Just Say You Love Me

August and Adeline sat in a carriage both dressed in black as they traveled to their uncle and aunt's estate. Though swallowed by their own grief caused by losing both their parents at the age of 5 they were expected to return to their studies immediately especially the soon-to-be Alpha Queen Adeline.  Adeline looked out the window, paying no mind to her brother. August sighed, feeling like he was no more than an insignificant bug.   August looked towards his cousin, Walter, whose red fiery hair only matched his evil physic. It wasn't till August noticed Walters glare towards the younger, that he knew the older male was planning something. It wasn't until Walter held his mother's hand that August understood what he was going to do. "Mommy August is glaring at me!"  August looked to his aunt desperately "N-No I d-didn't Auntie I-I swear!" His Aunt looked at him with disgust before looking to Adeline. "We will discuss punishments when we return home."  August looked out of the window sighing, he already knew the punishment would be something terrible, and in fear of his sister actually caring for her brother, she would never utter a word of punishment until they were alone. Usually, it would be mopping the floors, cleaning Walter's room, baking food for one of her tea parties, or a beating from his uncle. Though they had attended their parents' funeral, it had been 9 months since their death, and August was missing them dearly. After all, everything was perfect with his parents, his mother would dress him up, read him all sorts of books, and play tea parties with him. His father would spin him around and carry him when his legs were tired. It was a time where love wasn't little and his happiness was larger than the sun itself.  He sighed looking out to the scenery outside. "Stop looking so sad. No one will want to marry you with a face like that." His uncle spoke without looking up from the newspaper he was reading from.  August looked at his hands before forcing a smile onto his face, "Yes Uncle. I shall take your suggestion into consideration."  His uncle raised his eyebrow frowning, "It was a command, not a suggestion." August nodded, trying his hardest not to frown in front of his uncle as he thought further about his life. Before he knew it the carriage had stopped in front of his uncle's estate, as butler Daniel opened the door and a maid Judith greeted them prepared to take their baggage.  Judith and Daniel were people with hearts made of gold, and treated August with kindness, as not even they could mistreat the poor omega princess after all they had seen the boy go through. Walter jumped out of the carriage before looking to his mother, Clara with adorning eyes, "Mommy will you accompany me?" Clara smiled and grabbed the boy's hand. "I'll be right behind you after I give August his appropriate punishment."  Daniel looked to the poor boy and suddenly jumped in, "Madam! Judith and I need assistance cleaning the rooms today... we could use more assistance." Judith understood what Daniel was trying to do and spoke with a kind smile, "And the rest of those are working on dinner right now... so we don't believe we will even reach Madam and sirs room by tonight..." Clara nodded, "August." August walked behind his aunt his black dress hitting his ankles as he stood. "You will listen to Daniel and Judith. Now go." She hit him in the back of the head, of course, she had done this many times before but thankfully his tree brown hair hid any and all bruises she might have left in her wake.  He ran to Judith's side looking to his feet. "Y-Yes Auntie."  Judith and Daniel bowed before leaving the room with August in tow, they didn't speak till they were in August's room.  Judith grabbed his arm looking into his eyes, "Do you have any ailments that need to be fixed August?"  August shook his head, hugging Judith tightly. "J-Just... c-can I hug you." His crystal blue eyes began filling with tears, "I... I just need a hug."  Judith looked to Daniel her eyes concerned. "Daniel... let's talk outside after this." She held the boy close to her before long, the boy fell asleep in her arms after weeks of sleep deprivation. He snuggled into her stomach purring quietly in his sleep. Judy looked up towards Daniel, "Can't we just take him away... It's obvious they aren't even taking care of him!" Daniel nodded, and continued to dust the room, "I know Judy but we can't. You know they'll claim that we are taking their money away." Judy growled, "That's the exact reason why we should take him! He's not something to sell, and just look at him, he's the size of a four-year-old, and skinny! He looks depressed and cries more often than not because of them!" Daniel nods, and sighs. "I know darling but we cannot." Judy sighed pulling the boy closer to her chest, looking into his crystal blue eyes. "August?" He didn't utter a word but hugged her chest purring softly. "I love you, Judy." Judy smiled, her heart feeling slightly lighter, since she was a child she wanted a child of her own, and yet the gods didn't give her such kindness. Miscarriage after miscarriage, stillbirth after stillbirth it was always the same, her womb and house was barren of any children. She brushed back his soft red hair and smiled, she'd be happy if she had a child-like August kind-hearted, intelligent, and rather innocent. August smiled back holding her hand with his own. "J-Judy promise me you'll never leave me." Judy smiled, "I promise." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8-year-old August sat in the study his teacher standing only a few feet away from him, watching as he completed his test. "All done Ms. Ellie!" She nodded and grabbed the papers sitting only a few feet away grading his test. August sat on the edge of his seat, watching as she read what he had done, he watched as she flipped the paper. She smiled after looking to him. "Good job Ms. August." August smiled widely. "Yes! No marks!" He smiled at his older teacher, "Do you think Auntie Clara will be happy with this Ms. Ellie?" Ellie nodded, standing with the boy. "Should we take this to your Aunt?" August nodded hurriedly wanting to see the impressed look on his aunt's face when he showed what he could do. He was doing work that even her son, Walter, wasn't able to do and he was doing it with ease. He skipped his arms waving around as he giggled, his teacher smiled at him till they made it to the parlor room where Walter was playing a piece for his mother, and she was drinking tea with Adeline, as she did each morning at 10. Ellie smiled and bowed, "Your grace I wanted to show you August's progress. August's Aunt Clara rolled her eyes her hand outstretched. "Do it quickly. I was just enjoying myself." Ellie nodded running to her side and handing the paper over to her she watched as the Dutchess looked at the paper. She looked up unimpressed before glaring towards August. "Come here." August shook walking forward his hands clutching his dress as he looked down. "Y-Yes Auntie?" Her hand was quick and harsh. He was on his knees holding his cheek. "Should I be impressed?" Ellie spoke up, "Ma'am he's working on things a 13-year-old would be studying-" The woman growled, "I repeat should I be impressed?" She growled at the small boy. "You're job is to look pretty and be ignorant. It'll make you easier to marry off." Judy wanted to step forward but she couldn't not Daniel's health depended on her. August stood up, "Y-You're right Auntie... I-I'm sorry." She growled and rolled her eyes. "I'll have your uncle enforce your punishment after he comes home." August nodded, "Leave my sight you disgusting creature." August bowed running out of the room his vision was blurry, and he was shaking. The taste of vomit dared to stay on his tongue. Ellie ran after him, "Are you okay Ms. August?" August merely nodded, fearing that if he spoke he would vomit on the carpet, which would only lead to another punishment. He stood up taking deep breaths before looking to Ellie asking her what he should do with his eyes. "I believe we are finished with our studies for the day... how about we travel to the town and get books?" She bent down, "It'll be your birthday gift from me." August's eyes brightened as he smiled, "For real?! I would love that!"  Ellie smiled taking the boy's hand in her own, "Let's go then shall we?" August nodded, taking the woman's hand and walking with her. He knew he couldn't say it out loud, but because of Ellie, he felt that maybe just maybe, everyone was able of compassion... He looked down to his feet. So why wouldn't his aunt and uncle show him the compassion and love they showed Adeline and Walter?  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August stood to the side, watching as those celebrated his and his twin's birthday by dancing and gossiping. He felt anxious being in such a large room with so many people in a dress that wasn't comfortable in the slightest. He sighed as he watched his sister dance with her friends, and knight laughing and enjoying herself, while their cousin Walter flirted with as many omegan women as he could.  He held himself looking towards the dance floor, he couldn't even introduce himself to a single person without feeling as if he was going to vomit. Suddenly as if by fate someone tapped his shoulder, he was expecting it to be his uncle telling him that a face of sorrow and frustration would make it harder for him to be married off. Or maybe even his aunt telling him that she wanted him out of the ballroom but it wasn't it was a boy a year older than August with hair as dark as night and eyes as green as emeralds. He had a kind smile upon his face as he spoke, "Princess August why aren't you dancing? It is your birthday party as well if I am not mistaken."  August turned away and blushed, looking back out to the dance floor. "I'm not very good at dancing sir-" The boy spoke, "Sir Elijah. Elijah Rolleston." August smiled. "Well Sir Elijah I'm not much of a dancer," He sighed as he looked towards his sister. His mind was traveling elsewhere as Elijah grabbed his small hands taking him to the dance floor. "Well... Princess August, it is your birthday. So you should at least have some fun." He pulled August into his chest, "Let's think about it like this, let us dance like no one else in this room is here, and make this evening one to remember." August smiled as Elijah twirled him, their steps and movements in sync as they danced. Many watched in awe as the two danced, many spoke to each other asking if it was a performance for the audience. Elijah chuckled as they danced, "I thought you were bad at dancing Princess August."  August blushed, looking away as they stopped dancing and bowed to one another. It was then his aunt walked up behind him, "August." August looked up to her petrified, "Y-Yes Auntie C-Clara?" She looked at him, "Say goodbye to your friend we need to talk." August nodded, looking to Elijah. "Thank you, Sir Elijah, I hope you have a nice evening." Elijah nodded watching as August walked away seeing the boy shake as the door shut behind him. He felt it right then and there that he was the only one that could make the boy smile and laugh as he did that night. And he decided then and there that his purpose in life would be to make Princess August happy.  But as luck would have it his brother saw those love desperate eyes from across the room and had also decided that in order to make his younger brother suffer, he'd marry Princess August.