𝐒𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐓𝐘 ━ 𝚠𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚙.

Chapter 15.

────────────────────────

THE IMPERIAL PALACE WAS REALLY big, Rohan detachedly concluded almost two hours after getting lost and wandering the giant halls of the Golden Palace.

He knew his father was in a meeting with the Emperor and other nobles, but that did nothing in helping him find his way back to the library he was deposited in with as stern warning to not cause trouble.

Easier said than done.

Seeing two knights running a little ways away, Rohan was about to ask for directions back, given that he'd had time to come to terms with the impossibility of returning on his own, but he couldn't even get one word out before the voice of an elderly woman echoed.

"Have you yet to find His Highness?"

The two knights froze as they turned to look at a tall, willowy woman with greying hair pulled back in a low bun. "We apologise Madam, but he is nowhere to be found." There was dismay in the man's voice as the older woman sighed.

"Sir Claes will be in a tizzy if he hears of this." The Madam put a hand up to her face and pinched the bridge of her nose. "There is nothing to say... Just keep looking."

"Yes Madam!"

Feeling a bit miffed at having his presence ignored, Rohan couldn't help but allow curiosity to consume him and wonder who they were looking for with such fervour.

Just as he was about to go search for a servant to guide him back, a childish giggle reached his ears and from the corner of his eye a black and while blur ran in the opposite direction of the one he was headed to.

"Biyakko, faster!" Running steps moved away from him with that one sentence, and Rohan couldn't help but follow.

He didn't know how much he ran or for how long he followed those steps, but after taking one turn, he found himself in a lush garden with blooming blue roses.

The Duchal Heir still found it astounding how much the weather conditions differed here, in the capital, from the constant snow in the North.

"Wait, Biyakko, no一!"

Green eyes searching, he couldn't help their widening when they landed on the figure of a baby tiger sitting on the giggling figure of a much younger child.

Blonde hair as if woven from the sun's rays, a cherubic face that betrayed the royal features the child would have in their adulthood and a shorter body dressed in fine silks of blue and white with golden embroidery.

But when that face turned towards him, Rohan felt trapped within the burning gaze of jeweled blue, eyes as if carved out from the brightest stars.

As if sensing that the Prince's attention was no longer on it, the tiger cub got off of the royal and turned to look at him with a near inexistent glower.

Placing a gentle hand over the beast's head, the young Prince admonished gently as he rose to his feet, "This must be a guest of father's, so play nice Biyakko."

It seemed to do the trick, all things considered.

Appearing pleased with his pet's behaviour, the golden haired boy turned to look at him once more. "I'm Athanasius De Alger Obelia! What's your name?"

The questioning smile and tilted head Rohan got as an inquiry was enough to make him a victim of cuteness.

With an embarrassingly burning face, the orange haired preteen bowed while mumbling, "I'm Rohan Illaris Banafrit. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."