CHAPTER 4: The Youngmaster's First (decent) Friend

It has been two months since Owen and Ekiel became friends in an unexpected situation. Since then, Ekiel got more hyper and happier everyday and even woke up more early than usual to meet with his new friend.

Of course, the servants, specially the headmaid and Grendell noticed the rapid change of their young master. The usual sullen atmosphere of the empty mansion had became bright and more lighter.

Of course, Ekiel also had gotten scolded in some other days because he would come back late from outside and even missed some of his lessons. But that didnt mean that the tutors, specially Grendell, was very mad at him to the extent where they would hive the young master a bad punishment.

They'll just scold them for hours and give him a one day suspension from going out.

But Ekiel would sneak, anyway.

For the moment, Grendell and the other servants are happy to know that the child from their loved deceased masters has finally found its reason to enjoy its childhood while it lasts.

Not to mention, the talk of the servants in the mansion was about Ekiel's first genuine friend.

"Mamam anghh bwa"

"Ah, my sister is lovely as every today, too." Ekiel smiled and looked at the baby in the crib.

The little baby with navy blue hair and crystal purple eyes giggled as Ekiel softly held her hand. The baby happily grasped her big brother's hand using her tiny ones.

"Ah, i think im gonna die in happiness." Ekiel sang.

The servants could only look at them in awe as the siblings communicated with each other in a strange way. The headmaid, Yor, almost teared up in the sight since after 5 months from their parent's death, Ekiel finally visited his beloved sister.

"Im sorry for not visiting you all these time, Ricell. Big brother is really really sorry."

The baby blabbered incoherent words happily and reached for her big brother's face as if she knew what he meant and patttd his face in assurance.

"Ah, this is no good for the heart, the young lady and young master is so adorable—" the servants from the back whispered as they continued to watch their masters in awe.

Ekiel smiled brightly and peppered kisses on his little sister's face.

"Ah, Im gonna go now. Owen must be waiting for me at the stables." Ekiel soon said as he kissed his sister's fluffy cheeks for the last time. "I need to change my clothes into a more comfortable one, Yor. Can you help me chose?"

"Of course, Young master Kiel."

"Well then. I should get going,m. Take a good care of my little sister for me."

The maids bowed politely and immediately sorrounded the small bean on the crib.

♡︎♡︎♡︎

"Yor, can I go to the town?" Ekiel asked out of nowhere as he looked at Yor who froze on spot after hearing his request.

"You're...heading out?"

"Yes. Owen told me about many things about outside and... I haven't been outside for as long as I can remember."

Yor's tensed face soon turned into a relieved smile. Again, she's greatful for this kid named Owen for changing the timid and sullen kid who was very expert in concealing its emotions. Ekiel before, loved smiling infront of them. But every night, Yor would go to his chamber to deliver the glass of milk only to hear soft cries and a broken voice calling his parent's names muffled by the pillows on his bed.

And everytime hearing those sounds from the kid just made the headmaid feel more pity for the child. She would wait for a moment until the sniffles subsided and knock on the door.

But this time, she cant hear cries every night ever since Ekiel made a friend once again.

She wonders if she'll meet this amazing child someday.

"Then, It'd be great if Sir Owen knows it too."

"I will tell him after I play with Owen this time." Ekiel smiled and happily raised his hand. "Since today is fri~day and that means no lessons for today and Saturday!"

Yor smiled softly at the adorable kid infront of her and softly tied the ribbon on its neck.

"Of course. Have fun playing with sir Owen, young master Kiel."

"I will!"

♡︎♡︎♡︎

"Owen!" Ekiel called as soon as he saw the figure of the gray haired boy sitting beside the haystack outside the stable. Precisely, it was reading a small book in peace.

He looked very comfortable.

"Young master Ekiel!" Owen greeted back as he closed the small book and stood up from the haystack. "I bought cookies from the bakery of my grandfather."

"Cookies?"

"Yes. It wont be as good as the ones you have in the mansion but my grandfather's recipes are top notch." Owen said as he opened the basket full of goods.

The sweet and freshly backed scent wafted in the air making the 12 years old young master's mouth water.

"Here." Owen happily gave him a square shaped cookies. Ekiel immediately bit the cookie on Owen's hand, savoring the warm and sweet taste of the cookies melting on his mouth.

Owen looked at him in a surprised expression as he continued to raise his hand on the air as Ekiel feeds himself using Owen's hand.

"These are good!" Ekiel immediately said as soon as he finished one cookie on Owen's hand. His eyes sparkling in interest and awe as he looked at the dumbfounded Owen.

"A-anyway, Im glad young master Ekiel loved my baked goods. I made—"

"What? You baked it?"

"I did."

"Woaah! Can you bake more for me in the future?" Ekiel asked as he didn't stopped himself indulging his tastebuds with the cookies Owen made for the both of them. "Ah– of course, I'll pay you."

"Okay." Owen smiled and stood up from the seat. "The price will be higher though. Since I made it with my delicate hands." Owen added as his voice hinted into a teasing one.

"Great! I'll buy it as long as Owen makes it himself." Ekiel followed in suite and gave Owen the basket of baked goods and held Owen's hand happily, leading them towards the pony who had grown a lot since the day they met.

Ekiel softly retrieved the basket of goods and played it on the ground then, he handed Owen his hands for the boy to stabilize its balance to ride the horse. Owen held Ekiel's hands softly as his dominant foot stepped on the stirrups and soon lifted himself to sit on the seat.

"Gah!" Owen immediately hugged Din's neck as he slipped on the sit. Fortunately, Ekiel got a hold of his arm to help him stabilize his balance on the seat.

Ekiel emitted a soft chuckle and gave Owen the basket of goods and followed in suite. As soon as Ekiel managed to sit from behind as its free arm sneaked on Owen's waist, the poor gray head can only frown as he remembered the fact that Ekiel has grown more taller than him from the day they met.

"No matter how you looked at it, you looked so small now." Ekiel spoke as he finally squeezed Din's sides with his legs as a cue to walk on the field.

"Not to be rude, young master Ekiel, but even if Im this small, at least I dont get scared easily, you know?"

"About that..!"

Owen laughed breathily as he rested his head at Ekiel's chest. As a payback, Ekiel fasten Din's pace in running surprising the other boy and almost fell of the saddle if its not for Ekiel's grip on his chest.

________

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫!!

𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐔𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐬 (𝟐)

-She has Navy blue hair and purple crystal-like eyes. Very smol. The first daughter if the Ulyss household and the youngest sister if Ekiel Ulyss.