After all that, they lost their bracelet. After they worked so hard to wall off Brodia from outsiders, they're doomed, just like Lythos and Firene. And to add another slap to the face, it was Citrinne and Lapis who helped Lady Nel and Lord Rafal and that...imposter posing as the Divine Dragon strip Brodia of its only remaining protection.

He wants to blame Diamant, because by now it's easy to blame his pathetic excuse for a brother for everything. Once upon a time, Diamant was willing to fight for their Kingdom, for its people, but when they started dropping like flies he slowly gave up. I'm tired, what's the use of fighting anymore if there's nobody to protect? As if his own brother wasn't worth some effort.

Despite his assertions that he was stronger, better, more worthy of being King, there was a small part of Alcryst who still needed Diamant. Who was tired of being the one Diamant always leaned on, of fighting all of his and Brodia's battles for.

But even now he knows it's not Diamant's fault he was surrounded during a surprise attack on Brodia Castle and Lapis died saving him. Or that the enemy set Citrinne's manor on fire, killing her and the rest of her family as they covered for Alcryst's escape.

I didn't want any of you to die, it should have been me! I wanted you to live! He wanted Lapis to see him take the throne, for Citrinne to see that she was worthy of being a royal soldier because it was thanks to her that he'd lived to becomg King.

But right now, he doesn't even care about the throne. He just wants his retainers back. Seeing them alive but knowing they weren't his Lapis and Citrinne hurts him in a way he never wanted to feel again. Weak, useless, pathetic.

"Alcryst." Diamant's tired, sad voice cuts through his thoughts. "Alcryst, it's going to be okay. We don't have our bracelet anymore, but I will protect you."

At any other point in time, he might have scoffed that it was about time Diamant started acting like the older brother again. But after today's battle, hearing it just makes him hurt more, makes him angry.

"So you can die just like they did?" he snaps. "So you can finally be free of your responsibilities to Brodia and your only living family once and for all? So you can sleep while I stand here waiting to die alone?!" His eyes sting and he curses inwardly, the last time he wept was for Citrinne's family, before vowing he'd never shed tears again. "I can protect myself, thank you very much." Diamant grabs his arms, weary eyes looking into his.

"I know. You're so much stronger than me, Alcryst." He sighs. "I'm unfit to be King. I should have given you the throne a long time ago, then maybe Brodia wouldn't have lost today," he says. "But no matter how weak I am, you're still my little brother, and I should have done better by you." He moves one hand to Alcryst's back, pulling him closer. "I couldn't save our family, our retainers, Brodia's people. But I'll save you, even if it costs me my life."

With a cry of anger, Alcryst punches his brother's chest.

"Idiot! What makes you think I'd be okay with that, if yet another person has to die for me because I was too weak?!" he explodes. "You really are a pathetic excuse for a brother, aren't you?!" Diamant hugs him tightly, and Alcryst struggles. "I hate you."

"I know," Diamant murmurs, "but I love you."

To his relief, Alcryst doesn't cry. But Diamant's words drain the fight out of him, and he sags against his brother. I take it back, I don't hate you, even when I was so angry at you I wished for your death so I could have the throne, even when I wished I could I didn't hate you, I could never hate you.

"I'll protect you," Diamant says again, and Alcryst closes his eyes. Deep down, his brother hasn't changed from when they were younger. He's tired, broken, hurting, always seems on the verge of giving up but underneath he's still the same Diamant who protected him from bullies and helped him train and carried him on his back.

"Don't die," he says. And if someone has to die, we'll die together.