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Your posture is too sloppy. Tighten the grip around the hilt and straighten your arms properly.”
“Yes sir!”
“Sir Brugg, could you help the new recruits over there?”
“...h-huh? Oh yes…sure.”
Nathan watched as Brugg made his way towards the new Peletta recruits. The knight’s light coloured eyes kept glancing back towards Nathan. Though it wasn’t just Brugg who stared at him like this, Many of the knights stopped swinging their swords and sneaked glances at him as he walked by. Even some of the new recruits couldn’t help but stare at him wide-eyed.
Normally, he would have reprimanded them. However, right now, he could understand their shock to some extent. And truth be told, they weren’t looking at him.
They were looking at the one he was carrying on his shoulders.
“Uncle Nathan! Walk faster!”
The small fingers holding his hair tightened their grip. The boy sitting on his shoulders urged him to move faster by pulling his hair tighter. Nathan sighed as he made sure that the boy wasn't going to slip and asked in a gentle tone.
“Are you sure, your highness?”
“Yes! Faster!”
Nathan nodded as he fastened his steps. As a swordmaster, this kind of speed was nothing to him; however, to someone as small as the child seated on his shoulders, it must have felt like an exciting adventure. So much so that Nathan felt the hold on his hair be released.
“Woah!!"
“Your highness, please don’t let go.”
“Noo! I told uncle Nathan to call me Kiran. Everyone calls me Kiran!”
“....your highness-’
“Ki-ra-n!”
“....”
Nathan turned his head slightly. The red eyes that were staring at him with a piercing gaze seemed to be burning with determination. Seeing those red eyes and gold-like blond hair, Nathan was easily reminded of the boy’s parents.
Kishiar La Orr and Yuder Aile.
He was the only son of his master and his husband. Kiran ‘Aile’ La Orr.
The boy, who was only barely six years old, resembled Kishiar to an uncanny level. Most had thought that Yuder’s darker looks would win over Kishiar’s otherwise lighter features. However, from the moment he was born, it was clear to everyone that the royal genes had emerged victorious.
Shining blond hair and bright red eyes. Not to mention the personality that felt like the sun. On multiple occasions, Nathan was reminded of Kishiar during their own childhood every time he saw Kiran.
He stayed in the capital most of the time, along with his parents. In fact, it was the first time he had come to Peletta. Which explained the knights' deminor, most of whom had only ever heard of their master's child.
‘And the reason he is with me is..’
“Nathan! Could you take care of Kiran for a bit? Me and Yuder have some work to do.”
-was because Kishiar had handed the still-asleep Kiran to him at the break of dawn and left. While Nathan couldn’t say for sure where they went, he had some guesses.
“Uncle Nathan! Put me down.”
They had already exited the training grounds and arrived at a secluded area when Kiran finally asked to be let down. Nathan gave a light nod before kneeling down, making sure that Kiran could slide off easily.
The swordmaster watched as the blonde child skipped towards a bush of flowers. Kiran stopped in front of it and squatted down, squeezing his hands through the green leaves. Nathan initially thought Kiran was looking to pluck flowers and continued to observe the child. However, that sense of calm quickly changed into a series of complex feelings when he finally pulled something out of the bush.
‘Is that…’
“I’m back!”
Occupying both of his palms was a cat with long golden hair and green eyes. The cat glanced at the blonde boy with sleepy eyes as it yawned and snuggled deeper into the palms. Undoubtedly, this cat was Nipollen van Tain.
How had Kiran managed to smuggle Nipollen out of the cavalry and all the way to Peletta without anyone realising it? Nathan could only guess it was due to Nipollen’s inherent quiet nature as well as his likeness for Kiran.
The cavalry is probably in chaos right now. Knowing how much they enjoyed passing by the cat daily. And it had already been three days since they arrived at Peletta.
“Your highness…”
“Ah! Nathan!”
As if he had completely forgotten about the knight, Kiran looked back in surprise.
“...”
“....”
“He wanted to come with me; I swear I didn't just take him without permission.”
“Whose permission did you get exactly?”
"Well, Nipollen's of course!”
“...”
Seeing his sheepish smile, Nathan was suddenly reminded of his master, who would often sneak out of the palace walls and assure him that they wouldn’t get into trouble. (They always did.)
Kiran placed the cat back on the ground as Nipollen quietly went back inside the bush. Nathan wasn’t sure what he was feeling, seeing a prince crawl inside a bush, be it a cat or not. The blonde boy dusted off any specks of dirt from his pants as he quickly walked towards Nathan.
“Uncle uncle. You won’t tell Father about this, right? Pleasee?” Kiran pleaded with Nathan while holding onto his pants.
“....”
“Please?”
The logical thing would be to let Yuder know about Nipollen's situation; however, seeing the boy’s pleading eyes, Nathan found himself stuck in a strange conflict.
“..I will try..” In the end, Nathan could only give an ambiguous answer.
“Uncle Nathan is the best!”
“However, next time, please do not take Nipollen, or anyone for that matter, anywhere without letting others know.”
“Yes!”
_____
“Father!”
Kiran, who was dangling on Nathan’s arm just a moment ago, was now sprinting full speed towards the carriage. The knight quietly followed behind, close enough to catch him in case he tripped.
“I’m here too, you know? Hello Nathan, I hope you two had fun?”
Kishiar said as he stepped down from the carriage, followed by Yuder. Kiran had already jumped into Yuder’s arms. And as if used to it by now, Yuder also naturally picked him up. The sight, which once felt very unfamiliar to Nathan, had already become a normal thing.
“Welcome back, Duke, sir Aile."
Nathan bowed as Kishiar patted his back, and Yuder nodded.
“Sorry for leaving you with Kiran without any warning. We had matters to tend to.”
“What about me! You left me alone without telling me!” Kiran pouted from his father’s arms as he playfully hid his face in Yuder's chest.
“Kiran, were you good today?”
Yuder spoke in between with a soft tone. The younger blonde peeked from his hidden place and nodded energetically.
“Yup! I followed all the rules!”
“Including not exceeding your candy limits?”
“...”
He had, of course, exceeded the candy limits. Nathan thought back to how Kiran had eaten too many candies after finding the box Yuder had previously hidden.
“Now now, don’t be so harsh on him.”
“Please don’t speak. Don’t you remember how bad his teeth hurt after eating too many candies? You were the one who kept feeding him sweets.”
“...”
As Nathan watched the family bicker, he realised that perhaps, after a long time, this mansion would be filled with noise.