Adrien drew his lips into a tight line.
"I hope not, though them being in the castle should be evidently safer, I could have guards put with them for extra security" he said quietly.
"Though I suspect they'll be happy to see you, even if they reject the offer, we could stay a bit for you to see them" he added quickly.
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"I'm not worried about them being targeted by common folk. It's lords, it's the rich folk who think we're infiltrating. But it's better than seeing them suffer year after year," Sebastian said.
They smiled slightly.
"It has been a while since I visited. They'll definitely like to see us both."
Adrien smiled up at Sebastian then stood up abruptly.
"Must we be getting ready to make our departure?" He asked with a bright smile, clapping his hands together.
"I must say, I am most excited to see your family" He added quickly, with a giggle.
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"Yes, of course," Sebastian replied, also standing, "I need to go get some proper clothes, and we can be off."
He glanced back at Adrien.
"Guess it's been even longer for you, huh? They adore you. It'll be a welcome surprise. I'm sure all of this will be."
Adrien gave a grateful smile to Sebastian.
"Thank you, Im glad your family will be happy to see me, they're more family than my very own" he said sweetly.
"I will change and we will meet in here once we are finished?" He asked, standing up and planting a hand on the person's shoulder.
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"Of course, that sounds good," Sebastian replied.
They walked out of Adrien's quarters and into their own to get dressed. Sebastian glanced in the mirror and tried to fix his unruly curls, but he ultimately gave up and just changed clothes.
Adrien changed into his slightly less formal wear.
A light cream colored button up and light grey pants, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and silently ran through his blonde hair, waiting for Sebastian to come back.
(btw I suggest the graphic novel The Prince And The Dressmaker :)
Its so good.)
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(Ooh, it looks really cute ;-;)
Sebastian changed into the clothes he usually wore for horseback riding- that was, assuming that's how they got to his family's house. The clothes were comfortable and dark in color. Pants a dark gray, top a slightly paler shade. He wore his dark green traveling cloak over his shoulders, along with his typical worn brown boots.
Sebastian then returned to Adrien. They cast a soft smile over.
"Are you ready to go?"
Adrien nodded once and smiled at Sebastian.
"Yes, as ready as I'll ever be to see the people that are like family of my own" he said quietly.
"I guess you figured out we're taking horses" Adrien said, giving a once over to Sebastian's outfit.
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"Always a possibility," Sebastian replied, "Besides, it's a little far to go on foot and a bit too much to prepare a carriage."
They started out the door, just barely ahead of Adrien.
Adrien followed, once they reached the stables Adrien haved himself onto his brown and white horse which he obtained when he was an early teenager and had named "starfish" as his once obsession with the sea creature.
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Sebastian readied up his black mare, Noctis. She had been given to him when he became Adrien's guard. They climbed up on horseback, gently stroking the side of the creature's neck.
"We're ready," they said, urging Noctis to trot forwards a few steps.
Adrien followed beside Sebastian.
"Do you think they're home?" He asked them over the slight wind, in which made it harder to speak to Sebastian, so Adrien raised his voice.
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Sebastian shrugged.
"Someone ought to be," he said, "And if not, we can wait for them."
Sebastian had Noctis moving at a steady canter, not wanting to push her to go much faster for their journey if it wasn't necessary.
"I hope they won't feel as if Im regarding them as beggars of a sort— asking them to come stay in the castle" Adrien said aloud, running his hands through Starfishes dark brown mane.
"That's not my intention at all, I want them with you, it's good to be with your family sometimes" he said dreamily, thinking of his inability to say the same of his own family and what it would be like if his father had been kinder.
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"No, I don't think so," Sebastian replied, "And if they think so at first, well… they're reasonable people. They'll come around."
He kept Noctis in stride next to Starfish, very slightly turning his head to keep an eye on Adrien.
"I think as long as they have work, they'll accept help in return."
"good." Adrien said, brightening a bit "I was hoping they would come, though I wish I could let them roam the castle without being a part of the staff, I highly doubt they would like that"
Adrien tilted his head upwards, feeling the light sunshine on his face.
"What a beautiful day Sebastian!" He said excitedly.
"Do you think your father would help me build a gazebo in the middle of the courtyard?" He asked curiously.
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"Absolutely, I think he'd be thrilled," Sebastian replied, "He's better at carpentry and all that than anything else. He's always been much more of a craftsman than a manual laborer."
They too basked their face in the warmth of the morning sun happy about the weather that followed a recent onslaught of rainy days.
Adrien nodded, his lips drawn into a tight line as they trotted into the village, where people bowed and whispered.
Adrien held up a hand and they all stood, staring.
"What a shame," Adrien said to Sebastian "I fear they are going to think very highly of me as the newly found king"
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"That's not all bad," Sebastian whispered, "As long as you have them love you instead of fear you."
They smiled over at Adrien.
"It'll be fine. Just don't lose your touch with them, and it'll be fine."
Adrien looked over at them and smiled.
"Thank you Sebastian, that means very much," Adrien said quietly, the tips of his ears turning a light pink, he turned away, looking off towards the horizon line where the distant mountains met the forest around them. "I do enjoy being king for one reason and one reason only." He continued, a small smile grazing his lips.
"Because maybe I can make a difference and help the villagers and all people of the kingdom flourish in the future, not wilt."
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"Well, you're nothing without your people. If you have their support, the kingdom can become stronger than ever. You just have to watch out for noble snakes with a superiority complex," Sebastian continued.
He gave a gentle nod of his head and blinked slowly.
"I would love to see you make a difference. I'm glad to be by your side as you do that."
Adrien smiled in reply and nodded his head gently once.
"Thank you" he whispered quietly, as they came upon the outskirts of the village.
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"Mhm," Sebastian replied softly.
They started to lead the way a little more, as they were more familiar with the area. They started towards their family's home, hoping at least a couple of people were there.
Adrien followed quietly on Starfish, in which he stopped her when Sebastian stopped in front of him.
He looked up, spotting the families small home, in which Sebastian first had told him when they rebuilt it to be sturdier.
"Ah, looks a bit different from when I was here last" he whispered with a smile.
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"Yeah, it really does," Sebastian agreed, "Even I haven't managed to visit in a while."
Sebastian dismounted his horse and tied her to a post. He motioned for Adrien to follow as he made it towards the door.
Adrien gently tied Starfish to a post, patting her on the mane before following Sebastian hurriedly, stepping through the open door after him.
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Sebastian knocked, and the door cracked open very slightly. A little girl rushed out and squeezed Sebastian tightly, squealing with excitement.
"Faye-" Sebastian laughed, holding her back.
"It's been so long!" she gasped, "What have you been doing? How's work? How's Adri-"
Adrien looked down at the small girl and smiled mischievously, as if sharing a secret with her.
"Im great Faye" he said bending down so he was eye level with her and put his hands on his knees.
"How my little queen?" He asked, reminding her of the promise that someday she would be queen, a sweet, kind queen at that, something Sunstasia had not seen in a long time.
He opened his arms, inviting her in for a hug, something he could only ever obtain from Sebastian's family that he could not his own was physical affection and love, something he planned to take advantage of in the least criminal way possible, by taking it and being happy with the love they gave him, something he greatly appreciated.
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