"My name is Collin Du Eylos, it is a pleasure to finally meet you, my princess."
"Oh…"
"…" The little golden-haired boy was not used to being rejected anywhere. How could anyone reject such a beautiful little guy?
However, he had to encounter a nasty and spoiled princess, who was a bit annoyed with the interruption of her sweet time with her darling.
"Young Master Henry, your father has asked for you," a knight came respectfully bowing.
"Then… my fiancée, I shall take my leave now."
"Mmm… goodbye, my darling," the smile of the Princess appeared like a ray of sunshine to give Henry a beautiful warm gift, then he took her hand and kissed the back like a true gentleman. She, on the other hand, left out any formalities and kissed him on the cheek.
He was now red to the cheeks and smiling like a little fool again. Anne liked to see the flushed little face of the kid beside her… although she wouldn't admit it openly, yet.
"Then, you are?" She turned to see the little golden-haired guy.
"Collin Du Eylos, my princess," the little kid bowed.
"Oh…" Anne was indifferent again.
"…"
"My Princess, the Queen had asked you to spend some time with Master Collin and show him around the Palace," Tia was sensing the strange atmosphere, well, she was more than used to the unusual behavior of Anne, so she just sighed, waiting for another crazy day.
Anne was indifferently sipping her tea not minding the boy looking at her with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Then… let's go."
"Where are we going, my princess?"
"The training camp, Master Ives has a new recruiting batch of little boys ready to get beaten."
Collin couldn't help but flinch at the barbaric comment of a Princess.
"Do you train, Collin?"
"I… I do, though I am not anywhere good."
"Mmm… you should practice more then… right, Tia?"
"Ye.."
"There is no need for me to practice, after all, that violent activity is for the ones who have the luxury of time."
"Luxury of time?"
"Oh… yes, of course, my princess. I prefer to give the mind the training instead," he smiled.
However, Anne only continued sipping her tea silently, while her mind was counting… 'This is the second time.'
"Oh my! Is that so? Then… let's go to the training camps!"
She stood up without minding his comments and the surprise on his face.
They arrived at the training camps and Master Ives was giving some lessons to the little kids that had just arrived.
When he saw the little princess with the young Collin, he bowed and the other knights around followed. However, the Princess only nodded and moved to the side to sit.
'Are we really looking?' Collin was bored and disgusted, he had trained before but he was not good and he couldn't see any merit in doing that menial activity. He has his guards that will die before letting him sustain any damage. They were paid for that after all.
"You see, Collin, they are the sons of Dukes, Ministers, and many others."
"Yes, Princess."
"I had beaten them all," she said with a proud face.
"What?"
"I am also one of the trainees. Unfortunately, I wanted to practice with you as I thought we can be of the same level, but… what a shame… I mean I can play with you a chess game, but I am not fond of humiliating anyone."
Her innocent tone almost sent him to the floor. He didn't know if she was only saying those words without any other intentions or not. She didn't seem as smart as he heard.
However, Tia was trying not to roll her eyes. Her Miss was really not fond of humiliating anyone who didn't deserve it.
Then Master Ives's voice interrupted their conversation as he was shouting new instructions. Then he let out a strong laugh when a new recruit won against a senior trainee.
"The soldiers on the north should learn from the ones in the Capital," said the little boy, "at least they would have some fun and lazy attitude, hopefully, that doesn't lower their abilities."
Anne only smiled again while counting for the third time.
They left the training camp, the little boy asked to be excused to change clothes. He believed that the odor of his clothes was not presentable for the Royal Palace.
"When he reached the Princess chamber, Anne was already on her way to Moira's Tower."
Callum was carrying little Moira in one arm while the little girl had a strange thing she called cake in her hands. Of course, the kitchen staff and many servants were running around trying to turn off the fire.
The two red-eyed were a bit covered in ashes and flour as always, but they didn't mind it as they had created an incredible pastry, or so they thought.
'I have the cake,' Moira signaled.
"I know, let's take a look," Anne said while walking inside.
Collin was disturbed and couldn't take a step inside the tower.
"Aren't you coming, little Collin?" Anne's voice woke him up, and he smiled but his eyes were giving disdainful looks at everything.
What happened next, only make Anne count more and more… then…
[Push the angel to the pond.]
Anne smiled while seeing the little red message. She was eating her delicious fruit tart at the tea party. The last piece with the little cherry on the top that she liked to leave at the end, was waiting for her to be devoured.
However, the said angel had to 'help' her by eating it. Something had to be done to return that gracious favor, she had to give a major gift to the little boy, what about an awakening… and a shower? Wasn't he fond of being clean?
"You know Collin, there is a saying that goes, only a fool confuse value with price. Don't you think that's quite correct? What's the use of a diamond in the face of thirst? What is the use of wit without skill when you are drowning? What is the use of a title without real power? What is the use of a good brain in face of… someone smarter?"
Anne smiled viciously looking at the shocked face of the little boy that was now horrified and completely drenched.
The red-haired girl just wanted to have a mic right there to drop it cooly, but then she remembered that this world didn't have that.
"Anne du Lith, come here right now!"
"Ups..."