---
Two days had passed since the chaotic breakfast incident, and Ren had enjoyed a rare stretch of peace.
No stolen food. No surprise kisses mid-meal. No threats of banishment from his father.
Just peace, tea, and a little fencing practice.
Until that afternoon.
The palace gardens of Rael were quiet, their blooming paths soaked in golden sunlight. Birds chirped faintly. The air was calm.
And then—a rustle in the hedges.
A figure slipped past the tall lilies, ducking under a vine-covered archway. It was Shinomi, in full royal riding gear, his hair windswept and eyes gleaming with mischief.
He looked left and right dramatically, hiding behind a tree as if planning a military ambush.
He had, of course, already sent his men to summon Ren with a vague message:
> "Come to the garden. I need you. Urgent royal flower inspection. – S"
But fate, as always, had other plans.
Before Ren could arrive, his father showed up.
The King of Rael was on a slow stroll, hands clasped behind his back. When he spotted Shinomi crouching behind a rose bush like a suspicious rabbit, his brow furrowed.
"…What in the world?"
Shinomi popped up immediately and gave a guilty smile, brushing leaves off his shoulder. "I-I was just… horse riding. Yes. I got off my horse and somehow ended up here."
The King stared at him flatly.
"And you ended up behind a rose bush… because?"
Shinomi laughed nervously. "Nature! You know, flowers! I love flowers. Especially royal ones. They're very symbolic."
The King folded his arms.
At that moment, Ren arrived, hurrying down the path and clearly annoyed.
"Why did you call me so fast?" he said, frowning. "Don't you have soldiers to train or laws to sign? If Father finds out—"
He froze mid-step, eyes landing on his very unamused father standing directly beside Shinomi.
Ren slowly turned toward Shinomi, voice dropping to a whisper of dread.
"You told me you were alone."
Shinomi blinked innocently. "I was, until he showed up."
"Father…" Ren turned with wide, pleading eyes. "He called me. I'm innocent. I swear I was just walking. The message sounded urgent."
The King looked at them both with a face that could level a battlefield. He sighed.
"What should I do with you two?" he muttered.
"Leave Ren with me," Shinomi said without hesitation, throwing an arm around Ren's shoulder like they were partners-in-crime (which they were).
There was a beat of silence.
The King raised an eyebrow. "You realize in two days, Ren is leaving for his fencing training. What will you do then? Abandon your soldiers again?"
"No!" Shinomi said, affronted. "Of course not. I'll… return. Reluctantly. Sadly. But if Ren is leaving soon, can he stay with me for just these two days?"
Both boys turned their eyes on him.
Big. Round. Glimmering. Puppy eyes.
The King looked like he aged five years in five seconds.
With a long, drawn-out sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered, "…Fine. Just don't destroy anything. Or anyone."
Before he could finish speaking, the sound of hooves thundered from the edge of the garden.
Shinomi's horse was already waiting, saddled and proud.
In a blur, Shinomi grabbed Ren's hand and practically threw him up onto the horse, hopping up behind him and securing his arms tightly around Ren's waist.
"BYE!" Shinomi shouted with glee.
"WE'LL BE RESPONSIBLE!" Ren added quickly.
Before the King could even blink again, the horse took off down the path, kicking up petals in its wake.
Standing alone in the garden, the King stared after the two fools galloping into the sunset like runaways from a romantic novel.
He sighed and muttered to himself, "Do love really make people this mad?"
He shook his head and turned away, hands behind his back again.
"…This generation will give me gray hair."
---