"Yo Sieg, time for some arm wrestling!?" the Hoshidan prince approached the Nohrian prince with a cheerful grin on his face while wrapping his arm on his shoulders. But no reply.
"Sieg?" No reply. "Earth to Siegbert!"
"What!?" the blond male brought out a bit shocked. But then he realized and sighed relieved. "Oh, it is you Prince Shiro." "Hey, we agreed not to be formal with each other right?" this one reminded. "We are buddies, remember?"
"Oh, I must have forgotten. I apologize."
"Hey, don't be sorry. It was a minor accident, nothing more."
Then Shiro let go of his buddy. Ever since the arm wrestling started the two princes became very close friends. Or as the Hoshidan loves to say, 'buddies'. Befriending the Hoshidan prince was good to keep a good relationship to Hoshido, at least this is what the Norhian prince thought.
Besides, Shiro was quiet unusual for a prince. Of course he was a kind soul and serious when he needs to be, but he took things way more calm than Siegbert himself. Also his speech is quiet informal. He was the complete opposite of his father, prince Ryoma of Hoshido.
It does not mean Shiro is an unpleasant nuisance. Not in the slightest. In all honesty, he was quiet refreshing at times.
"Something the matter?" the brown haired asked while looking closely at his friend. "You seem worried."
"I would lie if I answered your question with a simple 'no', right?" Sieg answered with a question.
"Let me take a guess, you have problems with your girlfriend."
The Nohrian looked confused at his friend. "What?"
"You and Emi of course!"
"Me and-" But Siegbert interrupted himself. "No, not in the slightest. Besides, Emi is only my friend. Not my girlfriend."
"You sure? Because-"
"I am certain Shiro."
"Hey, I gotcha. No need to make that face" Shiro jested when looking at his buddy's face. It was close to become at least a tad bit angered. "Something's off with you though, I give it that much."
"Is it obvious?" Siegbert asked while his expression calmed down.
The Hoshidan prince nodded. "Very obvious. Want to talk about it?"
"It is just…" Sieg began. He tried to find the right words without sounding pathetic. "Just?" Shiro only repeated, waiting for an answer. But right away the other one replied: "No, it's nothing. Please, do not break your head over it."
"If you say so. I'm not forcing you to talk. But if you change your mind you now know who to approach."
"Yeah" the Nohiran replied a bit more quietly. He couldn't tell his friend. It was nothing to involve other people into in the first place.
"Did you need something from me though?" Siegbert asked right after this all. "Me?" Shiro questioned before he got his cheerful expression back. "Not really. I just thought it'd be fun to have another arm wrestling match."
"Another one?"
"Yeah. But if you don't have time-"
"I accept your offer" the young prince replied. It was a good opportunity to get his mind off things for a bit so why not?
"Heh, sorry Sieg" This sentence repeated itself right in his head while he looked at the swollen hand. This time Shiro accidently overdid it. This arm wrestling match was very intense. Hopefully-
"Lord Siegbert! Are you alright!? How bad is it!?" someone screamed while slamming the door open. How did she find out?
"I am not about to die Emi, calm-" but before he was able to even finish the blond haired female grabbed both of his hands when approaching him and stared intensive at both.
After a few seconds she let go of his left hand and head his right with both hands.
A quiet yet quick "Ow!" escaped from his lips. And she only squeezed it lightly.
After a few second she let go of his hand and asked: "How did this happen?"
A little bit of silence until he told her that he and Shiro were arm wrestling.
"Well, this hand needs resting for the next few days."
He quietly agreed. And there she goes, worrying about him like a caretaker again. How long has it been since they actually had a usual talk, away from duties?
Now, everyone has duties. He knew that. Actually he was the expert when it came to duties. But… he'd lie if he told himself he wouldn't appreciate a little chat.
Siegbert wanted to open his mouth. He wanted to ask "What did you do today?" or "Did something exciting happen?" but then decided not to. He'd just get scolded with: "How can you think of such things when you are injured!? You really have some nerves at times!" He appreciates concern and all but even then this feels like letting a distanced person take care of you and not someone you trust.
Suddenly Emi decided to meet his gaze. She seemed to have realized that he was staring at her. "You need something?" she asked while looking questioning at the young prince. But he only shook his head and turned around.
"No, nothing" he replied. "I do not want to hold you up."
"You're doing nothing of the sorts though."
He knew he didn't. Whenever he said it this was always her reply. No exceptions.
"Although, it might be the best to leave you alone for the rest of the day Milord" the female suddenly spoke up while taking her leave. "The arm wrestling with Shiro was sure exhausting, especially for your right hand. You should get some rest. Good night!"
"Yeah, I will gladly take this advice" he mumbled while the door closed.
And a step away from his friend again.
"What is this?" the little girl asked when looking on the table. She was pointing at the plate filled with a berry cake and stared at it fascinated.
Young Siegbert looked surprised at her, almost shocked. "You never heard of cake before!?" he asked, trying not to sound as shocked as his face but failed miserably. Talking about manners.
But the girl didn't seem to mind because she responded while shaking her head:"No. Where I come from not such a round shaped thing exists. What is it for?"
"Well… You can eat it"
"Like these roundish, yellowish brownish eatable things growing out of the ground?"
"You mean potatoes?"
"If that is how you call them."
"How do you call them?"
"Roundish, yellowish, brownish, eatable things."
"What an odd place you come from."
Silence. The little girl stared right at him.
Did the Nohrian prince insult her? He did not intend to do so! He should clear this up right a-
"No, I gave them that name. But your name for them is shorter" she answered with a light smile. "You call them potatoes here… That is exciting to know! Thank you!"
"Uhm… You are welcome" he almost shuttered surprising. She gets worked up by such a simple thing.
"This relam and your world must be so exciting I can't wait to ask you more about it! If it's not too much that is!"