"Riri, I can explain."
"Please explain, Your Highness."
Why did Riri look at him like he had committed a serious crime?
"This kid."
He pointed his finger at Rezal. Rezal looked at him like he had committed some big crime like Riri. Why does everyone give him that kind of look?
"Hey, I'm older than you!"
Is that really a problem here? He ignored Rezal.
"Fall from there."
Then he pointed upward, towards the tree.
"On top of me."
Lastly, he pointed at himself.
"The end."
He ended his explanation just like that. Riri sighed in exasperation. She must be exhausted to take care of him; now he says that he got jumped by an unofficial Tarzan with pink hair.
It is not his fault now, nor was it before. It's Riri's fault that she always prevented him from doing anything he wanted. If you count, almost falling from the balcony is just an accident that almost gave Riri a heart attack.
"Are you injured anywhere, Your Highness?"
Riri put down the tray and began to inspect him up and down, left and right. He stood up for her to have an easy way of looking at any injuries possible on his body.
"I think I don't have any injuries."
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Not anymore."
Riri brushed away the leaves on his hair and body, adjusting his wrinkled shirt to look presentable again.
"I hope you are more aware of your surroundings so you won't get hurt, Your Highness."
"Maybe you should always stay by my side to make sure I'm not getting hurt at all."
He playfully said. He can't deal with it if Riri sticks by his side all the time, obviously. He still needs his privacy, and Riri is not the most tolerable personal maid he has ever had. It's not like he has another personal maid other than Riri to begin with.
Riri nodded.
"As you instructed."
He frowned.
Riri handed him a glass of cold water. He picked up another glass from the tray and handed it to Rezal before he took the glass from Riri's hand.
"Here. Drink this."
"Uh, um, thank you."
Rezal took the glass from him, and both of them gulped down the cold liquid. Their bodies finally felt a little cold. A cold glass of water to drink on a hot day is truly a blessing.
"May I ask, who is this young boy, Your Highness?"
"He—"
"I am Rezal Nuribenstin. Nice to meet you!"
"First born of the Nuribenstin household, hm."
Riri murmured a little, but he could hear it because of their close distance.
'Looks like Riri knew this kid. What is his household's rank?'
He can't predict if Rezal is from a duke's or just a baron's household. But Rezal's clothes are made of high-quality material, and this kid looked well taken care of. For sure, Rezal's household is a rich one.
Riri looked at him with admiration and asked in a faux-shocked tone.
"You finally made a friend, Your Highness?"
"He is not my friend."
"Not yet!"
He looked at the smiling Rezal and looked away.
"Check on him if there are any injuries."
"As you instructed, Your Highness. Young Master Nuribenstin, please permit me to check up on you."
"No, no need! I'm not injured!"
Rezal said that, but he just stood there unmoving, making it easier for Riri to check for any injuries. After a while, Riri stood up again.
"Fortunately, there are no major injuries. But it is wise to make a checkup for any internal injuries, both of you."
"Later."
He brushed Riri off and sat back down under the tree.
"You, come here. Eat this."
Rezal sat beside him, but there was a distance that he now knew Rezal had put between them. He thought Rezal would be a clingy type of kid after meeting someone new, but it looks like he miscalculated a little.
"Is it fine to eat this? Isn't this yours?"
"Yes."
Riri held out the plate of dark chocolates to them and backed away a little after he picked it up.
"But it might be bitter a bit."
Rezal just picked one up and put it in his mouth. His facial expression changed after every bite.
'I had asked to put more cocoa the last time I ate this chocolate with Nasharis; it must be a bit bitter for this kid if he never tried any before.'
Ideal for him is 90% cocoa in the chocolate; that's why he asked Riri to change it. Most of his family is more into sweet chocolate than bittersweet. That's why every time they saw him eating it, they would ask him if it was really to his taste. He just answered them truthfully.
"Do you like to eat something like this?"
"What's wrong?"
He smirked and put more in his mouth. At least his chocolate will all be for him because he has never encountered anyone who has the same taste as him yet.
More chocolate for him!
"You don't want anymore?"
"...It's fine."
He shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
Rezal drank the water to get rid of the bitterness. It is not that bad; he just prefers a sweet one.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Ask away."
Rezal whispered to him.
"Are you one of the imperial family members?"
He raised one eyebrow. Why does this kid need to whisper like this?
"Why did you ask that?"
"Because your maid calls you 'Your Highness'?"
"What if I say I am?"
"Are you serious?"
Rezal began to panic. His eyes opened wide.
"I'm sorry! I have been disrespectful towards you, Your Highness! Forgive this lowly citizen!"
Rezal bowed down. He blinked in confusion and exchanged glances with Riri. Riri just shrugged, indicating he would need to handle this situation by himself.
At first, he had intended to not let Rezal know, but Riri's appearance already ruined it. But he did not expect Rezal to act like this. What kind of imagination does this kid have about the imperial family? People are not thinking about the imperial family in a bad way, right? He always read books that told good things about the imperial family.
Or is it just a bias on his side?
"Hey, hey, get up. I'm not mad or anything."
"No, I must apologize. Mom will kill me if she knows I have offended you!"
This pinky kid cried again. He can't deal with this kid.
"Stop crying and bowing if you don't want to get punished right this instant."
He used a serious tone in the hope that Rezal would obey him, and Rezal did. He straightened his back and wiped his tears with his sleeve.
"Look at me."
Rezal looked at him. His face is red again, and his eyes are puffy.
"You did not do anything wrong. Stop acting like you have murdered someone."
"Your Highness, that was not a wise word to say."
"Shh, shh, I'm the one talking."
He crossed his arm.
"If you cry again, I won't talk to you."
"But I want to talk to you again."
Rezal pouted.
"So, don't cry, idiot."
"Your Highness, no cursing."
"Cough, cough, I'm sorry. So, I won't be against you if you want to come here again."
'It is better if you did not come at all. I don't want to deal with a brat.'
"But better make sure to act like your age. You're older than me, after all."
Rezal's eyes sparkled. No, don't look at him with those eyes of admiration!
"Hn! We are friends now, right?"
"No?"
"What? Why? You asked me to come again!"
'I did not.'
"That's not what I said just now."
"But—"
"Your Highness Michaelis."
He looked up. Nasharis' nanny is here.
"Her Highness is looking for you."
"Is that so? Let's go then."
He stood up and brushed his clothes.
"Bye."
He walked away, followed by Riri and Vira.
"Wait a minute! What's your real name?"
He stopped in his tracks and looked back. Does this kid think that he lied about his name? Well, he just did not give his full name. Rezal is actually a sharp kid—interesting, really. A kid is putting on a facade, but a lack of common knowledge about an imperial family. Or that is also a facade to keep his guard down.
Maybe it was just all in his head, like always. He should not overthink too much.
"Michaelis."
He began walking again.
"See you again, Micha!"
He did not look back to see that Rezal was waving at him.
"You've made your first friend today. I'm proud of you, Your Highness."
He snorted. Friend? He wouldn't call a meeting for the first time and talk casually a friend. Besides, they won't be meeting again.
"We won't be seeing each other anymore."
"Young Master Nuribenstin will come again."
"He did not."
"He will."
"Shut up, Riri."
"As you instructed, Your Highness."
He glared at Riri, who was smiling. Surely, Rezal would not come to the imperial palace again. Right?
Why would Rezal come here again anyway? Meeting him?
Nope.