The tension from the prince's visit slowly faded as Yumi and Eliott walked down the corridor together. The castle felt less like a haunting dream now and more like a fancy, oversized dollhouse.
Eliott carried her breakfast tray, trying to act proper, but his expression was too easy to read — he looked like someone trying really hard not to laugh.
Yumi noticed and poked his arm. "You're holding that tray like it's a sacred artifact. Relax before you drop it on my foot."
He grinned. "Well, I don't want Prince Ren to say I'm careless again."
Yumi snorted. "Prince Ren this, Prince Ren that. Do you ever stop worrying about him?"
Eliott sighed dramatically. "You don't know how scary he can be when he's mad!"
"Scary?" Yumi raised an eyebrow. "He looks like someone who gets angry when tea isn't sweet enough."
Eliott blinked, then burst out laughing so hard he nearly tripped. "You shouldn't say that—if he hears you, you'll vanish from the castle."
"Oh please," Yumi said with mock seriousness. "If I disappear, make sure they put on my grave: 'Died from criticizing royal tea.'"
That earned another laugh from Eliott — bright, genuine, echoing down the hallway.
They entered Yumi's room, the morning light soft and golden now. Eliott set the tray down and poured her another cup of tea.
"So…" she began casually, swirling the spoon. "That outsider guy — you said he died, right?"
Eliott hesitated. "Yeah… but why do you sound so cheerful asking that?"
Yumi grinned. "Because I'm trying to figure out the royal family's timeline here."
He blinked. "Timeline?"
"Yes!" She leaned closer with exaggerated seriousness. "If that outsider came years ago and Ren was already alive back then, that means… your prince is ancient!"
Eliott choked on air. "W–What?! No! He's not that old!"
"Oh come on!" Yumi teased. "So that means your prince and that old mage—what's his name—Alaric? They're both… fossils!"
Eliott was red from laughing and horror. "My Lord! You can't say that about them!"
Yumi smirked. "Why not? If Ren's ancient, then Alaric must be his great-grandpa!"
"Please don't let him hear that," Eliott begged, half-laughing, half-panicking. "He'll turn me into a frog just for standing here!"
Yumi tilted her head mischievously. "Oh? So Alaric does turn people into frogs? Interesting. I knew I saw that toad in the courtyard staring at me suspiciously!"
That was it — Eliott completely lost it, nearly falling off the chair from laughing.
When he finally caught his breath, he said between chuckles, "You're impossible, My Lord."
Yumi grinned proudly. "I take that as a compliment."
Then she leaned back, sipping her tea, her smile fading slightly as her curiosity crept back in.
"But seriously," she said softly, "that outsider… was he like me?"
Eliott shook his head. "No. He just appeared out of nowhere. No one knew where he came from. One moment he wasn't there, the next—he was standing in the courtyard."
Yumi frowned. "So… not in someone else's body?"
"No," Eliott said quietly. "He was himself. But he kept saying he was from another world. No one believed him."
Yumi's fingers tightened around the cup.
Eliott looked thoughtful. "He wasn't bad, you know. Just… strange. The prince treated him kindly at first. Then one day—he vanished. They found his body smiling near the fountain, just like I told you."
"Smiling, huh…" Yumi forced a small laugh. "Well, maybe he finally saw the royal tea and gave up on life."
Eliott chuckled nervously. "You really shouldn't joke like that."
"Why not? If I don't laugh, I'll go crazy," Yumi said with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes.
They both went quiet for a moment — the kind of silence that sits between laughter and thought.
Then Eliott, eager to lighten the mood, said, "My Lord, maybe we should take a walk later. The garden roses are in bloom. They might cheer you up."
Yumi smiled. "Only if you promise not to let any mysterious fountains eat me."
"Deal," he said, grinning.
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