“Ria, what’s wrong?” Ashnor had a worried look on his face as we are seated in their garden enjoying snack time with their parents.
I shook my head and smiled at him.
“She is a well-behaved child, isn’t that right my love?” Ashen smiled at me then at Lucil.
“She sure is, I haven’t even heard her cry. Not even once!” Lucil smiled but somehow her expression became sad.
“What seems to be the problem, my love?”
Lucil sighed, “I wondered if somehow she was traumatized so much because of what happened to her and brother, to the point that she can no longer feel any emotion.”
“Let’s just care for her even more. I think children must be genuinely loved by their families for them to be comforted through their trauma.” Ashen also looked at me with a sad expression.
“Mom! Dad! We’ll take Ria around the mansion.”
Ashwin nodded his head in agreement as he tried to swallow the food inside his mouth.
“Lesh Ghowsh!”
“Dear, Ashwin, it’s not proper to talk when your mouth is full.” Lucil patted his head as Ashwin swallowed his food.
“Let’s go!”
“Okay, just be careful. You two must become responsible older cousins of Flizeria.” Ashen smiled at the three of us as we walked.
“You were scanning the area as if you’re looking for something. So I figured you want to have a look around.” Ashnor smiled at me as he held my hand.
I was actually wondering if the boy from last will night will show up again, but after our small talk, I have never felt his presence again.
“I wonder where Blue is, I want to go sightseeing.” Ashwin pouted beside me.
“I heard Mom and Dad talking about Blue earlier.” Ashnor leads us towards a big tree, “Let’s sit here.”
“What did they talk about?” Ashwin asked.
“Well, they say Blue was restless ever since coming here. She’s been scanning the area over and over again.”
Did Blue notice the presence of the boy? Is he still near the vicinity?
I remembered what the boy look, I can also still remember what he would look like when he becomes older. Who was that boy? Should I even tell someone about him? Also, the dream I had got me worried about the well-being of the emperor.
“Fifi? Are you okay?” The twins are now looking at me with a concerned look on their faces.
“Ria’s been like that since earlier this morning. What’s wrong Ria?”
“Heeeeey!!!” We heard someone shouting from afar so the three of us looked in the direction of the voice.
“It’s meee!!!”
It’s Nix, he’s running as fast as he can towards us, with a huge grin on his face. Suddenly, he became more comfortable with us – especially with me.
“Oh! Nix is here!” Ashnor waved at him.
“Why is he here?” Ashwin pouted to himself, “I still don’t trust him with Fifi.”
I touched Ashwin’s face to comfort and also as I way of telling him to no longer worry about it. I can feel it for myself that I can already trust Nix, after all, he’s still a child.
“Hey, guys! I brought Niveus with me, would you want to go somewhere?”
“You brought your mother’s dragon?” Ashwin excitedly stood up, as if he was not just pouting about a moment ago.
“Yeah! Mother told me I could bring her along with me.”
Niveus was walking casually behind Nix as Nix was hopping up and down. I can’t believe he changed that much after playing with math problems, or maybe this was his real self and he’s just showing it to us now.
“Where would the young highnesses want to go?” Niveus bowed in front of us with a big smile on her face.
She was very pretty, her white eyes, white lashes, and white long hair are all very pretty to me. Well, Blue was also very pretty but Niveus is more elegant and mature. I guess dragons are very beautiful creatures, I bet they are more beautiful than elves. Well, that is if elves exist in this world.
“So where will we go?” Ashnor started thinking where.
I suddenly remembered the waterfalls in my dreams, is it possible for us to go somewhere where there’s a waterfall?
“Watt,” I started to talk before stopping myself.
“Hmmm? The princess is trying to say something.” Nix kneeled down to look at me in the face he was staring smiling happily at me waiting for me to finish.
But I don’t know how to continue, should I just speak fluently? They already knew about my ability in math even at this age, so it would be okay, right?
I was about to talk again but Nix suddenly became aware he was smiling brightly at me so he looked away, blushing.
Awwwe, so this child also knows how to feel shy.
“Waterfalls?” I looked at Niveus with a curious look on my face.
Niveus put her hand on her chin as she started to think, “A waterfall, huh?”
The four of us stared intently at her, waiting for her to recall a place with a waterfall.
“I’m sorry I’ve got nothing, although there are waterfalls somewhere west of the capital, it’s far from here. I’m sorry your highnesses.”
West of here, huh? I should check that area when I grow older.
“So, where else should we go?” Ashwin started pouting.
“How about we’ll take a walk around the capital? The citizens are setting up extra stalls since there’s an upcoming banquet for the princess.” Niveus suggested.
“Are we even okay to go outside?” Ashnor asked seriously.
“Well, technically you’re not. But you all are with me, let’s just all wear something casual to avoid unwanted attention.” Niveus smiled at us with a hint of playfulness.
“Will they even allow us to?” Nix asked this time, already feet away from me.
What’s with him all of a sudden?
“I’ll go ask for permission, the four of you should stay here and wait for a moment.”
Niveus left the four of us under a huge tree inside the mansion.
“It’s great to have no classes for five days! This is all thanks to Fifi’s banquet!”
“Hey, where’s Princess Fae, didn’t you bring her?” Ashnor asked Nix.
“Nah, she’s such a hassle.” Nix shrugged, “She’s such a baby.”
“Well, Ria is technically also a baby.”
Nix looked at me but looked away almost immediately.
“Well, she does not cry. Fae cries all the time!”
“I am so glad I don’t have a younger sibling!” Ashwin smiled broadly with a calm expression, “Since the both of us are of the same age.”
“Well to me, you are the annoying younger sibling Ashwin,” Ashnor told him bluntly.
“Hey!”
“Well, it’s true.” Ashnor shrugged as Ashwin pouted as he kept on pushing that he was not an annoying younger sibling.
“Well, you are.”
“I am not!”
“Well, the way you are acting Ashwin, it seems like it’s true.” Nix butted in their conversation.
“Who asked for your opinion, Nix?” Ashwin looked at Nix with an irritated look.
“Hey, I’m just telling the truth!” Nix held up his hands in his defense.
“You are not part of this conversation and you are not right. Right, Ashnor?”
“Well, I’m sorry Ashwin but this time, Nix is right.” Ashnor chuckled as he looked at Ashwin.
Ashwin looked as if he was being betrayed by Ashnor.
I listened to them bickering, the three of them are still of age three but they can already make a full conversation with one another. I’m not really knowledgeable about the development of a child, but I know that this is somewhat unrealistic for other three-year-olds.
Of course, I am a different case since I have the mental age of someone older, but the three of them are just normal children. Well, of course, they are of imperial blood so maybe they are natural-born geniuses or something.
“Your highnesses, we are allowed to go outside but we’ll wear disguises. Would that be okay?” Niveus came back bringing us with good news.
“Alright! Let’s go!” The three of them jumped as maids came and assisted us inside to begin changing our clothes and appearance as much as possible.