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[ she listens attentively. so he has servants... she remembers being told she'd have a castle's worth of servants for her own, but that definitely didn't stop her from trying to get things done by her own power. and now she won't have any chance but to continue learning from there. ]

I remember. Mhm... So that's why they sell their things out in the open, like Chime's shop. It's for everyone to share. [ or buy, rather, but she gets the idea anyway. ]

Is that normal? To have servants? If they're doing everything for you, what does your family do? I think, ehm...you said your brother travels the lands. And your sister hasn't decided. What about your parents?

[ asking for too much? maybe, but riona is more concerned about learning how his world works. ]

[He nods] It is normal for landowners to have servants, yes. Having servants frees us to do our work, whether that is managing a business or overseeing territory.

[He’s expected someone may ask about his parents sooner or later, so he has an answer prepared.]

My father manages our land and other assets. My mother passed away some years ago. But she assisted my father in his work.

[It’s not a lie. It’s not the truth. But it’s all he can give her and still keep his identity a secret.]

[ she takes this news with a relatively calm expression. so he's missing a parent too. ]

Are they...administrators, like you? [ she pauses, her expression shifting into one of contemplation. ] Managing land and assets sounds like...like nobility. I've never met a noble, but I know what they're meant to do. They serve their king and are granted land, titles, and coin in return. They're servants themselves but they're wealthy enough to buy servants of their own. And...they aren't like others. Like the common people. Farmers or blacksmiths. They're loyal to their king too but they're aren't nobility. I think the difference was...

[ she pauses, trying to remember her studies. but she's blocked so much of it out, and she also doesn't particularly want to remember what she had to learn to prepare to rule dragua. it was all such a waste of time in the end. so she exhales before her features turn somewhat serious, and she looks up at orcelito. ]

Did your parents enjoy it? Managing businesses and assets.

Mm, yes, that was one of their many duties.

[He watches her puzzle it out, considering. While he can’t reveal his status as royalty, he could at least tell her that he is nobility. She’s not the sort who would take advantage of it – nor could she in this world. Without his title, lands, and authority, there are no privileges in being associated with him.

At the same time, she appears to have had negative experiences of some sort with her country’s governing system. As the nobility factors heavily into the actions of a monarch, he suspects her opinion of them might not be high. If it would be easier for her to think of him as being unassociated with a governing body… he will let her opinions stand as they are.]

They did. [He gives a wistful smile. Perhaps it is nostalgia that makes him speak in past tense. His tone conveys a great respect.] My father was an excellent leader and my mother very kind. They were a great influence in our country.

[ expression unchanging, she's quiet as he answers. he's smiling, but it's not the happy smile he's shown before, and it makes her curious—as does his use of past tense which she also notices. ]

They aren't anymore?

[… Oh no. He slipped up, didn’t he? Orcelito's shoulders stiffen and his eyes widen slightly – but he recovers immediately.]

Ah… well, my father is sick right now. [He is careful to keep his tone calm. His feelings are stuffed deep down and they’re not surfacing anytime soon.] In his absence, I took over his responsibilities. Just until he recovers.

[ she blinks, surprised at that second-long change in orcelito. did she...say something wrong? maybe he doesn't want to talk about it. now that she thinks about it, she's prying. she knows she wouldn't be so eager to speak of certain matters if their positions were reversed. ]

Oh... [ she wonders how she can improve the mood again. ] Well... He must be relieved, then. To have someone as capable as you in his place. I hope he recovers.

[Orcelito blinks, and that in itself is not a sign of anything in particular, though it is a rapid blinking and he seems to have trouble focusing. As it turns out, telling a lie is hardest once you get the reply.]

Yes. Thank you.

[He really should dismiss himself or change the topic. He’s tired, and it’s causing him to get comfortable and make mistakes. He quickly finds a distraction in the forgotten plate he’s balancing in his hands and takes another bite of cake. He barely even tastes it, but he needed those few seconds of chewing to reorient himself.]

Oh, I don’t know what your schedule has been the past month. [Schedules. He can always talk about schedules.] Kit and I usually go to bed early. And we wake up around sunrise… I hope that’s all right? I wouldn’t want to disturb you if you like to sleep in.

[ she doesn't take her eyes off him but she does relax a bit. it seems he didn't want to talk about his parents after all when he changes the subject, and riona is happy to go along with it if it means he won't act strangely. seeing him take a bite of cake has her briefly glancing down at her own plate, but the dessert remains untouched for the moment. ]

Uh... No, I'll be fine. [ she shakes her head. the month before coming here forced her to become a light sleeper when she and liam had to constantly be on the lookout for pursuers or bandits. as such, she's becoming accustomed to staying up late and waking early. not the best sleep schedule for a young person, but she manages. ] I wake before first light so there's no need to worry. Ninna won't bother you either.

[ she turns to look at the large cake now, her thoughts progressing down a particular path. ] Do you think we could take some of the cake back to the house for dinner?

[He too tends to wake when it’s still dark... though that won’t be the case tonight. He’s exhausted, and once he’s in a bed that’s not moving to the waves, he’ll probably sleep through dawn.]

Of course. That’s an excellent idea. [He glances back towards the mist boundary.] I saw some wild strawberries when I was unloading the ship cargo. We should pick some to have with the cake.

[ despite the good news of tasty treats, she looks back at him with a brief pout. that ship... ]

... It was my first time seeing a ship in person, but now I'm not so certain I like it anymore. That thing kept you and Kit away for weeks.

[Aside from not visiting towns, she’s also never seen a ship? Curious....]

The ship took us to our destination and back in five days. My teammates and I are certain. Those on the wagons agreed to the same time frame. [He has absolute confidence in their experiences. And yet-] If something happened… I think we may have been enchanted without our knowledge. Though when it occurred I don’t know.

[Part of him wonders if the ship and wagons were… cursed somehow. Because they lost team members and time alike. But he won’t say so; it could easily have been their destinations that were to blame. Or the sword, or any number of things.]

[ she'd huff and cross her arms but since she's holding precious dessert, she just goes with huffing. no matter what the true cause is, she has something to blame it all on. ]

It's those cursed riddles! Why do the people here keep trying to solve them? I understand if another spirit like Chime was trapped, but it wasn't like that this time, right? I didn't know what to think... I thought those who left might have just returned home.

[Orcelito frowns slightly. But he’s used to calming huffing little girls, so his voice is level as he explains.]

I believe another spirit is trapped. The riddle said ‘free the servant of the Tree.’ And we have been hearing sounds from beyond the crystals.

Kit said something happened to Chime’s family… there might be more than one here.

[His words are benevolent enough. If he has… other reasons for solving the riddles, he won’t reveal them here.]

I know, I've heard them too... [ she says grumpily. ] I've spoken with Kit as well, but I would be more worried about the one who trapped Chime's family in the first place. They're clearly working up these riddles to toy with us. It's all a game to them, but someone is going to get hurt one day. Didn't I hear that people have gone missing once they returned to the forest? They could have just returned home, but that doesn't make any sense. Why would only a few leave and the others be left behind?

We don’t know why Chime’s family was scattered. Or how it is connected to the riddles.

[But this isn’t about the Tree spirits, is it? His voice stays sensible and firm.]

We don’t know who is involved here, or what happened. It’s true that this could be someone’s idea of a game… but we can’t jump to that conclusion yet. All we know is what we’ve experienced so far.

People have vanished. Without any pattern to the disappearances, it is impossible to say why they left or where they went. We’ve lost time as well, and again that is a mystery.

[He sighs. The more he admits to ignorance, the more pressure he feels. His free hand clenches.]

I’m frustrated too, Riona. [He can’t bring much feeling into those words. He’s numb and confused, and full of justifications that Riona wouldn’t want to hear anyway.] I’m sorry I can’t answer your questions. I wish I could.

[ she listens quietly, albeit with a firm frown, but by the end it strangely loosens as she wears a distant expression instead. ]

... Just be more careful. Kit as well. Trying to learn the truth is the obvious path to take, but by the time we find it, it could already be too late.

[ as ominous as that may sound, she doesn't elaborate. but her tone suggests she doesn't mean it lightly. now she pauses, gaze averting for a second. ] Don't apologize. I'm sorry. I know you have your frustrations, I shouldn't burden you with my own.

[ then, while continuing to speak, she turns around to get more cake. ] If you or Kit decide to leave the forest to solve another riddle, I think I'll go with you.

[He nods and meets her gaze seriously. Had she told him this before the quest, he may have brushed off her concern but… he knows better now. His tone is decisive.] I will.

[It’s true that the quests will likely unearth something that will change their understanding of this place… and perhaps turn it more sinister. He is prepared for that. He’s made it his goal to learn the truth – and he will continue to walk that path, whatever world he is on.]

[Orcelito appreciates the apology. Before he can respond, her next words surprise him.] Really? You would… be all right with that?

[ it's a subject they'll most likely continue to share different views on for some time. for as long as she's been here, riona has yet to completely give the forest a chance, and that's certainly not orcelito's fault. now, after getting more cake onto her plate, she turns back to him and idly picks at the dessert while answering him. ]

... Not completely all right. But you, and Kit—you've become my friends. [ her first friends, more importantly. she looks up at him. ] And I don't want to lose my friends because of these stupid riddles.

[He finally smiles again, warmly and sincerely. His posture relaxes as the tension ebbs.]

I don’t want the riddles to affect our friendship either. Whatever happens… protecting everyone is most important.

[He’s finally been able to make friends again! Riona and the rest… are the first people in so long that he’s really been able to talk to. He won’t lose that – not again.

He wants to add that he’ll protect her and Kit but… well, he wasn’t very effective at that during this last quest. He hurriedly buries the self-reproach arising from that thought; he can’t afford to look unconfident.]

[ his smile catches her off guard for a second, but she soon relaxes. she doesn't want to say that, to her, protecting everyone is not her priority. her priority is orcelito, kit, and the few people she's come to fancy around the forest. so, with a single nod, she answers: ]

We'll protect each other.

[ after that, she stuffs another piece of cake into her mouth to give her time to think. ]

... If you two had really returned home, I realized I had no way of knowing for certain. No one does. When people disappear, we assume home is where they've gone, but some people came back. I don't like it...the not knowing.

I don’t like it either. [He shakes his head. Ever since Yuuya told him about the mist, he’s been trying to find similarities in the disappearances.] So far, the best indication is that if someone leaves, their possessions disappear. I left my coat in my room. Had it vanished, you could have presumed I left.

[That’s not a pleasant thought. He imagines Riona would’ve been quite distressed, wondering first if it was stolen and secondly if it’s owner was gone. Orcelito would’ve been distressed too, arriving at the castle and having to explain why his clothing appeared so worn.]

I want to believe that those who left returned home. But I wish we knew for certain.

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