Seeking herbs to be pruned for garden maintenance, I was walking through the gardens with Ikuto when we found a lost child.
He was turned away from us, looking left and right, pacing back and forth. His whole body screamed that he didn't know where to go.
"Green hair, about four years old, and absolutely adorable. Hehe, Ikuto, who do you think that is?"
"We've seen this before, twice in fact."
Ikuto is usually calm, but now he looked troubled.
"Why are my younger brothers so cute?"
"Prince Asha..."
Ikuto called out to me as if to stop me.
Yes, I remember the previous two times I found lost children.
Neither ended well.
But right now, there's a lost child before me with tears in his eyes and unsteady, anxious steps.
"Being alone is scary, you know. Sorry."
Apologizing, I turned my steps toward my brother.
Ikuto wore a stern expression but followed while keeping watch of our surroundings.
"Hey, are you lost? Where do you want to go back to?"
When I called out, the four-year-old—likely my twin brother—turned around with sparkling eyes, suspicion nowhere to be found.
So cute!
No, adorable!
Enough to blow away any unpleasantness from adult circumstances!
"To Warner's place!"
"I see. Then you must be Fel."
My younger brothers, the twins, are named Felmes with green hair and Warnerus with dark blue hair.
There are no other children this age, so there's no doubt they're my brothers.
I'd heard their faces looked identical despite the different colors.
Apparently their personalities differ too.
"Yeah, I'm Fel. Do you know where Warner is?"
Fel asked innocently.
Ikuto called out softly and pointed.
Taking Fel's hand, we went together in that direction, where we heard crying.
"Fel? Fel?"
"Warner!"
Fel ran while still holding my hand.
When we ran together to the spot, there was Warner with tears pooling in his blue eyes, a face identical to Fel's.
Yes, cuteness squared.
With them comforting each other, it's cubed.
"This person brought me here. He knew where Warner was right away!"
"Amazing! Are you a mage? As cool as our big brother!"
Such respectful eyes.
This makes me happy.
And to think Terry is looked up to as a big brother too—how proud.
When I met him before, he was crying because he was lost, but now he's a big brother.
He's three years younger than me, so Terry must be six.
We only met once after all, so I wonder how much he's grown?
"I'm an alchemist, if I had to name my profession. So, where did you two come from? Did Warner come looking for Fel?"
"Nope. Everyone was looking for Warner because he disappeared, so I went to find him."
Apparently Warner was the lost one.
And Fel, who went searching for his twin, also got lost.
Precious.
Precious, but the adults around them must be troubled with two lost children.
"Ikuto, it would be bad if I escorted them directly, right?"
"Indeed. Having them wait would be best. However, I sense no searchers in the vicinity."
"No, they definitely told Fel to wait while Warner was lost. If he went searching alone, then..."
Even if told to wait, Fel surely wouldn't listen, and if they weren't together, he'd get lost again.
But Ikuto can't leave me alone due to his duties.
Last time the nurse Hati was with us, so we could split up, but she's gone now.
I can't leave the twins behind either, and my bad reputation is already set in stone anyway.
The young brothers take priority.
"Where were you two and what were you doing? Taking a walk?"
"Nope, celebrating. Eating sweets while viewing flowers. Fel had a fever."
Warner smiled with complete relief, as if he'd forgotten he'd been crying just moments ago.
Flowers blooming at this time of year, and a place with chairs or tables for eating sweets—that's our destination.
"Was Mother with you?"
"Nope, Big Brother."
"Big Brother and the arbor with sweets."
So Terry was hosting a tea party or a recovery celebration.
Considering the flowers, the arbor, and their ages, it shouldn't be far from here.
Thinking so, I headed toward the nearest arbor with flowering trees.
"Huh, no one's here."
"They likely turned out in full force to search for the two who disappeared."
The arbor we reached had tea party preparations, so this was probably the right place.
But no one was there, and Ikuto offered his theory.
While we spoke in low voices, the formerly lost twins returned with smiles.
"We'll share our favorite sweets as thanks!"
"I hate that one. It makes my throat feel fuzzy!"
Even though they're twins, their tastes differ.
Interesting.
More than that, watching them head to the arbor while getting along warms my heart.
Knowing it's thanks for me makes my smile even broader.
"You truly are a modest and compassionate person," Ikuto said, looking away from the twins as if he couldn't bear to watch.
Well, the gap between who I serve and this scene is quite something.
I've never had tea parties, and these luxurious sweets are things I've only seen, never tasted.
The arbor decorated with flowers and fabric must have taken considerable manpower.
"I'm not modest. I just don't want to replace my brothers—I simply wish I could be with them. And the affection might be from Father's blood."
The twins returned with sweets in both hands, smiling.
Their desperate running made me worry they might fall, but I didn't approach.
If I approached, it surely wouldn't end well again.
"...If you were ever expelled from the palace, if you were no longer a prince, I would accompany you. I cannot say this before others, but I thought adventuring would suit you, Prince Asha."
That is a future where I am banished.
A possible end because I learned through Hati that my guardian has no intention of guarding me.
Already watched by the ducal family now, there is no future of advancement for me.
Ikuto has the compassion not to abandon such a child, but he is realistic.
Helkov, who helps me earn money with alcohol, is also realistic and points out harsh things, but he aims high and doesn't forget optimism.
So Ikuto might be called severe.
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"You accept it so readily."
"I accept reality. Even in alchemy, denying reality because it's impossible leads to no progress."
"Indeed, that strength suits an adventurer."
As we spoke in lowered voices, the twins returned with smiles.
"These are nuts and honey and berries mixed and baked!"
Fel offered something like a baked flour confection.
His full smile surely meant he loved it.
"This has lots of milk and sugar mixed in, it's delicious!"
Warner also offered his sweet.
It looks like a soufflé, but does this one not make his throat feel fuzzy?
Anyway, it's too soft to eat with hands.
Ikuto moved to taste-test for poison, so I subtly confirmed with the twins.
"I'm happy. Thank you. So, can I share some with my companion?"
"Okay!"
"It's tasty!"
Truly innocent and healing.
Ikuto probably doesn't think these two would poison anything, but it's his duty.
Still, younger brothers really are cute!
Ah, I want to see Terry too.
Regular update
Next time: Attempted Prince Assassination 3