I followed the sound of the shouting and crossed the fence before I reached in the garden full of roses where a little girls as shouting at the small girl who was crying.
The girl who was crying seemed like she was a noble girl of around ten or eleven years old, while the other girl was unmistakably the Imperial Princess Colette Vanesa Jun Marismus.
"You always cry like this! And you think you can compare to me?" Colette spoke in a haughty tone while the girl who stood in front of her trembled.
She had long strawberry blonde hair and seemed as if she would faint any moment with the amount of humiliation that she was facing at the moment.
"Poor thing," I mumbled, "An apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh."
I couldn't help but feel slightly irked as I could see the Queen's genes clearly working in front of me in her miniature version.
"B-But I never-"
"Be quiet, imbecile! You and your family has no standing in front of me so, never ever think of thinking that you are of the same standing as me." Colette announced with a triumphant smirk.
"I-I'm sorry if I-I ever t-troubled you, Y-Your Highness." The victim girl stuttered as she clutched onto her dress while her tears flowed down her small, flushed face.
"Trouble me? You've insulted me and that was why I called you here today." She said making me wonder what kind of sin the poor girl had committed to be ripped off like this.
"But, I-"
"Quiet, I said!" The Princess shouted making the girl flinch.
"The next time, if you dare to do something like that, I won't just let you off with only a scolding. I will make sure you learn your lesson thoroughly." Colette announced.
There were other maids around behind the Princess who were smirking and smiling at the deplorable state of the poor child.
"Now, leave and never show your ugly face to me again!"
The girl sniffled and slowly turned before she started walking away from the arrogant Princess, I noticed the child looking so depressed that I couldn't help but feel pity for her.
I turned away from the scene and walked back from the way I came from.
I wondered who the kid was, if possible I could make use of her.
I crossed the fence again and walked through the stone cobbled pathway again before I turned and heard the sound of someone sniffling and hiccuping.
I followed the sound and reached in front of the fountain where a child dressed in a beautiful green dress sat.
"Ah, it's her." I mumbled as I recognised the child who was getting verbally abused by the Princess.
I was about to turn and leave but watching the child crying all alone I couldn't have the heart to just walk away. Should I go comfort her or not?
[Defender of Divine Glory wonders why it takes you so much time to make such simple decisions.]
"It's about how it could affect the future. Ever heard of the butterfly effect? I don't want to cause unnecessary storms."
[Goddess of Wisdom agrees with you but still calls you paranoid.]
[Giver of Gifts advices you to go comfort the child and says that one good deed always begets another.]
I sighed and after reading my Patrons' thoughts and contemplating over it myself I turned and walked up to the girl.
She looked up as she heard me and I was almost blow away but her adorable face. Her round cheeks were flushed red along with her button shaped nose, her peach colored lips quivered and her pink hued eyes widened as she saw me approaching.
She quickly wiped her face with her tiny hands and stood straight with her head down.
"I-I'm sorry... I-I was just-"
I stopped when I reached in front of her and sat down on my knee getting on her eye level.
"I apologise if I startled you, Young Miss." I spoke softly making her give me a nervous look.
I must be looking quite scary considering the mask and a full black outfit. I was prepared to meet the King and Queen so, I dressed accordingly, but to say, I would also run into such a small child.
"Please forgive me for this appearance, I don't mean to scare you, here," I pulled out the handkerchief from my coat's inner pocket and presented it to her.
She hesitantly took the handkerchief and dabbed it over her bloodshot eyes.
"May I ask who you are, Young Miss? And, where's your maid?" I asked looking around.
It was quite rare for a noble child to be left alone unattended, her maid should be around but how could she leave such a small child alone?
"I-I'm," she dipped in a curtsy, "I'm daughter of Count Wallace Nash, my name is Brielle Nash, n-nice to meet you."
My eyebrows jumped as I heard a familiar name, Count Wallace Nash aka Lord Hawke, Head of the Froish City. I was in presence of his daughter. I had read about him having three children- one son and two daughters. I guess she was the youngest.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, little Miss Nash. I'm Baron Ocean Ryujin." I said and she stared at my face into my eyes which were the only visible aspect of my face.
"Is there something you want to say?" I asked making her face grow red again.
"N-No!"
"Then, would you allow me to assist you in finding your way back to your maid?" I asked giving her my gloved hand.
"Ye-Yes..." She placed her tiny hand in mine before I stood up to my full height making her look up at me.
We started walking and I led her out of the garden and towards the pathway that would take us to the Royal palace.
"Young Miss!" I heard a faint sound of a female voice shouting.
"It seems like your maid is that way." I said pointing ahead and she looked up.
"Um..."
She looked at bit hesitant but I gently led her ahead and after a few seconds, we saw a frantic maid looking around as she shouted, along with a few Royal knights who also seemed to be looking for someone.
"Young Miss!"
"Ine!" Brielle shouted as she lt go of my hand and started running ahead making the maid rush over to her.
"Young Miss! Where were you? I've been looking for you!" Ine was crying hard as well as she saw her Young Miss as she sat down on her knees holding both her hands in hers.
"I-I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry for leaving you alone, Young Miss!" She cried.
"I-I'm fine, Ine." Brielle said.
"We were really worried, Young Miss. Please don't wander off on your own here." The royal knights who were also looking for her spoke up as they came up to us.
"Yes, this place is like a huge maze and once one get lost its very difficult to look for them."
"Y-Yes, I understand. I'm sorry for worrying you all." Brielle apologized politely.
"But who are you?" One of the knights looked at me.
"I'm Baron Ocean Ryujin." I said making the two frown and exchange a glance.
"Baron Ocean Ryujin?"
"This gentleman helped me find my way here," Brielle piped in and Ine stood up before she bowed to me.
"I'm apologise, Baron. Because of me-"
"It's fine, you don't need to apologise to me." I said and then looked at Brielle.
"But, because of my incompetence-"
"If you realise your mistake then make sure to never repeat it again." I spoke intercepting her words.
She looked up at me and then shivered as I fixed her with a cold gaze as I recalled what Brielle went through in her absence.
"Anyways, I should-"
"Baron!"
"Baron Ryujin!"
I turned slightly hearing someone shouting for me and saw an attendant rushing towards me.
He stopped as he reached a couple of feet away from me and doubled over huffing making me tilt my head slightly.
"A-Are you Baron Ocean Ryujin?" He asked me.
"Yes, I am."
He straightened up composing himself as he spoke in a curt tone, "His Majesty has summoned you right away."
Here it is.
"I see," I said.
"Yes, please come along." He said as he looked at the unusual people gathered around me.
"We'll take our leave then." The knights dispersed and I turned to look at Brielle.
"Then, I'll see you at some other time, Miss Nash." I said before I got on my knee in front of her and gently took her hand before pushing my mask up and pressing my lips against her soft knuckles.
I had only put the burn scar make-up over my hands and on half of my face because after seeing a glimpse of some scars no one would be able to stomach more.
"Until then, please take care of yourself and don't cry." I said making her state at me with wide eyes.
I stood back up and turned on my heel after I gave a brief glance to Ine who once again shivered and went pale.
And from there, I walked up to the Ruby aka Royal palace where I would finally meet the good-for-nothing King of this country.
