Chapter 2: Unexpected Curiosity

Alexandre was suddenly greeted with the blinding light of the setting sun, passing through the glass door leading to the balcony as soon as he opened his eyes.

Like a warm blanket on his skin, he was kissed by the sun.

The familiar ceiling that he has always woken up to every morning—is full of glow-in-the-dark neon stars that almost look like the night sky when it's dark out.

His room is full of stuffed toys which are mostly bigger than him, and his own indoor playground completed with the swing and slides.

"Where's mother?" he said to himself as he sat up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, yawning.

But then that's when he noticed the white bandages, wrapped so thickly around his arm.

His memories from earlier started coming back, which lead to him, remembering the emerald ring that he picked up.

He searched for his pockets but he was already wearing a different piece of clothing.

"Where is it?"

He got off his bed, and the soft and cotton-like floor made contact with his little feet. He started opening the nearby drawers, hoping that maybe someone left it somewhere in his room when they saw it in his pocket.

-Knock- -Knock-

"Young master, Pardon for the intrusion"

He was suddenly startled and alarmed by the sound so he ran and jumped back to his bed pulling over the blankets.

The door creaked open as the butler went in with the first aid kit in hand. Alexandre was acting like he was sleeping but little did he know that he forgot to close the drawers when he rummaged through his things just a few seconds ago.

-Sigh-

"Young Master, you're awake aren't you?"

He walked up to the side of the bed and sat on the chair, placing the first aid kit box on the floor. But he still didn't reply.

"I wonder; I think I saw a green-colored shiny thingy earlier. I want to tell Alexandre too, but it seems like he's still sleeping—"

"Did you see it Mr. Graham?!" he sprang up out of nowhere which unexpectedly surprised the butler a bit. But he ended up chuckling.

"Noo don't laugh at Alexandre, tell him where's the shiny thingy!" He threw a tantrum while pulling and pushing the butler's arm and it surely was making him quite dizzy.

"Alright, alright, but let me ask you a few questions first okay?"

He let go of his arm and sat back properly, but he was still looking at the butler like he's eyeing on him if he told him a lie.

"You'll give it to me later?"

"Yes, I promise, cross my heart" the butler said as he drew an x on his chest with his finger, and raised his right hand.

Alexandre nodded his head. Then the butler also started applying new bandages as he asked his first question.

"Where did young master get it from? Did someone give it to you?"

"Na-uh, I picked it up from the floor when the girl from earlier who has a looot of bruises, dropped it" He said as he gestured his arm widely, forming a circle.

Wrinkles appeared on the butler's forehead. It made him confused a bit because there was no way that they didn't confiscate such a precious heirloom when they were made a war slave.

And there was also something that was really bothering him.

That girl—was probably from the kingdoms' neighboring and enemy country, 'Khun'.

The friction between both countries has been existing since a long time ago. But because both of them had really prosperous economies and were by no means could be underestimated when it comes to firearms and battle gears—it'd only bring meaningless destruction, and could also give other nearby countries a chance to attack when the winner is at their lowest.

The kings from Khun knew of this fact and avoided it so much to the point that they didn't mind being called a coward by their own people.

But it all changed when a foolish king rose and sat on the throne claiming and promising that he'd subdue the enemy country.

Even though he did gain support from most of their population, he ended up losing or surrendering ALL of them in exchange. Including the throne, his people, his riches, his family, and his life.

That's why, there should've been no proof left of their existence, especially the high-ranking ones, but the ring somehow still exists.

What's more,

The Emerald stone—is the insignia of their country's Royal Family.

"Was she holding onto it when she dropped it?"

"Eh-eh" Alexandre replied as he formed a big X with his forearm.

"Wrong again, it was inside her mouth. Now that I think about it, is it actually delicious? Why was she eating it?" Alexandre innocently asked.

Though it may sound disgusting, it was definitely the only way to keep and hide something when you're a war slave.

'If she kept it anywhere on her body, it'd definitely be seen, but it'd be a different case if it's in her mouth'

'It's making me quite uncomfortable of how eerily wise she is when she's just around young master's age'

"Hello, are you still there Mr. Graham?" Alexandre said as he waved his little hands in front of the butler's face, pulling him back to reality.

"Oh yeah, where was I?"

"I've answered all your questions, can you give me the ring now, Mr. Graham?"

"Just one last thing"

As soon as the butler said it, Alexandre showed a face of disbelief and restlessness.

"When you get the ring back, will you keep it?"

"Noo, why do you keep getting all of them wrong Mr. Graham?"

"Even though I also want to eat it, I can't keep something that's not mine. Mr. Graham, were you actually a bad kid?"

The butler laughed at how innocent and well-mannered Alexandre is. Even though he was raised by those kinds of parents who taught him to be just like them-- he's growing up to be someone that the commoners would definitely look up to and respect.

"Then is it okay if I return it to her—"

"No! I'm the one whose definitely gonna give it to her" -Alexandre

A hint of curiosity showed on the butler's face but then he grinned mischievously.

"What's this? Young master has a crush?"

The butler was expecting him to deny it shyly but Alexandre just stared at him blankly

"What's a crush?" Alexandre replied back totally breaking the atmosphere

'Ack so innocent'

-Ehem-

"Then why is young master insisting on personally giving the ring?"

There was a notable moment of silence while Alexandre was just staring into the balcony— at the orange-colored sky edged with a pink accent that made it breathtakingly beautiful.

He slowly turned back his head and looked up to meet the butler's eyes.

"It's because Alexander doesn't understand her at all" He said it with those pure eyes of his that it looks like you'll get swallowed by it.

"Why is she so different from Alexander even though we look the same? Like everyone?"

The butler didn't really intend to let Alexandre go with him when returning the ring, but just staring at him straight to his eyes right now is really hypnotizing, and he can't help but consider it.

'It'll be fine if he returns it to the little girl, won't it? She seemed like she could protect it well. We have the option to keep it, but it'll be risky if someone else saw the ring in Young master's possession.'

'I'm not sure why she has the ring even though the king didn't have a daughter, but it doesn't matter if she's royal or not'

'The ring is enough proof that makes it possible for the Winterleign family to be accused of rebellion, and it won't be good for the house's reputation at all'

'I have to get rid of everything that might harm young master. And It's also my job, to assist him'

"Do you want me to help you find her Young master?"

"I know where she is right now, but you have to keep it a secret from your mother okay? It's our little secret"

When the butler said it, Alexandre's eyes sparkled like he just heard something really cool and exciting

"Hm! Okay!" He whispered enthusiastically.

~•○TO BE CONTINUED○•~