The carriage is large enough to comfortably fit a few people, but it instead carries several trunks of luggage, neatly arranged to fully use all the space provided. A few servants stand around the trunk. One holds a checklist, calling out the items on the list one at a time. The two other servants peer into the carriage to identify where the necessary item would be and search their thoughts to guarantee they stored it away. A stableman checks the harnesses between the horses and the carriage while another one attempts to keep the horses calm. The coachman speaks in quiet tones to the stablemen, trying to confirm a few details about the horses' regular habits. Even though they all treat their actions with the utmost seriousness, this is the fifth time they have double-checked everything. Nothing can be certain when imperial lives are at stake, but Tommy knows that they are trying too hard. Nothing is going to go wrong today. He hasn't changed his fate for the broader strokes of the story to be different. No one in the imperial family is going to die today.

"Look out for your brother," Kristin tells Wilbur, holding his shoulders with her hands and leaning down to meet his eyes. Wilbur nods, and Kristin drags him to her body. She holds him against her chest, pressing a kiss into his hair. Wilbur smiles, closing his eyes. Tommy looks away. He is not jealous of Wilbur and Kristin's relationship. It would be foolish to be jealous because Tommy knows he could have that if he was willing to risk his neck. Tommy has chosen security over familiarity, and he will abide by that decision until he is given a reason to assume that his life is not subject to forfeit.

Tommy feels a light breeze dance across his hair, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. He tilts his head up, already expecting to see the levitating form of Sneeg above him. The elemental grins cheekily, lowering his hand from Tommy's head. He winks at Tommy, saying, "Be good, kid."

Tommy smiles back at him. In the Ender Prince, Sneeg had no opinions about Theseus. He did not care for any of Philza's children. As the Air Elemental King, he was not accustomed to caring for mortals. In fact, after hundreds of years of being in charge of all air elementals, he saw the rise and fall of mortal relationships. He knew of their treachery and cruelty. He remained in Aether, the Palace of Storms, without interfering with mortals. He signed a contract with Philza because he saw the perfect example of unconditional friendship. Philza's presence drove away the loneliness in the immortal's heart. Sadly, after Kristin's death, Philza neglected his friend. Sneeg remained contracted with Philza, but he stopped caring for the affairs of the empire. He rarely did anything for Philza merely because the tsar was too in the throes of grief to ask. He attended Theseus' execution only because Philza was there. Reason follows that Sneeg was not responsible for Theseus' denouncement. Tommy could afford to have a cordial relationship with the elemental.

It was slightly strange just how friendly Sneeg was to him, but Tommy wasn't going to question the mind of a creature so far removed from mortality. Sneeg might look human, but he was, in essence and spirit, the embodiment of air. He was the uncontrollable storm, the far-reaching wind, and the swirling tornado all brought into a singular form. He could command the skies and heavens if he desired to. The title of 'king' was not for show, after all. The Lord of the Sky could do whatever he wanted. If Sneeg wanted to be amicable with Tommy, the blonde could only see that as a positive development.

"We will be back soon, sons," Philza reminds Wilbur and Tommy as he climbs up the stone stairs from the carriages to the landing. He smiles at them, reaching a hand to touch their cheeks. He looks between them with a worried expression. "And we will come back as soon as you need us, I swear. If something happens, do not hesitate to demand for our presence."

"Stop being such a worrywart," Sneeg complains, floating around Philza's body. He runs his fingers along Philza's feathers. The wings twitch underneath the breezy touch. Sneeg twirls onto his back between Philza and Kristin, tilting his head back to look at the group. "These two are going to be fine. If something happens, which it won't with how tight security is here, I have air elementals all over the place. No one will be able to touch those two without choking or being torn apart by the winds."

"Do not be so gruesome in front of the children," Kristin reprimands. Other than Philza, who is contracted with him, Kristin might be the only person brave enough to directly order around the Air Elemental King. Instead of despising her arrogance, Sneeg seems to grin at her confidence. He rolls his shoulders, eyes glowing brighter as he finds a source of amusement. Tommy wonders if Sneeg was upset by Kristin's death. Their relationship was never mentioned in the book, but it looks like they are as close as Philza and Sneeg are. It would also mean that Kristin being alive is the reason why Sneeg is a lot happier and more playful than he was in the Ender Prince. Perhaps he was also grieving the loss of his friend, and even though Philza never provided him comfort, he wanted to stick around with his closest companion.

Tommy frowns. He wonders if the author ever thought about all of this. Even though the author created a complex world in the Ender Prince, there is a limit to what they could have created to populate this world. There must be so many lives they never even thought about, and yet, Tommy can see those people walking around alongside him every day. Side characters the author only ever called 'the servant' or 'the stranger' have names. They have lives. This world, although similar to the Ender Prince, is so much more lively than it was in the Ender Prince. The author couldn't have imagined all of this, so where did it come from? What really was the world Tommy was living in right now?

"I do not mind, mother. I find it reassuring to know that my life is being preserved by so many forces. I have the utmost faith in the strength of the imperial guard and the diligence of the air elementals," Wilbur responds with a soft smile. Tommy can see the slight sparkle in his eyes. Tommy knows from their bedtime stories that Wilbur has read of far more gruesome fates. Tommy also knows from spending any amount of time with Techno that the prince does not frequently downplay what he has seen while training. If he sees blood, he says as much without using unnecessarily complicated sobriquets.

"Mother, Father, we must leave now," Techno calls from the bottom of the stairs. He holds one fist over his heart, the other folded behind his back. He waits patiently for his parents to respond to his call. The carriage full of the luggage has taken off, and the traveling carriage prepared for the imperial family has been reined into position behind Techno. A footman stands at the carriage, holding the door open for the family. He will remain there for as long as it takes the family to climb into the carriage.

"Remember what I said," Kristin reminds Wilbur, taking a hesitant step away from him. She lifts her skirt as she descends the steps. Philza follows after her, smiling over his shoulder. Sneeg floats around Tommy's body, sending an upward wind that dishevels his clothing. Tommy huffs, using his hands to pull down his clothes. Sneeg laughs, dissipating into the air, returning to his invisible spirit form.

Tommy watches Kristin climb into the carriage. She had been there when he had woken up that morning, and she stayed with him up until the last minute. Philza gets into the carriage next. He joined Kristin and Tommy during breakfast, holding Wilbur's shoulders as he guided the half-asleep boy through the dining room. Sneeg appears on top of the carriage, sitting with his limbs outstretched as if suntanning. Sneeg was with them for as long as Philza was, causing winds to dance across the palace to entertain the two princes before he would be gone for an extended period of time. Techno was...

"Wait!" Tommy calls, unable to stop himself. Techno hesitates, holding onto the handle attached to the carriage's door. He turns around to peer up at his younger brother. Wilbur is staring at Tommy, too, eyes wide and curious at the outburst. Tommy frowns, feeling a slight blush creep up his neck. Tommy wants to live, he does, but... but Techno didn't technically hate Theseus in the Ender Prince. Techno was merely doing his duty. If Tommy doesn't give him a reason to, Techno isn't going to do anything to Tommy. It should be fine if Tommy keeps playing his cards right. Wilbur might hate him, Philza might ignore him, and Kristin might die, but Tommy is allowed to have something with Techno. It is small and fragile, but dammit, if Tommy doesn't want to be loved on top of being alive.

Tommy races down the stairs. He hears the servants start to flutter into action, terrified that he will fall and injure himself with his reckless actions. Tommy ignores them. All of his practice has come in handy because he manages to make it to the bottom step without even the threat of tripping over himself. Techno walks away from the carriage, attempting to meet Tommy. The blonde hesitates in front of Techno. The pink-haired man looks down at his little brother with a confused expression. Techno doesn't understand what Tommy is doing. He doesn't know what he did wrong. Tommy will have to take action even though he's much younger than his brother.

Tommy wraps his arms around Techno's thighs. He presses his cheek against Techno's stomach. He closes his eyes, enjoying the hug. After a second, Tommy feels a pair of arms return the hug. He presses his smile into Techno's jacket, attempting to hide it. The hug is nice. It is warm like Kristin's hugs are, probably due to inherited Nether genes. Techno's limbs are sturdy, a result of his training. Tommy feels like he's holding tightly to a steady rock. It makes him feel secure. Tommy pulls away slightly, showing his smile to his older brother. "Stay safe, Tech."

"I promise you that I will only make critically sound decisions," Techno promises, reaching for Tommy's hand. He bows down low, pressing the back of Tommy's fingers to his forehead. It is a symbol used by knights, something Techno isn't technically allowed to use. Tommy giggles at this fact. How could someone as upright as Techno break the rules?

"These weeks will come to an end soon, Theseus," Kristin calls from inside the carriage. Techno pulls away when he hears their mother. He turns around to enter into the carriage. Tommy watches him go, holding his heart to his chest. He feels his heartbeat thudding beneath his clothing. He keeps a composed expression on his face as the footman closes the door. He darts around the side of the carriage, climbing onto the tiny bench built along the back for servants like him. He taps against the back of the carriage, alerting the coachman that everyone is ready. Tommy peers into the small window of the carriage, seeing his family settle into their spots. The coachman ushers the horse into motion. The carriage starts to pull away, speeding away at a considerable speed.

"What shall we do now?" Wilbur asks. Tommy stops following the carriage with his eyes to look at his older brother. Wilbur leans down into a squat, smiling despite having to say goodbye to his family for a few weeks. He places his cheek in his palm, tilting his head at Tommy. "I have the next few weeks off. I don't have any lessons, so I get to spend all of my time with you! I have a few games I want to play with you, but I'm willing to do whatever you want."

"Toys," Tommy answers. He starts to walk around Wilbur to climb back up the steps. As he approaches the first one, he sees something move from his peripheral. He hesitates, looking over. Wilbur reaches a hand toward Tommy. The blonde takes the offering immediately. He holds Wilbur's hand as they climb the stairs. Unlike Techno and Kristin, Wilbur does not run at a higher temperature than one would consider the average. In fact, it would be more accurate to say he runs a lower temperature. His touch is cold like ice, but Tommy doesn't consider it to be any less comforting than the heat.

"Let's go play with some toys!" Wilbur cheers as the servants open the door to the palace.

—

"Your imperial highness," Ranboo greets, falling into a low bow. He has been practicing his bowing. He hopes that Wilbur will not see the same mistakes Theseus does in his bowing. Ever since Theseus found fault in it, Ranboo has endeavored to fix his posture. He has been assured by the other servants that he is doing well, but Theseus still found fault within it.

"Ah... yes, you are my brother's new servant, are you not?" Wilbur asks, his voice airy and slightly slurred. Ranboo frowns, hoping that Wilbur cannot see his face from the angle that he is looking.

"Yes, your imperial highness, I am a humble servant of his highness, Prince Theseus," Ranboo answers. Along with his bowing, he has learned the proper way to address any member of the imperial family. He still needs help with the nobility, though. The only good part about meeting Prince Wilbur is that Ranboo knows how to address him.

"That is such an inaccurate way to describe it. Theseus does not have servants. A servant is, by definition, a person who performs duties for others. The key word is 'person.' I have not met a single soul who Theseus considers a person. They are tools to him, if they are lucky. If they are not, he quite likes calling them 'vermin' or some species of bug," Wilbur replies.

"Uh... I see, your imperial highness," Ranboo responds with uncertainty. What is Wilbur talking about? No one has so blatantly called out Theseus' nastier habits before. Ranboo knows Wilbur can do this because he is one of the few people to rank higher than Theseus, but that doesn't explain why he would say any of this to a servant of the prince he is insulting.

"I apologize. I suppose it does no matter to someone of your standing what your master thinks of you. You will follow the orders issued to you without questioning it because at the end of the day, the imperial family provides you with housing, food, an allowance, things of that ilk," Wilbur murmurs. Suddenly, Ranboo hears the clicking of shoes across the hallway floor. Ranboo tenses, waiting for Wilbur to do something to him. He doesn't know anything about this prince other than a few rumors Tubbo would tell him late into the night when his roommate was so sleep-deprived he could be considered drunk.

Speaking of drunk, why does Ranboo smell alcohol in the air? It's a strong kind, though Ranboo cannot tell much more than that. It does not bring up specific memories he has of his past- not that he has many with his crippling amnesia- but he thinks he caught a whiff of it when he was walking through the palace.

"Gods know you need the help. I can tell that you were the one that fell through the portal. You have nothing in this world, so you must rely on our generosity. I do not fault you for this. Maybe people must rely on the imperial household. It is our nature as the leading family of this nation. I am merely curious why you would choose to stick around for so long. Why not take the money and run? You have no reason to live in this frozen land. Why not take the opportunity to travel and see more of this world? Why not try to find a way back to your world? What is your goal here?" Wilbur asks, and he's suddenly standing in front of Ranboo. The servant feels a gentle pressure against his chin. Wilbur lifts his face up, forcing the servant to look into the future tsar's eyes. Ranboo resists the urge to shudder. Wilbur has brown eyes, unlike his Theseus' purple eyes and Philza's blue eyes. They seem kinder, too, even as they carry heavy suspicion.

"I am here to serve his highness, Prince Theseus," Ranboo answers, trying to make that answer sound as truthful as he can.

"Hmm..." Wilbur hums. He releases Ranboo's chin, walking away from the servant without dismissing him. He takes the scent of alcohol with him, and Ranboo wonders if he just witnessed the tsesarevich drunk. Ranboo hopes that won't end with his head being removed from his body. He quite likes living.

—

Wilbur lies on his stomach on the carpet. He holds a toy puzzle box made from wood. He wears a completely serious expression as he attempts to solve it. He focuses on one of the sides, trying to push the buttons in the correct order. He has not found the corresponding clue that would tell him which buttons to press, so that part of the box remains unsolved. Tommy sits on his behind next to Wilbur. He holds a toy made from metal rings and magnets. He spins the inner circles, holding the outermost ring to keep the whole toy steady. All of these toys belong to Tommy. Most of them were gifts from the nobility that were sent to him around his birthdays. A few were gifts from his family, given at any time they were feeling particularly generous. Tommy kept track of who gave him what. The puzzle box Wilbur is playing with came from Marchioness Corvus, and the magnetic rings came from Baron Chaos. Tommy frequently plays with them to show his appreciation for his future allies before even forming that alliance with them.

"Give it," Tommy opens his palm towards his brother. He is sick of watching Wilbur struggle with the box. He knows that Wilbur is smart enough to solve it, but Wilbur is too focused on looking at it from one angle. If he were to open eyes, he would see that the solutions can be found in the other problems. If he wants to solve this one, he will need to examine one of the other sides. Or, he could take what solution the side has given him and apply it elsewhere. Tommy learned the hard way with that puzzle box. Marchioness Corvus didn't give him a toy fit for a toddler, and Wilbur is treating the box like it is that simple.

"No, I'm going to get this," Wilbur answers, shifting his body to jerk the puzzle box away from Tommy's open palm.

The blonde huffs his dissatisfaction. "I will help you. Now, give it."

"I don't need your help. I can solve this on my own," Wilbur argues, almost curling around the puzzle box. The last expression Tommy saw on his brother's face was a worrisome one. Wilbur seems to be taking his inability to solve the puzzle box to heart, and he doesn't wish for his younger brother to show him up.

"Baby," Tommy insults his brother.

Wilbur turns onto his back. He sets the puzzle box somewhere above his head. Wilbur looks around the room before settling his gaze into Tommy's bright blue eyes. "I fear I do not see a mirror, little Theseus."

"I am not a baby! I am a Big Man!" Tommy shouts, immediately glaring. He doesn't know why he tried to help Wilbur. Obviously, the man is not worthy of Tommy's assistance if he cannot acknowledge Tommy's greatness.

"I don't know about that, Theseus. You aren't very big or man-like. Definitely baby-like," Wilbur says, poking Tommy's stomach. The blonde stifles a laugh with a deep frown and narrowed eyebrows. He is not a baby. Counting his old life, he is around twenty years old. It isn't his fault that everyone sees him as a toddler. If only he wasn't in the body of a child, he would show everyone how mature he was.

Tommy reaches for a toy ball near his foot. He throws it at Wilbur without any hesitation, ignoring the other time he hit Wilbur with a ball. The ball he throws today bounces harmlessly across Wilbur's chest, sparking a laugh from the child's mouth. Tommy crosses his arms over his chest.

"Oh, come on, Theseus, don't be upset with me," Wilbur says, reaching for his brother. He places Tommy on his chest as he sits up. Wilbur leans his back against the wall, lifting his knees up to squish Tommy between his thighs and chest. Tommy remains tense even as Wilbur starts running a hand through his hair. Wilbur hums, and soon he opens his mouth. Tommy relaxes after only a few notes of the lullaby Wilbur sings. Wilbur holds Tommy close, continuing to play with the blonde's hair as he sings.

Why wasn't this good enough for Theseus? Tommy would have actually killed for someone to care about him like this in his past life. He would have given anything- his name, his life, his free will- for someone to hold him this gently and sing to him just because he was upset and disgruntled over a few insults in a fight he technically started. Tommy is getting this without having to lift a finger, and he imagines that Theseus could have had this, too.

Theseus antagonized Wilbur so much that the two became sworn enemies. Their relationship was made from belittlement, undermining, and mental abuse. They drove each other literally insane. Because of his strained relationships with his family and the pressure of being the tsarevich, Wilbur fell into drunken depression. Theseus did not fare much better, consumed by his paranoia and perfectionism. Neither of them could ever slow down enough to realize that they did care about each other. If Tommy remembers the Ender Prince correctly, Wilbur confided in Ranboo that he cared about Theseus no matter how many times the younger prince tried to usurp the throne. Theseus did not audibly say anything, but Tommy thinks he recalls one scene where Theseus showed he cared.

In the end, it didn't matter. After Ranboo and his allies assembled everyone Theseus ruined, after they got all the evidence of his crimes, they went to Wilbur. The prince played all the pieces carefully, and Theseus was executed. They were never able to find a compromise or a middle ground. Theseus died believing Wilbur hated him, and Wilbur watched as his brother was executed because of his own actions. Tommy wishes Ranboo stayed in the empire long enough for Wilbur's response to Theseus' death to be recorded.

Truthfully, Wilbur must have never held Theseus. If this occurred, there was no way Theseus would have turned out the way he did. Tommy doesn't understand how anyone could plot against the person who freely gave them such comfort.

"What are you thinking about?" Wilbur asks, brushing some of Tommy's hair away from his forehead. Tommy looks up at Wilbur's face. The brunette is smiling slightly, looking content to listen to Tommy no matter what he says. There is kindness- pure and simple and overwhelming- shrouding his brown eyes, masking away any seeds of insanity that might already be planted.

Tommy pushes his face into Wilbur's chest. He shuts his eyes tightly, waiting for the tears to subside. When they do not, Tommy makes a fatal decision, one that he will definitely come to regret so he doesn't know why he says it. But Tommy opens his mouth, and a set of words fall from his lips. "I love you, Wilby."

Wilbur tenses. Tommy knows why. The same way he hasn't been able to call Kristin 'mother' and Philza 'father', he has not told a single member of his family 'I love you.' Tommy pretends that he doesn't love them, knowing that it would be foolish, but he does love them. How can he not? They are everything he's ever wanted, and they remind him that they love him every time they see him. He wasn't going to tell his family he loved them because saying it out loud would make it too real. But he does say it. He says it because he's as weak as his heart is.

"I love you, too, Theseus," Wilbur whispers back. It sounds so genuine that Tommy looks up sharply. He meets Wilbur's eyes. The brunette has tears in his eyes, but his smile is so gentle that it makes Tommy start crying. Wilbur releases a breathy, wet laugh. He reaches up to wipe Tommy's tears away, bumping their foreheads together. Tommy now knows for certain that Wilbur never told Theseus how he felt until it was too late.

—

Ranboo slams a hand over his nose. His other hand reaches around his stomach, trying to hold down his dinner. He glances up, surprised to see that Theseus is unfazed. He does not flinch at the scent as he navigates the dirty room with a familiarity Ranboo would never assume he would have considering whose room they were in.

"You are a fool," Theseus whispers. Ranboo looks at him quickly, but Theseus is not talking to him. He is standing over Wilbur's slumped body, glaring down at his brother like a hawk peering down at a snake. Ranboo frowns, unsure where this is going. He still has no idea why Theseus told him to accompany him.

Ranboo watches anxiously as Theseus leans down to his older brother. He pushes Wilbur's face up, watching it loll over his shoulder. Wilbur makes a groaning noise, proving that he is alive even as Theseus checks for a pulse along his neck. Theseus sneers in disgust as he wretches the alcohol bottle from Wilbur's hand. The tsarevich's fingers flounder without something inside of them, but Theseus does not seem to care as he sets the bottle aside. Theseus stands back up, turning his attention to Ranboo. The Enderian flinches back. He shouldn't have been staring. Now, he's going to get lectured.

"Have you been training your magic as I required you to?" Theseus asks him directly. Ranboo shivers. Theseus and Ranboo's relationship mainly consists of Theseus talking and Ranboo listening, but it seems like Theseus wants a genuine answer from him. It unnerves Theseus, but then again, this entire situation is unnerving. He is in the dark, dirty room of the crown prince, watching him doze in a drunken state with his master, the person who hates the crown prince more than anyone else in the world. Who would be okay in those circumstances?

"I have been, your highness," Ranboo responds truthfully. Lying will get him nowhere but a world of pain.

"Good. I require your assistance, you see. My arms are tired, and my back is sore. I am in no mood to deal with my brother's reckless behavior, but I am certain he will complain too much tomorrow if I leave him like this. My brother is an even more annoying gnat when agitated. You are to teleport him from here to his bed. I will take care of the rest," Theseus commands, gesturing towards his brother and then to a bed on the other side of the room. Ranboo's eyes widen. He nods slowly, glancing between the two locations. He hesitates for a moment, but Theseus' glare is a good motivator.

Ranboo whistles softly. A portal opens up near him, and a black cat with neon green eyes with dark green slits steps out of the swirling purple. Enderpearl steps onto Ranboo's shoulders, her tail coiling around his neck and trailing along his cheek. Ranboo allows Enderpearl's powers to flow through him, using the trick Techno taught him, and snaps his fingers. Wilbur's form disappears in a pop of purple particles. Across the room, a noise sounds as Wilbur's body appears, dropping onto the bed. Ranboo smiles in satisfaction.

"Fascinating," Theseus whispers, walking towards his brother. He does not say more on the subject as he starts shuffling Wilbur's body around. He lacks grace, but Theseus does eventually get Wilbur underneath the blanket. Ranboo dares to step towards the brothers, holding both hands at his chest. Enderpearl lazily stretches her limbs, neatly slipping off Ranboo's shoulders and landing on her feet. She brushes her head across his ankle, forcing him to stop a respectable distance away from the brothers as Theseus sits beside his brother. He runs the back of his fingers across Wilbur's forehead. He eventually trails down to Wilbur's neck. He wraps his fingers around the prince's neck, but he doesn't squeeze. He merely stares, his body trembling.

"Your highness...?" Ranboo whispers, growing terrified of the situation.

"It would be easy to kill him. He is completely defenseless. With your powers, we can disappear without anyone seeing us. I know a few servants I could blame for the assassination. The crown will be placed on my head, and I will rule this nation with an iron fist, unlike my brother. He is too soft, too weak, and far too foolish for the trials he will face. It would be more than easy to kill him; it is necessary," Theseus whispers. Ranboo reaches a hand out to stop Theseus, but he hesitates when Theseus' hand slides down to cradle the side of Wilbur's neck. "So, tell me why I have not done it. I have been here so many nights, and I have not once committed the act. I have not even tried. I will be the first to proclaim that he should die, and yet I elude the opportunity."

Theseus sighs, looking up at the ceiling. The moonlight on his face paired with the way he must look up at Ranboo makes him look softer... a little more fragile, if Ranboo were to say so. "I shall give you a lesson, so listen closely. If Wilbur were to die tonight, the culprit would be caught and punished. For the sake of the lesson, let us assume it was a random servant. They are executed for their actions. The next in line would become the heir apparent. That would be me since Techno has abdicated the throne. I would become the next ruler... but at what cost? My father will most certainly die from sorrow should his son die. Techno will not have anyone else in this world to care for. And my victory will have come too easily. If I were the one to kill Wilbur, I would be killed. My father will be dead. Techno will be alone, and although he might survive for many years, he will never know what it means to live. I can also assure you that he will be a poor tsar. War and violence does not make good leaders, only good generals. As I see it, the happiness and safety of my family is dependent on my brother. Therefore, I cannot kill him. No one can. I will not allow it."

Ranboo frowns, and a question breaks loose before he can hold his tongue. "And you, your highness? If his imperial highness, Prince Wilbur, killed you, what would happen then?"

Theseus smiles grimly. "What would happen, indeed. Nothing, I suppose. Wilbur will still become the tsar. Techno will become his general. They will keep my father from knowing about my death, and even if he does learn of it, my father has long-since forgotten my existence. The members of the noble faction will only feel saddened that they have lost their figurehead, but they will find another person to rally behind. No one will mourn my death. In fact, I know many who would rejoice. So, I must stay alive to spite them."

Ranboo hates Theseus. He hates everything Theseus does, everything he makes Ranboo do. He hates the mind games, he hates the cruelty, and he hates the way he views the world. But despite all of this, Ranboo feels an attachment to the horrible prince. He will never care for Theseus in life, but if Theseus were to die, Ranboo would care. He would probably mourn. He will not grieve, but he will carry Theseus with him for a long time after his departure from this world.