A few weeks after, not all that much had changed. Kai did find out the poison used on the attempted murder weapon and as he had guessed right before, had all the herbs used to create it at his own disposal. Not to say he wasn't trusted to not use it himself, but it was figured it would be best if only he knew the recipe and have the ingredients to lessen the danger. Other than that, not much else happened.

Actually, that wasn't entirely true. Fayt witnessed multiple accounts of his childhood friends butting heads over the slightest things. If they happened to wear an outfit with remotely the same color scheme, they complained. If they even saw each other across the hall, dirty looks were sent.

They behaved like children and it puzzled the prince. The three of them used to be so close. What could have happened?

***

“Hey, Axel! Kai!” Young Fayt excitedly waved his hands from atop a large rock he climbed on top of. He overflew with pride. After all, he climbed it all by himself. For someone like him, that was quite an accomplishment.

“Be careful before you hurt yourself. You need to be more careful!” Axel growled at his prince.

“Come on now. Let him have some fun. Fayt! How is the view from there?” Kai cupped his hands around his mouth to further propel his voice.

“I can see so far! I can see the castle from here!” the prince responded. He jumped up and down to further show his happiness. However, as he jumped, his foot slipped against the surface of the rock, throwing him backward.

Both of the other boys panicked. However, Axel was slightly faster, leaping forward with arms stretched out, catching the slightly shorter boy. Letting the other roll out of his arms, Axel lifted them both back up before unleashing his worried lecture. “I told you to be careful! What if I weren’t fast enough and you got hurt? Be more aware of your surroundings.” The knight-to-be glared towards the blond, only to be met with the other brushing himself off before smiling up.

“But I didn't get hurt! I knew you'd catch me.” The smile along with the endearing words sent a wave of warmth across the brunet's body. Did he trust him that much?

“O-of course! I'll always be there.”

Behind them, neither noticed the raven-haired boy’s confused look as he tried to understand the unsettling feeling that flew across his own body as he watched the other two.

***

Later that same day, the three took a stroll through the town. The duo from the palace still wore their robes. However, they kept their hoods down since it seemed none of the busybodies they passed by knew their prince by face.

The only major downfall of that was that many village girls stopped them now and then to flirt with the three boys. Mostly Axel. Despite the young age, the boy already had the looks of a lady killer. And many of the girls figured if they got on his good side and won his favor, they could make their parents proud and bring home a wonderful marriage candidate.

Speaking of getting stopped by village girls... A rather small blonde stopped the three in hopes of striking up a conversation with the brunet.

As they chatted, Kai pulled Fayt away to give them space.

“Hmph, must be nice to get the girls’ attention.” Fayt crossed his arms and huffed. For some reason, he couldn't grab the attention of the fairer sex quite as well as his friends could and it bugged him. Arms still crossed, he looked up towards Kai with a serious face. “Am I bad looking?”

The other boy blinked a few times before breaking out into a fit of laughter. “You're beautiful, those girls just don't know what they're missing.” He smiled widely and patted the smaller one on the head, ruffling his hair.

“Thank you, Kai!”

Much like earlier, those two didn't notice Axel as he looked towards them with his own rush of jealousy burning through his body. He hated how they seemed to be in their own world, yet he couldn't quite put his feeling into words.

***

Sighing to himself, Fayt shook his head out of the clouds as a knock on the door echoed throughout his room.

“Your Highness, might I have a word?” Seb's voice rung through the wooden door.

“Ah yes, I'm coming.” Slipping into one of his silk robes, the prince walked to the door. As he opened it, he was met with the neutral face of the head butler, just as expected.

“Good morning.” He bowed before continuing. “Her Majesty has requested you join her for tea later this afternoon.”

“Oh of course. Tell her I'll happily join. Thank you, Seb. Now…if you'd mind, I'd like my peace and quiet back.”

With a nod, the butler respected his wishes and departed.

Seb has served the royal family since before Fayt was even born. The two didn't hate nor like each other. Their relationship was purely professional and nothing more.

Perhaps that is why the butler held no regrets towards what he had planned for the afternoon.