Letting Yuki escape from beyond his reaches felt like being hit with a giant rock. Saying it didn’t hurt would be a lie. He had only just spent time together after how long of dreaming of such a chance?

Far too long.

Something about how Yuki’s brother acted put him off. It would be a detail he filed away in the recesses of his brain. It could be a conversation starter for next time he and the other prince met. Hey, when you’re desperate, you use what is at your disposal.

For now, the Raspan prince pat down his trousers and jacket of any and all excess dirt, dust, whatever other debris clung to the fabric, and made his way back towards Miridia.

As he closed in on the little village, he was not with a sight he should have fully expected. Part of himself was hoping Ren would have already left for home and he would be confronted later.

Things were never that simple.

Once Vayne was noticed atop the hill he was making his way down, each of the accompanying guards saluted their runaway prince. Between them, the king gave an irritated 'hmph', gesturing for his son to mount his horse quickly so that they may depart.

No words were spoken between them, yet the prince knew he was in for an earful later. That and worse.

Without waiting or watching his predecessor get ready, Ren swiftly left and started the journey back.

As the rest of the group set out, Vayne was approached by one of the others. A man only two years older than he himself was. One of the many faces he had grown up around who stayed for the long run.

"Yo, Vayne. What happened? Where did ya go? And what got his royal crankiness well, more aggravated than normal?"

"Vaughn, can we talk about this later?" The brunet found his body leaning forward, the weight of his chest resting against the mane and neck of his horse.

"That bad, huh?" His companion shot a look of sympathy over, choosing to ride ahead and leave the other to his thoughts.

Vayne closed his eyes, letting Lyn steer the way. By now, she was probably used to her master giving her the reins, so to say. He would let her either follow whoever he was with, or if they were alone, he would let her decide their destination. Gave him time to let his mind wander.

Which, it currently was doing so. Right back to when he was met with that child from before. His mind replayed when she was decapitated and what her expression may have held before and after her life was taken from her.

What if he hadn't done this? All he was doing was following orders, yet even in doing so he messed everything up. Couldn't he have just ran after she confronted him?

Wouldn't it be better to be a coward, scared of a child than a murderer?

Vayne breathed out a prolonged sigh, one that lasted only until Lyn shoved her nose against his leg. It was her way of saying they had arrived. Right. Dismounting, he made his way towards the stables himself when startled by a booming voice.

"Vayne. Come." Ren demanded.

His feet froze to the ground, unsure of whether he should ignore the command or continue on as he was.

As if to decide for him, Mira ran over, pulling the reins from his friends hands. "I'll take care of her. You see what he wants. He...sounds more angry than usual. Vayne, if you need someone to talk to after, you know where I am."

"I appreciate it." His response was just above a whisper, unsure if he was able to produce anything better than that at that moment. Mustering up what little confidence he had left, Vayne let his legs what felt like metal guide him down towards Ren's room where he was led too.

It must have either been important, or he wanted absolutely certain they would be alone.

Once they both had entered the room, Ren shut the door, walked over and slapped Vayne across the face. “What were you thinking?” His brows were furrowed in anger as well as disdain.

“You said to-”

“I said to do so without causing a scene. Not make an idiot of yourself, which in turn makes one out of me and loses me deals.” To further prove his point, Ren slapped his son’s other cheek. “If Ryu was here I wouldn’t need worry about this.”

Again with this. Ryu this...Ryu that...Why even bother having a second child if you keep comparing them to the first? “Well, I’m not Ryu! I’m not perfect! I’m not ‘daddy’s little angel’, you don’t even view me as a person! Why should I give a rats ass what is good for you if you can’t reciprocate the acti-”

Slap!

Once more, Vayne was struck across the cheek. Only this time it was with a lot more force than the others. Before he held back. “Don’t talk back to me. You will obey me. Follow orders next time. This is your last warning.”

“What if I don’t want there to be a next time?” Vayne countered.

“Stop testing your luck. Leave before I find some other way to punish you. For now, you’re forbidden from joining the next outing.” Ren sent his son a glare and pointed towards his door.

Rather than further fighting, he held his tongue and left it at that.

What he would give to see Yuki again so soon.