Having raced off away from where he once was, Fayt hadn’t even realized that his speed would have also put a strain on the little bundle in his arms and only slowed down when he felt a little tug on the collar of his shirt. Sighing, he readjusted his hold on his sister and gave her a little kiss on the cheek. “I’m sorry Rina, whenever I’m around him...I don’t know how to keep my cool.”

In consolation, the small girl nodded her head and held on tighter. “He’s only like that around you...he likes seeing your reactions.” Even the young girl found amusement whenever the two went off into their own routine. Anything that secretly made her brother happy was good in her eyes.

Shaking his head, the prince picked up his pace again as he liked to do whenever he was put into a mood. “He just finds joy in my misery is all. Who would want to flirt with the likes of him!”

“Brother why do you lie?”

“I am not lying!”

Despite normally being on the quieter side, whenever it was just the two of them, Rina tried to be more outspoken. Especially when it came to his relationships with others.

“Someday you’ll think differently.”

Grunting in disapproval, Fayt resumed his pace until he would stop by the kitchens to drop the princess off.

***

“Your highness, what a pleasant surprise!” At their arrival, the few cooks present smiled and greeted their prince.

“I see you brought with you the little angel,” one of the cooks, a middle-aged woman smiled as Rina squirmed out of her brother’s grasp and hopped to the ground and into the woman’s arms for a quick hug. “The others are outside in the garden playing if you wish to join, my lady. But first, have a few berries as a snack.”

Rina beamed, graciously took the gift and waved at the adults as she scurried off to join her friends.

“I’m so glad she made friends with the other children. I was worried she’d grow up a hermit holed up in the library like Aria.” Fayt sighed and bowed towards the cooks. “I appreciate you watching over her.”

“Oh no! Not at all! It is our honor, Your Highness.” Both of the middle-aged ladies present curtseyed in response. “She’s our little ray of sunshine here, compared to the little demons our boys are. Perhaps if they spend more time with her, her goodness will rub off on them.”

Chuckling, he nodded his head in agreeance. “Much better than her older sister at least. Goddess, I hope she doesn’t end up like Nala.”

The cooks giggled as well at the thought of the second oldest child.

“I’ll leave you ladies back to your business then, I have some business to take care of.”

“Oh! We heard about what had happened earlier. We’re so glad you’re alright and no one was harmed. We’ll be praying to the goddess for you every day.”

Reminded of what he was trying to forget, Fayt stopped and nodded with a forced smile. “Yes...Thank you.”

With that, he departed the kitchen and made his way towards where he told Axel he’d meet him. ‘I wonder what he wanted... He seemed serious so I doubt it is to waste my time with flirting.’ And yet, despite how much he said he despised the idea, a little part of him enjoyed it.