classy look. Two trees with long leaves stood on either side, covering its upper floor.
'Kevin sure is rich.'
Mikhail thought, took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
He waited for a while and the gate opened up.
Kevin in his shorts walked out and looked at him with a smile. "Sup, babe. Where are you heading?"
"Fuck off, bitch." Mikhail replied, pushing him aside to walk inside.
Kevin closed the long door and walked with him through the small front garden. It was filled with different flowers and show plants.
"Father isn't home yet." Kevin informed him.
"It's fine, I can wait." Mikhail replied. "Though, I hope he doesn't mind…I came alone."
"Don't sweat it." Kevin replied, shaking his head. "He understands that uncle Eric isn't leaving his business that easily."
Both the families of Mikhail and Kevin had been friends since the era of their grandfathers.
They had been together and stuck with each other in times of need.
The relationship between the two families had always been good. Ronic married Emiliya because they met at one of the family gatherings.
Kevin opened the door and called. "Mom! Mikhail is here!"
"Coming!"
A voice echoed from the kitchen before a lady walked out with a smile.
She was in her early forties with natural grey hair and dove shaped eyes of the same shade.
She wore a beautiful white dress that looked like a less decorated gown.
Her smile only brightened even more when she looked at Mikhail.
"Welcome, my son." She said, squeezing his face. "Look how thin you have gotten, is Jasmine not feeding you properly?"
"She is." Mikhail replied, passing the bouquet. "And you look as beautiful as ever, Aunt Sarah."
"Thank you." She took the flowers with a smile. "Come, have a seat. Kevin! Move aside, let my son rest."
Kevin's lips twitched as he smiled. "He was just complimenting you, old hag." He replied. "You don't look that good."
"See, this is why you never had a girlfriend." Sarah replied, as Mikhail sat down on the sofa. "You don't know how to treat a woman."
"Mikhail didn't have any girlfriend either."
"Must be because of you." Sarah replied, gently slapping his face. "He would have been swarmed by girls if you didn't hang around him."
"What am I?" He rebuked. "Woman repellent?"
Sarah ignored him before she turned towards Mikhail with a smile. "Want some snacks?"
"Sure." Mikhail replied, smiling back. "Why not?"
Sarah nodded, gently nudged Methew before she walked back inside the kitchen.
Kevin fell on the sofa by his side with a groan. "So, how was your first day as a detective."
"Uneventful." Mikhail replied. "There was no case today."
"I see." Kevin said, gently patting Methew who surprisingly accepted it, purring gently. "I went to Korake today."
Mikhail turned to face him. "And?"
"Found a few girls that were fawning over me." He replied with a grin.
He frowned. "You sure they were after you and not because of your King's rank?"
Kevin shrugged and puffed his chest with pride. "Does it matter?" He replied. "Guess who got more bitches than you?"
Mikhail flipped his finger at him but quickly pulled back when he heard Sarah.
"Here are your snacks~." She said, placing the trays down on the table. "Enjoy."
Mikhail smiled and looked up at her. "By the way, I don't see Carol?"
"I am here." A voice came from behind as a young lady walked out of her room.
She was Kevin's younger sister by a year, she had the same blonde hair and eyes as her brother.
Carol wore a casual black dress as she walked towards Mikhail with a smile. "Hello, big brother Mikhail!"
"Hello, Carol." Mikhail replied, smiling back. "It's been a while since I saw you."
"…Yeah." She replied. "School has been a lot tougher lately."
She sat down on the sofa opposite them along with her mother.
Leaning forward, she picked up some snacks for herself.
"Eat less." Kevin said, looking at her. "Otherwise you will get fatter."
"She isn't fat." Mikhail rebuked. "Don't stop her from eating."
Carol wore a smug smile. "You heard that, little brother Kevin?"
"Now, now." Sarah cut her off. "You shouldn't lie to people like that, Mikhail."
Carol groaned in frustration and stood up. "Urgh, I will be borrowing your books, Kevin."
"Hey, don't touch them!"
"Let me just have them, you don't know how to read properly anyway!"
"Oh! I do!"
They both rushed towards Kevin's room on the second floor.
Mikhail, left alone with Sarah, could only smile awkwardly.
"It's weird to think Kevin will leave us next month." Sarah started the conversation. "I feel anxious about how he will leave without me."
"Don't think too much." Mikhail replied with a smile. "I will look after him."
She shook her head. "Don't be too involved with him, Mikhail." She said. "Kevin needs to learn things by himself."
Mikhail didn't say anything, though he agreed with her.
Kevin had always been a sheltered kid. Even though he looked strong, deep down he was still sensitive.
"There have been a lot of calls to his father." Sarah said softly. "They have been calling him…to enroll Kevin in the military college."
Mikhail frowned, but only after a little thought did he understand why the government wanted that.
With his King Rank, Kevin could alone guard a section of the border.
He could be an asset that could change the course of the kingdom.
'And at the same time, they don't want him near the Royal family.'
For better or worse, the first King, Julius Aegon I, had made a rule that any King Rank could challenge the current king for his throne.
He made the rule to ensure the king was fit to rule the kingdom against the monsters.
There had only been two times that someone had challenged for the throne and won both times.
'Though the Aegon royal family kept the power in their hands by marrying the princess or the previous queen with the new king.'
"Kevin should join the Imperial University." Mikhail said firmly. "That would be the best for him."
Mikhail was sure that Kevin would never challenge for the throne, so it wasn't necessary for him to run away from the royals.
'And even if he did, I would stand by his side.'
Sarah nodded with a smile when her two children came back, albeit still arguing.
But they all turned silent when the door of the house opened up.
A man walked inside with the aura of someone with power and presence.
His short blonde hair and beard made his face well defined.
He was the head of security and the father of Kevin and Carol.
He was Edgar Ariala.