"Nasharis, I'm here."
He knocked on the door to his sister's room. He heard the sound of fast footsteps before the door swung open.
Right after that, he saw his younger sister with a bright smile on her face. She was wearing a cute baby blue dress with mini bows. He noticed that they were matching.
"You are here!"
She lunged at him, and he caught her before he spun around. Her giggle managed to make him smile. He stopped spinning and slowly placed her back on her own feet.
"Are you ready, my princess?"
He extended his hand while bowing down a little.
Nasharis giggled a little and took his hand.
"Yes, my prince."
They begin their walk towards the location where the tea party was held. It was located near Nasharis' palace.
Before they finally neared the flower garden, they could already hear the sound of people talking and conversing. It looks like there are many noble children already here.
Nasharis stopped in her tracks.
"Nervous?"
Nasharis looked up at him and nodded. He smiled and squeezed her hand.
"I'm here with you, isn't it? Just smile and greet them like you always do. I'm sure they can't wait to meet you too."
"What if I suddenly ruined today's tea party?"
He patted her head, which had been braided into twin ponytails. Carefully so that he won't ruin her hairstyle.
"Don't think negatively, Nasharis. It is a bad habit of yours, you know. Just remember this."
He crouched down a little to look at Nasharis eye-to-eye.
"You'll be making many new friends today, and I'll always stay near you. I promise."
Nasharis bit her lips and nodded.
"Okay! You must stay close to me today!"
"Of course. Let's go now. We don't want to let them wait any longer, isn't it?"
"Hn!"
He straightened his back again before both of them made their arrival known to the people on the other side.
The chatter stopped in an instant after most of the children noticed their presence. Nasharis took a deep breath before she smiled.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince and Princess."
The others bowed just like a proper lady.
'They must have been educated earlier than I expected.'
A variety of faces caught his eye. He knew the oldest person here was 12 years old. Not many are here—around 12 to 15 children.
"Hi, everyone."
Nasharis began to greet them politely.
"You don't need to be so formal with me today. We are here just to talk and have tea together. I hope we will get along well."
The others looked at each other before they looked back at Nasharis. They smiled and nodded, some energetically and some shyly.
He was amazed by Nasharis' way of speaking just now. She always acted like a cute little sister, but just now, he saw the friendly yet mature act from Nasharis. It is a refreshing sight to see, to be honest.
"Hn! I hope we can be close friends too, princess!"
"Me too."
"Let's have the talk together, princess!"
"Your clothes are beautiful, princess. Could you tell us where you bought it?"
"I have brought something from home. I hope you'll try it."
Nasharis froze at the warm acceptance.
"Go."
He pushed her back a little to make her move. She looked at him.
"I'll wait around here. If you need anything, just ask Vira to call for me. Okay?"
"Hn!"
"Go make a bunch of friends."
"Hn! Thank you for following me until here, brother!"
She tiptoed before she gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked quickly towards the other children. He froze and touched his cheek.
'You are lucky to have Nasharis as your sister, kid.'
He turned around and walked away; Riri followed from behind.
He did as he said; he stopped and sat near the tea party. He could hear their chatter from here, so he could still rush away if anything happened.
He sat under a shady tree, shading himself from the burning sun.
"Do you want me to bring a cold drink for you, Your Highness?"
"Yes, that will do. Bring two, please. I feel thirsty. Oh, and some dark chocolates."
"As you instructed, Your Highness,"
"Thank you."
"No problem, Your Highness."
He closed his eyes when he heard Riri's retreating steps. His white hair was swayed by the gentle breeze. He could even sleep here if he wanted. It was so peaceful that he felt like he was on a cloud.
The giggle from the tea party was heard, and he smiled a little. At least Nasharis will have good company today. He is sure Nasharis can handle herself around people, even though she is shy. She knew how to attract people with just her personality.
"How long do you want to stay up there?"
The sound of birds chirping is the only reply to his question.
He began lying down on the ground, his hands behind his head.
"Stay there quitely and don't interrupt my sleep if you don't want to reply to me."
"Wait, no—"
Prakk!!
"Ahh!!"
He opened his eyes quickly before his body was crushed by a weight. He winced at the sudden weight.
"Ugh!"
The leaves fell on their bodies. Some squirrels ran away after they also fell from the tree.
"Cough! Ergh! It's hurt."
He can't breathe. Damn, who is this? Climbing a tree in a princess's palace and falling onto the crown prince. Who has the audacity to act brazenly and foolishly like this?
The boy looked down at the person under him, who was still closing his eyes and frowning.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry! Are you hurt? Hey, hey, open your eyes!"
The boy slapped his face several times without even having the brain to get up from on top of him.
He opened his eyes slightly and glared at the boy.
"Get.. up..!"
He pushed the boy aside and sat up. He began to cough and breathe properly. Damn, this kid is heavy.
"I'm sorry again! I don't know that I'll fall on top of you like that! Hey, are you okay? Should I call a doctor? Oh no, you are wheezing and coughing! I almost killed you! Hey hey, talk to me, white-hair stranger!"
His body was shaken violently.
"Oh, Lord Teresa! This is my first time coming into the imperial palace, and I have murdered someone! Forgive me! It was unintentional! Please don't die on me!"
"Hey, hey, stop!"
He pushed the boy away from him. After having a difficult time breathing, he now feels dizzy because of the shaking.
"Relax, I'm not dead." Yet.
The pink-haired boy blinks his eyes before his face is wet with tears. He was suddenly hugged by this pinky.
"I'm glad! I really thought I had killed someone! Sob, I'm sorry again, white-hair stranger!"
Sniffling and sobbing. He was hugged tightly by this pinky here. He can't even push away this boy.
'What have I gotten myself into? I should have just gone somewhere else when I noticed him on the tree just now.'
He succumbed to his fate and tapped the boy's back.
"Stop crying like a baby. I'm totally fine, with no injuries at all. You should worry about yourself after falling from that height."
"Sob, but I fall on top of you!"
"I'm fine, kid. No need to worry. Besides, you should know not to climb a tree without proper instruction."
"Uwahh!! I'm sorry. I have broken the branch! Am I going to be executed by the imperial family now?"
He sighed. This kid is full of worry.
"The imperial family won't do something like that. Stop crying and stop hugging me."
"Sob."
"Hey! Don't rub your snot on my shirt, you little shit!"
After a minute of pulling and pushing, the pinky boy finally let him go. He touched his shoulder to find it wet. At least it does not feel slimy.
He looked at the sobbing kid and sighed again.
"Now tell me, who are you, and what are you doing in the second princess's flower garden?"
The pinky kid took out a handkerchief and blew his snot into it. Michaelis cringed.
"I'm bored."
'That does not answer my questions.'
"Rezal Nuribenstin. I came here to accompany my sister to the tea party hosted by the second princess. Aren't you the same?"
Hm. Rezal Nuribenstin—nope, not a clue about who he is.
This Rezal kid also looked the same age as him.
"Yes, I'm the same. But I just want to confirm it with you."
Rezal folded back his handkerchief and put it back into his pocket. The red eyes looked at him in curiosity.
"That's great! We could play together because I'm bored. If not, I don't want to come here, but mom forced me to accompany Raisa. What's your name, white-haired stranger?"
Hm? Should he tell this boy who he is? Nah, it seems much more fun to just play a little with this kid.
"Micha."
Rezal tilted his head like he was trying to remember something. But give up after a few seconds.
"Hey hey, how old are you, Micha? This is my first time coming here. Dad won't bring me here because he says I am a troublemaker! But I am already ten!"
'Oh, this kid is just a year older.'
"I'm nine."
"Eh, you are younger than me! Call me big brother."
What? He frowned.
"No."
Why would he have a kid as a big brother? Not even in a thousand years.
"Why? I always wanted a younger brother."
Rezal began to pout and look sad. Hah! Not going to work on him.
"I don't want a big brother."
"But—"
"Besides, you almost killed me with your body."
"That— I already said I'm sorry!"
"What happened here?"
He flinched. Rezal also flinched. They both looked at Riri, who was holding a tray of treats. Her face is not smiling.
"Why are you looking like this? Is that a tree branch?"
Riri looked at the broken tree branch and back at the two kids on the grass. Their bodies were full of leaves, even on their heads.
"Mind to tell me what has happened here, Your Highness?"
Riri smiled.
Shit, he didn't like that smile.