Something changed between me and Prince Lyle after that midnight conversation. We were no longer mere acquaintances, we were… Friends. People who actually enjoyed the other's company thanks to the comfortable routine I and the prince had come to between ourselves over the next two days, much to Louise’s dismay.

I couldn’t help but chuckle each time Prince Lyle would come over to my ward at midnight, and request Louise to give the two of us privacy to speak alone. Louise made no effort to hide his displeasure, only giving us the accommodating ten minutes.

“I’m sure you’re already aware, but your butler really is protective of you.” Was his starter on the third day of his visit.

I smiled sincerely at the thought of Louise’s presence. “Having been with me for the entirety of this life of mine, I can’t imagine being without him.”

Prince Lyle mocked a gasp. “Don’t tell me you have feelings for him.”

I huffed unenthusiastically before saying, “I don’t fall for every guy who is good to me, no matter how handsome.”

Prince Lyle agreed to my comment with a tease. We stayed in comfortable quiet for a few seconds before he began, “You know it’s not unusual in my kingdom.”

“What’s not?”

“Same-sex relationships.”

I blinked in mild surprise at his choice of topic for a conversation. “How so?”

“Duke Mortise, my father’s close cousin, married a man. WIth a noble being so open about such a thing that many others find shameful, you could say it gave confidence to those who hid their true selves.”

I couldn’t quite form a response to his reveal. “So… This world has opinions on sexuality as well.” I stated.

“Of course they do. It goes against what people view as ‘normal’, after all. Man with a woman is a given. For a man to be with a man or a woman with a woman... it doesn’t quite add up in their heads.”

I pursed my lips. “When you said it wasn’t unusual in your kingdom, what about my own?”

Prince Lyle eyed me with uncertainty. “You don’t know?”

I shook my head. “Mr. Reinhardt doesn’t teach me such stuff. I ask Louise about this knowledge if I truly had to know them, but this topic is quite… Weird for me. I mean, I’m a child for crying out loud. Asking about relationships is too early.” I was taken aback when Prince Lyle suddenly burst into laughter. I watched him with confused exasperation. “What are you laughing about?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“You?! A child?!” He said in between breaths.

“Of course I’m a child!” I cried indignantly. “Look at me and this baby fat everywhere.” I pinched my right cheek.

Prince Lyle wiped away his amused tears and reached forward himself, pinching the other side of my face. “Ah~ How cute.” He chuckled again.

I furrowed my brows in displeasure, slapping his hand away softly. “I can’t understand you and your sense of humor.”

He spread his arms and looked down at himself. “There’s really nothing to understand.”

I had to disagree. There was so much to understand about the man sitting before me. He was good company, one that felt different from all the other bonds I had. He knew me. Knew everything about me. My past life, my sexuality, my doubts, my dreams of now and then. I was taken by his understanding and acceptance, by his bluntness about my flaws.

“But really,” His tone lowered into seriousness. “You’re not a child to me. It’s more like you’re a grown man getting his redo… I can’t really put it into words.”

I thought quietly for a moment and shrugged a shoulder. “Well, it’s true my mind is not that of a child's, but my body can’t be argued to be any older.”

“I agree it's a rather frustrating dilemma. How could you find the right lover now?” I knew Louise asked that question as a joke, but it was something I had stressed over a few times before when I had time to myself.

I was a nine-year-old child with the mind of an adult. No one older would look at me as a love interest as that is quite disturbing, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to find anyone near my current age attractive. I pushed the thought to the back of my head and shooed the topic away with my nonresponse.

“I have a question I had been wanting to ask you.” His words broke me out of mind and I looked up to meet Prince Lyle's eyes again.

“Go ahead.”

“Would you like to come with me? To my kingdom?”

My mind came to an abrupt halt, my thoughts and reasoning leaving me as the unexpected request truly and surely had taken me back. My chance to reply was brisked away when Louise came in to remind us that our ten minutes had come to end. Usually, Prince Lyle would stay for another few minutes, but seeing my open surprise, he stood and headed back to his guest room, not before saying, “I still have tomorrow left before I am to go back home early evening the day after. You can take the time to think about what I asked.”

Louise heard and shot me an inquisitive glance. It was an hour after Prince Lyle had left, with Louise waiting for me to fall asleep so he can secure me under the blankets, that I was finally able to speak.

“Louise?” I called.

“Yes, my prince?”

“Am I…” I hesitated, the insecurities bubbling up reluctantly. “Am I still a danger to people?”

Louise walked over to the bed and softened his expression. “As far as I know, there is no sort of danger that you would pose to others.”

“So my aura won’t act up?”

“You already have your ability. There is no reason to believe it will.”

I sighed, a sense of relief and comfort filling me. “I see.” I turned onto my side and closed my eyes.

“Would you like to come with me?”

I quickly put the cover over my head, hiding my anticipating smile.