I'm possessing the Second Male Lead of a Romance Novel

Elias barely had time to shake off his grogginess the next morning before being whisked into the chaos of the royal palace. It was as if the walls themselves vibrated with tension. Servants moved with hurried steps, whispering behind their hands as they passed. The air felt heavy, and even without asking, Elias knew the source of it all: Prince Aedric.

The prince's tantrums had escalated beyond the usual childish fits. His shouts echoed down the hallways, interspersed with the sharp clatter of objects being thrown. No one dared to approach him—no one except Elias, whom Prince Aedric had declared as the only person "worthy" of being in his presence.

Elias, still nursing his injured head, didn't see this as an honor. If anything, it felt more like a punishment.

He had barely finished his meager breakfast when Head Maid Sasha appeared at his door, her expression stern as always but tinged with weariness.

"Elias," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "The prince is in an exceptionally foul mood today. He refuses to cooperate with anyone, and we cannot afford further delays. Lady Selene will arrive shortly, and the Crown Prince must be in a presentable state to greet her. You are to ensure this happens."

Elias's stomach sank. He hadn't forgotten what Sasha had said the day before about fulfilling his duties and earning a better life, but this task felt like walking into a lion's den.

"Understood," he said simply, masking his reluctance.

______

As Elias entered Aedric's chambers, he was greeted by the sight of utter chaos. Pillows, books, and even an ornate vase lay scattered across the floor. Aedric stood in the middle of it all, his small frame trembling with frustration as he glared at a servant who was hastily retreating from the room.

"Your Highness," Elias said carefully, stepping inside.

Aedric's scowl softened slightly when he saw him, though his lips were still pressed into a pout. "Finally, someone useful shows up," he muttered.

Elias glanced around the room, taking in the mess. "It looks like you've had quite the morning, Your Highness."

Aedric crossed his arms, his expression defiant. "They keep trying to make me do things I don't want to do. I told them I'm not meeting Lady Selene, and that's final!"

Elias hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I understand how you feel, Your Highness. But meeting Lady Selene is important. She's traveled a long way just to see you."

"I didn't ask her to!" Aedric shot back, his voice rising. "And I don't care! They just want me to smile and bow and act like I'm happy about it, but I'm not!"

Elias sighed inwardly. He couldn't blame Aedric for his resistance; the boy was only six, far too young to be burdened with the expectations of an arranged betrothal. Still, Elias couldn't help but feel uneasy. He remembered this meeting from the story—how the misunderstanding between Aedric and Lady Selene had set the stage for years of animosity.

"Your Highness," Elias said gently, "what if we tried to make the meeting… less terrible?"

Aedric eyed him warily. "How?"

Elias knelt to the prince's level, ignoring the dull ache in his head. "Maybe if you go in with an open mind, things won't be as bad as you think. You don't have to like her, but at least give her a chance to explain herself."

Aedric frowned, his small hands clenching into fists. "Why should I? She's probably just like everyone else—bossy and boring!"

Elias suppressed a smile at the childish remark. "You might be surprised, Your Highness. Sometimes people aren't what we expect."

For a moment, Aedric looked conflicted, his youthful features scrunched in thought. Then he sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up in the air. "Fine! I'll meet her. But if she's boring, I'm leaving."

Elias stood, relieved but wary. "That sounds fair, Your Highness. Now, let's get you ready."

______

By the time Lady Selene arrived, the tension in the palace had reached its peak. Elias stood by Aedric's side as the prince begrudgingly waited in the grand reception hall, dressed impeccably despite his sulky expression.

Lady Selene entered with her entourage, a petite girl with platinum blonde hair and wide blue eyes that sparkled with curiosity. She wore a delicate gown of pastel hues, her movements graceful as she curtsied before Aedric.

"Your Highness," she said in a soft, melodic voice. "It's an honor to meet you."

Aedric didn't respond immediately, his gaze darting to Elias as if seeking reassurance. Elias gave him a subtle nod, and the prince finally mumbled, "Hello."

The initial exchange seemed promising, but Elias's unease grew as the conversation progressed. Aedric's responses were clipped and impatient, while Lady Selene, though polite, seemed increasingly nervous. It was clear they were both uncomfortable, and the tension only grew with each passing moment.

When Lady Selene attempted to compliment Aedric on his swordsmanship, he scoffed. "What do you know about swords? You probably don't even know which end to hold."

Selene's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and Elias felt his stomach drop. This was exactly how the misunderstanding had started in the original story.

"Your Highness," Elias interjected quickly, "Lady Selene was only trying to be kind."

Aedric shot him a glare but didn't argue. Selene, however, seemed hesitant to speak further, her earlier confidence shaken.

Elias clenched his fists, silently willing the situation to improve. He had a feeling things were about to spiral out of control—and once they did, there would be no going back.

______

The arrival of Lady Selene was far more grandiose than Elias had anticipated. The massive double doors of the reception hall swung open to reveal her small figure framed by sunlight. 

She was a vision in her delicate pastel gown, her pale blonde hair catching the light and her large blue eyes filled with curiosity and just a hint of nervousness. 

Though she couldn't have been more than six or seven, her graceful demeanor already hinted at the elegance she would grow into.

Elias found himself momentarily captivated by her soft features and gentle air. For all his worries about this meeting, he hadn't expected Lady Selene to look so… charming. He quickly composed himself, stepping forward before anyone else could.

For all the tension building around this meeting, she seemed remarkably composed for someone so young.

Before anyone else could speak, Elias stepped forward, determined to make a good impression.

"Welcome to the palace, Lady Selene," he said, bowing with a politeness that came naturally to him. "It's an honor to meet you. I'm Elias, His Highness's attendant."

Lady Selene blinked, a touch of surprise crossing her delicate features. Then she smiled softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Elias. It's nice to meet you too."

For a brief moment, Elias felt a sense of ease. Perhaps this wouldn't be as disastrous as he had feared.

That illusion shattered almost immediately.

"Why are you talking to her first?" Prince Aedric's sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.

Elias turned to see Aedric standing a few steps behind him, his small hands clenched into fists and his expression thunderous. The prince stormed forward, his fiery gaze fixed on Elias.

"I'm the prince! I'm the one she's here to meet, not you!" Aedric snapped, his voice trembling with anger.

Elias opened his mouth to explain, but Aedric wasn't done. "You're supposed to be on my side, not hers!"

The room went silent, the tension thick enough to cut. Lady Selene looked between the two boys, her expression a mix of confusion and discomfort.

Elias straightened and tried to diffuse the situation. "Your Highness, I was only welcoming Lady Selene on your behalf."

But Aedric wasn't interested in explanations. His cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and betrayal as he turned his glare on Lady Selene. "You're already ruining everything!" he declared, his voice shrill.

Lady Selene flinched at the accusation, her smile faltering. "I—I didn't mean to…"

The sight of her distress sent a pang of guilt through Elias's chest. This was spiraling out of control, just as he had feared.

"Your Highness," Elias said softly, crouching slightly to meet Aedric's glare, "Lady Selene hasn't done anything wrong. Please, try to give her a chance."

But Aedric wasn't having it. He turned on his heel and marched to the table where refreshments had been laid out for the meeting. Grabbing a tray of delicate pastries, he hurled it at Elias without hesitation.

The tray struck Elias's head with a dull thud, and the pastries scattered across the polished floor. Pain blossomed at the point of impact, and Elias stumbled slightly, reaching up to feel the warmth of blood trickling down his temple.

The room erupted into chaos. Servants gasped and rushed forward, but Elias waved them off, forcing himself to stand straight.

"Your Highness!" Head Maid Sasha's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. 

She strode into the room, her expression a mask of cold fury, but it was aimed at Elias, who had made a mistake and not the prince who was at fault. "That is enough."

For the first time, Aedric looked uncertain. But as his upbringing demanded of him, he did not speak up and continued to look proud. Lady Selene had an awkward look on her face when she saw this, but thankfully, she was kind enough not to comment on it.

Elias, still dazed, forced a smile and turned to Lady Selene. "I apologize for the disturbance, Lady Selene. His Highness is… adjusting to the situation."

Lady Selene's eyes widened as she glanced at the blood trickling from his head. "You're hurt," she said softly, her voice tinged with concern.

"I'm fine," Elias assured her, even as his vision swam slightly. "It's nothing serious."

Sasha approached him, her expression softening slightly. "You need to rest, Elias," she said firmly. "Come with me."

Elias hesitated, glancing at Aedric. The prince's gaze was fixed on the floor, his fists clenched at his sides. Despite everything, Elias couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

But Sasha left no room for argument, gently guiding him out of the hall. As they walked, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of the challenges he would face as Prince Aedric's attendant.