"His Majesty will be furious if he learns that you are here, your highness." a knight said with such grief. Dragging his feet through the garden as he followed the crown prince from behind with heavy feelings.
"They left me alone there to continue their unfinished work," he said after removing his hood.
Especially his older brother, Prince Asterion. He always does this. Dumping his work on him to play around. It's him that should be occupied most of the time. He felt once again the regret of accepting Asterion's plea years ago without listening to every word he spouts.
The Second Prince and the Crowned Prince of the Empire, Cannon Zwei de Beauvior. 10 years old and he decided to rebel for once. He thought that by doing this he could show it to his brother that he doesn't like his position.
If every siblings in other empire or country will fight for the throne, not this one. They rather threw it to each other.
"still, this makes me feel like we are doing something illegal." he mumbled to himself as he walked over the pathway.
well, this is someone shouldn't do even if they are part of the Imperial Family. Considering they come without informing someone and other than that, they enter the estate freely and easily. That is because he used magic.
"Let's find the entrance first." the crown prince said and walked around. But it has been half an hour since they arrive and no entrance can be found. The knight then understood what was happening and was speechless.
"he... is lost..." indeed. Seeing how mindless the crown prince keeps turning and going back to the place they have been. The Knight already confirmed this by leaving a mark on their way.
"Your highness, we should ask for help," he suggested when both of them stopped and looked around, "It feels like the garden only has one type of flowers and trees." he wasn't listening and how the hell did he even not notice that they were lost?
"Your Highness, We have been going around for a long time now,"
"Oh, that explains the same scene. You should say so earlier. Then, ask a person where the entrance is."
Actually speaking, they are still far away from the entrance of the mansion. The Knight resigned with a creased brow, "Yes, your highness."
after minutes of walking and they stumbled to the wisteria arch and they pass through it. Eventually, they both stopped and looked around before they said, "This is far from what I have imagined."
Apparently, the two of them think that this land is nothing. As in nothing but in ruins and deadly crows around. The typical horror you can see in some books.
"Surprisingly the ambience is so peaceful..."
"and the landscape is pleasing to the eyes." Unfortunately, this is the first time they come in the duchy. It is completely different as to why they nod in unison before leaving the archway with different opinions about the duchy.
They also buried deep down those thoughts and walked around.
"This place is also quiet,"
"Your Highness you cannot expect that every household is like yours,"
"Really? I thought everyone else had someone like my brother." seriously speaking. The knight has no words for his master.
and since this was their first time in Vacarella, of course they weren't aware of the truth, that this household is in fact, utterly chaos more than the Imperial Family. Starting with the twins and who were more abnormal than Caesar. Or maybe Caesar is.
The Knigh then saw a red hair kid crouched and gazing on the flowerbeds of red roses. It is in fact Aria and she has a smile plastered on her face.
rumors say that she is a wicked child after inheriting the hair color of her mother. That is what the knight heard before, however, what he's looking at right now is an innocent child.
"I'm going to ask the young lady..."
"that kid may know where the entrance is. Go ask her."
He shot his eyes wide open. He was about to ask her before he could order him.
"Your Highness, Do you know that kid?" as to answer his question, the crown prince tilts his head.
this made the knight more grave. His master doesn't know the Young Lady. Anyway, he once looked back at Aria. Hesitating whether he should ask since his conscience is telling him that there is something going wrong once she asked why they were lost.
Prince Cannon didn't wait and instead, he walked towards Aria and the knight flinched, trying to stop the young prince from further movements.
besides, he feels like he should talk to Aria himself. The knight followed with worry, "Your Highness--"
"That kid will not do anything." he was surprised to himself because of what he said. He chose not to listen to the knight as he saw a maid approaching Aria.
Unfortunately, he heard her call her 'Lady'. He finally knows that Aria is a noble kid. Still, he wants to rest after hours of riding.
After she spun around, something in his heart pierced. He slightly winced while gripping the robe. Even so, Aria is more surprised with his appearance in the garden and he sees how fast her emotions shift.
"..."
he saw her trembling before him and it made the crown prince troubled. Surely, he hasn't done anything rude to the lady, yet.
"Greetings to the Crown Prince of the Empire," the maid bowed without question.
"I should've changed my appearance," he hissed under his breath and the Knight behind him muttered, "I told you so, Your Highness."
he glance at Aria again. It is obvious that she is trying to hide her trembling, she even forgets to greet the prince that her breath momentarily hitched. He thinks that Aria is scared of him.
"I am tired walking around. Give me a room to rest," the maid and the knight was surprised with what he said.
The maid only knows that the Emperor and two princes will come today and he was the first one to come. It might not be a problem if she told Noland and Mrs. Philps about the crown prince, but to say that there will be three princes that they will host will rush them more.
"Yes. Please follow me, Your Highness." Aria was rooted to the ground while sensing the people around. The maid turns and walks away while being followed by the Crown Prince and the Knight.
The Crown Prince then stopped and pointed at her, "Are you not coming with us, lady?"
"urk..." Aria thought the way she was addressed and brushed the thoughts entering her mind.
she heaved a deep breath and smiled, "Oh, Yes. Yes, pardon my rudeness, Your Highness."
this made the Crown Prince stare at her before turning away and this scene was seen by three persons.
"Did you see how Aria looks at his highness?" Yessenia was giggling as the party went away, "Indeed. It is a mixture of surprise and confusion." Wren answer, ultimately blocking Yessenia's point of view.
It made Yessenia pouts, as she seen that Aria must have like Prince Cannon for a long time. The look she gives at the prince is a give away.
"They met earlier... this is worrisome, but I think she could handle it on her own," Lexus said, yawning as he turned his back and dozed off on the roof. Already erased the memory of the prince and Aria.
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace; The empress is in rage after finding out his son has snuck out with only one knight and no one noticed him. The princess hummed while doing embroidery inside the room with a joyful smile.
"Ah, this cub looks exactly like Asterion!" The lion cub in fact is indescribable and not exactly looking like a cub, but the other cubs were embroidered with elegance.
---------------------------------------------------
"What is the Crown Prince doing here?" the emperor asked after handing down his coat at the servant with his glare on the Crown Prince.
While Prince Asterion is in happy mode seeing Prince Cannon snuck out. I say it isn't just Prince Asterion who will make the Palace in chaos. I can already feel someone is in a dire state after learning their crown prince's disappearance.
"Do you know your position, brother?" even Zairon is now going to reprimand the crown prince.
But, just what do you think those two is?
Ever since Aria and Prince Cannon entered together earlier, there has been some sort of heavy atmosphere between them. The knight I understand what he's thinking of. But, the two of them are so weird that I am starting to think that they know each other somehow.
suddenly, I feel that something came into my mind. I have forgotten the fact that Aria fell in love with the Crown Prince the moment she saw him. Is this... it? No, wait. It should happen at the hunting competition.
...
Is Yessenia right for once?
"I really think that she is in love with the Crown Prince." the demon whispered right in my ear. This girl is somehow looking like a lost child in the Vacarella with how she acts right now.
She's practically happy just by being right on her observation.
"Your Majesty, keep your family squabbles in your rooms." My father suddenly interrupted with a nonchalant face. He is the only one I saw this way to talk to the Emperor.
The four of them stopped and looked at us before nodding, "I'm hungry."
"I want fish fillet for this lunch."
this must be what my father feels after all. The four of them look exactly alike to each other and somehow... my vision is spinning.
Too much visuals! I Repeat, Their visuals together are super strong and flashy!
"dear me, you have brought your duplicates." Aunt Mavis commented after coming down from the stairs with Aunt Patrice who had her brows raised with the sight.
"This is unexpected. The Crown Prince will join us besides your two sons. By the way, you and our brother have many children and most of them follow their father." yes Aunt, this is what you missed out 2 years ago.
After all, the two princes sometimes come here whenever she is out home. The Emperor laughed merrily before saying, "You two haven't changed a bit."
that is worrisome.
"We should call Lane to join us for lunch," I said and turned around when I saw some pink hair strands sticking out behind the vase.
Why is he hiding there?
"Lane? Is he a boy?"
"Of course? Don't you know that he is the Marchioness only son?"
why is he suddenly looking like that? A little laughter can be heard in my ears. Adara and Boaife. They must find this scene amusing.
"Hehe... she really has no idea," Adara said while circling around me, "This is fun." these two... are a bad pair.
"Lane you can come out and let's have lunch," I said and I saw he flinched behind it.
a cold hand suddenly clasped my other hand. I looked around to see Aria with her stern gaze on the place Lane's hiding on.
"Is he... mean to you or something?"
"Huh?" this... what a weird question, "No, In fact I am the one who's mean to him," calling him a hostage when we help him escape from his home, tricking him and making him run all day, but that was all in the past. Because he doesn't fall for it anymore.
she suddenly sighed in relief and then Lane came out, pouting. The others already left to go to the other room while the princes stayed alone with us.
"Why are you still here...?" Prince Zairon immediately had his head droop and that is surprising.
Did he find my question offending?
"Wren that's cold," I glared at Yessenia, Unbelievable. "Is that Lane?" Prince Asterion asked and came close to Lane. However, Lane hides behind my back.
Yessenia grinned, "Is that so~" the way she said it makes my head hurt.
"Let's eat--"
"WHERE'S LANE?! LET ME SEE MY SON!" another headache... why is she here at a time like this?
She really does lack of awareness.
"She doesn't know the word 'shame'."
"Why is she yelling at the gate so loud?"
"..."
The Princes commented as they look at the window. Lane on the other hand has his eyes blank as he walks away from us. Right now the Marchioness is in tears and begs Laxus to let her in.
Well, she can't step one foot on the gate.
"Wow... she is an actor," Why are they commenting now all of the sudden rating the marchioness, "She's a natural. Five points."
"The Marchioness already found out where Lane is. What are you going to do now, Duke?" and they are back. On top of that the Emperor is smiling at my father, who had a scowl on his face.
"Can we hire the Marchioness for a week? I want to see my father like---" my words were cut off by someone cupping my cheeks and stretching it.
This act made me remember Cervi. They sure have copied Cervi's habits.
"Father, remove your hands and do something about the Marchioness first." I said and he shrugged while continuing to pinch my cheeks.
"do not worry. Those three are enough."
"Three...?" Even Yessenia and Aria repeated those words when they heard a loud crash outside.
"No way..." Yessenia exclaimed, while I was smiling. That is a nice choice. After all, getting rid of pests is what they are best at!
"JUST GET OUGHTA HERE!"
"You seem in an awfully good mood all of the sudden," Zairon said as he followed me in the other room, "because the Marchioness will be gone before she shouts again." I answered and sat down.
"Anyway, let's eat before the food turns cold."