This was really frustrating. Not only the fact that the royal family thought that his room was a good gathering spot, but also how each acted so strangely. His room was huge, but not big enough for all of them to build a separate bunk in each area.
Reis hated negotiating. Scratch that, he hated this whole discussion.
If only he didn't need to secure an official post for his guardian. Reis thought the man would just pop up whenever needed, but that wasn't happening. He needed to find a way to validate the very real, very visible person's presence as acceptable.
"He will not betray me as long as I pay him well."
Out of all the excuses, this was definitely the most childish one anyone could come up with. But it was also the closest to the truth.
Lies work best when a good part of it is true. Or at least something along those lines.
"That's not a good enough reason, Ioannis."
Reis knew that very well. But he had the 'I almost died card'. If used correctly, no other card could win against it. "Your Majesty, do you know why the counselor wanted to get rid of me?"
Aldric should know. He should at least have a guess. Stemming from the idea that the selection was rigged and all that. Even after so much explanation, not everyone could change their minds.
"Because it was his 'divine duty' as a counselor to wipe away the 'unfit candidate'." Reis informed, "And I don't really blame him for his judgment."
"But why must I die for a throne I don't want?"
It was one thing to go down in history as someone who died fighting for his goal. Why would he have to go down for something he couldn't want less?
"You will not be harmed, I will see to it." Ceron interrupted, "None if you will be hurt! I will make sure no one dares."
"You do your thing since you won't do what you are actually supposed to." The intentional jab made the firstborn look away guiltily. "But I want a personal guard."
"Then pick someone from the troops." Yeah, and have surveillance in my room too. That's probably the only thing left.
"Your Majesty, they didn't save me." Which, Reis knew, wasn't really their fault. Thanks to a certain herb that didn't come with instructions, he was simply unable to call for help at the time. But it was a white lie for the greater good. His own good.
"I still need to reward him for saving me. This solves both issues." And add some new ones he'd rather not.
"Fine." Aldric finally gave in, "But only after a proper interview."
That part, Reis decided to worry about later. "And what of the child?"
There was also the second savior, who, unbeknownst to them, hadn't really done anything other than enthusiastically offering help. Reis had just the thing he wanted to reward him.
"I have another request in that matter if you will allow it, father."
It was a request that would make the kid also regret his life choices. But what could the prince do? Rewards had to be granted properly.
–––
"What took you so long?"
Reis had never been to the kitchen, but it definitely wasn't half an hour away for it to take so long to fetch milk. The butler returned ten minutes after he finally persuaded the family to let him rest instead of glaring at him.
"We can't feed it the usual milk. So I had to get some goat milk and get it prepared for consumption." Well, at least it had brought the butler back to his usual self.
"Then take it and feed it."
Reis never thought cats could be so clingy. It was practically glued ot him all the time, except when he took a bath, he had it washed separately.
Surely the pillow was more comfortable than his stomach or lap.
The tired prince took it in his hand and tried to hand it over to Keith. Tried, being the keyword. Cause if it weren't for the ridiculously long sleeves, he would have ended up with scratches from those barely visible claws.
Reis sighed helplessly. "Give it and get out."
The butler looked from the admanent kitten to the tired master. "Should I prepare lunch?" The master had yet not eaten after refusing it in the morning.
It wasn't that Reis wasn't hungry. But motion sickness was no joke. And the path from the forest to the capital was even more dangerous. Food just made him want to throw up more. "Yes. Bring it a few minutes later."
The butler left with the command, and the furball jumped back into his lap with no remorse for making him work. "You're lucky, you're cute." The kitten with silver marks wasn't so small, but when it curled up, it fit right into his palm. Even the way it licked the milk from the spoon was cute. "You definitely got lucky finding me."
"How's that lucky?"
"Eeeek!"
How could everyone but him have a pop-up function? It wasn't just the special characters; the kidnappers had it too. Just not the one who needed it.
The great guardian lord Yvaion had shown up after lurking around who knows where. Reis had told the servants to find him a nice guest room to rest in. But that was hours ago. Maybe he actually took a nap.
"Lord Yavarin, you could use the door!"
"Its Yvaion."
"Yavaan?"
"...forget it. Why would this creature be lucky to find someone like you?"
Reis looked from the disguised human to the kitten, who was now licking the empty spoon. He filled it up again and offered it to the furball. "Where else would it get better treatment than at a palace?"
Of course, it was better for it to be with its mother, but if that wasn't possible, where else could it be more comfortable than this?
The furball let out a small squeak as it stopped drinking. Reis wiped its mouth with the silk napkin and put the milk away.
"That's it?"
The tired human looked at the guardian, who seemed to be questioning his sanity. "Yes. I need to feed it again in two or three hours." High maintenance, if he said so himself.
Yvaion stepped closer, and Reis immediately pulled the kitten closer to his chest, earning another questioning look. "I'm only observing."
He extended his hand to poke at the furball, despite Reis's mental breakdown.
The clueless furball blinked at him. Then, with the confidence of a creature that had absolutely no understanding of survival, it stretched one tiny paw toward the guardian's sleeve. And with the same dangerous instinct, it licked the tip of the fingers that had attacked it.
Reis pulled it back immediately. Clearly, this thing wanted to be mashed into a ball.
Lord Yvaion didn't react, though. He simply retracted his hand and crossed his hands over his chest. "I suppose I'm not as scary in this form."
Yes, he is! He definitely is! If anything, someone in disguise was ten times more scary then the actual thing.