Ronin was used to Zeuxis' scheming during birthday parties, of course. He already has a countermeasure prepared, but then---
He came to the party too.
"Cermin Drychspiel." Ronin spoke the name with so much hidden rage.
Ronin was dressed as a servant today and would have to pretend to be a servant in front of the guests.
And like all servants, they were supposed to line up and bow to every guest that arrives at House Zafeiri.
As soon as a shock of white hair and goldne came by at the door, he knew immediately who this guest was.
Cermin Drychspiel was now 9 years old, and Ronin himself was 8. Their appearances both have changed a little...
But the height difference was still stark.
Ronin made a mental note to eat more vegetables that improve his height and to do some stretching exercises so he won't look like a midget to this golden boy.
Duke Taevas was at the end of this line of servants to welcome the prince's son from Scirocco, which was allegedly the duke's birthplace.
"Greetings, Your Highness. It is a great honor to have your presence here." He offered his hand to shake.
"The pleasure is mine, Sir.... "
Cermin started strong though with an exaggerated posh accent, but forget the name anyway.
So he just shook Duke Taevas' hand and went with "Sir."
"Greetings, Your Highness." All the servants bowed deeply in respect, excited for the presence of a young prince.
All except for one.
Ronin just stood there with his chin up and a haughty expression on his face.
This made Cermin turn around to him. Duke Taevas looked displeased but said nothing, controlling his temper in the presence of a royalty.
"Hey, I remember you! You were a baby when I last saw you!" Cermin went up to him.
"Ronin Willowe, right?"
Ronin was surprised that he remembers his name out of all people.
He sneered at this, looking pleased in an egotistical way. 'That's right. You better remember the name "Ronin"... the name that will soon give shivers to your spine and fill you with despair!'
"Yes, it is I. 'Your Highness'. "
Ronin only reaches up to Cermin's shoulder, and have to look up to Cermin to talk to him.
"Haha, it's nice to see a familiar face! You still haven't learned after all this years, though." Cermin patted his head again patronizingly. "Don't give everyone a hard time, especially during that poor girl's birthday."
Ronin was so angry but he's not like Taevas who can barely keep his calm.
Over these years as the house peacemaker, he had learned to be more patient. He had learned the art of keeping a neutral face no matter the situation, yet mentally cursing Cermin to death at the same time.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. But it is not needed. I know my place. I was just distracted by your 'honorable presence'."
Despite his pride, Ronin slowly.....
Bowed in front of the prince.
"Ah, there you go!" Cermin have 0 capability to detect sarcasm and passive aggression at all. "Good job, good job!"
"Y-Yes. H-He's not giving us any trouble at all, h-he's a very dignified man, in fact!" A shaky voice defended him.
It turned out that the birthday girl, Belladonna Zafeiri herself, was just hiding behind her tall father this whole time. But when she saw her older brother in a humiliating situation like this, she peeked her tiny head in his defense, though unsucessfully.
"Ah, happy birthday, miss!" Cermin went up to her. "You look very pretty in your dress today!"
(Though you would look much prettier when you grow up. I'm not into the small and cute children.)
Ronin scoffed at this. 'Yet here you are, planning to go for someone 4 to 5 years younger in the future.'
"Thank you, Your Highness." Little Bella curtsied politely, lifting the skirt of her little blue dress.
"Is your father and mother not arriving, Your Highness?" Duke Taevas asked.
"Ah, Mom and Dad had some kind of business going on at another kingdom or something. But they 'sent their regards', whatever that means."
"I see....." Duke Taevas was also weirded out by this young prince's way of speaking.
"Well, my butler Mavretri will lead you to the parlor, Your Highness." Duke Taevas said with his usual fake and strained smile. "We would have to ask you to wait there patiently for a while. We will begin the ceremony upon the arrival of all the guests."
"Cool! Thanks," Cermin patted the shy girl's head that was curled and decorated with ribbons for the occasion as he followed the butler.
Ronin was glad that dimwit was gone. 'I feel like I would die of second-hand embarrassment and annoyance every time he speaks.'
Belladonna went by his side. "Brother, are you alright? Did that boy upset you?"
His expression became less tense when talking to his little sister. "I am not upset. It is your birthday after all."
"Well, I'm upset. I did not like how he treated you either, and he almost ruined my hair." She said, frowning. "Cholie spent hours styling it."
"Do not be upset, Bella." He smiled lightly to comfort her and avoid another hailstorm. "Ignore that boy, and enjoy your big day. If he speaks to you, move farther away and treat him like he was nothing but air."
"But he is a prince. That seems a little rude, brother." Belladonna said.
"And you are even more special. You are the princess of this house, the birthday girl. Nobody could ruin your day, remember that." He fixed the ribbon on her hair.
Belladonna's expression have finally brightened at this. "Thank you, brother."
Ronin sighed in relief. 'Crisis avoided.'
'I still have to figure out what Zeuxis is scheming though. That little brat is always up to something.'
Duke Taevas called out the girl. "Bella, come back here and greet the guest with me. Stop chitchatting with Ronin, he is a servant today."
"Alright, Father!" The little princess of the House Zafeiri continued her duty of politely greeting and curtsying to the guests.
After that grueling task of just bowing and greeting again and again, they all went to the parlor to start the birthday ceremony. The servants served some hors d'oeuvres, which were just fancy little snacks.
Meanwhile, the guests mingled and interacted with each other. They talked about various topics to Duke Taevas and his little girl.
Belladonna got bored of this easily and excused herself.
Ronin was among those serving trays of food to people, but he kept a watchful eye on Cermin and Belladonna.
Whenever Cermin saw Bella around, he would try to chat with her. But Bella would turn around and scowl, sometimes even leaving her seat to try and talk to other noble kids, mostly the girls.
'Good job, Bella. Don't be charmed into this golden turd's harem.' Ronin smirked.
He overheard the gossips of the nobles as he served them some small refreshments.
"Look at them. They look like a perfect prince and princess, one gold and one blue. Wouldn't you agree, Taevas?" A woman with Ruby red skin and puffy hair said.
"Oh, I feel it's quite too early to say that." Duke Taevas said in a 'humble' way. "But my Belladonna really is a great beauty. If the prince takes interest in her, then we shall see."
"Do not forget to invite us to the wedding, then! Hahaha!"
The nobles all laughed pretentiously, and Ronin rolled his eyes.
'I really hate when adults talk about children like that, even in real life. Like if a girl and a boy sits besides one another, that doesn't mean they'd imagine being a couple already.'
'They're more likely to talk about their favorite toys or argue which Power Rangers is better.'
And he hates parties like this in general, because of all the fake people and their fake smiles and laughter. Not only were their mouths so loud...
Their heads were too. And he knows every little dirty secret thoughts running around their wigged and ridicolously styled heads.