Len took a long breath and sank back into the velvet depths of the sofa. Eric, too, sat beside him like a silent guardian without a word.
Just then, the muffled hum of the silver trolley's wheels came to a halt nearby. With great skill, the two handmaids lifted the silver covers from the black and gold carved trolley, and the table was instantly adorned with royal delicacies.
First, sweet dishes like 'Crystal Honey Tarts' and 'Amber Pudding' were served on gold-rimmed plates. As Eric looked at those glittering sweet treats, a strange crease appeared on his brow, as if he had a natural distaste for their sweetness.
Len, who was reading every shifting emotion on Eric's face with his golden eyes, couldn't suppress his grin.
Eric looked at Len, confused. He couldn't fathom why Len was smiling so much. Then, the maid brought out more dishes from the trolley—spicy 'Smoked Wild-herb Shreds' and 'Salted Moon-grain Bread.
' These were not sweet. Eric's gaze settled on the savory dishes before returning to Len's mischievous face. Now he understood.
"I know you avoid sweets," Len said, a spark in his eyes. Eric looked away for a moment and then gave a light flick to Len's forehead with his middle finger.
"It's not that I absolutely dislike sweets," Eric said with a touch of assertion, "I just... don't like drowning everything in syrup like you do."
Eric took a bite of his favorite dish and then turned to Len. "Is that why you chased after the maids a while ago?"
Len nodded innocently. "I knew you wouldn't like the sweets, so I told them to bring something else for you.
" Len picked up a 'Glazed Berry' from his plate and turned to Eric while eating. "So, what were you going to ask me earlier?"
Eric watched him closely. "I just wanted to know if you always eat here in this hall?"
Len paused to think. "Yes, mostly here."
"But why?" Eric's eyes held a question. "Sitting here alone...?"
Len focused on his dish, answering without looking up. "I don't like eating alone in the 'Royal Dining Hall'. There are others there, like Astria's uncle, but I find it uncomfortable to sit with them.
Astria herself only comes there occasionally; she mostly dines in her private chambers. I'd rather sit here than feel lonely among everyone else at that massive table."
Len kept taking bites as he spoke. In his haste to talk and eat, his hand slipped slightly, and a small piece of food fell onto his new royal clothes. Seeing him so engrossed in talking, Eric couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
He wasn't mocking Len; rather, he was happy that Len had cared so much for his preferences, ordering non-sweet dishes specifically for him. Eric realized that behind Len's mischievous smile lay a deep sense of care.
The rare smile on Eric's face deepened. He pulled a white silk handkerchief from his jacket pocket. Len was still engrossed in his food and chatter when Eric gently tilted Len's face toward him. The cool, soft touch of the silk felt smooth against Len's cheek, right where the food had left a mark.
"You've only just put on these new royal clothes," Eric chided softly, his voice a blend of brotherly concern and mischief. "Don't ruin them so quickly. Now, finish your meal properly."
Len narrowed his eyes and made an innocent face, but quietly focused on finishing his food. A short while later, both picked up the carved crystal glasses from the table and quenched their thirst. As the final gulp went down, Len sprang from the sofa with lightning speed.
Without a word, he grabbed Eric's wrist and began dragging him toward the massive royal doors. Len was practically sprinting ahead, while Eric was being pulled along behind him.
"Len! Where exactly are we going in such a rush?" Eric asked, feeling the firm grip on his wrist.
Len glanced back, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he let out a small giggle. "If we stay inside, you'll die of boredom! I have some work to finish, so I'm taking you out."
"What kind of work?" Eric asked, knitting his brows.
"I have to go to Astria's uncle," Len replied. "He's been teaching me some lessons lately."
Eric asked curiously, "And what is he teaching you? Politics or diplomacy?"
Len wrinkled his nose. "No, just swordsmanship!"
A knowing smile touched Eric's lips. "Len, if he's teaching you the art of war, that's training, not 'work.' Why are you calling it a chore?"
Len took a long breath and stomped his foot in annoyance. "Because I absolutely hate training! It's dull and useless. To me, it feels like nothing but heavy work."
As they talked, they crossed the main threshold of the palace. The fresh air and bright sunlight welcomed them. Their steps were now leading toward the Training Ground, from where the distant clashing of steel had already begun to echo.
As Len and Eric stepped into the rear expanse of the palace, the sharp clang of colliding iron and the dust kicked up by soldiers' boots met them.
The Training Ground was bustling. In the distance, at the center of the grounds, Grand Duke Ethos stood atop a raised platform. His deep eyes monitored every movement of his soldiers like a hawk.
Seeing Len and Eric approach, Ethos's voice thundered across the field, "Sharpen your forms! There is no room for laxity!"
Right beside Ethos stood a man in a relaxed posture, a carefree smile on his lips. Without taking his eyes off the field, Ethos said to the man, "Keep your eyes on these soldiers."
The man gave a light chuckle. "Sure, why not? Though, you seem to be spending an awful lot of time here lately, Ethos."
A fleeting smile touched Ethos's lips. "What I do here and how I spend my time is of no concern to you." With that, Ethos stepped down from the platform and began advancing toward the two boys with measured strides.
On the sandy floor of the training ground, Len and Eric now stood directly before Ethos. His towering presence made them both feel small. Ethos's gaze settled on Eric's calm face and his striking crimson eyes.
"Child," Ethos asked, lowering his voice slightly, "what is your name? And how old are you?"
Eric looked directly into Ethos's eyes without a hint of nervousness. "My name is Eric," he replied in a flat tone, "and... I do not know my exact age."
Ethos glanced at Len once more and then back at Eric. A look of deep understanding crossed his face.
"You don't know your age?" he muttered. Then, inspecting them both closely, he added, "Well, looking at you both, your ages seem nearly identical. You both look only about 10 years old."
The words drifted through the dusty air of the grounds, and Eric clenched his fists slightly, as if trying to grasp at his blurred past behind those words.
Ethos leaned forward slightly, bringing his face level with Eric's. His deep eyes held the keen scrutiny of a seasoned warrior. "So," Ethos said in a low, heavy voice, "from today, you shall also train here alongside him."
With that, Ethos straightened back up to his full, towering height. His shadow fell over Eric like a massive mountain.
"I have no need for it," Eric replied in a flat tone, without even blinking. Amidst the clanging of weapons across the grounds, his blunt refusal struck Ethos's ears.
Ethos narrowed his eyes, scanning Eric from head to toe.
A challenging smile flickered on his lips. "Oh? You have no need?" Ethos repeated. "I suspect that to remain safe within these palace walls, you will most certainly need it, child."
Eric offered no reply. He stood as still as a stone statue, staring directly into Ethos's eyes with his crimson gaze.
A strange tension permeated the air—on one side stood the greatest commander of the empire, and on the other, a mysterious boy who lacked even a shred of fear.
Len, who had been watching silently until now, stepped closer. "Eric, just agree, please," he whispered.
"But I don't need any training, Len," Eric replied, still without looking away from Ethos.
Len reached out and took Eric's hand in both of his. There was a peculiar warmth and innocence in his touch. "Please... if you are here, we can spend more time together,"
Len said softly, his voice full of affection. "And besides, practicing alone is so dull. I feel very lonely... won't you stay for me?"
The innocent plea hidden in Len's words began to thaw Eric's icy resolve.
Eric finally averted his gaze from Ethos and looked at Len's hopeful face. Len's eyes shimmered in the dusty sunlight of the training ground, and Eric found himself left with no path for refusal.