After Jay left, Yusaku proposed to show Ryoken around the castle. He didn't need to be a mind reader to know the teen was super excited. It was written all over his face. And this time, the young prince let his merman friend used his legs. However, Yusaku made it clear that if Ryoken felt any pain, he must tell him right away. The merman prince then replied him with a simple nod.
There were a lot of things Ryoken had never seen before, things he didn't think exist. This tour was a great experience for him. As they made their way to the garden, they bumped into the captain of the guard, Faust. Ryoken remembered him, he was next to Yusaku when he first got here and the one who wounded him. The moment their eyes met, the knight furrowed his brows.
"My apologize. Have we met before? You look really familiar."
"His name is Ryoken, a friend of mine." Yusaku stepped forward, shielding him. "You might recognise him if I say he was the one who broke into the castle with a small boy the other day."
"Ah, I see. I heard you got a serious wound. How are you feeling now?"
"He's fine. Thank you for asking. I hope you don't mind, Faust, he is muted so I'll be doing all the talking for him."
"Of couse not, your highness. I should get back to my training, please excuse me." He bowed then left.
Only when he was out a sight did Yusaku let out a relife sigh.
"That was close. Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you."
"I'm sorry for what he did back then. He was just doing his job."
"I don't blame him. If I was in the same situation, I would do the same."
"Anyway, let's head to the garden. You will be amazed of how beautiful the flowers are this season." He smiled and grabbed Ryoken's hand.
As they continued their little tour, on the second floor of the opposite building, a middle age man was gazing at them through the window. The moment he saw Ryoken's earings, his eyes sharpened. At the same time, the door slowly opened as Faust walked in.
"I heard you want to see me, your majesty."
"Indeed. Tell me about the creature you saw on the day of the shipwreck, the one which tried to take my son's life."
...
Arriving at the garden, Ryoken was amazed. The flowers' color weren't as unique as the one he chased after years ago. However, when stood together, they created a colorful painting which took his breaths away. But that wasn't the best part.
Under Yusaku's lead, they headed to the center. And when the young prince clapped his hands, a flock of butterflies took fly, circling around them before disappeared in the blue sky.
"So, do you like my little surprise?"
"Yeah! That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!"
"That's good. Seeing you happy makes me happy too."
"Yusaku."
"Hm?"
"There is something I have been meaning to tell you. It is also one of the reasons I came all this way to see you."
"You...look serious. Is it something bad?"
The next second, a gust of wind blew pass the flowers causing their petals to fly into the air and rained down on the two teens as Yusaku felt something hot on his lips. By the moment he realized what was going on, that person had already pulled back.
"Ryoken... You..."
"This is what I have been trying to tell you." He smiled as he lowered his hands and moved his lips. It was only three words but those three words struck him harder than anything.
"I love you."
Only when he was out a sight did Yusaku let out a relife sigh.
"That was close. Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you."
"I'm sorry for what he did back then. He was just doing his job."
"I don't blame him. If I was in the same situation, I would do the same."
"Anyway, let's head to the garden. You will be amazed of how beautiful the flowers are this season." He smiled and grabbed Ryoken's hand.
As they continued their little tour, on the second floor of the opposite building, a middle age man was gazing at them through the window. The moment he saw Ryoken's earings, his eyes sharpened. At the same time, the door slowly opened as Faust walked in.
"I heard you want to see me, your majesty."
"Indeed. Tell me about the creature you saw on the day of the shipwreck, the one which tried to take my son's life."
Arriving at the garden, Ryoken was amazed. The flowers' color weren't as unique as the one he chased after years ago. However, when stood together, they created a colorful painting which took his breaths away. But that wasn't the best part.