“Fine,” Jon said. He still wasn’t ever sure what to do when Hector and Mallory were bickering with each other.

“At least someone had a fine day Hector said. “Ours was so boring.”

“I thought you’d find this stuff interesting,” Mallory told Hector.

“At times, it actually is,” Hector admitted, “But Callach, he can just go on and on and on and…”

“Well, would you prefer for him to take breaks?” Mallory asked.

“Yeah, then I could process what was actually-

Mallory slammed the table. “Then it would go on for longer!”

“That’s fine. I think.”

Jon sunk into his chair as he listened to the usual banter. Even when their food finally arrived, brought by several cooks from the kitchen, Mallory and Hector only interrupted themselves with a slight nod and a “thanks.”

Hector’s meal consisted of a large plate of meat, surrounded by smaller plates of vegetables and pasta. It took two people just to bring everything at the same time.

Mallory had only two plates. One of them was a white mush, and the other was a wrap filled with contents that Jon couldn’t quite make out. Whatever it was, it wasn’t leaking onto his plate, and there were some leafy greens.

Hector started a question while he cut into his food with his fork and knife. For how loud and boisterous Hector could get, it always amused Jon that Hector was always neat and clean when it came to eating.

“What’s was up with that, with the “social-class” bullshit that was brought up?”

“Stop worrying about that, Hector,” Mallory said quickly once more.

“No!” Hector stopped cutting. “That’s unfair! We should talk about it. ”

Mallory put down his wrap and glared at Hector. Jon didn’t know if the stare meant resistance or acceptance. Hector didn’t seem affected by either.

“You’re just as respectable as anyone in my family,” Hector continued. He continued cutting again when he wa assured Mallory was listening. “I mean, you might not be a royal blood, but-”

“That’s exactly the problem,” Mallory said. “Just because you don’t care doesn’t mean it’s not important to the greater world. How many times do I have to remind you of this?”

“Since when have been of royal blood ever stopped you from doing anything we’ve done together?” Hector countered.

Mallory made an obvious sigh. Jon took it as Mallory already knowing the answer, but not telling Hector straight. He grimaced while he answered.

“Hector, that’s cause everything I do, I do with you.”

“Yeah, and?” Hector asked.

“That’s privilege, bro.”

“That’s not privilege,” Hector said. “I barely get to do anything I want to do!”

Mallory huffed, but then held his breath.

“Everyone gives me shit when I try to do stuff. It’s because I’m not a “prince” or whatever. It’s like they’re too scared to fight me, so they pick on me. That’s what I’ve been starting to realize.

Mallory frowned. Hector, like usual, didn’t notice.

“Hector, they’re not scared of… Okay, maybe they’re a little scared of you because of your strength. But mainly it’s because you’re Luther’s son.”

“What does that have to do with any of it?” Hector asked. “Everyone likes my father.”

“Everyone tolerates your father. It’s different.”

“But Harris-”

“Don’t count Harris!” Mallory asked. “That’s exactly the problem. You’re not looking in the right place. You…”

Mallory groaned in frustration. “It’s not your fault…” he muttered.

“What’s not my fault,” Hector asked.

Jon somehow felt the gravity of the answer that was coming. He took another bite of his almost finished sandwich to give him something to work through the tension in the air. All the tension, however, was coming from Mallory's side of the table.

“Hector… you’re not… well… you kinda are a prince.”

“Prince? No!” Hector shook his head. “I’m not born of royal blood. And my family doesn’t have a castle-”

“A little bit,” Mallory slipped in, holding up a small pinch of air between his thumb and his pointer.

“And my Dad isn’t in control of land-”

“A little bit,” Mallory said again.

“I’m not in line for-”

“Hector, you’re gonna be king,” Mallory explained. “You’re getting married to a princess.”

“But knights get married into royal families, right?” Hector asked.

“Like your father?” Mallory asked.

“No, he didn’t become King after he got married.”

Mallory facepalmed hard. Hector contiued.

“Besides, I almost annulled that marriage-”

“By getting married to another princess!” Mallory threw up his hands.

“But she’s not a princess.”

Mallory faceplamed again.

Hector turned to Jon, now addressing him.

“Jon, you don’t think I’m a prince, right?”

Jon felt like Hector wanted him to consider the answer, and so Jon did. He thought of Hector’s large home, and the land that surrounded it, and the tournament where Hector sat on the throne, and the fact that everyone, not royalty or King’s Gaurd more or less treated Hector that he as the most important person in the room.

It took all of 2 seconds to process.

“Yeah,” Jon said in between bites.

He hesitated as he noticed Hector’s massive frown. He had no time to address it as Callach wandered back into the scene, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Goody!” Callach cried. “I’m glad everyone seems to be eating swell-”

“Callach, tell these guys I’m not a prince,’ Hector said. “It has to be wrong, right?”

“Well, uh… in all honesty, Hector, you fit every aspect of the word prince. You’re more or less one, or at least, that seems to be how I’ve thought of you in my head.”

“Nonsense!” Hector pushed his chair out as he stood. “I didn’t come here to study politics. I came here to study knighthood, and battle tactics, and-”

“Large-scale battle tactics,” Callach nodded. “I remember.”

“Large scale,” Mallory added. “You know.”

“Like a general-”

“Like a King,” Mallory interjected.

“We also made sure to dose you with a worldly array of knowledge and ideas,” Callach added. “I mean, Hector, you may be stubborn, But you’re stubborn and worldly, which means there’s still hope for you.”

“I… no…? Hector looked down. “I… that was for… traveling…”

“Yeah! All for the King’s Guard.” Callach nodded. “Training to send you around the realms so that you could understand how the land works. So that when you did ascend, you would have a stronger idea for-”

“To help people…” Hector whispered. “My dad put me in the King’s Gaurd to… help people... right?”

He looked at his palms as if something had crumbled within his hands

Jon felt a stillness emanating around Hector.

Oh no..

“Hector, we’re not at home…” Mallory stood up. “You can’t just…”

Jon gripped hard to his sandwich but was also ready to let go at a moment’s notice.

Hector sighed, his shoulders dropping.

Jon was happy that Hector didn’t explode, but he didn’t like to see Hector down like this.

“Is it the word prince you have a problem with?” Callach asked, he didn’t seem put off by the possibility of Hector exploding. “You’re so much more than-”

“It’s stupid!” Hector said. “This is… I’m hungry!”

Hector got his chair and walked back to his seat. He began eating again.

Mallory made a quick glance with Jon before looking at Hector again.

“Are you okay, bro?” Mallory asked.

“Yeah,” Hector said. “I just…”

He looked up.

“Does me being a prince mean that you get to do all sorts of things you couldn’t?” Hector asked.

“Uh, yeah, sort of,” Mallory answered hesitantly.

“Then it’s worth it.” Hector continued eating.

“That’s a very mature way of looking at the world, Hector,” Callach said. “But no worries, soon, Mallory will be a full scholar, and high in administration, and he’ll have all of the privileges one wished they could have. Maybe even more than me!”

Mallory snorted. “Yeah, right.”

“I am an old and tired man,” Callach said, “I should check on the young master and Thalia before going to sleep, so, I will be off. Good night, young lads. I shall see you in the early.”

“Night,” Hector muttered.

“Night, Callach!” Mallory added.

Jon wanted to say something, but his mouth was full of the last bits of his sandwich. He subconsciously started eating again while watching Hector eat.

Callach disappeared into the darkness of the library, and everyone returned their attention to the table.

“Are you okay, Hector?” Mallory asked. “Like, really? I’m sorry for pushing-”

“You’re fine,” Hector said. “I’m fine. You were trying to help. I’m…”

Hector looked at his plate of greens, which was the last thing needing finishing. “I’m ignorant. I get it. I’m ignorant in more ways than one.”

“Hector, your heart’s always in the right place,” Mallory told him. “When you learn, you adjust. That’s what counts. Nobody’s perfect.”

Jon nodded. Nobody was perfect, but even if Hector wasn’t perfect, Jon still trusted Hector with his life.

“I’m tired.” Hector put his fork down. “If I sleep now, I might actually be able to stay awake tomorrow”

He stacked his plates. “Do you ever notice that no one ever seems to be studying here?”

“I-”

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Hector didn’t let Mallory finish before he departed.

He stood up and walked away.

Jon looked back at Mallory. Mallory watched Hector walk away for a while.

“I… should probably get going too,” Mallory said finally. “Are you done with your plate?

Jon looked down. “Uh, yeah.”

“I’ll take it.” Mallory had already reached over the table before Jon could take it. Mallory stacked the plates along with his own and Hector's. He took all of them and walked towards the kitchen.

Jon had time to himself. He sat at the table with his thoughts, just taking in everything.

Hector as a prince...

Jon knew that Hector didn’t like being reminded that he was given things, but the idea of being a “prince,” really bothered him. Jon began to understand. If he ever considered Hector to be in a place of power, it was because of his strength, and his place in the King’s Guard. He never thought of Hector’s political sway and wondered if Hector ever would use that to his advantage. Mallory’s passing thoughts passed through his head again.

The world will rue the day when Hector gets involved with politics…

Jon tried to imagine a scenario if that ever happened, but he couldn’t. He didn’t know enough about politics himself. It made him feel a little foolish and simple.

“Hey.”

Jon looked up. Mallory had returned, plate free.

“I’m gonna head up and do some work. You wanna come with?”

Jon nodded.

Jon wiped his hands on the leftover handkerchief that was left from the plate and got up, following Mallory away from the table.