"You can roam around the castle, or head to your room if you want," Xiao told as he stood up from his chair "oh, okay" Venti also happily stood up and began following Xiao. "Why are you following me?"
"Cause I want to" he smiled, Xiao groaned and started walking again. "I'm gonna practice my swordsmanship, it's not gonna be fun, not for you. So you don't have to follow me"
"Well, Xiao– hehe I don't know where to go. I mean this palace is enormous! I might get Lost"
Xiao looked behind him and chuckled. "Fine, fine," he said while patting the other's head.
-
"Over here, brother!" Beidou waves while holding her sword. "Wait, didn't I tell you to bring her to the maids?"
"Ningguang isn't here yet, Venti doesn't have to practice yet"
"You got a point," she rubbed her chin. "When she arrives quickly bring Venti to her, okay?"
"Hm"
"Where's your sword, Alatus?"
"Oh, I forgot. Venti, could you please get my sword? It is in my closet, I believe that the maids would help you get there" he smiled.
"Sure! No problem" he walked inside again and aimed to find the room, Xiao just watches him leave with a smirk on his face.
"You are very different today... Alatus, are you alright? Do I need to call a pharmacist? You know we can cancel practice again today"
"What are you talking about? I'm not sick"
"The smile you're wearing right now, weird"
"Am I not allowed to smile?"
"It's not that, it's just–" Xiao looked at him suspiciously, "Aaah! I get it now, haha. I didn't know you were serious about the girl"
"Oh, well I am always serious" the princess continued giggling until Venti finally showed up with a long brown box in his hands, Xiao was pleased that he brought it with the box, and not the sword itself, he might accidentally stab himself with it. "Phew, here!"
Vent I handed the prince his sword while smiling "Thank you,"
"Okay! Since I know how much you dislike warm-ups, let's just quickly go on with the practice" they both got their sword up, Venti froze for a few seconds but decided to step back and just watch from afar.
Xiao was pretty good, the way he moves was admiring. He dodges Beidou's sword smoothly, swaying his sword freely as if it was not heavy at all.
Sweat was falling from both of their faces after they finished practicing. "Whoo! Hah, good job bud, you got better"
Venti stopped staring at them when he felt a light tap on his shoulder "Princess Venti, would you like to go and wipe Prince Alatus' face?" She grinned at him.
"Huh? M-me?"
"Yes, I suppose that you are allowed to, Princess Venti"
"Uh- ehehe uh, sure! Wouldn't be any problem for me.."
"Okay! Please follow me" he stands up and followed the maid, she gave Venti a white cloth, which will soon be used to wipe the Prince's skin.
"Venti-?" Xiao froze when he realized what the boy was doing. "Just stay still!" He wiped Xiao's face, Xiao looking directly at Venti's eyes while Venti was busy cleaning him. "I-"
"Getting a little flustered over there, brother?" Beidou smirked and puts down her sword.
"Ningguang? Ningguang!" Beidou quickly ran towards the said girl and hugged her "Hello, Beidou. How are you" she pulled away from the hug and started wiping Beidou's face.
"I've been good, what about you?"
"Also good"
Xiao knew Venti was comfortable by the sudden make-out so he dragged him somewhere far away. "Who's that?"
"My sister's wife"
"She looks pretty"
"I know, but she's very strict, could be annoying sometimes"
"Wait, so if it's your sister's wife, then she's also a Princess?"
"Yeah, oh by the way I think you are supposed to take your lesson now..."
"What lesson?"
"You know what, you don't have to do it. I'm afraid Ningguang might be too strict to you, so let's just sleep"
"After all those practices... It makes sense that you are tired so sure" And so they both head to the prince's room. Venti wasn't tired, but Xiao sure is. "Wait- I should head to my room-"
"No, stay here until I fall asleep"
"But why?"
"I don't know, just stay, ugh"
"Jeez" it went silent for a good twenty-two minutes, the prince isn't showing any sign of being asleep, and it irritates both of them more "Are you seriously not gonna sleep yet?"
"I can't sleep, okay?"
"Then sleep!"
"I said I can't!"
"Shut your eyes and then sleep"
"It is better if you shut your mouth" Venti rolled his eyes. "Hey, can you sing?" Xiao asked, his voice was really low, probably scared and embarrassed.
"You said I should shut my mouth so I'm not answering that" he teased.
"Answer it, goddamnit"
"Argh, fine. Maybe I can, happy?"
"Sing for me"
"Pardon?" Venti blinked twice. "You heard me, stop pretending"
"Hehehehe, what song?"
"Any, I just want to sleep, I'm so tired"
"Uh alright" he clears his throat and started singing
You're alone
You're on your own
So what, have you gone blind?
Have you forgotten what you have and what is yours?
His voice was relaxing, it was beautiful... It is almost like a blessing to Xiao's ears.
Glass half empty, glass half full
Well, either way you won't be going thirsty
Count your blessings not your flaws
Ahh... So nice...
You've got it all
You lost your mind in the sound
There's so much more, you can reclaim your crown
You're in control
Rid of the monsters inside your head
Put all your faults to bed
You can be King again
"Wow..."
"You are still awake!?"
"How am I supposed to sleep if I'm listening to your voice!"
"Xiao that's the point why I'm singing! To make you sleep-" they heard a knock on the door and Venti quickly checked who it was. Peeking from the door, he could see this scary Ningguang lady. "H-hey!"
"Alatus. I am taking her for a while"
"Ugh, just go"
"Xiao-"
He got dragged into some sort of living room area? He wasn't sure, all he saw was a cozy couch, fireplace, table, and some books. "You will now have your lesson as the princess. You will have to learn the rules of this castle, all seven hundred ninety-two of them."
"SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY-TWO RULES?!"
"Yes, you heard me right"
"That's too many!!"
"You shouldn't complain over little things. This is only your first step, you still got a lot to learn" she grabbed one book and started randomly reading it.
"Read all the rules again and again and you'll achieve your goal. I'll come back here later and hope you memorize at least thirty-five of it. We will proceed into our next step once we meet again. I will take my leave" she left while still reading the book, causing Venti to freeze.
"What the- I think I'm going to die... Xiao wasn't wrong when he said she was strict. Miss gurl, why are you rushing!?"
"It's because they are aware of the great King's death"