“Well, shall we make our way back?” Judging from Cain’s usual sparkly expression, I had to warily assume that he did not hear Haizea’s weird babbling.

Putting on a neutral smile, I replied. “Yes, we’ve kept them waiting for long enough.”

As we made our way through the palace’s long halls, Haizea and I filled the silence with idle chatter about our childish interests. Well, ‘childish’ in consideration to our mental age at least… I could tell that Haizea was itching to talk/tease about the otome game’s male protagonists, but I unhesitatingly gave her arm a warning ‘squeeze’ whenever she turned the conversation in that direction. Cain was with us and I was also willing to bet that she wanted to gush about how gorgeous he was too.

How she managed to keep her previous life’s memories to herself thus far is beyond me…

“His highness and the rest decided to keep themselves on a more private table just outside the hall where everyone had gathered.” Cain informed as he escorted us.

Knowing the amount of attention those group of boys could gather, Haizea and I shrugged at those words with unsurprising expressions. “Must be hard for those pre- I mean, it must be hard for them to always have to handle that kind of attention when they’re that popular.” Haizea flinched from one of my ‘warnings’, hence why her sentence was interrupted.

Cain could only agree to Haizea’s words with a wry smile.

Once we made it back to the hall where all the noble children were gathered, we slowly progressed through the crowd towards a certain pair of ornate glass doors. With a nod to the two knights standing by each door, the entrance was opened, and Cain urged us forward with a gentlemanly gesture. As we passed through, the previously cool air changed to a warmer and humid feeling.

Haizea and I found ourselves in a greenhouse. But this place is too grand to be called a greenhouse, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was called a ‘green palace’ instead…

Before us was a straightforward path towards a gilded gazebo. From this distance, we could make out the figures of the boys sitting around a round table whilst enjoying some tea. It was a perfect scene for an otome game CG scene. Judging from Haizea’s spellbound gaze and slightly dropped jaw, I could tell that she could also see the typical anime special effect flowers blooming in the background and the atmospheric music that would often come with this kind of sight.

Omigawd, do we really have to make our way to that?

The moment I heard the doors behind us shut I steeled myself before Cain could begin to question us and proceeded to drag Haizea along with me. I could sense my friend’s cold sweat and sent her a questioning gaze.

“My brother is assigned as his highness’ companion alongside Dmitri. I was not introduced to his highness and Dmitri until just before you came in the hall the first time you arrived.” She whispered anxiously.

Not caring whether or not Cain heard me, I whispered back. “And how exactly did you manage to conduct yourself properly? Look at yourself, you look like you’re about to see your executioner.”

“With great difficulty…” Haizea muttered.

“Ah, Miss Velloa and Miss Haizea. Nice of you to finally join us.” Prince Kai stood up at the sight of us and greeted us.

Shooting one last exasperated look at Haizea, I finally let go of her arm so that we could curtsy towards Prince Kai.

“We thank you for allowing us to join you, your highness.” I greeted back.

Grasping one palm on each hand, Prince Kai pulled the both of us up from our curtsy. “Just Kai will do fine.”

With a wry smile, I lightly teased. “That won’t do, your highness. I shall settle with calling you Prince Kai instead.”

Prince Kai let out an embarrassed laugh. “Again, with that title… Well, I suppose I’ll have to settle with that nickname too.” He then stepped aside and gestured towards the empty seats reserved for us on the table full of high-class tea and snacks. “The both of you, please have a seat.”

“Well aren’t you a natural, Vell…” I heard Haizea mumble under her breath.

My neck snapped towards her. With a smile that didn’t quite hide the intended iciness in my eyes. I once again wrapped an arm on around hers and gave her a ‘little’ squeeze. “Haizea, come. These macarons look amazing!”

Since the person next to me was my brother, Virgil, he politely gave me a small plate already prepared with a slice of lemon chiffon cake and macarons. I thanked him with a smile and asked one of the maids on standby to prepare some tea to go with the cake.

“Miss Velloa! I heard that you summoned your magic manifestation!” Haizea’s younger brother, Zephyr suddenly piped up.

It was Haizea’s turn to ‘squeeze’ me, causing me to almost spill my tea. “Ah, yes. It was a part of my performance to his majesty.” I managed to reply whilst attempting to covertly detach Haizea’s clawing grip.

“You are a first in history if you are able to summon your magic manifestation at this age, Miss Velloa…” Dmitri admired.

“Her magic manifestation was several metres long and well above the height of our soldiers. It was quite a magnificent water dragon…” Prince Kai expressed as he sipped his tea.

I could only say humble words to their admiring expressions. “My mother and father’s magic manifestations are more impressive, but I thank the both of you for complimenting my Levi.”

Maybe they’ll get bored of me once the excitement of my magic manifestation wears off. Children tend to move onto other things fast anyway…

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

I felt a tug at my sleeve and turned to suddenly see Zephyr standing close on my right with gleaming eyes. With a cute sheepish smile, he spoke. “So, your manifestation’s name is Levi? I-is it too much to ask if I could see it?”

Shocked, Haizea chastised him. “Zephyr! Something like tha-”

“Don’t worry, Haizea. He’s merely curious.” I reassured. Turning a considerate smile to the cute Zephyr, I declined his rather adorable request. “Doing something like that now will cause a stir, so please understand that I will have to decline for today, Zephyr Reve.”

With an endearing pout, Zephyr nodded in understanding. As I stared at this loveable boy, I suddenly found one of my palms consolingly patting his soft caramel hair. Ugh, what is with this instinctual urge to head pat lolis and shotas. Speaking of shotas, how did Haizea manage to get this adorable brother of hers to not fear her…? I eyed Haizea as she gave me a not so well-hidden smirk and reluctantly retracted my hand from the shota’s head. This weirdo was a shotacon in her previous life and still is. I hate to admit it but, back then, she managed to indoctrinate me into a closet level shotacon…

“I tend to spoil my younger brother, so I hope that you’ll forgive his behaviour this one time.” Haizea’s words were only for show. The both of us were noble children after all, there was a certain level of courtesy that had to be upheld when we were out in public like this.

I hope the word ‘spoil’ was not your way of rewording the term ‘shotacon training’, Haizea…

Since it was my turn to uphold that ‘courtesy’, I spoke a few empty words. “There is no need to apologize, Haizea. We’re all children after all.”

Whilst Haizea distracted Zephyr with a plate of sweets, Prince Kai spoke. “Your father’s magic creature also takes the form of a water dragon, no?”

I nodded. “Yes, Prince Kai. Its name is Lapis. Mother’s magic creature is a water phoenix named Jing, and my magic instructor, Cain, has one too! Its name is Marina and has the appearance of a large feline with twin tails.”

“If being surrounded by amazing people who have magic creatures helps one to achieve the phenomenon then I must not be too far from gaining my own magic creature.” Prince Kai jested.

Ah, his parents are the Imperare and Vis-Imperare after all, so of course he too would be surrounded by people who have magical creatures…

“I’m sure that the phenomenon will occur regardless of whether or not you do so, Prince Kai.” Although my words sounded like lip-service, it was no lie since the game and anime dictated that he would gain a magic creature.

Although he was supposed to be the one to make history by being the youngest person ever to achieve the phenomenon…

As the Imperare’s tenth year celebration went on, us young ones tried to pass the time with idle chatter, but since children tended to be more active, Haizea and I suggested we played a game. It was a game similar to ‘Hide and Seek’ but instead of there being one seeker, there was one hider, wherein the last one to find and join the hider was the next hider.

I volunteered as the first hider, hence why I was currently crouched by some white lilac shrubs that wasn’t too far from the greenhouse’s main entrance. We, of course, kept the area in which we played within the greenhouse for simplicity and security reasons. Letting out a silent sigh, I gave up on trying not to let my skirts touch the grass and sat myself as comfortably as I could within the cover of the lilac shrubs and under the shade of a single gardenia tree. I could hear the murmur of children’s voices from the hall and the tunes of a piano playing some relaxing entertainment music. Having woken up early to arrive here in the royal palace, and coupled by the anxiety and nervousness of the events that happened today… It was no wonder that, despite my nap in the carriage, I still became exhausted.

I know I was anxious and all but… Those children weren’t so bad... I stifled a yawn as I brought my knees up to rest my head on them.

“So this is where you were, Miss Velloa.” Emerging from the white lilacs, Prince Kai made a sparkling appearance.

Wow, I didn’t even hear him approach.

I could only smile wryly at how fast this smart royal child found me. “It hasn’t even been five minutes, Prince Kai.”

The charming young prince naturally sat himself right next to me as if there wasn’t any other place to do so. “If I couldn’t find someone within my own favourite place, then it would be shameful.” Prince Kai looked at me with a glimmering smile. “This small space is where I like to hide away sometimes…”

To fear a child like this… What was I thinking.

“It’s a nice place, your highness.” I said as I rested my head on my knees once again.

“Just Kai will do fine.” The light-haired cherub said with an innocent expression.

This boy is a natural, huh… I guess I’ll tease him a bit for that.

My lips curled into a small cheeky smile. “Well then… Kai. Why do you like to hide away in a place like this?”

I could tell by the way that his ruby eyes widened that he was slightly taken aback by how easily I gave in. Unfortunately, it was only for a short moment, and then he quickly recovered with a chuckle. “Well, Miss Velloa, it’s because the palace can sometimes feel a bit suffocating… I guess.” He replied with a shy and sheepish expression.

I hummed in understanding. “If it’s just the both of us, then I don’t mind foregoing formalities and having you simply call me Velloa.” As I ended my sentence, I covered up my mouth as I yawned.

I couldn’t quite see Prince Kai’s first-hand reaction because of that yawn, but I could tell that he was delighted. “…Truly?” His eyes shone at my words.

Honestly… What a cute kid.

I wiped the corners of my watery eyes. “Yes, of course.”

Okay, this small body must be feeling really tired… My eyelids feel heavy.

Prince Kai looked at me with a gentle expression. “You’re tired right, Velloa? Don’t worry, you can rest. I’ll wake you up once someone approaches.”

This good-looking shota really is a sight for sore eyes…

I noticed how unhesitating he was at foregoing the formalities and slightly lamented at how eager Prince Kai was to be treated, well, ‘normally’. “Thank you, Kai. I’ll take your kind offer.” I also just realized how heavy my body felt too as I spoke those words.

And so, as I finally relaxed and allowed my eyes to flutter close, I could feel a gentle hand pat my head soothingly.

I’ll admit… This side of the character Prince Kai that was never shown… I quite like it…

After twenty or so minutes, the rest of the seekers found that they could not find where Velloa had hidden and had also suspected that Prince Kai, who was not with them, had somehow found and joined her.

“It’s because this place is so large!” Momentarily forgetting her etiquette, Haizea complained out loud.

“Prince Kai knows this place like the back of his hand. Despite being assigned as his companions for some months now, Zephyr and I have never found him whenever he has hidden himself away in here.” Dmitri explained.

“Right! The knights and maids have a hard time too!” Zephyr added.

Seeing how frustrated the younger ones were getting, Virgil could only sigh and shoot Cain a meaningful look. Cain made a wry expression and nodded.

“Now, now… How about we end this game for now and look for them together?” Virgil began to mediate the situation.

The three younger ones looked between each other and, seeing how they didn’t have anything better to suggest, they silently agreed with Virgil’s suggestion.

Needless to say, Cain knew where Velloa was at the very least. Her father, Hakoda, assigned him as the siblings’ escort and security after all. As such, the group ended up following his lead.

That being said, behind some white lilac shrubs and under a gardenia tree, in a small space not too far from the royal palace’s greenhouse main entrance, a young girl and boy’s figures could be seen resting without a single care in the world. Their backs leaned against the trunk of the gardenia tree with the girl’s head resting on the boy’s shoulder and an arm wrapped behind her as if to protect her. Other than the newly arrived observers, the only movement that could be seen around them was the slight rustling of leaves and their small breaths as they slept soundly.

----------CHAPTER END----------