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“Lots of strange events these days, aren’t they, Alessio.” Arsene said, something about his voice sounding a little odd. Alessio glanced up quickly, regarding him a little warily. What was he probing for…?

Instinctively his mind started assessing every possible escape route in the room, but he bit back the urge. This was Arsene, he’d be fine.

“Lots of strange events indeed.” Something happened – what happened, Arsene must’ve found out something – “So strange, I met an Old Snake named Nathair, who told me many strange stories,”

The moment Arsene mentioned that name Alessio froze, panic in his eyes. How much did he know, if Nathair was bac- Alessio swallowed and stared down fixedly at the table. Just don’t overreact. He was trying to figure out how to respond when Arsene continued- uncharacteristically serious.

“Who did this to you, Prince Alessio? Who is Nathair?”

There were so many answers he could give, there was so so much and…No no, he needed to find out how much he already knew – Nobody ever believed his side of the story. A couple years ago he might’ve naively told Arsene everything, and would’ve sounded like a delusional, “problem child” who needed the support of the oh so much more stable adults he was running away from.

“What did he tell you?” Alessio asked tensely in barely a whisper, without looking up, trying to draw the least amount of attention from everyone else there. His hands were shaking.

Even if Arsene believed him, the robber would have the most chance of surviving if he remained in ignorance. No motive to get rid of him if he didn’t know anything. Maybe that would work except Alessio seriously doubted he’d let be – he’d get himself killed trying to get answers.

“Nath-“ He couldn’t even handle saying his name anymore. “He…was the king’s advisor…”

He stuck with the most neutral explanation he could possibly give because he had no idea what kind of prejudices or stories Arsene had been fed. He wasn’t going to be dumb and blurt out enough to sound like a fanatic to be dismissed.

Nathair was…well, he had been the closest thing to family at the time. Before, it happened.

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