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“Is there a way for an outsider to become a Sheikah?”
Rayla almost leaped from her secluded spot when a familiar voice broke her reverie.
“ P-Prince Callum ?!” she sputtered as she whipped her head towards the prince who was leaning on the balcony, just three steps away from her guarding spot, with his folded arms on the stone rails. He was wearing his usual orange sleepwear and a red scarf that looped around his neck.
“W-Why are you still awake, your Highness?”
She tried not to be distracted by his green eyes that glimmered under the moonlight, or his mop of brown hair tousled by the evening wind.
"Because a certain person is working overtime. Again," he answered, jerking his head towards the room across from their location.
Of course , she chided internally. He could see her if he poked his head outside his windows.
Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, the Sheikah muttered, "I didn't know that you were keeping tabs on me, Prince Callum."
"Why not?" the prince huffed indignantly. "As if you're not doing the same thing to me."
"I'm doing it because it's part of my duties as your guard."
"And I'm doing it because you're my friend," he made a brief pause before adding, "Are we friends, Rayla?"
"O-Of course, Your Highness!"
"Then why are you still refusing to drop my honorifics and simply call me by my name?"
"Erm..." she bowed her head slightly to show her sincere apology, as well as to hide her blush from his inquisitive gaze. “I'm sorry, I...just a force of habit,”
"You're always using the same excuse," the prince grumbled with a childish pout Rayla couldn't help but adore.
It's slander to address a royalty by their first names , she wanted to reply but decided to bite her tongue instead.
But then she realized that the Royal family has never been a traditionalist.
"So?" Callum asked her again, his head tilted to the side with a smile. "Do you think I have a chance to become a Sheikah?"
"Not if you have a Sheikah as an ancestor." was her prompt reply.
"Oh, but we never know!" he announced jovially. "Maybe my great, great, great, great, grandmother was a Sheikah!"
"Sure, let's go with that." she snorted, still trying to avoid the prince's curious stares. "Why, are you getting tired of your princely duties?"
"Well, not really tired…" she noticed how the pleasant mood between them shifted into something somber as he sighed. "It's more like, I can't do these princely duties no matter how I try. I can't parry with swords properly. I can't do public speeches without stuttering. I can't even ride a horse without being thrown to the ground. It's not... It's not working. Sorry if I sound like I'm complaining."
"No, it's fine. Your thoughts are completely valid," Rayla assured him. "Though...I have to disagree on the stuff that you mentioned - the parrying, the public speaking, and the horse riding - those are not the qualities required to become a good prince."
"But most princes know them."
"That's because you're unique on your own," she said as she turned her attention back to the dark cloudy skies. "If they are good at something, you too are good at something else. I'm pretty sure none of them knows how to draw a horse or a landscape using charcoal."
Her heart skipped a beat when he chuckled, "Unless they have a good art teacher."
"Don't be too harsh on yourself. My mentor once told me that comparing yourself to others is like comparing a sun to a moon. They function differently. They shine when it's their time." She glanced in his direction with a smile. "Just because someone can do it perfectly doesn't mean you have to do the same."
The affectionate looks that he directed on her way were dizzying.
"You miss him." the prince said. It wasn't a question.
"He's...he's like a second father to me," she replied with downcast eyes. "He's the reason why I am here today."
Callum tapped his chin. "I think I've seen your mentor before. His name is Runaan, right?"
The Sheikah nodded.
"Tall, long-haired guy with a large silver bow strapped on his back?" he gesticulated. "That guy who walks so stiff you might think there's a board strapped on his back?"
Rayla snorted indignantly, her tensed shoulders quivering at his ridiculous description. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
"He must be very proud of you."
She tried not to cringe at his statement.
As far as she knew, Runnan wasn't elated when she became the youngest Sheikah to be trained as a Royal ambassador, and later on, assigned as the princes' bodyguard.
"I'm pretty sure he'll be more proud if I became a Blademaster."
Callum's brows furrowed. "A Blademaster?"
"They're the elite soldiers in our clan," she explained. "And usually the ones that are dispatched for important missions."
"Oh, like some kind of an assassin?"
"Something like that,"
The prince hummed as if weighing his next words. "I...I still don't see the logic behind why being a Blademaster is far better than becoming a Sheikah Advisor."
"He believes that I will flourish more on the battlefield than behind the desk." the Sheikah shrugged nonchalantly.
"You mean that he thinks you're all brawn and no brains?!" he miffed.
If Rayla's memory serves right, Runaan's exact words were "You were born to be a warrior, not some royalty's babysitter."
No way she would tell the prince about that.
"I'm not saying that he thinks I'm dumb - or maybe he does, but he's pretty much vocal about my dumb life choices," she said in a light-hearted manner. She was a bit touched that he was angry on her behalf. "Runaan knows me well - he's the one who raised me since I was a kid - so he knows that I'm someone who prefers actions over words. But then I realized that...that I'm…"
"That you're a what?"
The prince waited patiently as she mulled over for a bit. She spared him a glance before she continued, "That I'm more of my parents than Runaan. That I can't deny the blood of my ancestors flowing through my veins, screaming inside me to follow their footsteps instead of venturing a different path."
"And you're fine with it? Taking over your family's legacy despite having the freedom not to?"
He was baffled when she laughed, "I guess I'm lucky that my dreams happened to coincide with theirs."
"Oh. I see."
She couldn't control the heat that crept on her face when she met his green eyes filled with adoration.
"I guess we're luckier that you decided to serve here," he said.
Know your place, Rayla recited inwardly like a mantra. Prince Callum doesn't see you that way.
She wasn't in denial. She was simply stating the fact.
The Sheikah cleared her throat to break the simmering tension. "A-Aren't you doing the same too? Becoming the crown prince's advisor because the King says so?"
Rayla didn't have any siblings, but she had friends back in her village who shared their frustrations about their brothers and sisters. She knew that jealousy among siblings is inevitable, especially if there's a huge age gap.
But in Prince Callum and Prince Ezran's case, the two were treating each other like best friends despite their five-year age gap.
One might think that Prince Callum would harbor animosity towards his younger half-brother since they both have different fathers and that he has an inferior rank despite being the eldest son.
True that the princes sometimes have arguments - mostly about nonsensical stuff - but they would always talk about it without getting a mediator. And even if their disagreement sometimes lasted for days, none of them has ever resorted to anything physical.
It seems that the royal family's "big feelings time" method was helpful in more ways than one.
"I don't mind being considered as Ez' future right hand," Prince Callum confessed. "In fact, I consider it an honor to serve this kingdom."
Rayla couldn't help herself but agree with him.
To bind yourself in a monarchy that is fair and devoted to its citizens is something she considered fortunate.
"Now that I think about it," the prince went on. "If Ez will take over the throne and I get promoted as his commanding general, does that mean that you'll become his Sheikah advisor?"
"I believe that's the plan," she answered.
His smirk turned into a toothy grin. "Now that's something I look forward to in the future, partner."
Partner.
Rayla failed to control the giddiness that was bubbling inside her.
The midnight air that slapped her nape brought her back to reality.
Even with her thick garb, the cold wind penetrated the fabric enough to send chills to her skin, making her shiver involuntarily.
"Ah, stupid me for being inconsiderate," the prince berated himself as he moved towards her space, but before she could ask him about it, a flash of crimson occupied her view, followed by a familiar scent of wood and pines.
"There you go," he muttered as he secured his scarf around her neck, then stepped back for a bit to assess his work. "Now you have something to beat out the cold."
"Bu - Bu - But Your Highness - !"
"Keep it," he interjected with a wink. "Red looks good on you."
If her face was overheating a while ago, now it's burning.
Is Prince Callum flirting with her?
No, that's impossible.
The prince might be good with words, but she knew that smooth-talking wasn't his strong suit. She had seen him fumbling with Claudia like an idiot back when he was actively pursuing her, only to die down weeks later for some unexplainable reasons.
So no, he wasn't flirting.
He's probably teasing her in a very friendly manner.
The Sheikah clutched the end of the scarf that draped on her front with both hands, her lavender eyes began to trace the golden markings on its edge. "I'll make sure to wash it tonight before I return it."
He shook his head. "No - and I mean it, Rayla. You can keep the scarf however you like. Consider it...as a lucky charm."
The prince might not like it, but she will definitely return it before sunrise.
"I guess I have to retire to my room now," he said while stifling a yawn. "I don't want to bother you more while you're on duty."
"Your presence has never been a bother," she replied with a sincere smile.
"And Rayla?"
"Hmm?"
"If ever…" he trailed off. "If ever you find a way for me to become a Sheikah, please let me know. Okay?"
"Okay," she answered with a bow.
He smiled. "Good night, Rayla."
"Good night," she took a deep breath to regulate her heartbeat. "Callum."
The hallways might be dark, but the prince's beaming face was enough to light up the entire floor.
Rayla let out a deep sigh when Prince Callum entered his room unscathed - though she swore he bumped his head when he turned the corner, too busy waving his hand towards her way to notice a stone pillar.
After making sure that the coast was clear, she began to nuzzle the prince's scarf and reveled in its warmth.
Little did the prince know, there's actually another way for an outsider to become a Sheikah.
Marriage.
No way Rayla would tell him about it.