"Thank you for your help, Omega," the head chef said to the zeta once the cleaning of the dishes, pots and pans, and utensils had been completed.
"It was my pleasure," Syri replied with a small bow. "I learned many things tonight. Thank you."
"Oh, don't even mention it, sweetie. It was definitely my pleasure!" The chef replied rather enthusiastically. She was always ecstatic to teach someone the ins and outs of cooking and baking. The chef and zeta bowed to each other once more in farewell before Syri turned to make his way to the door that led into the corridor outside the kitchen.
"So, you off to the stables?" Aliza inquired as she caught the zeta in passing.
"Ae," Syri replied before continuing. "My friends are probably looking for me."
"I don't get a goodbye?" A small whine left the young female when the zeta continued on his way. Syri stopped in his tracks and turned to the pouting female, giving her a smile before saying, "Goodbye, Aliza."
The girl's pouting expression turned into a sweet smile at the zeta's kind expression. "Bye, Syri. It was nice to meet you."
"You as well, Aliza. Don't get into too much trouble," Syri replied before turning back around.
"Tsh, you wish," Aliza sounded with a pucker of her lips. "Have a safe walk back!" The female called after the pink-haired. Syri lifted his arm in a short wave of farewell as he exited the kitchen and entered the expansive corridor. The zeta released a huff when he found himself standing in the corridor turning his head back and forth. He did not know the way out of the castle.
Syri shut his eyes and attempted to reimagine the path Estan had taken him to the kitchen from the banquet hall and then match that with the route the maid had taken the five stable workers from the dressing room to the banquet before tying that back to the path they were led down by the guards from the stables to the dressing room only to fail at attempting to reimagine the path he had taken with Estan. The zeta gave a sigh and put his hands on his hips before pressing his lips together and picking a random direction: left. The zeta had no earthly idea where the direction of 'left' would take him, but he thought it could not hurt to give it a shot...right?
So, without a second thought, the zeta started down the random direction of 'left' in hopes of striking his luck for the night and finding a way out of the expansive palace.
<<<<<>>>>>
"Prince!" A polite call stopped Jae in his tracks just outside the massive hall where the lively banquet remained ongoing. The true blood turned to see the princess of White Fang approaching him. Freyah held the skirt of her dress in her hands to keep her from tripping as she hurried after the tall true blood. "Are you retiring for the night?" The princess inquired when she reached Jae, letting the length of her silken dress with a lace overlay fall to the floor.
"Ae. Tomorrow is going to be long and filled with meetings, so I shall retire early," Jae answered cordially. "Please enjoy the rest of your night." The prince bowed to the princess politely before turning to continue his way down the corridor only to be stopped by a small stutter from Freyah. "Um...uh...uh," uneasiness filled the quiet sounds that filtered out of the omega's pink lips.
Jae returned to facing the princess to see Freyah's brows scrunched together in contemplation; she clearly had something she wished to discuss with the prince. "Is there something you would like to ask me?" Jae inquired in an attempt to encourage the timid princess.
The princess lifted her gaze at the prince's words, and pressed her lips together before opening them to speak. "Please disregard me when choosing your mate." The request startled Jae; he had not expected the princess of White Fang to speak so boldly on the matter of him choosing a mate. The true blood's expression softened toward the omega, and he assured her, "Do not fret. There is only one wolf whom I would choose to mate."
A breath escaped Freyah's parted lips in a smile. "Thank goodness. I feared I would be forced to reject my fated one shall I meet them should I become your mate. I would hate to be the cause of someone's pain." The relief was evident in the princess's light expression as she smiled up at the prince. "Thank you, Prince. I wish you and your future mate happiness."
Jae's lips curled into a small smile at the princess's blessing, and he inclined his head slightly in thanks. "I appreciate your kind words, Princess Freyah. I wish happiness for you and your fated one as well."
With her goal accomplished, Freyah bowed to the prince of Crimson Night in goodbye before returning to the lively banquet, leaving the true blood to his thoughts. Jae watched the kind princess slip through the heavy, oaken doors before turning to continue down the corridor. The prince reached the end of the corridor before a faint whiff of vanilla and roses wafted past him.
The prince's heart immediately began to race as he smelled the sweet scent. 'Syri!'