Caleb managed to pull himself together. He swiftly stand up with a panicked espression.
"Hello?" he awkwardly greeted.
Both of them were stunned because of each other's presence and didn't know what to do. They stared at each other before Aiden realized that he hasn't greeted him yet.
"Ah...! G-greetings to, Your Royal Highness. This h-humble one is honored to be in your p-pwesence." in panic he kept bowing his head as he mumbled his greeting.
He immediately frozed.
Ah.
He tongue tied.
"Pfft!" Caleb immediately covered his mouth in shock when a laugh came out.
The two blankly stared at each other for a moment.
Caleb: "..."
Aiden: "..."
Then, they didn't know who started it but the two of them brst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Oh my god! You tongue tied!"
"Don't say it!"
Before they knew it, the atnosphere turned from awkward to warm.
"Anyway, what are you doing here, Your Royal Highness?" Aiden asked curiously.
Caleb shook his head. "Just call me Caleb, okay? There's only two of us here."
He then sat down on the floor, leaning against the railings. Aiden followed his actions, sitting beside him.
He thought for a moment before calling out, "Caleb?"
The third prince whose name had been onky used by his parents and sibling were flustered. His ear were dyed red like the color of his hair.
Fortunately, Aiden couldn't see it since it blended with the hair and it was dark.
"Y-yes?" he subconsciously straightened up making Aiden chuckled.
"What are you doing here, Caleb? Did you escaoe from somewhere?" he casually asked.
But this casual question that almost sound perfunctory made Caleb happy. It's like they were friends.
"W-well, I've been hanging out with some children from the other nobke family. But..." he couldn't helo but sighed in disappointment.
His chubby face pouted in a cute manner with a furrowed brow. Aiden giggle when he saw it.
"They must be making a fuss, right?" he cleared his throat then proceed to mimick what must have happened. "Your Royal Highness, come sit here beside me. Your Royal Highness, do you want something? Your Royal Highness, my family had been doing this and that."
He even have a 'kind' smile in his face like the one those children have in their face.
Caleb's eyes sparkled. "It's exactly the same!" he clapped his hands in awe making Aiden laughed.
"Haa... should I just become an actor?" he joked.
But the third prince who can already operate a mecha have low EQ and didn't understand his joke. "You want to? You can definitely do it."
Aiden was stunned for a moment before chuckling. He cupped the other's face with his two hands making the third prince jolt from sudden contact.
"Why are you so cute, Caleb?" he asked seriously.
The chubby face in his hand slowly turned red making him laughed once again before letting go.
It took awhile before the third prince recovered. "W-Well, my genes are very good..." he started muttering nonsense.
Aiden just watched him with a smile on his face.
But those children, there's no way they only try to curry favor from him. Four of Ducal Households were already supporting the other princes. Some of them probably treated him with contempt.
Calbe realized that he'd only been the one talking so he asked Aiden too. "Then what are you doing here... umm." he awkwardly paused, staring at Aiden.
"Ah...! I haven't introduced myself yet, right? I'm Aiden Wade Orvana. You can call me Aiden." he smiled at him.
"I already know your name!" he hurried to expain. "It's just that... you didn't give me a permission to call you by your first name..." his voice toned down in the end.
"What are you talking about? You gave me your permission. I should also do the same."
"But there's no permission..."
Aiden smiled at him, ruffling his hair.
"There's no need for such things between friends."
***
The birthday party ended. In the end, he decided that Caleb should walk out first before him. Being seen together might cause some trouble after all.
And it's already been a week.
Aiden walked to the dining hall to eat his breakfast with his family. His parents were always busy with work and taking care of his siblings that they rarely eat together.
But today is one of those rare days.
He was the only one they were waiting for in there.
As soon as he walked in, he was surprised to see his Grandfather. He was sitting in the head seat where his father usually sat.
On his left is my parents. The triplets weren't inside. While on his right is his grandmother.
All of them have different expression on their faces.
His grandfather looked serious and solemn while his grandmother is smiling happily at him. She seemed to be excited.
His father looked anxious while his mother is calm. She smiled at him when he met her gaze.
"Come sit down beside your grandmother, won't you? Hm, Aiden?" he nodded at her grandmother before walking towards her.
"Is there something wrong?" he couldn't help but asked after feeling their gazes on me.
"What are you talking about? Did you do something wrong?" her mother retorted back.
"Pardon?" he asked, puzzled by the questions. He looked around, confused.
"What are you talking about, Lilian? How could my grandson do anything wrong?" Marcella said with a smile. "Let's eat now, okay?"
He heard them sighed before his grandfather tapped the table with his fingee twice. As if on cue, the door to the dinibg hall opened softly and numerous servants brought the food inside, nicely placing it in them.
After they arrange it, Duke Richard took his first bite. Then immediately after, everyone started eating too.
As Aiden was savoring the most delicious food cooked by the servants, while making sure that he perform good table manners, his grandfather opened his mouth.
"Right, Aiden. Did you have fun last week? You met a lot of children in your age, did you make friends with them?" his tone is casual.
Aiden frozed for a moment before gulping. He drank some water to swallow the food faster before responding.
"Well, not really. I only talk with Riley..." then he remembered the third prince. "...and some other children." he vaguely answered.
The adults sitting at the dining table glanced at each other.
"This 'some other children taht you talk about..."
He glanced at his mother who spoke, paying full attention before taking a sip from the orange juice. It's very flavorful.
"Is it the third prince?"
Aiden was shocked to the core and instantly panicked. Some juice wnet to his nose making him coughed violently.
"Oh my god." he heard his father's voice that.
But his grandmother and mother started bursting into laughter.
"OH MY GOD! hahahaha!" she emphasized.
"You really did that? Did you do it on purpose?"
Duke Richard shook his head. He felt a headache coming.
The reason for his visit is simple but big enough to cause the Orvana Household some chaos. They were turned up and down.
An Imperial letter were delivered by the personal bodyguard of the Third Prince's palace. The envelope's color is red, symbolizing that it's an official letter that didn't come from any Imperial family member.
The contents were simple.
[Young Master Aiden Wade of Orvana Household were invited to be the Third Prince, Caleb Xyrus De Vallen's official playmate. Please send a respond by the end of this week.]
When Aiden saw the invitation, he was confused by the situation.
"Isn't it just being a playmate?" he mumured. He have no idea how heavy being the 'official playmate' is.
He thought that it's just playing with Caleb, maybe going to the palace here and then. Entertaining the third prince and befriending him.
The adults couldn't say anything in a while. All of them is atleast Grade 8, so their hearing is exceptionally well.
"That right. It's only being a playmate. But we're shocked because we have no idea you have an interaction with the prince at the party." Marcella kindly explained to her favorite grandson. Though he's the only grandson that she have.
"Ohh..." he nodded his head in understanding. They must be shocked since they never saw me have a proper conversation with the prince.
"Well, it just happened." he didn't explained anything but the adults were satisfied.
"So do you agree with this invitation?" Duke Richard asked.
Aiden thought for a moment before nodding his head.
"Sure." he responded with a smile.
A moment later, after his grandparents left, he soon realized something.
Ah.
Didn't he say he wouldn't get involved with higher ranking people?
***
[Earlier]
"Father, are you sure about this?" Count Richard couldn't help but asked.
This matter is big. Although he agree that they should let Aiden decide about this matter, but there will be consequences.
If they accept this, their Household will officialy support the third prince. They need to make sure he become the Emperor. Or else...
If the other princes took the throne... Count Richard shuddered.
They could get executed righr after the coronation.
His father lightheartedly laughed, waving his hand. "Isn't it just supporting? Don't worry too much and leave this to your old man."
Count Richard was not relieved. He bit his lower lip anxiously.
Marcella sighed before hugging his son gently. "We'll take care of it, okay? I'll talk with that old hag to help us. Don't worry about this and just focus on your training. You'll take the test next year. Make me proud, okay?"
She let go of her son and met his nervous face. "Don't you trust us?"
"You know that's not the case."
Marcella just smile. "Don't tell him, okay? Let him be happy."
From this day onwards, their family's future will completely depend on the young prince.
***