Since Atsushi was born, the kingdom grew to love him immediately.

The king announced the birth with pride, the biggest smile the kingdom has ever seen on their ruler's face, and their kin received it with even bigger ones.

Claps and whistles, celebrations and feasts on the toddler's name. There was nothing else to it, the kingdom had a heir for the throne, one that they knew would be the best. The king even gifted him with a tiger cub they named 'Byakko'.

When you were born, there weren't feasts nor whistles, not even a proper announcement to the kingdom. You were simply born, that was it.

Atsushi, in the young mentality he had when you were born, asked himself why. You were important too, as you were his brother. How could you not be important? It didn't make sense.

And when he held your tiny hand into his own, he practically made an oath for life; he was going to protect you till the day he dies.

And he kept it at all times. You both grew together, played together and even slept together at some times, but as Atsushi's eyes started to open, his mind did too and with that his responsibilities.

He started school and magic education, then he grew and started growing educated in politics and management of empires. Then Atsushi had to decide what branch of magic he would specialize: he chose the beastamer one.

His responsibilities grew with the years and his attention on you lessened. You didn't play together anymore, he had to study, you didn't sleep together anymore, he had to go to night meetings.

It was such a weight on Atsushi's shoulders, that he didn't even notice the difference between your treatment and his, but he did ask himself why you were so quiet while eating lunch, why you stared at him with something akin to longing.

This night, as the young man was walking through the big hallways of the castle with his tiger walking just beside him, he saw you in the library and decided to go greet you.

"{{user}}?" He mumbles and rests a hand on your shoulder.